Page 6 of The Bossy Billionaire

I smirk at them, wondering how that little pocket rocket has managed to have these four wealthy and powerful men bow to her needs so easily. My eyes flick to my oldest friends in Connor and Tanner, and Connor raises his eyebrows. “It could be a good challenge for you. You have so much money now, and you said it yourself that these tech startups are getting boring. Why not help her out? Call it your community service,” he says, grinning. He is right. I need a new challenge. But a bookstore?

“We can’t help her anymore. She pushes us away at every turn. She already hates us,” Ben says. He couldn’t be more wrong, in my opinion. Sure, she flew in here and gave them a talking to, but I saw her eyes melt when she was invited for cupcakes, and I saw her lips turn up when Harrison was being protective.

“She doesn't hate us.” Eddie’s voice has an edge to it.

“She loves me.” Tennyson smiles like the Cheshire cat at them both.

“She is just taking a while to move past the fire. We only want to protect her. Keep her safe. Remind her that she has a family, and we are here for her,” Harrison says.

“The limp?” My head tilts in question, because her limp was subtle, but it was there.

“From the fire explosion. Metal pierced her thigh. Cut her up pretty bad. She was with Pinkie. They made it out together,” Eddie says, his eyes filling with sadness and guilt. So much so, my own chest feels heavy, which is uncommon for me.

“So let me get this straight. Your sister won't listen to anything you say. She has a business that is going backward and will probably wind up broke, and you want me to do what? Casually drop into the bookstore. Strike up a conversation, and then ask to look at her finances to help her out?” I ask, seeing if I have it all correct.

“No getting in her pants,” Tennyson growls in warning, and I smirk and wink at him just to rile him up.

Tanner Whiteman raises his brow at me. He knows I can’t stay away. I do love a challenge. I get everything given to me, anything I ask for gets delivered. The only person to ever challenge me is in this room. Harrison.

“Oh, but her pants looked very nice…” I tease them once more, a smirk firmly on my face.

“Seriously, Huxe, you can’t put the moves on her,” Ben reiterates, and I look at him with a grin. It isn’t often these Rothschild men get ruffled, and I like to be the one who does it.

“Is she single?” I continue testing my friends and am surprised when I see their scowls.

“Yes, she is fucking single.” Tennyson looks tense as he spits out his words.

“Well, maybe I can coach her in other areas too.” I bite the inside of my cheeks so I don’t laugh, but my smirk soon fades as Tennyson pushes back his chair and stands.

“I will cut off your balls if you so much as touch her,” he growls, leaning forward on the board table, and I wonder for a bit if I kept pushing them if he would launch himself straight over at me. Then I realize it is Tennyson, and yes, he probably would. I roll my eyes.

“Sit down, asshole, I am teasing you.” It dawns on me then that she is seriously important to them, and I swallow uncomfortably at that fact.

“Can I trust you, Huxe?” Harrison aims a serious look my way. With her books or with her body? My grin falters a little at that thought because I am not sure on either option, but I nod. The two of us have had a soft rivalry since college. Both on the wrestling team, both often vying for the same women. He knows what I am like. That I love a challenge, that I need something different, and he has just offered me up exactly that.

“How has it lasted this long? Bookshops have been closing all over the country. What is it about her shop that has made it this far?” I ask, wanting some insight.

“History. It has been around for a long time,” Eddie says, offering me something.

“Location. It is in an ideal spot,” Ben adds, and I nod.

“A good community of regulars,” Tennyson adds, and I am glad to see him seated again, looking more relaxed.

“It’s her,” Harrison says firmly, and I tilt my head in question. “She is the face of Bloomers; she just doesn’t know it yet.” She is their diamond, that much is clear. These boys will protect her at all costs.

As we go back to sipping the latest whiskey release, I think about what I know about the book world. Bookstores are a dying industry. In a retail environment, that is challenging enough. Due to the economy, there are not a lot of areas to build on or opportunities to uncover to make them profitable. I don’t have any experience in books or literary endeavors. Books aren’t really my thing. But Lucy Bloomer just made them a hell of a lot more interesting.

CHAPTER FIVE - HUXLEY

As I step out of the café and walk to hail a cab, the store across the street catches my eye. Bloomer Books, in old script, is written across the top of the front doors, making me pause. It has been a few weeks since I was in the Rothschilds’ boardroom, and I have been too busy with business in NYC to think about the request Harrison made. Now, back here in Baltimore again to wrap up a few contracts, I step back from the road and look at the shop.

It is ancient. A free-standing two-story building that looks as old at the city itself. It is in dire need of cleaning. Dark-brown bricks are dusty from the city pollution and traffic, no doubt. White awnings have a charm about them and would look better without the dirt and dust that currently coats them. But that is not what catches my eye. It is the people. Kids and parents are rushing down the street and pushing through the door. I wonder if there is a sale on, but there are no signs in the windows. Just a display of a latest romance novel, by the looks of the red cardboard hearts that adorn the window. I watch for another five minutes as more and more people come. It’s almost comical. Like a line of ants all rushing down the street, parents and kids, all going to the same place. Bloomer Books.

While I have been busy these past few weeks, I have been thinking about her. Her fiery passion. Being totally out of depth and downright fucking cute. Seeing her limp out of that boardroom door almost had me bolting up from my seat. Every man in that room felt it. The pain that she doesn't verbalize. I was looking hard for her eyes, the ones covered by thick glasses that look like they would be better suited for an elderly lady than a beautiful woman in her twenties.

I did a bit of digging into Miss Lucy Bloomer. After her injuries in the fire, and then publicly coming out as a sister to the Rothschilds, her name is well known and she is well loved. That is displayed today as the line of people push through her bookstore doors. I have also researched the book industry and my feelings on it haven’t changed. She needs to get out. Needs to pivot into a new direction. Something has to change in order for her to be successful, because if she stays with what she has, she will go bankrupt.

“Excuse me.” The voice startles me from my left, and I move out of the way. “Are you heading in?” a woman asks as she looks at me expectantly.

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