Page 96 of The Billionaire Boss and the Barista

GARRETT

Rainer’s phone buzzed. “They’re coming back up.”

Garrett, dressed in last night’s shirt and pants, jumped up from the couch, only to be pushed back down by a firm hand.

“Garrett, I say this with love,” Rainer began. “But you have to get a fucking grip. Emma may be coming up to pack her clothes for all we know.”

His displeasure must have shown on his face because Rainer scowled at him. “Hey, none of that shit. You need to be calm and collected and most of allhonest.”

“I will be.”

Rainer held up a finger. “Not your version of honest.”

He deserved that but Garrett couldn’t help getting defensive. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means that your instinct is going to be to withhold shit that will upset Emma. I don’t think you should do that.”

Rainer ran his hand through his hair. “I’m not saying dump everything on her all at once. But make sure she knows you’re willing to tell her whatever she wants to know when she wants to know it.”

The sound of the door opening interrupted his lecture. Garrettsprang up again but stopped himself from running to Emma when Rainer surreptitiously shook his head.

She walked into the penthouse behind George almost tentatively, her hands in the pockets of his trench coat. Her hair was mussed, and she still looked pale and shell-shocked, but she was there.

Thank Christ. The relief took him down at the knees, so it was a good fucking thing the couch was close at hand.

She came back. And Garrett was ready to do just about anything to keep her here.

Too bad it was a head injury and not a bum kidney. Because he had two kidneys and she could have either one.

There was a long silence.

Rainer cleared his throat. “I guess we should be going,” he said, signaling his new bride.

Garrett tore his eyes away from Emma long enough to turn to George.

“Thank you,” he said, the words heartfelt.

George stepped forward, her pixie face all up in his.

“Emma wants to talk to you but if she changes her mind at any point, she knows she’s welcome at our place—even after we go on our honeymoon.”

She twisted to look at her husband. “I gave her a key.”

Rainer flicked his eyes to Garrett, but he nodded at his wife.

“I understand,” he murmured.

“Good,’” George said, her pixie face incongruously hard. “I’m trusting you here. Don’t fuck this up.”

She stopped to hug Emma on the way out, whispering something about a Cadillac. Then he and his wife were alone.

“Emmy,” he began.

She held up a hand, her eyes narrowed on his face. “Why do you do that? You know that’s not my name.”

He opened his mouth and then quickly closed it. “Uh, I don’t think we should start there.”

Emma crossed her arms and glared at him. For some reason it instantly made himfeel better.

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