Page 10 of Dedicated Billionaire

I step back and so does he. Poor boat guy doesn’t seem to understand why I’m laughing when it turns out he’s talking about recently having a run of bad luck with his stock picks. I feel bad but am finding this new occurrence over by the grill far more interesting.

I almost crack myself up, but don’t want to torture the boat guy any longer. Excusing myself, I start up a conversation with the watch guy. I grab his hand and hold it up close to my face, gushing about how great the vintage piece is. He has to tell me everything about it, immediately. He positively glows and starts droning on about the history of Swiss watches, all while I keep Braden in my peripheral vision.

The first two weren’t a coincidence where he happened to be scowling while glancing my way. He’s definitely pissed. Which has to mean what he said earlier is true. He wants me, and he’s jealous.

And I kind of… like it?

Not the fact that he’s about to storm over here and dump this guy in the pool, possibly ruining his vintage watch, but the fact he’s having those feelings for me. There’s no denying it. Braden is barely holding himself together over there, like a cagedbeast just about to give that final bit of effort it takes to break free and rampage.

I wonder why he doesn’t just come over and rescue me from this never ending lecture on leather bands versus metal, and then, what kind of metal makes the best watchband? Seriously, why is he over there fuming when all he needs to do is stride over on those muscular legs and take me away from all this.

But then I remember that my entire family is around and could blow up this whole thing before it even really starts. They have no idea Braden and I are finally exploring our mutual attraction, that deep down I’ve always known he was the only man for me, which is why I’ve never truly been with anyone else. If he made a move, Matt would feel betrayed, maybe enough to kick his ass for what he considered taking advantage. Braden’s hands are tied, and I’m stuck spending the evening with the goobers.

Up until dinner, I keep up my little game of testing what will make smoke come out of Braden’s ears, and then grow tired of it. I don’t want him to be miserable, not when he spent so much time making sure I was all right after my mother’s meddling nearly sent me into my first, and hopefully last, panic attack. And the way he’s been looking at me in between glaring at the guys, is giving me all sorts of feelings I’ve never had before.

As soon as I’m done with the meal, I give a big, showy, yawn and say goodnight to everyone still gathered around the pool, ready for whatever else my mom has planned.

Heading inside, I take one last look at Braden, who’s staring straight at me. Not angry now, but almost feral, like he wants to devour me. Like he’s just about ready to break free of his cage.

And I really like that. Way too much.

Chapter 6

Braden

What is going on? Matt and Mr. Hagel are talking about something that I’m sure is important, but I can’t process any of it. It’s a good thing they haven’t put me in charge of flipping the burgers or they’d all be charred to a crisp. All I can see is Carly.

I know she is messing with me, acting like she actually likes these guys to get under my skin. Maybe my little raven is trying to force my hand in front of her family, and I don’t like any of this one bit. It’s pissing me right off and making me want to mow them all down and drag her to the forest where we can be alone again. I grab a beer and slam it back, but it does nothing to cool me off. I barely taste any of the food and don’t know how Matt hasn’t noticed something by now because I can’t take my eyes off of his little sister.

It’s a rough evening. Am I relieved when she yawns and says goodnight to everyone, finally setting me free? One of her suitors looks like he’ll follow her but thankfully he opts not to, and I don’t have to crack his head.

The night is over for me and to Matt’s disappointment I tell him I’m just too beat to catch up on his latest projects. I clap him on the shoulder and promise I’ll be up for some partying tomorrow, but if I don’t shake off this sudden obsession with Carly, it might be a promise I don’t keep.

An icy shower does nothing and neither does prowling my suite like a caged animal. There’s no shutting her out and nosleeping, not when the images of her in my memory have given me a raging hard on. I grip my stiff cock and stroke, gritting my teeth as I imagine Carly’s perfect little body riding me, her head tossed back in ecstasy as I make her come. I can hear the moan she made earlier replaying over and over. Groaning, I finish, unsatisfied and more frustrated than ever.

The next morning, I’m no clearer and find myself wishing I had just gone to Carly’s room last night. Surely whatever guilt I felt would be better than this restless hunger I feel now.

I follow my nose to where I’m sure a massive breakfast will be laid out in the dining room and stop as I pass the kitchen. Carly and her mother are in a heated argument. Mrs. Hagel is trying to keep up her sunny facade but it’s clear she’s unhappy with what she’s calling Carly’s bad attitude.

“I don’t see how your possible future is less important than this silly summer job,” she says.

Oh boy. I wait for Carly to bite back, but she’s surprisingly meek. “It’s not just a summer job to me, Mom. Can’t you understand that?”

My hands clench. She sounds almost broken. Not my strong, unflappable Carly.

“Your father went to a lot of trouble to make sure you have a nice time on this vacation,” Mrs. Hagel says, ignoring the question. “And you’re barely being sociable.”

Even I can translate what she’s really saying.Your father arranged all these eligible men. And you aren’t already engaged.Maybe not that dramatic, but she doesn’t think Carly’s jumping through their hoops enough.

“Just because I didn’t want to go on a hike with the boat guy?” Carly retorts and I hold back a snicker. There’s that fire.

She storms out of the kitchen, not noticing me hanging back. Before she reaches the dining room entrance, she’s accosted by one of the goobers. He tries to corral her into theroom, but she swerves, almost running into the one who was a bit too handsy the day before. Her eyes are frantic as he puts his hand at the small of her back, pushing her toward the dining room and loudly suggesting they eat together before they decide what to do for the day.

Oh, hell, no.

I’m a few inches taller than the guy and easily outweigh him by forty pounds or more since he clearly doesn’t take the time to hit the gym after work.

“Hey, Carly,” I say. “Matt was looking all over for you.” A glance in the dining room shows that her brother isn’t already in there, so my excuse works. “It seems important.”

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