Page 49 of The Billionaire Player

“Needless to say, she never talked to him again. JD couldn’t see how he had done anything wrong. He thought he was helping her out,” Bailey said and we all laughed.

“That sounds like him, but I can understand why the woman also never talked to him again. How did he ever get a chef to work for him? I mean Phil is amazing, but even he wouldn’t be able to handle the scrutiny,” I said.

“Oh, JD didn’t tell you? Phil went to school with JD. He’s actually a better chef than JD is, and JD will even admit it. Phil is probably the only person that can tell JD when he’s wrong about cooking and he’ll listen.”

“Probably because he’s right,” I said and we all laughed.

“What about you Morgan? Do you and Walker cook much?” I asked, trying to bring her into the conversation.

“Walker? Cook? No. I’m not much of a cook either. I’m happy getting take-out or having someone else cook for me. Walker and I are talking about getting a personal chef or at least maybe doing a delivery service.”

“You and Walker, huh?” Hope asked and turned to look at Morgan.

Morgan could tell she had said too much and looked flustered. JD had mentioned that Walker and Morgan had gone on a trip and that he and Mac thought Walker would propose. Morgan mentioning them getting a chef for themselves certainly made it sound like things were progressing.

“Dinner!” MaryBeth called.

I saw the look of relief on Morgan’s face as the men started towards us and the food. Walker came over and stood next to her and Mac did the same with Hope, holding her hand as she walked over to the table and helped her sit down.

“Are you doing okay?” JD asked me as we grabbed our food.

“Yeah. Your family is wonderful. It was nice to talk to the ladies in your life,” I said.

JD lifted his head and looked over at MaryBeth and Bailey as they sat next to their husbands at the oversized picnic table in the middle of the patio. He smiled and I could see the love that he felt for them. As I looked at him and saw how his family had accepted me and the looks they were giving me, I started to see what my future could be like if I stayed with JD and it felt good.

Chapter 21

JD

“I can’t believe I’m going to be an uncle, again!” I said to Bailey as we said goodbye.

Bailey laughed into my chest. “Leave it to you to make my pregnancy all about you.”

“Isn’t it?” I teased and then stepped back from her. Are you really feeling okay? No issues, problems? Anything? You weren’t just saying you’re okay to make Mom feel better?”

“Really. I’m fine. A little queasy in the morning, but nothing I can’t handle and Luke has been incredible. He’s taking such good care of us,” she said and affectionately rubbed her belly.

“He’d better. If not, I’ll kick his ass,” I said and Bailey laughed.

She looked over at her husband who was talking to our mom. I could tell what she was thinking. I might be taller than Luke by a few inches but he was certainly stronger and stockier than me. If it came down to a fight between us, I would get destroyed.

“Okay, so maybe I would ask Walker and Mac to help me out,” I admitted.

“Then you might have a chance. How about you not try to kill my husband and the father of my child because he’s a wonderful man and loves me deeply,” she said.

“I think I can do that,” I said and hugged her again.

“You and Lexi seem good. I see the way you look at her. You really like her.”

“Yeah. I do. She’s incredible. We’re having fun.”

“Fun? Just fun?”

“Do you really want me to tell you the other things we’re doing? I never thought we had that type of relationship,” I teased.

“No. Please don’t. I mean it seems to be getting serious. You’re into her,” Bailey stated.

It was my turn to look over at Lexi who was talking to Hope, Mac, and our father. It had been a great night. Honestly, better than I had expected. I knew that Lexi could talk to people, that she had held her own with my family before. I hadn’t counted on it being so easy and well, nice, to have her with my family. I had been worried that I would have to keep an eye on her, to make sure she was okay and wasn’t left out throughout the night.

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