Page 70 of Billion Dollar Vow

I inch closer, squatting in front of her, covering her with the blanket, then brushing her hair away from her face and tucking it behind her ear. There’s a tiny trail of drool on the cushion that catches my eye, and a deep chuckle bubbles out of me.

She jerks awake, practically launching herself off the sofa, eyes darting around before they land on me with a mix of confusion and irritation.

“Hey, you’re back.” She wipes at her mouth, sitting up. Her face is bare, no makeup, just freckles scattered across her cheeks, her hair messy from the nap. She finally looks up at me, her eyes bright under the light.

“I am.” I rise, smirking, move to the kitchen, grab a glass of water, down two Tylenol, and settle on the sofa. Grabbing the remote, I flick through the channels.

“Did you want to watch the next episode ofNobody Wants This?”

“Already watched it.”

“You didn’t.”

A soft laugh escapes her. “Gotcha.”

“You had me there for a second,” I say, eyes narrowed playfully. “Now come on, let’s binge this.”

She curls up beside me, leaving a little space between us. “Did you have fun?”

“I did. Thanks. It was good to hang out with them, just us, no work, with nothing but time,” I say, watching her expression soften. “Spending one-on-one time with each of my brothers was something I didn’t realize I needed. I wouldn’t say we’ve drifted apart, exactly, but life keeps us all so busy. Even at Sunday dinners, we’re mostly there for Grams. But this trip… it gave us a chance to really reconnect.”

“I get that,” she says quietly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. “Sometimes you don’t realize how much you’ve missed someone until you finally slow down and really talk to them again.”

“Yeah. You’re right. I think I needed that trip more than I thought.” I pause, holding her gaze. “And maybe I needed this too.”

She smiles faintly. “Yeah… me too.”

I settle back beside her, pressing play on the next episode. “Let’s see if you can stay awake for the whole thing.”

She elbows me gently. “I’ve had my nap… I’m good. You’re the one who looks ready to crash.”

My lips lift into a small smile. “Just don’t give me the blanket.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “I hear excuses.”

“Excuses?” I snort. “Please, I’ve got stamina for days.”

As the words leave my mouth, her eyes widen briefly before returning to normal. I catch that reaction and feel a flicker of heat in my chest, knowing exactly where her mind went. I try not to smirk.

“Stamina?” she teases, throwing a corner of the blanket over me. “Better?”

I pull more over me. “Much better. Just don’t be surprised if I outlast you.”

We share a smile, a silent dare to see who’s really going to make it through this episode.

Chapter 18

Karley

Afewhourslater,I blink my eyes open, disoriented for a moment in the darkness. As my vision clears, I realize he’s lying on top of me, his head on my stomach, feeling the rise and fall of his breath against me.

My heart skips a beat. When did I fall asleep like this? I lift my head slowly, careful not to wake him, but a part of me doesn’t want to move. Lying here, surrounded by his warmth, feels safe in a way I’m not used to.

But I can’t stay like this. This isn’t real. I have to keep reminding myself of that. Gently, I shift, trying to slip away without waking him, but his grip tightens around me.

“Hey,” he mumbles, his voice raspy as it rumbles against my belly, sending an involuntary shiver up my spine.

“Hi,” I manage to say, giving him a little shove. “Come on, get up. I can’t feel my legs.”

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