Page 61 of The Billionaire Experience

“Very funny.” But it was. The idea of him rifling through his own cabinets and doing his own dishes when his smoothies were usually premade and stocked in the refrigerator was amusing. “Well, let’s buy one.”

“They’re four hundred dollars.”

“Huh-uh. That one is seven hundred.” He reached for the box labeled The Ascent Series featuring shiny gold accents.

“Don’t you dare! I have one in my storage unit.”

“You have a lot of stuff in your storage unit.”

“I haven’t missed anything in there until now. I’ve been…busy.” She shot him a feisty look.

He abandoned the cart to pull her ass against his hips. He nudged aside her hair and gently bit her earlobe. “You’ve been busy gettin’ busy with me.”

She hummed as she reached up to palm the back of his neck. He moved his hand as high as her ribs, wanting to go higher, but they were in public. A cart with a wobbly wheel went squeaking by and snapped him out of his trance.

Once they were on the move down the aisle again, he continued the discussion. “Why do you still have a storage unit?”

“Because I don’t have a place to live.” Her expression said what she didn’t: Duh.

“You live at 388 Maplebrook Drive last I checked.”

She clucked her tongue. “For now.”

“Yes, but I’m also living there for now, and I’ve furnished the house.”

“I'm not sure I’d call what you did ‘furnished.’ Besides, you own it, so you having furniture there makes sense,” she mumbled as she lifted a trinket off the shelf.

What she didn’t know was that he’d decided to sell her the house when he left. Only, he didn’t want her to stress about the money or the downpayment, so he planned on selling it to her for a dollar for tax purposes. He wasn’t sure she’d go for that, and he might take some heat from Jaylyn for buying yet another house for a woman, but it was the right thing to do. Reagan belonged in that house.

“Shoot!” She put the trinket back on the shelf. “I almost forgot. I have to buy shoes to go with the dress I’m wearing tonight.”

“Here?” he asked as she wheeled their to-be-purchased goods toward the shoe department.

“Don’t be a snob. They’re budget-friendly.”

He made a face. Not because he didn’t appreciate budget-friendly options—when he’d lived off tips or a cook’s wage, he’d celebrated budget-friendly. It was the idea of her having to settle that chafed him.

“I bought my dress here,” she argued as she peeked into a shoebox on the shelf. “Maybe they have the same brand.”

“I can’t let you do this.” He pushed the box back onto the shelf. He’d been immersed in Reagan’s world, hell, he lived in her former house. It was high time she had a taste of his world. Something told him she’d never been spoiled. He was up for that task. “I have a better idea. And you owe me for this endless exercise of my shopping patience, so we’re doing it.”

“Doing what?” Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“C’mon. I’ll show you.”

Two hours later, after the dinner Brody had promised her, and about an hour and a half from the housewarming party start time, he gestured to the doors of a towering brick building. They were downtown, and swanky didn’t begin to describe the luxurious shop.

They had made a pitstop at the liquor store for a bottle of bourbon before going to dinner. She’d organized the gift basket and had signed the card too, after Brody insisted. She was proud of her finds, though mildly concerned that she didn’t have shoes to wear with her dress. Brody assured her they’d find a pair tonight, but if this was where they were starting, she couldn’t imagine being able to afford them. She doubted this store carried shoes costing less than five hundred dollars a pair.

So, here she was, Brody’s hand on her back as he guided her to an elevator. She’d worn her best pair of flats, black jeans, and a sparkly rhinestone top. A worst-case scenario outfit in case she didn’t find anything within her budget at this store. Likely.

On the fifth floor, they were greeted by a receptionist at a desk. “May I help you?” the young woman asked with a flip of her silky black hair.

“I reserved a suite with Dana,” Brody answered.

A…what, now?

“Of course, right this way.” The receptionist led them over shining marble flooring to a pair of double doors. The suite appeared to be the largest of the surrounding rooms. Reagan immediately began sweating. “Enjoy your experience.”

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