Page 62 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

“Nothing.” She blinked so furiously that I worried she was crying. Then she rapidly started searching for her clothes, tugging things on as fast as possible.

Until she picked up her shredded underwear and started to laugh.

“Lady Liberty is in two.” She held up both pieces, still laughing. “I loved this underwear. But so worth it.”

“I’ll buy you more. Not that I know where to get these. What do I search for, Statue of Liberty lingerie?”

She laughed harder while I dug out my shoes from under the bed and slipped them on.

“I’m actually not sure where I got them. I don’t need a replacement though. I have many other holidays on tap.”

“I look forward to seeing them.” When she opened her mouth, I pointed at her. “Don’t. It’s not classy to refuse another date when still on the current one.”

“I’m not refusing. Also can’t say I’m worried overmuch about class when you’ve already seen me from an array of angles.” She shimmied back into her dress and shoved her feet into her heels, wincing all the while. “I need to soak my feet for like a decade.”

“I also have a hot tub. Just saying.”

“I happen to know that, as I’ve already started making many, many notes about how to refresh and update the Spanish look of the original architecture while still making the whole open-concept floor plan more you. I want heated floors in the master bath.” She bit her lip. “I mean, I want that for you. It’s your home. So, you know, if you think you’d like that.”

Her nervousness now as she walked me through design ideas was adorable. She hadn’t been nervous last weekend discussing this stuff, but apparently, our mutual nudity changed things. Her cheeks had that warm apricot glow again that made her smattering of freckles stand out. Freckles just like her daughter’s.

“Sure, it gets fuck-all cold in winter here and who doesn’t appreciate warm feet on a freezing morning?” I grabbed my keys off the nightstand, shoving my remaining condom back in my wallet with more than a little regret. “I’ll drive you to your parents’ place.” My tone brooked no argument.

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to. I want to see Berry. Maybe she’ll feel better with some Bob…snuggles.” The word snuggles sounded weird to me, but what the hell did I call it? “Bob therapy,” I continued. “He accepts hugs. All the hugs she can give him.”

“You want her to go to your place? I think she needs to be at home with her own things.”

Her worry for her daughter was sweet if stifling. I imagined it could be that way for her kid too.

“I can bring Bob over there. Not for an overnight. Just for some fun.” I moved to her and gripped her hips, tugging her against me. “You remember what fun is, right? No stress. No worries that I think having your sweet pussy this morning means we are now betrothed. Though it’s worthy of betrothal,” I added, tipping up her chin when she flushed.

“A man who uses the word betrothal is hot even if you’re being a jerk again.”

“Happens often.” I tossed her my keys, which she caught effortlessly. “Wanna drive my car? Fun,” I said again. “Unless you suck at driving and scratch my Vi, then you’ll see my dark side.”

“Your Vi?”

“Uh huh. The way her engine purrs for me, of course she has to be a female. C’mon. Checkout time is approaching, and I refuse to pay extra because you’re a slowpoke.” I nudged her ahead of me with a quick slap on her behind.

The look she shot me could’ve frozen water. I had no doubt she’d make me pay for that later.

We went through the checkout process quickly. In no time, we were back in my car, driving the winding back country roads in the misty morning to the address she shared for her parents’ house. They weren’t far from the orchard at all.

Good thing, since Shelby gripped the steering wheel as if she was on a rocket ship about to veer off to Mars at any moment.

Deliberately, I leaned my arm on the window while I rested my other hand on her thigh. Her muscles were so tight, she jumped at my touch. “She handles like a dream, right?”

“Yes,” she said through clenched teeth. “How much did this car cost?”

“It’s priceless to me.”

“Thanks for easing my fears.”

“Fears of what? You’re not going to crash.”

“How do you know?”

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