Page 107 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

Was he hanging out by her desk? Usually, she kept visitors in the waiting area, not by her station.

“Hi, Eli. I’m sorry I’m not there. I hurt my back.” Better to blame my tardiness on that than on sexual sleepovers and pillow forts.

“Oh, no problem. I get having back problems in this business.” He laughed drily. “Since I already cleared my calendar for a couple hours for this, I can swing by your place. Does that work for you?”

Hmm. The guy must really want to take on some of my overflow. Or maybe I was being benevolently granted some help from the universe due to past good deeds or something.

But if my father liked the guy, some small, petty part of me wanted to cancel the plan altogether. I couldn’t do that though. I had to do what was best for the firm.

“Sure, that works.” I glanced toward the doorway—which was now empty. “Hey, you handled Shelby Wilde’s divorce?”

“I did. Why?”

“She’s my girl.”

“Oh, okay. No problem.”

“I didn’t assume there would be, but I just wanted to put it out there.”

“All good. She’s a great woman and mom, far as I’m concerned. Her ex, however…”

“Yeah. We’re of one mind there. See you when you get here.”

“Great. Here’s Isis.”

“All set, boss?” Her voice was practically frosty.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing. I’m at work as agreed upon. What’s wrong with you is a better question. Back problems? Since when?”

“I have this irritating spasm sometimes. Look, Ice, I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you for flaking out on today’s meeting. I meant to reschedule, but I forget to call him back last night to say today wouldn’t work. I’m sorry.”

“Because you were on pleasure island, I’m guessing?”

She didn’t sound the least bit pleased with me. Not an unusual situation, but this time, I wasn’t completely sure why. “Suppose you could say that. But I’ll make it up to you. Eli coming on board would be a good thing, right?”

“Jury is out on that one. Later.” She clicked off.

I shook my head as I set my phone on the nightstand and went to get ready for my meeting. Women were amazing as a whole, but sometimes, I just did not get them.

And now you want to bring two into your home voluntarily?

I had to grin as I stripped out of my pajamas next to the shower. I most definitely did. I wanted to explore whatever came with them. I’d always been looking for my next adventure.

It just had never occurred to me that my biggest adventure could be coming home to a family every night.

Myfamily.

I stepped into the shower and turned the water on high and hot. I grabbed my alpine shampoo, meant to remind me of downhill skiing on a winter’s day even when it was hot as hell out. That wasn’t just yet, as we were in the late spring here, but the invigorating mint hit my nose, waking me up the rest of the way.

I tipped back my head as the needles of steaming water dug into my neck and cramping back, trying and failing not to moan.

Then the shower door opened with a screech. Naked Shelby stood on the other side, peering up at the track of the door while I was mesmerized by her curves waking up the one part of me that never seemed to need much rest.

Thank God.

“That needs to be fixed. On the mental list.” She angled her head, her eyes widening at my morning predicament. “Well, good morning to you too.”

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