Page 7 of Her Billionaire Hero
I didn’t want her to think of us in that regard at all. “Sloan, you’re not working under any of us. You’re a contractor, not an employee.”
“Yeah.” A slight nod made me think she was trying to get used to the idea. I knew this was her first solo project, so I figured it might take some adjusting. “It’s just that I’ve always worked for someone—never for myself. But you’re right. You gentlemen are more like my clients than my bosses.”
“Weareyour clients.” Inhaling the delicious scent of cilantro, I moaned a bit. “I can’t wait to taste these tacos.”
“It won’t be much longer.” Nodding to the fast-moving line she said, “Only five more, then our turn.”
“Having a local as a friend seems to be paying off for me already.” I saw my brothers coming our way. “Here comes the rat-pack now.”
Their hurry to get places in the long line made their greetings short as they all said in unison, “Nice to meet you, Sloan.”
She waved and shouted as they ran to the back of the line, “Nice meeting y’all too.”
Fifteen minutes later, Sloan and I sat at an umbrella-covered table, a cool breeze blowing her dark hair around her makeup-free face. Her doe-like didn’t need a bunch of mascara and eyeliner to make them look pretty. Thick, dark lashes made them pop on their own. A light pink blush stained the apples of her cheeks, matching the shade of her plump lips.
It was hard to tell exactly what sort of figure she had with the shapeless slacks and button-down shirt she wore. But I wasn’t supposed to be checking her out in that way anyway. So, I diverted my attention by watching her expertly splash something red onto her taco. “Is that spicy?”
“It sure is.” She pushed the bottle to me. “You’ve got to try some.”
“Do I have to?” Opening the lid, I took a sniff. “It smells pretty hot.”
“Only because it is.” She took a big bite, nodding as she chewed and made a satisfied moan. “So good.”
I carefully splashed one drop onto the top of my beef fajita taco. I wasn’t about to drench it the way she had. “Let me see about this stuff before I slather it on.”
“It’s garlic and chilies combined with vinegar and what tastes a lot like coconut oil to me. Tell me what you think it is.” Her eyes stayed glued to mine as I took my first bite.
Heat filled my mouth. “Chilies!” Lots and lots of spicy chili peppers were evident in the sauce. But then the heat faded enough that I could taste the garlic and the slightest hint of coconut. “You’re right, there’s some coconut oil in this. It’s good!” I poured more on then took another bite.
“I can’t wait to taste these,” Stone said as he took the empty seat next to Sloan. “I’m Stone, Sloan.”
“Nice to meet you.” She held up her taco that took two hands to hold. “I’d shake your hand, but as you can see, mine are full.”
“As mine soon will be.” Stone looked at the sauce I had near me. “Is that any good?”
“No,” I said with a grin. “It’s great!” I pushed it to him as Patton came to sit next to me. “This is Patton. Patton, Sloan.”
“It’s great to meet you, Sloan. I can’t wait to work with you.” He scooted his chair over a bit as Cohen came to sit next to him. “Sloan, this is Cohen.”
Cohen nodded. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Same. Try the sauce.” She moved it his way. “It’s really good.”
Warner came in last, taking the place next to Stone. “Hey, Sloan, I’m Warner. How’s Baldwyn been treatin’ ya so far?”
“Great.” She looked right at me and her dark eyes shined. “He’s treating me to lunch and has already offered me a new place to live.”
“Cool, you’re going to move into the complex with us?” Warner asked as he poured the sauce over his taco.
She hadn’t given me a real answer. I’d told her that I wasn’t going to take no for an answer, but that didn’t mean she had agreed. So, I waited and watched her expression morph from a smile to a frown, then back to a smile again before she said, “Yeah. I am going to move into the complex. I think it’ll be quite an experience for me.”
“That’s good, Sloan.” I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. “It is going to be quite the experience for all of us. Glad to have you onboard.”
Her eyes sweeping around the table, she took each of us in before she said, “Your mother and father must be proud to have such a handsome bunch of sons.”
“I’m sure they were,” I said then picked up a napkin to wipe my face. “They died in a housefire.”
Her jaw dropped as her eyes went wide. Stone nudged her shoulder with his. “It’s okay, Sloan. It was like sixteen years ago. I was eight when they died. But Baldwyn was nineteen. He took good care of us.”
