Page 73 of Rulebreaker
Hence me pulling a few strings to rent the place out.
Something made easier because Titan Capital–Jean-Michel’s investment arm–has recently partnered with my company. Things are going well, the deal looks to make both of us a fuck-ton of money, and…I’ve gotten to know the man with salt and pepper hair, deep blue eyes, and a grumpy expression a little.
At least until it drifts down to Lily’s and my hands, our fingers interlaced.
Then it softens slightly.
And I’m reminded that knowing Jean-Michela littlemeans exactly that.
There’s more to the man than the grumpy businessman, especially as a woman hurries up the steps and curls into his side, seemingly heedless of the man’s power and status, completely at ease even with all that surly on his face.
Probably because surly disappears right before he glances down at her, before he gently strokes the hair away from her face and bends to brush his lips over hers. “Hey, buttercup,” he murmurs.
“Hey,” the woman whispers as she drops back onto her heels and looks up.
At me.
She jumps, eyes going wide.
Then wider still when her gaze drifts to Lily.
“I-I’m sorry,” she says, cheeks going pink. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.” She tries to pull back but Jean-Michel just bands his arm around her middle and keeps her against his side.
“Don’t apologize,” Lily says, and I glance down at her, see the amusement in her eyes, her face. “I happen to get a little distracted by my billionaire boyfriend too.”
The woman’s cheeks pinken further, but she smiles back at Lily. “I’mTiff.”
Lily steps forward and even though it would make introductions easy to let go of her hand, I find that I can’t release her.
Something Jean-Michel seems to track, given the glimmer of humor in his blue eyes.
Still, Lily and Tiff manage to shake hands, complete introductions, and then Lily steps back, shifting closer, her side pressed to mine. Like the couple across from us.
And fuck, I like that too.
“I love your music,” Tiff says. “Your newest album has been on repeat in our house.”
Jean-Michel smiles indulgently. “She’s not lying.”
Tiff, showing that I was right, that just like Lily, she has no fear of her billionaire boyfriend–or fiancée, given the huge diamond on her ring finger.
And I like that most of all.
That they’re settled, tied together. No secrets. No bullshit hangups. Nothing but the two of them versus the rest of the world.
Which, if I’m being truthful, is something that I’ve wanted more than anything–more than the billions, than the houses, the jet, the power.
A family that I can trust, can take care of.
And a woman that I can have that with, a woman who knows all the secret parts of me and doesn’t turn away, doesn’t judge.
Justloves.
Lily, curled against me, her fingers gently tucked into the waistband of my pants, her scent in my nose…she’s that.
Herself from the moment I’ve met her, honest in a way I’ve never known before.
And here for me.
