Page 13 of Ezra the Billionaire

Texting my head of security, I order him to gather a few men and meet me behind the lodge. We’ll need a small army to waylay the sea of press, but what’s the use of being a billionaire, if I can’t use my money to pay for top notch security and protect my woman?

My feet freeze on the pavement.

Mywoman?

“Uncle Ezra? What's wrong?”

Oh, nothing, kid. I just had a life-altering epiphany.But that's not something you share with ten year old nieces, so I cobble together a lame excuse for my pause, secure her in my office, then rush back outside.

I quickly retrace the path of the camera crews as adrenaline spikes in my veins. Fuck, IwantLauren. She'smine. Feelings of possessiveness mix with a need to protect her, and they buoy my stride to a light jog.

I'm afraid I won't find her before the press, but I damn well plan on becoming her shield when I do. Because she's done being plagued by these vultures.

If they want a piece of Lauren, they'll have to go through me first, and anyone familiar with Ezra Caldwell will tell them:I'm a tough son of a bitch.

CHAPTER NINE

LAUREN

The afternoon sunlight warms my shoulders as I relax in one of the Adirondack chairs scattered on the stone patio outside the lodge. It's set up in tiers that weave through a garden of dormant shrubs and bare trees. In the spring, I’m sure it’s beautiful, but the stark winter visage holds its own kind of wonder, too.

Ezra messaged earlier to postpone our coffee date, mentioning needing to pick up his niece from school. It’s sweet how involved he is. My extended family didn’t live anywhere near me while growing up, which made impromptu pick-ups impossible. Plus, I took the bus since my parents worked during that time.

“Lauren. Lauren!”

The sip of my latte spews from my lips at the sound of my name in that overly friendly tone.

Oh, no.

My metal chair scrapes across the stone as I stand, fighting to regain my equilibrium.

Hunter is here, and he brought an entourage.

A smug grin plasters his face before he tugs me into an awkward hug. “There you are! Do you know how hard I've been trying to reach you?Harmony Housewants us back for a reunion show.”

Hunter’s audacity remains unmatched. How dare he track me down and suggest I’d ever want to work with him again? As if I’d want to appear on a reunion show with him and Mya, who last I heard was still fucking my ex.

“Are you out of your mind? I’m not filming a reunion show.” The end of my ponytail stings my eye because my head shakesnoso fast. “I’m never doing reality TV again.”

“Come on, Lo. Don’t be like that,” he whines.Ugh, I can't believe I used to date this wheedling jerk.“Our storyline made ratings history for the network. Imagine how well a live reunion will do! You, me, Mya… It’s a guaranteed hit.”

“It’s a guaranteed trainwreck. You humiliated me in front of millions of people, and you never even apologized. Now, you expect me to prostrate myself for the public again?”

“That’s what this is about? An apology?” He runs a hand through his shaggy hair. “I wanted to do it right. There’s a whole thing planned for the reunion, but if you need to hear it now, I’m sorry, okay?”

“No, not okay. Take your fake apology and shove it up your ass. I came to Suitor’s Crossing to get away from you and the tabloids, and you’re screwing that up by bringing them to witness whatever this is.” I gesture between us.

A group of photogs are crowded at the edges of the stone patio, snapping shot after shot like their lives depend on capturing Hunter and I in the throes of an argument.

“Everything all right here?” Ezra’s familiar voice enters the fray, and I’m torn between being happy he’s here and embarrassed that he’s getting another glimpse at how much of a mess my life’s been lately.

“Everything’s cool, man. Just a little spat with my girl. You know how it is.” Hunter offers an affable smile.

“I’m not your girl.”

“She’s not your girl.”

Hunter looks between me and Ezra, his brows furrowing as confusion wipes away some of his earlier charm.

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