Page 36 of The Billionaire Babe

“So, your girls all came?” I comment, seeing them all hanging with my boys over to the side, leaving me and Val to talk.

“They are more my family now. They are great. What about you? Family?”

I grit my teeth. This is why I don’t date. I hate talking about my past.

“Just my mom. She lives in a trailer out of town. Same one I grew up in.” I take another sip of my drink, trying to push down the feelings of shame that arise.

“So we are alike with that too, then? Our friends are our family?” she asks, not pushing me for more answers. Even though I pretty much told her I have nothing, grew up with nothing, and am worth nothing, she still finds a silver lining to the dark cloud of me.

“Seems like it.” I admire her. She doesn’t care. She could buy this entire bar—hell, this entire block we are on—yet she doesn’t care where I came from.

“So what were you like growing up?” she asks, and I swallow. Might as well lay it out for her.

“Trouble. Didn’t go to college. Got in trouble with the law a few times…” I say, leaving it out for her to digest. Her eyes move from my face, down my front, and back up again, like she is checking me out.

“What for?” she asks, and I don’t blame her. She is a lawyer; she needs to know these things.

“Petty crime. Bit of stealing when I was a kid. Much like Levi,” I tell her, and she nods. She bites her bottom lip, so I know what she is thinking. “You can trust me, Val. I won’t hurt you.” I mean it. She needs to know that I am a good guy now, even though my history leaves little to be desired.

She smirks at me. “I know that already, AJ. It just makes me admire you even more.”

“What?” I ask, almost shocked.

“Well, you obviously had it hard growing up, but look at you. You have your own business, amazing friends, you’re fit and healthy. You train young kids and give back to the community. We can’t let our history define us. We can only change the path we are on for the future.” I wonder where the hell this woman has been all my life. She fits right into my soul like she is part of it.

“You give me too much credit,” I say, because it can’t be that simple. She should be back in her car now and halfway home, running from me. The lifestyle I lead is nothing like she is accustomed to.

“Sounds like you don’t give yourself enough.” Continuing, she changes the subject. “So, big fight tomorrow?” she asks, as Brady and Chloe come back with their beers, and she grabs one.

“Yep. A few hours here, then I need to tuck myself into bed to try to get eight hours.” My hand drapes around her waist, feeling a little off-kilter but happy at the same time as I keep her close to me. I can feel her body heat, smell her floral scent. She drives me crazy. I can’t not touch her.

“No time to waste, then,” she says, looking at me like she knows something I don’t.

“On what?” I ask, my eyes thinning.

“Twenty bucks I can beat you at pool?” she challenges, her eyes flashing wicked in delight. There is no way this pretty little thing from the good side of town will even be able to compete. I grew up in pool halls. I know how to win at pool.

“You’re on,” I growl, putting down my drink and grabbing hers to do the same. She laughs as I take her hand and lead her over to the pool table and we select some cues.

“Ohhhh, this is going to be good,” Simone says as she jumps up on a stool with her beer and gets ready to watch.

“You got this, AJ,” Cody yells, leaning back and chatting with Chelsea.

We have all our friends watching us and it feels good. Feels right. Our friends are getting along, and Val and her girls look comfortable in this bar, even though it is not where I would imagine them to be. I watch as Val takes off her jacket, revealing a tight singlet, her jeans sticking to her legs, showcasing the curves of her body, and I internally groan. This is going to be harder than I first thought.

“You sure about this, sweetheart? No one will think any less of you if you pull out now,” I tease, knowing that my girl will never back down.

“Are you scared, AJ?” She tilts her head, her hair flicking behind her. That fucking long ponytail is doing something to my insides. I want to wrap it in my hand and pull her head back, watch her body arch.

I clear my throat and refocus. “Not scared, just concerned, wondering how you will deal with defeat,” I say as I chalk the tip of my cue, smirking.

“You know what. I will give you an advantage. You can go first,” she offers, and I will admit, she does a great job of talking herself up.

“You got it, babe.” Giving her a wink, I lean over the table, ready to get this game going. I hit with force, and the balls scatter, but none drop into the holes yet. I step back and give her the table.

She leans over the table and takes her shot, pocketing two balls with one hit and doesn’t let up. Our game is over in about two minutes as I stand shocked, mouth agape, as Val totally wipes the floor with me.

“Where the hell did you learn to play like that?” I ask, still rooted to the ground. Apart from the first shot, I didn’t get a chance to take another. She pocketed every ball she tapped.

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