Page 63 of A Billion Dollar Romance
He turned down into the private lot beneath his apartment building, my anticipation building.
“We’re home.”
I smiled.
I knew it was just a figure of speech.
But it felt like it was true.
Home.
CHAPTER31
Edie
James pickedme up for the party in a huge SUV I’d never seen him drive before. The reason was quickly discovered: the back seat held not only his brother, Charlie, but also a tween-sized mannequin with a large purple bow tied around its waist.
“This seat’s taken,” Charlie quipped, gesturing to the dress form next to him. “You’ll have to sit up front. Nice to see you again, Edie.”
“You too, Charlie,” I said. “Is that your gift for Maddie?”
“No, this is my date,” he said with a grin that looked adorably like his older brother’s.
“She’s a little young for you,” James said, and Charlie’s grin grew wider.
“You’re one to talk.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing at the brothers’ interaction.
“You got Maddie a… mannequin?”
“No,Igot Maddie a coupon for a full day with Uncle Charlie,” Charlie said. “Whatever she wants to do, redeemable at any time. Value: priceless. The mannequin is from James.”
I nodded. “Cool, cool,” I said with a smile.
“She likes fashion,” James said.
“Right, of course. It’s not creepy at all.”
He sighed. “I had to think of something to stick a bow on.”
“You couldn’t very well gift-wrap Mina Miyaki,” Charlie said from the back seat as James drove through the city.
“The designer?” I asked, and James nodded.
“I got Maddie some fashion design lessons.”
“FromMina Miyaki?”
He shrugged. “She’s the only designer I had a connection with; Samantha published an art book of her vintage designs…”
“Samantha,” Charlie growled from the back seat. “You’ll live to regret calling in that favor, Jamie, I’m sure of it.”
“I don’t think I will, Charlie,” he said, with a smirk. “Not when Maddie hears about my gift and decidesI’mher favorite uncle–”
“No way in hellcan you steal my title…”
The brothers spent the rest of the short trip to Ryan’s home recounting their ten-year-running competition for Maddie’s heart. By the time we pulled up in front of an large stone house with a green lawn, I had almost forgotten that the birthday party was for her, not the men’s personal egos–that is, until Maddie herself came running down the front walkway, arms outstretched, and the brothers hurried to scoop her up in first Charlie’s arms, then James’s for bear hugs.
