Page 58 of The Billionaire Experience

“How about I buy you dinner?” he amended.

“Okay.”

“Okay.” He kissed her again and then left the room, leaving his plate and napkin on the table. A good reminder of their differences, and about the roles she would and wouldn’t accept with him.

She left the kitchen, ignoring his mess. She’d take Brody at face value and indulge whatever this was for as long as it felt right. And when it didn’t? Que sera.

Life was impermanent—he’d said so himself.

After checking on two clients later in the day and popping into the hardware store for supplies, Reagan’s cell phone rang. When she saw Kelly’s name on the screen, she hesitated for a moment before answering. “Hi.”

“Thank God,” came her best friend’s greeting. “You answering hopefully means you don’t hate me.”

“Of course I don’t hate you.” Reagan meant it. She was frustrated, and the jury was out on whether Matt was a horse’s ass, but that had nothing to do with her love for Kelly.

“I’m relieved to hear that. I have something for you.” The voice on the phone echoed behind her in the parking lot. Reagan turned to find Kelly holding her cell phone to her ear with her shoulder and juggling flowers, a six-pack of cupcakes, and a wine-bottle-shaped paper sack in her arms. “Surprise!”

“Kel…”

“I know I’m stalking you, but what do you expect when you leave your FindMe app on?”

“Having each other on FindMe was for safety purposes since we are both single women. I’m not sure it applies to kamikaze…whatever this is.”

“It’s an apology. If you will accept it. Can I take you out for a glass of wine? I’m assuming you’re done with work for the day. Or does the billionaire you work for have you pulling night shifts?”

“This really isn’t necessary.” Reagan opened her truck door and dropped her reusable tote onto the front seat. She was less sore about their argument than she’d been a week ago, but it was telling that Kelly hadn’t reached out until now.

She unburdened Kelly of the flowers, cupcakes, and wine, and arranged them on the floorboard so that they didn’t slide around while she drove.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you Matt and I were working things out. I was afraid you would judge me.”

“I did judge you. But that’s not the point. You said things you shouldn’t have said.”

“I know.” Kelly cringed. “I was defensive because I was afraid you’d tell me that trying again with Matt was a bad idea. I should have come from a place of understanding. Which is where I’m coming from now. I want to talk without Matt being in the shower upstairs while you’re packing your belongings and moving out. I could have been nicer.”

“You don’t have to backpedal. We all have shitty days.”

“Yes, but I had no right to tell you to ‘live a little’ or to treat you as if you have no idea what love is because you’ve never been married. Hell, I’m no longer married. What do I know?”

Reagan had known Kelly a long time, which was why she thawed the instant Kelly owned her part. Extra points for her coming to the realization on her own.

“I can buy you more flowers. Or a big teddy bear. Need a new iPad?” Kelly pressed her hands together in prayer pose. “I love you. I’m sorry.”

“I love you too, and apology accepted.”

“Yay!” Kelly crushed Reagan into a hug that lasted three seconds before she held her at arm’s length and said, “I made a mistake.”

“Like I said, it’s okay.”

“With Matt. I made a mistake.”

Damn. Reagan had hoped against hope. “I’m sorry. I know you wanted to believe him.”

“That’s just it,” Kelly said softly. “I do believe him. I made a mistake leaving him. What we had was worth so much more than divorcing over an alleged affair.”

“Alleged?” Reagan held up a hand. “Let’s save it for the wine. I have a feeling I might need it.”

“My treat. Key and Lime?”

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