Page 50 of Secret Billionaire

Faye’s strategy backfired, the relief short-lived, as she grappled with this new threat. She crossed her arms over her chest as she was gripped by a different emotion…jealousy.

“Keeping secrets already?” she accused. Girl you better quit while you’re ahead. Isn’t your own lying the whole reason you’re even having this stupid discussion in the first place?

“Faye are you serious right now? Having an ex-girlfriend is hardly keeping a secret.”

“What about the phone calls?” Now that she was on a roll, she couldn’t seem to stop herself. “She’s beautiful. Quite the bombshell. I wonder how you can even look at me after being with someone like her. She looks like every man’s fantasy.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, “I can’t believe this.”

“Believe it.” She set her jaw stubbornly completely forgetting her own deception. She’d honestly never felt jealous over a man before. It was gut-wrenching. Her stomach cramped and she felt slightly nauseous.

“Let’s pick the damn door and get out of here,” she said.

“Fine by me,” he said between gritted teeth.

The ride back to the bar was thick with tension. Faye sat turned away from Jesse her arms crossed, staring silently out the window.

“You know you’re being unreasonable, right?” Jesse said.

Silence.

“Look, we broke up after I found out she had another guy on the side. Does that make you feel any better?”

He saw her shoulders soften out of the corner of his eye.

Progress.

“She might be every other guys’ fantasy, but she’s not mine. My dream girl is sitting right next to me acting as stubborn as a mule.”

She finally turned and looked at him. He reached over and tweaked her nose. “I’ve had a dance or two with the green-eyed monster, and it’s a dance with the devil.”

“I’m not jealous.”

“You sure about that?”

“Yes, I’m just surprised that’s all.”

“Well since you’re not jealous I guess you don’t need me to tell you how sexy and beautiful I find you. How I go to bed every night with you on my mind and wake up every morning rock hard thinking about you.”

She tentatively reached for his hand and he took ahold of hers and brought it to his lips. “You don’t ever have to worry about another woman. I’m a one-woman kind of guy. And you’re it for me.”

“Jess…”

“Here we are.” They pulled into the parking lot and he jumped out and went around to open her door.

“I’m sorry, sorry for a lot of things,” Faye said hugging him tightly around his hard body.

He kissed the top of her head. “Ain’t no big thang. Let’s get this door hung and leave that shit behind.”

* * *

That evening as Faye lay in bed going over her list for the following day, she glanced over at the vase of roses and remembered that she’d never thanked Jesse. She’d have to do that first thing. She had changed her mind and decided to ask Ty work evenings this week. She wasn’t afraid to admit that she felt nervous to be there alone. His new shift would begin at five. He was young and didn’t mind the later hours, so it worked for him.

Memorial Day Weekend would be here before she knew it. So much to do before the grand opening. The deck was almost ready. Jesse would start on the kitchen renovation right away. He was confident he’d be able to get the kitchen up and running before the big weekend. She almost couldn’t believe it.

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