Page 24 of Burning for the Billionaire 8

“Call her off!”

Grace folds her arms and smirks.

I watch, stunned. I’ve never seen Ember do that. She barks once and Rebecca wheels around and scampers to the front door, screeching, “That creature should be put down.”

“That’s right, run—and don’t come back,” Grace calls.

The front door slams and Grace dissolves into giggles. “Good girl,” she coos.

Ember wags her tail, then lays down and rolls over. Grace rewards her with enthusiastic belly rubs. The dog’s tongue hangs out with sheer pleasure. She’s back to her typical goofy self.

“Did you teach her that?” I ask.

“Uh-huh. Just to scare off nosy photographers. You know Ember won’t hurt a fly.”

The media frenzy has died down. It flared up again when I was injured, but everyone has lost interest in a temporarily handicapped billionaire. All I do is sit at home in a back brace—nothing exciting here.

Ember gets up and lopes over to me. She jumps to rest her front paws on my legs and whines. “Yeah, girl, I’m still miserable.” Hell, I’ve probably been downright intolerable.

Grace gives me a sad smile. “Hey, are you okay?”

“I’d be better if I can get rid of this damn back brace.”

“You will soon. I’ll get started on dinner.”

“You don’t have to. Don’t you have studying to do? You have finals coming up.” I hate that she feels the need to wait on me hand and foot. Plus, the conversation I overheard still plays in my mind.

“I’ll study after.” She shrugs.

“You’re not a fucking housewife,” I snap. “You don’t need to be here twenty-four-seven.”

Grace stares at me. Even the dog watches me warily. Like I said, I’ve been a nightmare to deal with.

“I’m sorry. I just mean that you should do your own thing. When was the last time you went out with friends? Did something fun?”

“I can’t go out and party when you’re—”

“Helpless?”

“Recovering.”

I blow out a breath. “I don’t want to weigh you down.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” She walks over to me and kisses my cheek. “I’ll have dinner ready soon.”

I scowl. “I feel like that’s a kiss you’d give an old grandpa—which I guess is fitting considering our ages.”

She goes absolutely still. “Rowan, what has gotten into you?” She huffs. “You’ve been so snippy. Forweeks. I’ve ignored it because I understand that you’re frustrated. But bringing up the whole age thing at this point... Really?”

I know I sound absurd, but I can’t stop the words from coming out of my mouth. “I overheard you telling Ashley you’re not going to New York.”

And that knowledge has tormented me so much, I’ve barely slept since.

Grace frowns. “Okay... I mean, it’s not like I had decided to go. I was just thinking about it.”

“I know, but you were going to take a trip there in a couple of weeks to check out the gallery and meet the owner.”

“I opted out of it,” she says easily.

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