Page 18

Did I love Millie? Was that what this chest-tightening feeling was I always had whenever I looked at her?

I’d certainly never felt about anyone the way I felt about Millie, and the baby had nothing to do with it either.

Parker was right, I’d known since the first time I’d laid eyes on her, with her arms crossed tightly over her chest and her lip curled in a snarl, even when I’d nursed a bloody nose after being thrown on my ass.

There’d been a fire inside her I wanted to see burn. Wanted to make burn. And I’d tried every available opportunity since.

“Like I said, she’ll be the first to know.”

Josh grumbled something under his breath.

“And as for supporting her goes?—”

I stopped talking as the elevator doors pinged without warning, which meant it was only a handful of people who were about to walk out. Unlucky for Josh and Matty, it was probably the one they least wanted to see, given how loudly they both groaned.

“What the hell do you two think you’re doing?” Millie marched toward them, arms powering by her side until she stopped in front of them with a well-practiced glare. One that would have had most people shrinking back.

Radley followed quietly behind and slunk off to the side into Lux’s arms.

“How did you know we were here?” asked Josh.

“Mom called me. Now answer my question.”

A wide grin pulled at my mouth. Ahhh , this was the Millie I was so familiar with, foot tapping as her nostrils flared. Her brown eyes narrowed enough that her nose turned up and a tiny crease marred her otherwise perfect brow.

It was probably wrong I was getting turned on, but I couldn’t help it. She looked like she was about to breathe fire any minute. My snarly little dragon was too fucking sexy for her own good.

“It’s what Dad would have done,” muttered Matty, which only made me laugh harder. Even Parker was chuckling. These guys were toast.

“Dad would never have come here.”

Josh attempted to stand up but then thought better of it. “You’re right, he’d have set up surveillance, and cracked into his computer, phone, and security. But we don’t know how to do that .”

“Yeah, he’d have also been able to bury your body without anyone realizing you’d gone missing,” added Matty, with a glare that rivaled his sister’s but didn’t quite hit the mark.

Parker threw an arm over my shoulder. “We’d realize.”

Millie spun around, seemingly noticing us for the first time. She threw me an apologetic look before turning back to her brothers. “You two are idiots. And since when can I not take care of myself?”

“It’s not about you not taking care of yourself, it’s about him taking care of you. Him supporting you.” Matty’s finger once more pointed in my direction.

“Hey,” snapped Parker, his arm still around my shoulder. “Does this look like a guy who isn’t supporting your sister? He just spent a thousand dollars on pregnancy books so he can read them.”

“You did?” The anger on Millie’s face morphed into surprise and I tried not to let it annoy me.

Who exactly did she think I was, that every time I did something to help her it rendered her speechless for a second ?

“Yes. You said you’d bought some and I wanted to read them too.”

“Oh.” Her head dipped, and she bit down on a smile as she held my gaze. “Cool.”

Our moment was broken by a loud scoff from Josh.

“Reading books is great and all, but Millie’s still in school and, according to our mom, plans to stay in New York.

Which begs the question, where is she going to live?

” His beady eyes flicked from me to Millie and back, and this time I really didn’t like the look in them.

“If you’re so in love with her, what are you doing to help her? ”

A pin drop would be deafening right now.

I decided Josh was my least favorite brother, and being smaller would be easier to take. Dick. I’d show him.

“For your information, Millie’s not going to be living at Columbia, she’s moving in here.”

Checkmate. Douchebag.

This time Millie’s surprise was legit. So was everyone else’s, including mine. But I’d said it now and there was no backing down. Not in front of Hulk and Hulkier.

Seven sets of eyes widened, and I think it was only Parker, Ace, and Radley who didn’t shout, “What?”

“What I meant by that is, Millie’s moving into the building.

We also have the one other apartment on this floor, and Millie’s moving in there.

” I didn’t dare look at her, or Lux, who was really the one who rented the apartment, though I’m certain a smirk was forming on his face because he knew I now needed to come up with a plan to figure out what we were going to do with the Secret Service, who usually stayed in there.

But one ridiculous problem at a time. “I’m sure even you can agree that this place is good enough for Millie.

There’s security downstairs, underground parking, and no one is allowed up without passing the front desk. ”

There was silence while everyone tried to figure out whether this stupid plan of mine was supportive enough for the woman carrying my baby.

The side of Parker’s mouth barely moved as he muttered, “Nice deflection on the love declaration, buddy.”

Josh and Matty turned to their sister. “Mildred? Is this true? You’re moving in here?”

I held my breath as I waited for her to turn around and tell me to go fuck myself. It would certainly be on brand for her if she did. But part of Millie’s charm was also her stubbornness, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when she replied, “Yeah, and Radley’s moving in with me too.”

Looks like I needed to book some removal guys. Stat.