Page 4 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

Isis had apparently chosen that moment to take a sip of some liquid, because she sputtered and went into a coughing fit nearly intense enough to warrant a call to 911. “What did you say?”

“I’m a dog dad, hello. Pets are family. Are you leaving out other family that doesn’t have stinky diapers? How incredibly judgmental of you.”

“Bob has bad breath, which is almost as bad as dirty diapers. But whew. I thought you’d been spending too much time with Bishop and had decided your new life means you have to settle down. Like…what would that even look like for Dexterous Shaw? We both know you got that name for reasons that had nothing to do with work.”

“And you’re the one who snatched it out of the halls of our high school and slapped it on my forehead like a banner. Since you won’t marry me, you have no idea if that’s even truth in advertising. Your loss,” I added lightly.

“I won’t marry you because you can’t handle me, and I don’t want to find out how I look in prison orange. Besides, we both know you’ll never get married. The very idea is preposterous.”

“We used to say that about Preston and look at him now.”

“He’s still not married.”

“Don’t argue with me. Just saying you never really know with people.”

She let out a loud huff. “Whatever. The day Dexterous Shaw settles down in a serious, settled relationship without being blackmailed into it is the day I’ll give you Shelby’s phone number. She doesn’t need your brand of chaos. She has enough going on in her life.”

“I’ll be perfectly gentlemanly,” I promised. “Besides, I could just ask Bishop, you know. He’d be a reference for me.” I was pretty sure, anyway. “Why are you so protective of her? I didn’t even know you were friends.”

“We go way back.”

“As way back as we do?”

She snorted. “Since practically birth? Nah. Our moms being best friends cast that die for us a long time ago.”

“You’re not close with Preston.”

“Maybe Ilikeyour brand of chaos. Particularly because you always keep your pants on in my presence.”

“As I will with Shelby.” The regret in my voice was hard to disguise. I hadn’t forgotten the way she’d slapped me back in the fall with her smart mouth or her long wavy brown hair or how she’d thought I was some random weirdo trying to talk to her young daughter.

Fuck. I’d forgotten the kid. She’d been cute as a button actually, but she was still a child.

“Yeah, Shelby is entirely safe from my wiles.” My tone brooked no argument.

The surest chastity belt for a man like me was a woman with a young child. Kids were fun and all, but I knew when I was out of my depth and stayed out of the damn water.

“You know about Berry, huh?” Ice sounded smug. “I should’ve known you would never go there.”

“You’re perfectly safe giving me her number.”

“Fine.” She sounded weary. “But call at a reasonable hour. She’s running herself ragged as is. None of this calling at-two-am-drunk crap you love to pull.”

“It is nowhere near two am and I am not officially drunk.”

“Dex—”

I sighed. “I promise. Now gimme. And hey, while you’re at it, put her address in her digital listing, would you?” Before my best friend could rail at me, I added, “Her business address. Jeez. Chill out. If you knew how long it has been since I’ve had sex, you’d rethink your lecherous beliefs in my direction.”

“Oh, that’s even worse. A shark who hasn’t tasted fresh blood in a while is even more desperate and dangerous.”

“Trust me, I’m not desperate. Far from it.”

“So you say. I’m sure you have your usual assortment of floozies to choose from. But Shelby isn’t like them.”

“Just her number, Ice. I want her professional talents. Nothing else. And I’m willing to pay for them.”

She laughed richly before rattling off the number. “Oh, trust me, you will be. Good luck.”

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