Page 10 of The Billionaire Experience

“Penthouses come with repairmen. In this house, you are the repairman. While you’ve dived into the role with gusto, I know it’s a challenge for you.” She sounded older than her years when she spoke to him like that.

“I want to do it myself. What will my readers think if I can’t change a light bulb?”

She gave him a slow blink. “You can’t change a light bulb?”

“Of course I can change a light bulb. I also puttied a hole in the ceiling yesterday.” He pointed up.

She tilted her head back.

“Pretty good, right?” He reconsidered as he looked with her. “Do you think I’m in over my head?”

“Time will tell.” But she was gazing out the window again. “Your yard’s not too much to manage, so that’s a plus. What a beautiful tree.”

She was referring to the maple tree in the backyard that could fall on top of the master bedroom at any moment, taking him out in the process.

“It’s too big. Makes me nervous. I called a tree service to take a look at it.” He’d nearly taken a chainsaw to it himself, but wasn’t sure he wouldn’t down the house or part of his fence in the process. Much as he wanted to prove himself, cutting down a tree that was older than he was seemed unwise.

“A reputable tree service?” Jaylyn was frowning.

“I don’t know. I guess. Do they have a special seal of approval or something?” He was a city guy. What the fuck did he know about trees outside of the ones in Central Park?

“If he wants to cut it down, get a second opinion. And if the tree needs cutting down, be sure and give it three days’ notice.”

“Give the tree three days’ notice?”

“It’s the polite thing to do. They’re alive, you know.”

He loved his sister, but sometimes she said the kookiest things. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Thank you.”

“Have you been to see Zander yet?” he asked. Jaylyn had flown in a few days ago. She’d come and gone as she pleased, driving Brody’s new SUV around at his insistence. He didn’t know what the hell she did with her time. For all he knew she was at the park meditating. Or talking to the trees.

“No.” The word was a petulant syllable. “He’s monopolizing his girlfriend’s free time. I met her the same night he did, you know. And he sees her all the time! Now that I’m back in town, he owes me a night with Chloe.”

He chuckled. “What, like shared custody?”

“Yes, actually. Have you met her yet?”

“Not yet. He says he’s busy, but I think he’s keeping her from me.”

Jaylyn smirked. “He’s probably afraid you’ll warn him off relationships in front of her. Not that Chloe would listen. She’s completely and utterly in love. And she’s good for him. I haven’t seen him this happy since Emily.”

Zander’s wife. After she’d passed away, Zander had become even more of a shut-in than before. Their oldest brother had lived a quiet life as an art curator in London with the love of his life. After Emily passed, Zander hadn’t been himself for a while.

As much as Brody wasn’t sure if his older brother knew what he was doing in a relationship, Zander did seem happier with Chloe in his life. When he’d stopped by yesterday morning to see the house, Brody had been taken aback by the wide smile on his brother’s face. It’d been too long since Zander had smiled like that.

“It’s so soon,” he said anyway. “He met her on New Year’s Eve. It’s the middle of April.”

“That’s enough time to know someone. Plus, they met each other online first. It was kismet that they met at all.”

He didn’t know if it was kismet, but it was a hell of a coincidence. Zander hadn’t known Chloe’s actual identity until she’d told him at the party at Reese’s house. “Zander has always been reserved. Careful. Falling head over nuts for a woman in one night sounds like possession by an amorous spirit.” He gestured at the sage in Jaylyn’s hand. “Maybe you should smudge his apartment next.”

“The right woman can change someone. Even you, if you let one into that black-lump-of-coal heart of yours.”

He rubbed the spot where she’d poked him in the chest. “I treat the women I date with the utmost respect, thank you very much. Ask Alexis.”

“Ew. No thanks.”

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