Page 15 of Billionaire Unreachable: Wyatt

Chase and I had been preparing for an important meeting the following week, and I’d tried to keep our attention focused on that task this afternoon.

However, now that we were finished, I should have known that I wasn’t going to be able to avoid that inevitable question.

The problem was, I had no idea how to answer.

Chase knew me.

He knew my habits.

He also knew that I valued my privacy.

My home was the only place where I could relax and not have to deal with the constant demands on my time.

Having someone come in and out of my house as a dog sitter during the day was one thing. I didn’t like it, but it was a necessary inconvenience.

Letting someone actually use my refuge as a video location was something else entirely.

Hell, Chase didn’t even know the rest of the deal. I’d actually insisted on Shelby staying and working at my place even after she was done with her cooking videos so Xena had less time alone in the house. She didn’t think what I was paying her was justified for just a few hours a day, so I’d used that separation anxiety excuse to give her more hours.

I sure as hell wasn’t about to tell my brother about that.

It would make him even more suspicious than he already was right now.

I looked up from my computer and shot my younger brother a don’t-ask-me-why-in-the-fuck-I-did-something look, hoping he wouldn’t ask any more questions.

Unfortunately, my brother knew me, and he wasn’t the least bit intimidated by the warning glare.

He simply lifted a brow when I didn’t respond. “There must be some reason you did something so out of character,” he prompted.

“I needed a dog sitter for that psychotic canine that Jax needed off his hands for a while,” I said gruffly. “I’d also like to eat something other than takeout. The situation works for both of us.”

For some reason, I’d sensed that Shelby wasn’t about to be persuaded to use someone else’s kitchen without being able to provide something for that person in return.

She’d been in the process of refusing all of the other offers, so I’d tossed one out there that she’d probably accept.

I was a man who made it a point not to squander any opportunities, so I’d swooped in to reap the benefits of a mutually beneficial agreement with Shelby.

Was something like that unusual for me?

Probably.

But I still didn’t regret making that offer. I’d solved my dog sitting problem and secured what I knew were going to be some very good dinners in one small action.

Two problems solved with very little effort.

Chase shot me a skeptical look. “It’s not like there are no other dog sitters in San Diego.”

“I’m sure there are plenty of them,” I said drily. “But they don’t cook like Shelby Remington. Just drop it, Chase. You can’t possibly think I did it to be anice guy. When has that ever happened?”

I’d gotten a glimpse of a different side of Shelby Remington yesterday, which had probably fueled my interest in making that agreement.

She was obviously a hard worker, and she was definitely intelligent. She’d lost her job almost immediately after she’d arrived here in San Diego, yet she’d managed to pivot to make that situation work to her advantage.

Maybe there was more to this woman than I’d initially assumed.

She’d also been…nice, which was a welcome change after the way we’d met the first time.

“Tori told Savannah about the whole blind date thing,” Chase admitted. “And about the run-in you and Shelby had after our wedding reception. Are you sure this offer doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that you once hurt Shelby’s feelings?”

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