“Your parents are nice,” I tell her, and it’s the truth. “My dad is in jail, and my mom fucked off when I was a kid, so I was raised by resentful older brothers.”
Her face drops in sympathy.
“Hey.” I change the subject. “You didn’t bring food, did you? Some more of that mushroom pasta? Those brownies you made yesterday? Honestly, you need to sell those in the shop.”
“They aren’t that popular.”
“Guess you’ll have to move in with me and bake them on demand.”
“You’re already entitled. You don’t need someone living in your house, feeding you butter and sugar in inventive combinations all day long. Maybe you should bring me food,” she teases. “Or did you already?” She’s reaching for my bag.
Shit.
The dildo is in there.
She’ll find it.
Then she’ll know.
She yelps when I grab her wrist in a vise grip before she can touch the bag.
“Don’t,” I snarl softly, “touch my stuff.”
I release her wrist.
She rubs it. “Okay, jeez. You definitely were either an only child or you had way too many siblings.”
“Or could be option number three—I’m a sexual deviant.” I kiss her hand.“Let’s ditch this place. Come out to dinner with me.”
“I—”
I haven’t let go of her hand.
I’m not sure if I want her sweating and pleading beneath me or if I want her curled up next to me while we eat takeout and read books while our favorite shows play on a TV neither of us is watching.
Maybe both.
Her phone beeps, breaking the spell.
“Great. Olive has apparently shit the bed.”
“I’ll drive you,” I offer.
“Um.” Her face goes flat. “I think there are other people here who don’t want to miss their chance at snagging a billionaire. Don’t want to deprive some girl of her one true love.”
24
WINNIE
“Seriously?” I yell at Olive and Kathy. The espresso machine is clanking. All the customers have fled. “Something’s broken. It sounds expensive.”
“We were trying to clean it. We did what the YouTube video said.” The girls show me their phones.
“The YouTube—” My eye is twitching. “There’s a manual, Olive. We went over this. Also, I thought I told you not to touch the espresso machine anymore?”
“We’re sorry, Winnie, but we didn’t want you to cut your date short. Gran texted and said your billionaire boyfriend was there to see you as a surprise,” Olive cries.
“You work too hard. You deserve to have some fun, Winn.” Kathy grabs my arm.
