Page 91 of The Billionaire Is Back

Oh my, how my girl has grown. “You’re right. But after this, I’d really like to forget about it and just hold your hand and listen to my brother play music.”

“And that is what you shall do. What’s going on?”

I fill her in on Lynch’s new plan and the whole situation. She listens intently. “When is the board meeting?”

I wince.

I can tell she understands immediately.

She swears under her breath, and I can see how disappointed she is.

I place my hands on her shoulders. “But I’m having Alice set the meeting as early as possible. I’m gonna go in there, crush Lynch…again. For the last time, I swear. And then I’m going to get on my private jet—or possibly commission some sort of Iron Man suit—so I can get back here as fast as I possibly can. I probably won’t make the very beginning of the opening, but I will do everything in my power to be there.”

Her face changes from sad to resigned to hopeful. I watch her beautiful mouth form a smile. “Well. We knew this was going to be part of it. Part of you there, part of me here.”

“Yeah. This is part of it.” She nods and turns away from me, but I grab her hand and pull her back. “But there’s a part that we haven’t talked about yet…”

“If you’re referring to butt stuff, I’d rather not discuss that when our parents are within shouting distance.”

I arch an eyebrow. “Is that up for discussion?”

She laughs. “Not really.”

I have to shake my head to get my brain back on track. I take both of her hands in mine. “What I was actually thinking about is…”

“I’m listening…”

Someone opens the door to the bar again, and I spot my parents inside. Sitting together, my dad’s arm around my mom’s shoulder.Thingsare fine for them now,I remind myself.I’m not going to lose anything if I have Claire.

“I was thinking I should rent a house in Beacon Harbor. Or buy one if the right one’s available. Obviously your mom would be the one to ask about that.”

She blinks once and waits for me to continue.

“And I was thinking we should both move into that house. Together. So we’ll have more time together when I can be here.”

She blinks twice, as if she can’t quite believe what she just heard.

“That is, unless you’d prefer to stay in your room at your parents’ house. And before you answer—yes, you can bring your Peter Broadway calendar and all of your little Post-it notes with you.”

“To clarify—you’re talking about keeping your kickass penthouse in New York, right? That would still be your home base, but you’d rent or own property here, and I would live there all the time?”

“Correct.”

She twists her lips to one side, pondering my idea. “You know I get up before dawn, right?”

“You know that’s when I usually go for my runs, right?”

“You know I’m going to have to bake at home sometimes, right? Even when you don’t want me to?”

“I promise I’ll only tie you to the bedposts when you ask me to.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “We should go back inside. I’ll think about it and get back to you.”

“Really?”

She laughs. “Just kidding. Of course I want you to get a house here so I can move in with you!” She jumps up, wrapping her arms around my neck.

I grab her sweet ass and hold her so tight while she wraps her legs around my waist and squeals.

---