Page 29 of The Billionaire Experience

“You ran away from Lindy, and Alexis. And then left Manhattan altogether!”

“Jaylyn, I’m telling you now. I’m not going anywhere until this book is done. I own this house, remember? I have a lawn to mow. Shit to do.”

She pursed her lips as if deciding what to say before saying the last thing in the world he expected. “I found my own apartment.”

“You… What? When?”

“Today.” Her face brightened. “It’s white and has a lot of windows. It’s airy and spacious and it’s mine. I’ve been low-key looking for my own place since I arrived, so I didn’t lease the first one I found or anything.”

“You found a place in Chicago because Zander and I are nearby?” She could be so fucking sweet sometimes—when she wasn’t being demanding.

“I love you and Zan, but I don’t want to live with you guys. He and Chloe are probably never dressed, and now you’re going to be having tantric sex with the handywoman.”

“Jesus, J.” He couldn’t help laughing at her ridiculous descriptions, but then doubled down with, “Your lips to God’s ears.”

“Gross.” She wrinkled her nose, but she was smiling too.

“Will you be nice to her? I don’t want her exacting revenge by loosening nails in the floorboards or balancing buckets of water onto the doorframes.”

“Your brain is filled with cartoons.” Jaylyn shook her head.

“You don’t have to move out.”

She trained her gaze on him. “Neither do you.”

“Touché. You think you can convince Dante to visit?” Brody couldn’t imagine their brother taking time out of his work schedule to pop in for a weekend.

“If anyone can convince him, it’s me.” She swiped her fingers under her eyes and then went to the full-length mirror to check her hair. “I’m going to pack a bag for Chloe’s. Can you drive me to her place so I don’t have to call a car? It’s the last favor I’ll ask of you.”

“I highly doubt that.” He stepped into the hallway. “Next time you’re feeling some kind of way, can you calmly tell me what’s going on instead of taking it out on whoever I’m kissing on the couch?”

“If you insist.” Jaylyn rolled her eyes.

“I insist.” He started to walk away but then paused, his hand on the doorframe. “You know that no matter where in the world I am, or where in the world you are, I will always drop everything to come to you if you need me…right?”

She blinked watery eyes at him, nodding as her chin quivered.

“I mean it.” He’d do anything for his siblings, especially for his baby sister.

“I know.” A tear tracked down her cheek, and she hastily swiped it away.

As he reached the living room he heard Jaylyn shout, “Damn it, Brody! You made my mascara run!”

“Love you too!” He sat on the couch and then reached for his laptop. As he opened the screen and typed in his password, he chuckled to himself. “They broke the mold with that one, that’s for fuckin’ sure.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Kelly swore loudly, and not for the first time. “Sorry, Ike.”

Reagan’s grandfather waved a gnarled hand. “You’re not offending me none. You talk like a golfer.”

It was a lovely, if windy, day on the course. It was rare that Reagan came out to play, but she’d decided to give herself the weekend off. A rare occurrence, but after what had happened with Brody on Friday, she needed a minute to collect herself.

He hadn’t reached out to her since The Kiss, which was for the best. She had no idea what the kiss meant—if anything—and hadn’t had a chance to talk to Kelly about it yet. Golf was the perfect excuse to hang out.

“It’s the last hole. Take a mulligan,” she told Kel.

“That would be my third do-over of the day,” her friend said, looking somewhat abashed.

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