Page 43 of The Damaged Billionaire

“Good.” She smiles wide before I take her smile with my lips. I kiss her slowly, feeling the desire deep within.

“Jesus, wasn’t nine enough already?” I hear a woman’s voice from behind us, and I pull away from Willow. I cough a laugh, and Willow stares at the woman with lasers shooting from her eyes.

“Tennyson, this is my sister, Saide. Saide, this is—” Willow says before Saide cuts her off.

“The man who delivers more orgasms than an entire army. Yes, I think I caught on to that,” she says, waltzing up to me with an outstretched arm. She is smaller than Willow, with long hair too, young, a total knockout, but she doesn’t hold a flame to the woman currently in my arms. She is funny as hell, though.

“Nice to meet you, Saide,” I say, keeping one arm around Willow and stretching out my other to take in her handshake.

“Likewise. Just in time to get a fresh cupcake before I eat them all.” I look down and see a plate of about six chocolate cupcakes in her hand.

“They look good,” I say, smiling at Willow, who is now tucked into my side.

“Yeah, well, get your own. These are mine. I need to eat my feelings away,” she mumbles before turning and walking into the living room. I see the kid already in there too, and he gives me the evil eye over the top of the sofa.

“Hey, kid,” I throw out at him. I don’t think he likes me much, but I plan to stick around, so he needs to lighten up.

“Whatever,” he murmurs, before shoving a cupcake in his mouth, and he and Saide tune into the show they are watching on TV.

“Sorry, she is a bit out of sorts. Jacob broke up with her,” she says, leading me into the kitchen.

“The married guy?” I ask, because that is surprising.

“Apparently, he is going to be a father.”

“Shit.” I wince. No matter how good a relationship is, that kind of news could hurt. As I walk into her kitchen, I pause and look over everything.

“Errr, do I dare ask?” I say, surveying the room. There are cupcakes everywhere. Chocolate, red velvet, all looking like they belong in a five-star bakery.

“I made Saide’s favorite, and then Josh wanted more for him and his mother, so…” She shrugs, and I chuckle.

“Tell me something?” I ask, walking to her, my arms automatically wrapping around her waist again and pulling her close.

“What’s that?” she says, looking up to me with a bright smile, her hand running up my arms. I love making her smile.

“What is your favorite flavor?” Because I would hazard a guess that it isn’t chocolate nor red velvet. She giggles then, her bright eyes sparkling at me.

“Lemon,” she states, and my eyebrows rise.

“The flavor I got you at the small restaurant in DC?” I question. I only got lemon, as it reminded me of her. Bright, sunny, friendly, and a pleasant mix of sour and sweet.

“Yep. It is fresh, tangy, and delicious. Now sit down. Let me make you a coffee and get you a cupcake. If you don't eat them, Saide will, and she will have a stomachache for a week,” she says, still looking after everyone else but herself. I take a seat at the counter and watch her move about the kitchen.

“You know the last person I watched bake like this was Nanny Helen,” I say, not sure why the thought pops into my head, but I guess I haven’t been in a busy kitchen like this since I was a kid.

“Oh yeah? Tell me more about her.” I can tell she’s interested as she looks back at me, multitasking while making us coffee.

“She was like you, used to love baking. Cakes, breads, pastries…” I say, thinking back to when I was a kid. “I would rush home from middle school and be greeted by the smell of baked goods the moment I walked in the door.”

“What was your favorite thing that she made for you?” Willow asks, sidling up to me, pushing the coffee and cupcake in front of me and leaning on the counter.

“Every Friday, she used to make me a classic New York cheesecake. We would both take a slice and sit outside, and I would tell her all about school, my friends, and everything else in between. We would debrief from the week. She would laugh at my jokes, give me advice. It was the best.” Staring off into the distance, I take a moment to live in my thoughts. “The last time I ever had that cake was when I was twelve. It was the last time she made it for me before she died.” Sadness sweeps over me with a vengeance.

“I’m sorry you lost her. How did she die?” Willow asks, her brows furrowed as her hand reaches over to cover mine.

“If you had asked me that question a few years ago, I would have said heart failure…” I murmur, looking at her seriously now.

“And now?” Willow presses, and I snake my arm around her waist and pull her closer to me.

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