Page 19 of Date The Billionaire

“There’s five of us now.” I sat back on the couch, the tea cradled on my chest. “I’m on the home stretch at least.”

“I knew any man worth being called a man would see you for the gem you are!” He all but clapped in his excitement. “Tell me about it, come on, spill. Tell Tony all the gory details.”

I remembered Carol’s threat of being sued, but decided to tell Tony anyway. Fuck her! I filled Tony in on everything, from the very beginning to the very last moment when Jake held up that sign.

Tony leaned against the couch, his gorgeous eyes filled with tears. “That is so romantic! You are so lucky, Laney!”

“I think I might be.” I was the doing the sighing then, and let my head fall against the couch. “I think I could sleep for a week.”

A knock came at the back door and we both jumped.

“Tony? I know you’re in there! Was that Laney I saw come in earlier? Buddy, you’d better let me in!”

I chuckled as I stood up to go and let the elderly woman in. She looked spitting mad as she stormed into the house and turned to me.

“Did they send you home because you’ve been eliminated? That’s all I want to know. I guess they’ve got you under some kind of secrecy mumbo-jumbo, but I have to know if you’re still in the running or not.”

“Hello to you too, Mrs. Mallory.” I leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek, which she graciously accepted with a titter and a smile. “And no, I’ve not been eliminated. They decided to send us home until Christmas Eve when the final choices will be made.”

“I see. Good. That’s good then, honey. I knew you could do it. You’re a catch if I’ve ever seen one.” Mrs. Mallory patted my cheek for a moment and looked up at me with a happy face. “I’ll be off then, I know you’ve only just got home so you’ll be tired.”

“Why don’t you stay and have a glass of tea? I’ve missed you.” The older woman could be a curmudgeon, but she was always kind to me and I adored her, really.

“I’ll tell you what, I’ll come by later and bring you some real food. You haven’t been eating properly from the looks of you.” She eyed my waistline with a grimace and shook her head in confirmation. “Yes, you’ll be eating meatloaf and homemade rolls before the nights over with, my lovely. I shall return around six.”

I couldn’t refuse. She would pretend not to hear me if I did, so I gave a noise of understanding and watched her go.

“Tony, you’d best go down to the store and get some gin and tonic. I think our young lady here could use one.” Mrs. Mallory made her parting shot just as the screen door closed behind her.

“You know she’ll have your ears if you don’t,” I said to him with a smile.

“I know. I’m so glad it’s Monday and I’m off today. I’d have missed all of this otherwise.” He went to grab his keys and came back in. “Do you need anything?”

“Ice cream, chocolate cake, and lots of ice if we’re having gin and tonics.” I gave him a grin. Mrs. Mallory’s mixology was legendary at our house. She could make one delicious drink.

“Will do. I’ll be back shortly then.” He left me in the house and I went back to the couch, it was nice to be in a quiet house without the chatter of voices and the stress of the competition.

The house seemed to settle after that. Cracks and pops sounded like the house knew an occupant had left and it was letting the belt out on its pants. I laughed at the thought and settled deeper into the couch. A nap might be what I needed after the pace of the day so far.

I wouldn’t sleep long, just until Tony came home, I promised myself. Just long enough to ease the ache of fatigue and to not have to be alone with my thoughts. Alone with the realization that I wouldn’t see Jake again for a long time.

Chapter Ten

Jake

“Jackson Mallory, you get out of that basement right now, son! You can’t mope down there forever.” Gran’s voice penetrated the darkness of my basement cave. I glanced over at my laptop screen, the only light in the darkness, and groaned. I’d missed my nine am alarm by an hour somehow.

“I’ll be up in a minute, Gran. I missed my alarm.” Even when you work from home alarm clocks are necessary to stay on schedule. Mine had failed me today.

I didn’t really care, but Gran liked to have breakfast made and the dishes washed by now so she was going to be off all day. She might be retired but she still worked on a schedule.

“Have you grown a pair yet?” she called down, not leaving the door.

My head swiveled in her direction as my jaw dropped. Did she? Had she just said what I thought she said?

“Gran?” I called, getting out of the bed and automatically reaching for my hair. Damn, that was a hard habit to break. Gran was happy about it though, and she’d finally put her scissors away when I came home four days ago.

“Have you told that show to shove it yet and contacted Laney?” I heard a low cackle of glee and knew she’d enjoyed shocking me.