Page 79 of A Very Un-Shakespeare Romance
“Upstairs.”
“Can I see it? Chicks with guns are so hot. What about handcuffs? You can cuff me anytime.”
Sexist and yet playful, which was so very Billie. Robbie pinched the bridge of his nose. “I think it’s going pretty well, don’t you?” she whispered.
Robbie gave a strained thumbs-up.
“I hope you aren’t upset—” Sheila began.
“Upset?”Billie’s laughter boomed out again. “Are you kidding? My guys are going to love this story. Meeting you has been one of the best parts of this fake vacation. I’m thrilled you went for me while undercover. I take it as a compliment. I know Robbie was the perfect mark being the cop, but you could have always gone after Tim. You chose me.”
Lily could almost see him puffing out his chest.
“I seemed more your type from your social media account,” Sheila said with a relieved laugh.
“That you are, sweetheart.” Another sexy chuckle. “So, you’re going to protect Tara and take down the Kellys. You might be my new hero. To think, I’ll be able to say I briefly went out with the hot Fed who put those guys in the slammer. Can I have a selfie with you? I’m so putting the photo up in my garage.”
“Maybe not that part since I work undercover,” Sheila sputtered, clearly amused.
Robbie’s mouth parted, and Lily pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. So they’d been worried for nothing. Billie saw the whole thing as a lark. True to form. She knew her partner liked him, but his response didn’t cut off the possibility of a future connection, did it?
Sheila entered the family room with a bemused look on her face. “I’m about to be immortalized in a mechanic shop. Lucky me. I’ll just grab my phone.”
Lily gave her partner a finger gun along with her own bemused look. “Aren’t we all glad that’s behind us?”
“So glad,” Robbie ground out.
Billie strolled in, his hands tucked in his jeans. “You stayed because you thought I was going to go ape shit. Brother, you’ve got me all wrong. This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. A hot chick in the FBI choosing me for her undercover side piece. Man, it’s like ascending a new level or something.”
“Glad you think so,” Robbie said, studying his brother.
“I know I am.” Lily stood up and thrust out her hand. “I’m Lily Meadows. Good to meet you, Billie.”
He took it gently, caressing her hand. “Do all the chicks in the FBI look like you and Sheila? Because maybe I need to apply.”
“Billie.”
“That’s a compliment, bro.” Billie put his arm around her shoulders. “I hope you know my brother totally is into you.”
“That rumor has been confirmed,” she answered, her lips twitching since he didn’t know about the handcuffs yet. “I happen to be really into him too.”
“Excellent.” He turned as Sheila came in, holding up her phone. “There’s the hottest chick in the FBI. Come on, sweetheart. Let’s take that selfie. Afterward, I want to get a photo with all four of us. The two gorgeous Feds who hoodwinked the O’Connor boys. God, this is awesome.”
Lily breathed a sigh of relief. Now they could start the operation.
Billie sported his usualeasy come, easy gosmile from then on, helping Tim with the girls after Tara told Reagan that the women she’d known as Summer and Clarice were undercover guardian angels, watching over them while she was gone. Lily had thought it was a sweet way to explain things, and while she could see the questions in Reagan’s eyes, the little girl had hugged her warmly and given her an enthusiastic thank you. Then she’d given both Lily and Sheila tinfoil guardian angel badges she’d made with Tim, something that had warmed their hearts.
After a full day of working toward their joint goal—something that felt right and invigorating—they all played with the kids and had a BBQ to celebrate the new direction of events. She and Robbie even found some moments to sneak away and explore their burgeoning passion for each other. Then they went through the same thing the next day.
Everything was going according to plan.
Until Tyler showed up.
Because when alpha males occupy the same playground…
When he got out of the car, Sheila stepped out onto the patio to greet him, and Billie’s face tightened as he watched the FBI agent pick her up off the ground in a big hug, making her partner laugh wildly. Billie, Robbie, Lily, and Tim were all out on the beach with the kids—one last beach hangout before the kids left—and Billie took one menacing step toward the house before Robbie stopped him with a hand on his arm.
“I’ve changed my mind,” Billie said tersely as he shook Robbie off and continued toward the house. “I’m not leaving.”
