Page 297 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5

“Hey.” She elbowed him in his side. “But yes. Take me home. I’m tired.”

He smiled down at her. “Your wish is my command.” He grabbed her coat and draped it over her shoulders. He was about to leadher out of the bar when he turned back to me. “Sorry, Matt. What was your story about Poppy? Why did she stop by?”

I didn’t know why I’d brought it up. I didn’t want to worry him. “No reason. It was really random.”

“Huh.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Well, have a good night, you two.”

Bee blew Tanner and me each a kiss.

I pretended to choke on it and she laughed.

“That went really well,” Tanner said.

I ran my fingers through my hair. “You tried to get James to drug me. And you fought with Rob again.”

“Robert argued with me. And James does owe you a drugged drink, if I do recall correctly. I thought everything went great. So tell me about Poppy. Is she hot?”

“No.”

“No she’s not hot? Or no you’re not going to tell me about her?”

“Both.”

“Hm. Sounds like something you need to talk about.”

I sighed. He knew me too well. “Mr. Pruitt sent her. Because I didn’t respond to his texts.”

“Well, he did say it was urgent this time. I have an idea. How about I come with you when you go see him. That way nothing bad can happen.”

“That would just ensure that bad things would happen to both of us.”

He shook his head. “Nonsense. He wouldn’t mess with me.”

“Mr. Pruitt messes with everyone.”

“But no one messes with me.”

I stared at him. He looked dead serious. Yes, Tanner had more money than anyone else I knew. Including the Pruitts. But I knew that money didn’t make him untouchable. And it certainly couldn’t protect him from Mr. Pruitt’s line of work.

“Just think about it,” Tanner said. “Like I told you before, it would probably be best just to get it over with. And this way you wouldn’t have to do it alone. You’d have me.”

“Yeah, maybe.” That was actually really nice of him to have my back. Even if I didn’t plan on taking him up on his offer. “Thanks, man.”

“That’s what best friends are for.”

I laughed. “You’re just trying to one up Rob?”

Tanner shrugged. “Well, I don’t see him offering to go visit your almost father-in-law with you. Classic best friend duty if youask me.” He shook his head like he thought Rob was the most ridiculous person he’d ever met.

Which was funny. Because they were both ridiculous. It was probably why they didn’t get along.

I wanted to just drop the Mr. Pruitt thing. But it was still weighing on me. I needed to talk to James about Poppy’s threat. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t talk to Tanner about my plans. “I actually have a better idea than going to see him. I’ve been trying to dig up dirt on his business dealings. If I could just have some leverage…”

“Consider it done,” Tanner said. He slid off his stool and pulled on his coat. “All you had to do was ask.”

Wait, what?

“I’ll call you with the details.” He turned to walk away.