Page 51 of Protected By the Billionaire Ex-SEAL

“Not alone. I have Honey Lee and Aaron. They’ll watch over me while you’re gone.”

She’s right. I can turn down Carl, but I know it’s going to plague me. So, I turn to her and kiss her shoulder, a quiet reassurance that this won’t take long.

“Okay. That sounds good.”

And I hope that I’m making the right decision.

Chapter 16

Raven

“So, I think it only makes sense that I ask so we can get it out of the way. Is there something going on between you and Christian?”

Unlike others’ nosy way of asking, Honey’s tone is gentle. I glance at her as we’re strolling the town’s small shopping mall with fruity drinks in our hands.

“Why do you ask?”

“Let’s just say a certain someone is very miffed, and Mary Anne and Betty have to ask her to kindly shut up before she starts spreading rumors that’ll just impact the town and her pageantry chances negatively.”

It’s detailed enough that I know she and her non-profit work friends talked about it extensively, but something tells me she’ll drop the subject if I ask her to.

“It’s…complicated.”

“Right. Okay.”

She nods and doesn’t probe. But it’s me who can’t drop the subject yet, wanting to get this strange feeling off my chest.

“We met and slept together before we came here. To Nashville. We tried to keep things professional here and pretend it didn’t happen, but we ended up sleeping together again.” I bite my lip. “We’re still sleeping together.”

Honey Lee’s eyes are very wide, clearly not expecting that. She gasps.

“Wow. I had no idea.”

“Yeah.”

“Casual?”

“Very casual.”

My neck pricks at the words, but I stand by it. Honey Lee studies me over her juice cup.

“Are you having fun sleeping with him?”

Yes, but it’s more than that. I’m happier than I’ve been in a while, mostly because, other than us hooking up, Christian and I have also gotten close in the friendship department. He’s someone I can be vulnerable to about my past, and he opens up to me, too, about his personal and professional life.

But I don’t tell her that, not wanting her to misinterpret things. My cousin can be a hopeless romantic.

“Yes. I’m having fun.”

She studies me some more, then breaks into a relieved smile. “That’s good. I’m happy for you.”

“You’re happy that I’m sleeping with him?”

She reads my amusement and laughs. “That you’re having fun, silly. But yeah. That, too. If there’s anyone here who knows how to treat someone right, it’s him.”

“Oh?” I’m surprised at her words. “Isn’t he known as the town playboy or something like that?”

She shrugs. “He’s not looking for a relationship, but he always treats women he gets with right as far as I know—and women he doesn’t get with.” She glances at me mischievously and winks. “Besides, I heard he’s good in bed. And he’s not hard on the eyes, either.”

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