Page 51 of Stuck On Them

“Just that we would never work. We both agree on that, our families just keep trying; arranging dinners, putting us next to each other at events, leaking rumors.” I loved my family and all, but they needed to calm down. Our empire was big enough as it was.

“I see.” She looked out her window as we crossed the bridge into Manhattan.

“Hey, don’t do that.” I reached over and took her hand from where it was resting against the side of her leg. “It’s nothing. They can’t force us to do anything, and I’ve made it very clear they aren’t arranging any marriage for me.”

“I’m sorry. That’s a lot to deal with.” She squeezed my hand and looked over at me.

“Don’t be. I just wish they would leave me the fuck alone about it.” I hated that it was even a thing to people, but Iwasone of New York City’s most eligible bachelors.

All three of us were.

“Do I need to worry about being in pictures?” The worry in her voice made me feel like I’d been kicked in the nuts.

“No. My team will get them deleted if they get any. They’ll probably hang around your place for a few days to make sure no one saw what building we came from.” I hadn’t seen them when we’d come out of Paige’s building, but then again, I’d been a little distracted by her.

“They’ve never found out about what you get up to in the bedroom?” Her thumb started to rub back and forth across the side of my hand, making a tingle shoot down my spine.

“No. It’s not like I’m a celebrity, but there are some social media accounts and blogs that put out content on New York’s rich.” I laid my head against my headrest, watching her as she stared out the window at the scenery passing by. “Garrett and Ryker aren’t really part of that. At least not yet. Mostly, women know who they are.”

She made a hm noise in her throat but didn’t respond. It was better for her to know all of the bad that came with the good upfront. I just hoped the good outweighed the bad.

* * *

Paige stared up at my yacht thirty minutes later, her lips parted. It was giving me ideas, which I quickly kicked out of my brain.

“MeetHoly Cannoli, an eighty-five-foot beauty.” I took her hand and walked toward the gangway where one of the staff was waiting to welcome us onboard.

“You said boat, not yacht. Garrett said you had a yacht but then Ryker was joking about feeding the fish and sharks. I thought they were joking.”

“I hate to break it to you, Paige, but a yacht is a boat. Plus, it has a regular boat on it too namedBubba.”

I could feel her eyes on my back as I made my way up the gangway with her following close at my heels. She held my hand tightly.

“Welcome aboard, sir. We have everything prepared as you requested. Please enjoy your evening and let me know if you need anything else.” Tom moved out of the way and did a sweeping motion with his arm.

“So fancy,” Paige muttered as she walked next to me onto the yacht and toward the main deck. “This is surreal. I can’t believe... never mind.”

“No, what were you going to say?” I stopped her at the bottom of the stairway, turning her to face me because her tone had changed.

“It’s not important.” She had her sunglasses on so I took them off and put them on top of her head so I could see her eyes. There were tears in them.

“What’s wrong?” I asked softly, bringing her hand to my lips and kissing her knuckles. “Is it too much? Did I say something to upset you?”

“We just live in two completely different realities is all. It’s like... when someone says they’ve bought their fifth Bentley while you watch a rat steal an Oreo that you shouldn’t have bought with what little money is left in your bank account.” She blew out a breath and looked over at the lower deck seating area. “Sorry, I sound bitter.”

“No, it’s understandable. I try to give back, but you’re right. It’s excessive.” I’d had this conversation quite often with Ryker, especially when he had days of guilt over spending his money. “I wish I had something philosophical to say. We do pay our employees on board well and they work full time since we also rent it out.”

“I guess I never thought about it that way.” She still had a sparkle in her eyes but gave me a soft smile. “Maybe I should apply for a job on your yacht.”

“And deal with rich assholes all the time? Hell no.” I pulled her into a hug, and she didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around me too. “I just thought you’d like the experience. We can go do something else if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“No, this is fine. Besides, don’t you have friends coming?” She started up the stairs, leaving me to look at her ass.

I didn’t know whether to tell her now or just wait for my friends to show up to deal with her ire. “Yeah, my friends will be here in a bit.”

“Looking forward to meeting them,” she said over her shoulder before coming to a stop at the top of the stairs. “Oh, wow.”

The main deck wasn’t even the best deck in my opinion, but it had a smaller outdoor area with seating and opened up into the main living area. “There are five bedrooms on this level and the VIP suite.”

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