Page 93 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

“Why are you asking about marriage, sweet pea?”

Berry shrugged. “My mom gets lonely. Isn’t that what you get a husband for?”

“Among other things. It helps if they’re handy with a hammer.” Mrs. Shaw stole some chips and cocked a brow at me. “How are you with manual tasks?”

“I’m not going to hang out a shingle anytime soon, but I can do a few things. Like what are we talking here? Putting a cabinet together or a new roof?”

The screen door swung open and I looked back in time to see Shelby cock her head. “Who needs a new roof?”

“You, apparently.”

She took a sip from the bottle of Coke she was carrying. “No, not my roof. I need lots of things but my roof is in pretty good shape. What gave you that idea?”

“Your mom was asking if I was good at manual tasks because Berry seems to think we’re getting married.”

She choked and Coke went flying over her pretty white blouse.

I didn’t mean to laugh, but I couldn’t help it. At least I wasn’t the only one whose mind was blown at the possibility.

Then again, did I like that her mind wasthatblown? Granted, we still barely knew each other.

“Just saying, Bishop and April were in love within days. Same with Preston and Ryan. Pretty sure Pres more than Ryan, to be fair. At least at the beginning.”

“And your point?”

I shrugged and ate more Doritos.

“Mom, could you come in and sit with me and Dad for a couple minutes?” Shelby’s throat rippled with her hard swallow.

“Sure. Something a matter?” She rolled up the bag of Doritos and stuck it in with the rest of the groceries then went inside.

“They’re talking about me,” Berry said sadly, kicking the swing back into gear with vehemence.

“Hey, hey, not in a bad way. Your mom just wants them to know what’s going on with you.”

“Yeah. Still sucks.”

“It does. But can I tell you a secret? You have to promise not to tell anyone else.” I turned toward her on the swing.

Her face brightened. “Like a pinky swear?”

“Sure.”

She held out her hand, pinky extended. Then stared at me when I didn’t mimic her gesture. “Hello?”

I finally caught on and did the same thing she did. “Where did you learn this?”

“Some old TV show my mom was watching.” She hooked her pinky around mine and that meant we had made a sacred oath. Better than a blood bond, I supposed. “There,” she pronounced self-importantly. “Now what is the secret?”

“I have ADHD too.”

“What? No way.” She played with the buckle on her shoe. “I mean, it’s not for sure yet. I gotta take stupid tests first.”

“Yeah, tests are stupid.” I probably shouldn’t agree, but it was basically a universal fact, right?

She clutched Bobbie the pug to her chest. “My mom was almost crying. I could tell she didn’t want to.”

“No, she’s pretty hardcore about not wanting to cry. But sometimes you just gotta. Lets out the feelings you have.”

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