Page 44 of My Grumpy Billionaire Protector

I blink. “Women like me?”

“Women who aren’t afraid to stand up to him and give him a taste of his own medicine.” Riley gives a slight shake of his head. “It’s actually really entertaining.”

I cleared my throat. “Thanks. Hey, is there any chance I can be allowed in the rest of the house? I’d love to explore.”

Riley grimaces. “I’m not sure I can pull that off, but I’ll try.”

I brush my hand against hers and smile. “I’d really appreciate that. Thanks for making me feel human again, Riley. I really do appreciate that.”

Riley nods and looks over her shoulder. “I’m sorry there isn’t more I can do.”

“I know.”

Riley hesitates before spinning on her heels and leaving.

As soon as the door clicks shut behind me, I hear the shuffle of feet and see the long shadows underneath my door. Like clockwork, Hayes and Felix have taken up their post, backs erect and expressions blank.

SHANE

“What, no string of demands to make of me today?

I roll my eyes and set the tray down on the table. “I just got here. There’s still time.”

Evie doesn’t look up or move from her spot by the window. “Lucky me.”

“I asked them if they could make something different for you today.”

“Trying to tranq me?”

I give a slight shake of his head. “You really need to get over that. I made one joke.”

“After two days of either scowling or trying to blackmail me,” Evie points out before glancing up and looking directly at me. “How am I supposed to interpret it?”

“It was a joke. It’s pretty self-explanatory.”

“When you’ve been an ass the entire time, how am I supposed to know? I’m not psychic.”

“Maybe if you stopped trying to lump me in with the rest of them, you would’ve noticed that I was trying to be nice.”

Evie swings her legs over the side of the chair and raises an eyebrow. “That was you trying to be nice? Holy shit, you’re terrible at it.”

“Fuck you.”

“See what I mean?” Evie slams the book shut and stands up. The soft light filtering in behind her gives her a warm, ethereal glow. “You’re the one who can’t take a joke.”

“That was a cheap shot, not a joke.”

“You say potato. I say potahto.” Evie waves my comment away and places the book on the chair behind her. “So, what are my marching orders today?”

“They’re not marching orders.” I fold my arms over my chest and exhale. “More like strong suggestions. We’ve got our own set. You know, I think they’re trying to keep us apart whenever we’re allowed outside, to keep us from working together.”

Evie places her hands on her hips. “Is this going to end with Hayes in tears again? I’m not a spiteful person, but he had it coming.”

I smirk. “He shouldn’t have challenged you to a game of poker to shut you up. Rumors are already flying about how good you are.”

Evie shrugs. “Sometimes, you pick up a few things here and there.”

“How in the hell did a first-grade teacher pick up poker skills like that?”

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