Page 26 of How to Undo the Proud Billionaire

Radd eventually started to speak, and Brin held her breath. “Digby and I were used to being teased about their antics, about their rock-and-roll lifestyle. We learned to either ignore it, roll with it or mock it. It helped that we were popular at school and good sportsmen. But, God, the stories never stopped. It felt like every week something about them hit the headlines…”

It hadn’t been that bad but, to their kids, it must have seemed like it.

“We genuinely believed that the press just reported on the stories but, at Jack’s funeral, we realized Gil and Zia had an unholy pact with the tabloids, and they were the source of most of the exposés. They loved the attention.”

Brin winced.

“Jack died and photographs of his funeral—Digby and I insisted that it was to be a small, very intimate and very private affair—were leaked to the paparazzi, and we lost it. We were livid. We quickly worked out that our parents were the only people who could’ve given the photos to the press and when we confronted them, they confirmed it.”

Brin blinked away her tears and wished she could dig his parents up and, well,punchthem. She wasn’t a violent person, but she’d happily step into the ring with Radd’s parents. She couldn’t believe they thought it was okay to profit off their oldest son’s death…

“After that, we didn’t have any contact with them,” Radd concluded on a small shrug.

Brin buried her face against the ball of his shoulder, her body shaking with anger. Her mother wouldn’t win any prizes in the “best mommy” competition but, compared to Radd’s parents, she was a saint. Her heart ached for the two boys who raised themselves.

Brin felt Radd pull away from her and, when his hand cupped her cheek, she opened her eyes to find his face inches from hers, his expression concerned. His thumb swiped her cheekbone and his breath caressed her cheek. “Are you okay?”

Brin shook her head. “No, I’m so damn angry I want to clout something!” Brin retorted.

“Why are you…Oh. You’re angry for me?”

Why did he sound so bemused, like that wasn’t possible? Brin sat up, pushed her hair and slapped her arms over her chest. “No, I’m not angry, I’m livid. What was wrong with them? How dare they do that? Are you freakingkiddingme? That is insane and horrible and—”

Radd shoved a glass of wine into her hand. “Sip.” Brin took a large gulp and sighed when the soft, complex liquid slid down her throat.

“And, while I appreciate your reaction, it all happened a long time ago,” he added.

“Still…”

Brin sucked in a deep breath and, knowing that she needed to lighten the atmosphere, that they were wading into deep, dark emotional waters—a place she couldn’t afford to visit and if she did, couldn’t stay long—she dredged up a teasing smile. “You’re thirty-six. Damn, you’re old.”

Radd’s eyes narrowed at her, but she caught the flash of relief, in his eyes. They’d gone too deep, too fast, and he wanted to swim back to shore. “Who are you calling old, wretch?”

“You.”

“You do know that there is a pool about six feet from us and I can drop you in it?” Radd threatened.

“You wouldn’t dare…”

Brin squealed when, in one fluid movement, he stood up and lifted her up against his chest, without, she had to admit, any strain at all. Radd walked her over to the pool and swung her away from his body.

“Radd, no!” Brin really didn’t want to go for a swim in that still, cold water. She released a wild laugh and tightened her grip around his neck. “My hair takes forever to dry, it’s too cold and I’m sorry I called you old!”

Radd’s fingers dug into her ribs and she squirmed as he tickled her. “How sorry are you?” he demanded, a huge smile making him look ten years younger.

“Very.” Brin’s eyes connected with his and his arms tightened, pulling her tighter to his chest.He is so warm, Brin thought,so strong. Brin saw his eyes leave hers to look at her mouth and, when their eyes reconnected, she saw that desire, hot and heavy, had replaced his amusement.

“You are so damn beautiful,” he rasped.

Brin knew that he was going to kiss her and that she was going to let him. How could she resist? And why should she? A sexy man held her in his arms, the night was stunning and they were alone…

“Children, it’s good to see you playing nicely but, Radd, I need to talk to you.”

Okay, so not alone.

Brin slid down Radd’s body and, when her feet touched the ground, she turned to see Mari standing at the entrance to the lodge, looking stressed. Radd took a step away from her, ran his hand over his jaw and nodded. But Brin heard his low, under-the-breath curse at Mari’s timing.

Yep, it sucked.

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