Page 45 of My Grumpy Billionaire Protector

Evie gives me a confused look. “I had to attend a lot of my grandfather’s events, and the only way to keep myself entertained was to teach myself how to play poker. It wiped the smug smiles right off their faces.”

“You’ve got a mean streak in you.”

“Not really. I just don’t like people who think they’re better than everyone else.”

As hard as it is for me to spend time around her because of my extremely visceral reaction, I can’t resist baiting her.

And she does rise to the occasion.

I tilt my head to the side and study her. “Is that why you’re always reading? You do realize you’ve got a smart TV that’s got a Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu subscription.”

“Show off.”

I turn around and walk over to the nightstand. After flinging the drawer open, I rummage around and stop when my fingers close around the remote. “See? I can even recommend a few shows. Pierce has been driving us crazy channel surfing.”

Evie shakes her head. “I’m good. Thanks, though.”

I open my mouth to protest then slam it shut. I offer her a shrug, let the remote fall onto the bed, and shove my hands into my pockets. For a few moments, we stand facing each other while small patches of light pour in through the open windows.

All of my efforts to win her over and convince her to work alongside are not going as well as I’d hoped.

Evie is no closer to treating me like an ally than she is to get out of here.

Which means we’re all doomed.

Fucking Isaiah.

Somewhere in the house, I hear a high-pitched wailing followed by a colorful stream of curse words.

She looks over my shoulder then back at me, her lips twisting in amusement. “Do I want to know?”

“Cory discovered a karaoke machine. Guess Isaiah is desperate to keep us all happy and compliant…”

Evie grunts. “Can’t blame the guy for trying, and your cousin knows a thing or two, doesn’t he?”

“Don’t tell me you’re a fan.”

Evie lifts her chin and puffs her chest out. “I’ve participated in a few amateur competitions.”

“I don’t even need to try to embarrass you. You just do it all by yourself.”

Evie rolls her eyes at me. “Whatever.”

We lapse into silence again, but this time, it is comfortable. Over the past few days, we’ve alternated between smashing plates and screaming at each other until we are hoarse to this. Evie and I aren’t exactly friends, but we are able to make it through whole conversations without wanting to strangle each other.

I hope it means she’s warming up to me.

Or at least to the idea that I’m on her side.

Now that I am getting to know her better, I realize that getting on people’s nerves is the armor she wears to protect herself. She doesn’t like disappointing people, and rather than trying to live up to their image of her, she takes a sledgehammer to their preconceived notions and watches in satisfaction as they scramble through the wreckage.

I understand her more than she thinks.

And I don’t like that feeling.

Other than Cory and Pierce, I don’t have relationships with people. Given my experience, it is better to keep everyone at arm’s length and be as direct as possible to avoid issues later on. So far, it has served me well, but instead of thinking of Evie as a hiccough, a stepping stone to something greater, I am beginning to wonder if she could be something more.

Moron. Just because you’ve had a few normal conversations here and there, doesn’t mean you’re friends. She’s still being held here against her will and is probably being nice to try and get information out of you.

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