Page 169 of Triplet Trouble For My Billionaire Boss

My phone vibrates on the counter.

Noah: Just pulled up.

Crap.

I snatch my phone and hurry toward the bedroom door, shoving it into my bag as I go. I don’t want him coming inside. Not because I’m hiding anything—okay, maybe I am—but because I don’t want to deal with introductions.

I don’t want to deal with Cole and Noah meeting.

Not tonight.

Not when I still feel rawfrom our conversation earlier.

I practically jog down the hall, heading toward the stairs, my heart pounding faster than it should. Maybe if I move quickly, I can get out before—

Too late.

By the time I reach the bottom of the stairs, I hear the front door open.

I freeze for half a second before forcing myself to move, rounding the corner just in time to see Ellis stepping aside, letting Noah walk in.

Shit.

“Noah.” I say his name like I wasn’t just speed-walking to the door to keep this exact thing from happening.

His head swivels toward me, and he grins, his blue eyes lighting up. “There you are.”

I barely take in his usual easy confidence, the way he’s dressed in dark jeans and a button-up, or the way he shoves his hands into his pockets like he has all the time in the world.

Because right behind him—walking in from the living room—are Cole and Robbie.

Double shit.

I barely have a second to prepare before Robbie’s face lights up. “Annie!” He rushes forward, wrapping his arms around my waist in a quick hug before stepping back and looking between me and Noah. He lowers his voice. “Who’s this?”

Noah glances down at him, eyebrows raised, then back at me. “Uh—”

“I’m Robbie,” Robbie announces before I can speak, his chest puffing out slightly like he’s proud to introduce himself first. “Who are you?”

Noah chuckles and directs his attention to Robbie. “I’m Noah. I’m Annie’s friend. Nice to meet you, kid.”

I let out a breath, already feeling the beginnings of a headache.

Noah tilts his head, giving me a pointed look at my reaction, but he doesn’t comment on it.

“You too,” Robbie says, then glances back at Cole. “Dad, do you know him?”

And just like that, the air shifts.

I don’t turn toward Cole, but I feel his gaze on me. He’s been silent this whole time, but I know he’s watching. Studying.

Noah notices, too.

Cole steps forward, his presence obvious even though he hasn’t said a word yet. He puts his hand out to Noah. “Cole.”

Cole’s eyes are steady on Noah, like he’s taking in every detail and trying to figure out what kind of threat this man poses.

Noah, of course, picks up on it immediately. He always does.

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