Page 13 of Bestie's Bossy Billionaire Brother

I turn back to Catherine. “Are you still hungry? It’s only 8:30, so I can still order something to eat.”

Catherine tucks a strand of curly, black hair behind her ears. “We have been running around a lot,” she points out. “I suppose we are a little.”

Alice’s eyes sweep from Catherine then to me. “We’re definitely hungry, Daddy.”

I breathe out a laugh.

“Do you want some Thai food?” I ask Catherine.

At first, she peers over at me like she’s taken aback, then she nods. “Sure.”

“Daddy, can we watch a movie, too?” Alice pleads.

I chuckle and ruffle her hair. “Of course we can. Why don’t you go into the living room and pick one out while I order our dinner?”

Alice’s face lights up with excitement as she runs off to make her selection.

I slip off my shoes, then start tiredly toward the living room.

“You look like shit,” Catherine teases me.

“Thanks,” I retort. “Can you keep an eye on Alice please to make sure she doesn’t accidentally choose something not G-rated?”

She furrows her brows. “Didn’t that happen to Erica when we were kids?”

“Exactly,” I say. “And you were with her then, too.”

Catherine shoots me a scowl before retreating into the living room with Alice.

As I head to the kitchen, the contrast between the chaos of my failed blind date and the comfortable familiarity in Catherine’s company doesn’t escape me. My lips twitch upwards in an involuntary smile, not just because I’ve dodged an evening of forced pleasantries, but because I find a surprising sense of relief washing over me now that I’m here… with her.

And as I dial the restaurant’s number, a part of me can’t help but wonder why tonight, of all nights, her presence feels like the sanctuary I hadn’t realized I was seeking.

Chapter 5

Catherine

“Catherine,comehelpmepick a movie,” Alice says, gesturing for me to join her on the couch.

I sit beside her as she browses through a streaming app, controlling the remote as if she’s done it hundreds of times.

Finally, Alice stumbles uponCinderella.“We should watch this,” she suggests. “Have you seen it?”

I nod as I watch her click on the movie. “It’s one of my favorites.”

“Food’s ordered,” Oliver informs us as he enters the living room. He takes a seat on the other side of Alice, then plants a kiss on the top of her head. “What movie did you pick, honey?”

“Cinderella,” Alice exclaims with delight.

Oliver looks over at me and gives me a small smile. “Good choice, kiddo.”

I nod in agreement. “Definitely a classic.”

As the opening credits roll, Oliver turns to me. “Do you want a beer?”

“Sure,” I whisper back.

He directs his focus back to the movie. “They’re in the fridge. Second shelf.”