Page 29 of The Damaged Billionaire

“Have you spoken with her much? What is she like to work with?” Eddie asks, keen to get the lowdown on our arrangement.

I don't want to tell them the truth that Willow and I speak almost every day. Nor do I want to admit to wearing those bright-green bed socks to bed every night since she gave them to me. My bed never felt so cozy before. After crashing her date and hanging out at her place, I am still trying to get my head on straight with where we stand. I want round two, and I know she does too, but she is hesitant because of her work. I get that. I just need to find a way around it.

“Yeah, we have built a new social media strategy. Her team is now managing it all,” I offer, and they seem pleased at that point. I was impressed by her strategy, albeit a little embarrassed by all the messages from women that I receive and all the photos I’m tagged in. I am so used to it, I ignore them all for the most part, but Willow has cleaned it all up and her digital manager is already implementing the new strategy, positioning me as a friendly, likable billionaire, who gives to charity and does it all with a wide smile. As the cart stops, I pull out my cell and take a selfie while on the course. The bright-blue sky behind me, the luscious green of the fairway in view. I send it to Willow.

“Sounds like it is going well so far, then?” Ben asks as we all walk to find our balls.

“So far. She has booked a photo shoot soon for some new images that we can use. Apparently, my Zoolander is not up to par.” I find my ball and fall into silent concentration, hitting it just right for it to land on the green. The shot is so good, I’m smiling again.

“Sounds like I will get to go to swimming lessons again tomorrow, then?” Ben asks, and I look at him with a wince.

“Yes. You will, and I am sorry I didn’t see what I was doing before it had such an effect on you. Willow will be at the business dinner tonight, and I am under strict instructions to drink water and be home by eleven p.m.” He nods, and I feel like a weight has been lifted. Willow has no problem in telling me the cold hard truth. But I needed to hear it. I was oblivious to so much before, and the last thing I want is to negatively affect my brothers in any way.

“I already like Willow. She sounds like a great woman! Who else could get you home by eleven?!” Eddie jests, and my eyes home in on him with a scowl. I don’t like him liking her. Not one bit.

“What’s that?” Ben asks, looking sharply at me.

“What?” I ask, my furrowed brow not relaxing.

“That look. What is that look?” Ben pushes, and I growl, not able to let go of the jealousy that coils after Eddie’s comment. Harrison raises his eyebrows, and Ben looks at me with his mouth agape. Eddie stops mid stride in shock.

“What?” I look between them, wondering what the hell is going on.

“Do you like her?” Eddie asks, his eyes wide.

“What do you mean?” I ask, hoping they buy my stupid act.

“Do not get involved with her. You are her client. Don’t fuck it up,” Harrison warns, dead serious as he points his finger toward me. Something our dad used to do.

“Relax. I think she is the only woman I’ve met not to fall for my charm,” I say, trying to keep the peace. It is not a total lie. I thought if we ever saw each other again, it would be so hot that we would run straight to the bedroom. Her halting that for us has me second-guessing myself.

“Smartest woman in the country, then,” Ben teases.

“Yeah, she is smart. Like supersmart.” I rub my chin, thinking about the woman whose business acumen rivals that of the many business contacts I have.

“Just be careful, Tenn,” Harrison says, still looking at me intently, and I meet his eyes and nod. “I know you have a history; Willow mentioned it to Beth and me on our initial call. But she promised she would remain professional,” he adds, and my shoulders stiffen.

“She is excellent at her job. She is professional. But what she does outside of that, and who she does that with, is not up for us to discuss,” I state, letting them know my intentions, because I am not about to let him put any of this on her. There is no way I can stay away from this woman, and if something happens between us, it doesn’t mean she’s failed at her job.

“Fuck,” Harrison murmurs, rubbing his head. “Well… you have been a different man since she has come into your life. No more fucking everything with legs every weekend.”

“That’s true. We haven’t seen any early morning pap shots of you escaping from a woman’s bed in a while,” Eddie says.

“Yeah, well, I know the last six months or so I haven’t been great. But things are changing,” I say to them, feeling the change in myself. All because of Willow.

“I hope that they are.” Harrison looks at me questioningly, still not fully accepting it.

“How good have I been? I have been on the straight and narrow, done everything asked of me, and I don’t plan to fuck anything up. But Willow is someone I have been looking for, for a long fucking time. Now she just shows up again, and I am meant to keep things professional?” My voice rises. I can’t help it. This is starting to piss me off.

“What do you mean?” Ben asks, looking between Harrison and me.

“Willow was the woman I met in New York,” I tell them, letting them all know the truth. I don’t tell them much about my life, but after that night in New York, I did spend a few weeks trying to find her, and my brothers know all about that.

“Willow is your New York woman?” Eddie asks, shock evident on his face.

“Jesus, what are the chances?” Ben says, rubbing his head.

Harrison just looks at me in shock as he puts the pieces together.

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