Page 82 of The Billionaire Experience

“What are you talking about?” Reagan backed out of Ike’s arms.

“I had a lady friend over and things got?—”

“Oh my God.” She sprang away from the bed as if it’d caught fire. She shot Brody an incredulous look, probably because he’d lost his ability to contain his laughter. “You mean, you were…? Don’t tell me.”

“I’m only human.” Ike shrugged. “I’m fine. They said I can go home after one more hour of observation. Just to make sure I don’t reinjure myself. Without Dottie Danders here, I don’t see how that’s possible.”

Brody laughed again, earning a spicy glare from Reagan before she turned it on her grandfather.

“You have to be more careful. I thought you were dead.”

Brody would rather see her angry than with that lost, forlorn expression on her face. He never ever wanted to witness such despair again. It’d nearly killed him that he couldn’t make everything okay.

“Me too, but what a way to go.” Ike released a dry chuckle which incensed Reagan more.

“I’ll take you home when you’re released. I mean…” Her eyes jerked to Brody. “If you don’t mind waiting?”

“You have to ask?” What kind of an asshole did she take him for? “Of course I’ll wait with you.”

Her lips flinched into a smile of gratitude.

It took two hours for the hospital staff to release Ike. Brody was typically a night owl, but today had wiped him out. After yardwork and drinks with Dante, he’d been happy to go to bed at nine. He wasn’t sure what that said about his wild side. Sort of threw him off to notice that a domestic existence paired with an earlier-than-usual bedtime wasn’t as unpleasant as he’d formerly believed. Was he getting old?

Then again, one look at Ike proved that “old” was a state of mind.

Once Reagan’s grandfather was back at his own house and she’d made sure he had everything he needed, she turned to Brody. “I can’t go to New York in the morning.”

“Why the hell not?” came Ike’s reply.

“You’re not supposed to be listening,” she snapped. Ike was sitting in his armchair, television on. He’d claimed to be wide awake from the evening’s activities.

“What’s in New York?” he asked.

“Nothing she can’t miss,” Brody interjected. No way was she obligated to travel with him when she wanted to be here with her grandfather. “Charity event my cousin is throwing.”

“That sounds fancy.” Ike’s eyebrows rose. “Formal attire?”

“Ike.” Her tone was a warning.

“Do you have a formal dress?”

“I bought her one,” Brody said, unable to keep from fanning the flames. He wouldn’t obligate her to attend, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t want her to come with him.

“You have to go.” Ike shrugged like the topic was closed.

“I’m not leaving you. What if?—”

The doorbell rang and everyone looked at the door.

“There’s Dottie now.” Ike moved to put his recliner down.

Brody stayed him with a hand. “I’ll get it.” He opened the front door to find a coiffed woman standing there, likely younger than Ike. Her white wavy hair was styled, and she wore a pair of wide-legged cropped jeans and a pink floral blouse. Class from head to toe.

“When I left him, he was fine, I swear.” She clutched the handles of her purse with white knuckles, her eyes widening when she saw Ike. “I can’t believe you didn’t call me!”

“I’m fine,” he said. His new mantra.

“He’s stubborn.” Dottie pointed at him accusingly.

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