Page 59 of The Billionaire Experience

Their favorite wine cafe. Which sounded better than going back to the house where Brody was busily drafting his “home is temporary” memoir.

“Meet you there.”

Key & Lime was about four miles away from the hardware store. The café, which served coffee before two p.m. as well as wine from noon on, offered a variety of charcuterie and cheese boards. The small strip mall also held a yoga studio and a posh secondhand store specializing in home decor. Reagan had never shopped there because Dustin had found thrifted home goods “unattractive.”

She considered that idea anew as she parked her truck along the curb. Lately, she’d begun to wonder if she and Dustin had as much in common as she used to believe.

Inside, she and Kelly went straight for “their” table. Since Key & Lime was on the far end of the block of stores, there were two windows in this corner. The table sat next to a tall shelf lined with novels. A handwritten sign on the shelf read: Key & Lime Library. If you take a book, please leave a fresh book or monetary donation in its place.

“We haven’t been here in a while,” Reagan commented after they each had glasses of their favorite chardonnay in front of them.

“Too long,” Kelly agreed after taking her first sip. “I wanted to renew my vow to you about letting you sleep on the couch. It isn’t fair for you to scramble to find a place to live. I talked to Matt about us encroaching on your territory, and he agreed to keep his distance until you’re settled.”

Kelly might have questionable judgment when it came to her ex-husband, but as a friend, she was Reagan’s ride-or-die. She’d been there when Reagan had been excitedly yammering about moving in with Dustin. Her bestie had made it no secret that she thought Reagan was moving too fast. She’d even suggested that Reagan keep one foot at Ike’s house in case things went awry. Points to Kel for that nugget of sage wisdom, though Reagan had ignored it at the time.

“I have a place to live.” Reagan swirled her wine, admiring the chardonnay’s legs on the sides of the glass while Kelly processed this new information.

“Did Clifton’s Bluff open up?”

After a hearty gulp of chardonnay, Reagan shared, “No. Brody offered me the spare room. Temporarily, of course.”

Kelly’s mouth dropped open before splitting into a Cheshire grin. “Beg your pardon? You are now living with the billionaire?”

“I am living in my old house, which happens to be owned by a billionaire.” Not to split hairs, but she’d been living with Dustin and look how that’d turned out.

“A billionaire Crane, no less. Does this mean you finally…” She made a lewd gesture involving her finger and an “OK” sign she formed with her other hand. Reagan laughed in spite of herself.

“Yes, okay? Yes.”

Kelly raised both arms and shouted “Yesss!” loud enough to garner a few head turns. “God. He’s hot. Tell me he’s terrible in bed or I’ll forever question my life choices.”

“He’s not in the same country as terrible. Sorry to break that news to you.”

“Ah, well. At least you told me in person.” Kelly sat back in her chair. “I’m happy for you. I wanted you to get out there and?—”

“Live a little. So you said.”

Kelly wrinkled her nose. “I didn’t mean to imply that you had no life. I just want more for you. My delivery was shit. I can’t be trusted to give advice about men. Look at me.”

“I trust your advice. Same as you trust mine. Trusting advice and taking it are two very different beasts. I want you to be happy too, Kel.”

“I don’t expect you to understand why I believe Matt after not believing him for so long.”

“Why do you believe him?” She had been wondering.

“I had dinner with his boss, Rajani, a month ago.”

“Really?”

“Blind date. Can you believe it?” Kelly rolled her eyes. “Anyway, Raj mentioned Matt and the rumors flying about his assistant, Cherise.”

“I remember her name.” Kelly had been very vocal about how Cherise had been “giving it” to Matt.

“Cherise was recently fired for starting rumors about her and three other male employees. Raj said she’s a pathological liar. He swears that Matt didn’t cheat on me and that he can corroborate Matt’s late nights at the office with clock-ins and paycheck stubs.”

“Wow. Did Matt hire him to say that?” Reagan sort of joked.

“I don’t think so. If Raj and I had had a spark of chemistry, I doubt he would have offered that intel. But we entered the friend zone the moment we sat down to eat.” Kelly’s smile fell. “Matt denied the affair over and over again, and I didn’t believe him.”

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