Page 28 of The Billionaire Experience

He scrubbed his face with one hand, hoping to swipe away every lustful thought of Reagan that existed. By the time he was standing in front of Jaylyn’s bedroom door, he’d done a fair to middling job of it.

He rapped on the door with his knuckles. No response, just as he’d expected. He twisted the knob, opening the door a couple of inches to say, “Can I come in?”

Her muffled “no” sounded more watery than strong. He stepped into the guest bedroom anyway and found her with her back against the headboard, hugging a pillow to her chest. He sat on the edge of the mattress, his heart cracking as he took in her vulnerability. Yes, she’d been rude and immature, but seeing Jaylyn hurt made him feel a special brand of helpless. She was dressed like a badass in black leather and spiked heels, but at the moment she appeared younger than her twenty-five years.

“If something happened to you at the club, tell me so that I can drive there and beat the living shit out of whoever hurt your feelings.” He gave her a soft smile and earned one in return.

“I can handle myself. But thanks. Nothing happened. I danced a while and then spent about an hour at the bar drinking soda and texting friends. When Chloe called, I left.”

“And showed up here to insult Reagan.”

“Who even is she?”

“She’s the repairwoman I hired?—”

“Right. Hired. You were making out with her.”

“I know.” He couldn’t help smiling.

Jaylyn punched him in the arm. “You promised you’d live here for three months!”

“Fuck, J!” He rubbed his arm where a bruise was likely forming thanks to her skull ring. “What’s your point?”

“If you start up with Reagan, dumbass, you’ll end up bailing in a matter of weeks. If you last that long!” Worry crept into her expression.

He took a deep breath, mystified by her explanation. “Tell me what this is about. Really about.”

The stubborn set of her jaw suggested she might keep her reasons to herself. But then she said, “Zander’s here. You’re here. I’m here. I plan on asking Dante to visit.”

Brody shook his head, not understanding.

She laid the pillow flat on her lap and slapped it with both palms. “We’ve never been together like a real family. Yes, on holidays, and during vacation, or after Emily died, but not hanging out every day. Like Reese and Tag and Eli do.”

“They don’t hang out every day. They have jobs and families, other friends. What’s this have to do with our cousins?”

“They’re close.” Her voice was small when she added, “Not us. Zander and you and Dante and me… We’re geographically scattered. Do you know that our cousins have dinner together every week? Just takeout, but they sit around the same table and talk about their week.”

He did know that. He’d been invited to Eli and Isa’s warehouse, and the whole gang had been there, including Uncle Alex and Aunt Rhona. Brody was starting to understand why Jaylyn was upset. “So, you think if Reagan and I have a go of it and don’t last, I’ll leave town before you’re able to wrangle the family together for dinner every week.”

She lifted and dropped one shoulder, refusing to look at him.

He scooted onto the bed and leaned back against the headboard, shoulder to shoulder with her. “You, me, Dante, Zander, Dad, we are a real family. We’re…atypical, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love each other.”

“Atypical.” She grunted. “Is that a nice way of saying we’re fucked up?”

He smothered a smile. “No. We are not fucked up. We’re living our own individual lives. And that’s okay.”

“We have four different moms and a dad who’s AWOL at the first whiff of perfume. We’re not normal.”

That was fair.

“No one’s normal, J.” He grasped her hand. “Trust me, if you’d heard some of the shit Reese has done, you wouldn’t think he was normal either.”

His sister sighed before she trained dark eyes on him. He released her hand to hug her shoulders, curling her against him. “No matter what happens with the repairwoman, I promise I will stay in Merriweather Springs until I finish this book. You have my word.”

“You run away, Bro. You’re a runner.”

“I don’t run away,” he said through clenched teeth. “I just like to be on the move. There’s a difference.”

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