Page 43 of Nothing to This

“And… it went well?”

Thinking about their evening poured warmth into every cell in her body.They’d had a lot of fun with the kids, as to how much they took in…?It was difficult to tell when kids got giddy.

“I don’t know that the kids got what we were trying to explain to them.But they’re four, you know, they’ll get it eventually… when I loosen the reins.”

“The reins?”

“Sometimes I haven’t let JD do certain things with them.I won’t have to worry about that so much anymore.”

“JD?”he asked, his brows rising.“That’s him.That’s their father?”

Another smile and a nod.“Jamison Dawes,” she said and frowned in wonder.“I don’t know where I got JD from.Everyone else calls him Jamie.”

From his puzzled expression, she guessed he was figuring it out.“Jamison Dawes,” he said.“Why do I know that name?How do I…” he trailed off.“Jamison Dawes… the billionaire?”He panted out his disbelief, but wasn’t done, another memory hit him.“Wait, didn’t he just buy your company?”

She held up an innocent hand.“I didn’t know he was going to do that… and I already tore into him for it.Though, in his defense, he didn’t know I worked there.”

“He didn’t know where the mother of his children worked?”

Lifting a shoulder, their drinks appeared right on time.“He has enough on his mind.He’s busy and doesn’t waste mental energy figuring out where I spend my days.”

“Apparently he fucking does, didn’t you say you’d started working in the new CEO’s office?”

“Yes, but…” When he put the question in such an impatient way, it didn’t sound great.“He needed someone familiar.He asked me to do the rebrand.I’m not sure I’ll stay in his office after that’s done.”

“Rylee…” he scoffed out her name but didn’t follow it with anything.

In anticipation of his point, she stayed silent while the server put their drinks on the table.

At least she did until the server was gone and the pregnant silence continued.“What?”

“You… you fucked this guy,” he said, ignoring his drink, while she raised hers to her lips.“You fucked him.”

“Five years ago… almost six.”

“You fucked him, had his children, and you’re living with him.Now I find out you’re spending all day alone in some top-floor office with him?”

Breathing in, she let her eyes drift to the side.“And…?”

“And?And he’s a fucking billionaire!”

His raised voice drew the attention of diners and staff.Great, just what she needed, a show.

She offered the strangers a nervous smile before leaning over the table toward Baxter.“I don’t see your point, Bax,” she hissed.“Though I am getting to grips with your attitude.What is wrong with you?”

He pushed against the edge of the table, reinforcing the tension in his shoulders.“Why aren’t you with this guy again?”

“Why would I be with him?Because he’s my boss or because he’s squatting in my house?”she asked.“If people made romantic choices based on those roles, we’d have a lot of CEOs in polygamous marriages and no such thing as roommates.”

“You have kids together.”

“I’m confused,” she said, sensing an increase in his anger.“Do you want me to be with him?Are you telling me to be with him?”

“I’m telling you I don’t understand why you’re not… Has he made a move on you?”

“JD?Since when?”she asked, her upper lip curled.“Not since the night we were together.He would never compromise me like that.”

Baxter didn’t look to be buying it.“Why not?”