Page 124 of Bliss with a Billionaire

Worthington polished off his drink and rose. “I will leave you to talk.”

Alicia shoved her hands into her pockets as she wandered into the room. Grant rose and motioned to the chair Worthington had just left. “Sit down. Can I get you a drink?”

“Uh, no, I’m good,” she said as she eased into the chair.

He crossed to the drink cart, refilling his glass before he faced her.

“Look, uh,” she said as she shifted in her seat, “I get where this is going. I’m making arrangements to move out soon. I’ll be–”

“That’s not what this is about,” he interrupted as he settled into his desk chair.

“Oh, uh, well, just so you know. And don’t worry, I’ll take Ethan with me.”

“Going back to Maine?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I’m not sure yet. I…am still considering things. Especially leaving Julia behind.”

“Any interest in sticking around?” He narrowed his eyes at her, searching her features carefully for any nonverbal cues that would betray her answer.

She matched his expression. “Is that a trick question?”

“No,” he answered.

“I don’t understand.”

He set his glass aside, leaning forward. “I’m thinking of making some changes to my security team. I need a new security head…preferably one that Juliamaylisten to.”

She scoffed. “That’s probably not me.”

He grinned at her. “She takes you more seriously than she ever took Max.”

“Uh, look, I’m not sure–”

“Here me out,” he interrupted, holding a hand up. “It’s not a bad gig. You can do more than police garden gnome heights. You can stay close to Julia. And the pay’s good. With your experience with the FBI and your obvious desire to keep your sister safe, you’d be the perfect choice. At least think about it.”

She flicked her gaze to the side. “Okay. I can do that.”

“You can hire your own team, too. So…if you and Ethan are…working things out…”

She flicked her eyebrows up. “I’ll talk to him about it. One question.”

“Sure,” he said as he grabbed his drink, “ask away.”

“How many more of your exes are crazy?”

He chuckled before sipping his bourbon. “I hope none of them.”

“I just want to know how hard I’m going to have to work to keep my sister and her new family safe.”

He smiled at her, loving that she’d referred to him as Julia’s new family. “We’re all family, actually. So, no need to differentiate between new and old. Maybe we could use this position as an opportunity to move forward. Together.”

“It’s obvious my sister loves you. She loves your kids. She’s happy. She deserves it.”

“I’m glad you think so. I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure she’s happy. And…one of the things that would make her happy is having you close.”

Alicia sucked in a breath. “You’re making it awfully difficult to refuse.”

“I usually do. Despite what you may think of me, I’m a pretty shrewd businessman. I usually get what I’m after.”