Page 26 of Royally Benevolent

“She did. Grieg,” I said. “Her name is Odie, Theo. She’s the one whose sister has a nanny service. That was what the text was about.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Mom, I know what you are thinking,” I said. “But we’re just friends. We’re serving on a charity board together for the transportation projects.”

Her expression indicated she was still unconvinced, but I was trying. Odette was a friend. Couldn’t a man have a friend? Even a pretty blonde young princess for a platonic friend?

“Well, when are you working on thisproject?”

“I was going to ask if it was okay if I invited her over to discuss it later this week. Are you okay with her coming over after Theo goes down?”

“Sure, of course. Wyatt, sweetheart, this isyourhouse. You can have people over. Youshouldhave people.”

“It’s hard to have a social life.”

Mom sighed, “Wyatt, you need to try, okay?”

“Sure. And I’ve made a friend. She’s an honest friend. Is that not good enough?”

“Well, invite her over, and I’ll believe you.”

I rose to the challenge. I’d put it into the universe. Now, I needed to produce results. Odette was the first non-staff and non-family member I’d had to go to the house for anything other than business reasons since Isla died. Almost three years passed since I’d lost my wife. Perhaps Mom was right? It made sense to move forward. It was time. If Odette could be so kind, couldn’t others?

15

THE BILLIONAIRE

ODETTE

“What is that smile for?” Rick teased.

“Have a good ride?” Alexandra asked.

I collapsed on the sitting room couch. Grieg settled next to me, falling back asleep as he’d been in the cargo bucket moments before.

“It was.”

Rick knew something was up. He was a nosey papa who never let things go. He read social cues better than the rest of us.

“That was the world’s longest coffee run,” Rick continued.

“How did you know what she was up to?”

“Lex, I ran into her on the way out,” Rick answered.

Christophe approached with a cup. Rick pretended to sip it. “Mmm, that hit the spot, Chris.”

“I took a detour. I ran into someone at the shop, and Grieg and I decided to help entertain a toddler.”

“What? Is this the person you texted me about? For the nanny?” Alexandra asked.

“Yes.”

“Who is this?” Rick asked.

“What is up with you?” Alexandra inquired. “You are on a mission.”

He knew what she didn’t.

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