Page 88 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set

I drop my mouth open. She was pondering the same thing as I was. “Baby?”

“I’ve been sitting out here thinking, Austin. I don’t regret coming with you, and I’d do it again. I showed my parents what you mean to me, and that neither of them can control me. But…”

I smile, bring her hand to my lips and kiss her fingers. One after the other. “I understand. I was about to tell you the same thing.”

She looks up and smiles weakly. “You’re kidding, right?”

I shake my head. “I’m not. While you were in the shower, I talked to my mom. She’s going to have surgery on her hip, not a replacement, and she’ll be in rehab for a month or so. The new meds for MS she’s taking are working well, though, so that’s good news.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” she says.

“Thanks, baby. I have a feeling she’ll even have a pilot before the week’s out. She’s determined.”

“I’m glad she wants to keep the business she started going.”

I give her a small smile. “I think it’s more about me being here with you.”

She flushes even in the soft lighting.

“Anyway,” I continue, because we’re not ready for the kid convo yet, “you know how much my mom means to me, and I know your dad means the same to you. I’d be lost if Mom and I weren’t on good terms, and I don’t want that for you. I agree. You need to go home to work things out with your dad.”

“I don’t want to leave you.” She turns her hand over and grasps my fingers.

“I know.” With my free hand, I reach out and tuck her damp hair behind her ear. “I don’t want you to leave, either, but we’re both right. You need to talk to him. You’ll feel much better when you do. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here once you and your dad are good again. I won’t put you in the middle. If this is going to be long term, which it is,” I add, ensuring she still knows she’s mine, “I don’t want him hating me.”

She rises. “I know.”

“It’ll be another half hour until your clothes are dry, though.” I raise an eyebrow and give a sly smile. Thirty minutes isn’t a long time, but I can be creative. “Any ideas what we can do until then?”

Before she answers, though, Chance opens the French door to the deck. “Dinner’s on the table, you two.”

“Rotten timing,” I mutter, even though the scent of garlic wafts from the house and makes my stomach rumble.

Carly turns to me. “Are you hungry?”

“Not for food,” I say.

She smiles, and damn, she’s beautiful.

“I’m not sure I should join your brothers at the table wearing only this.” She looks down at the T-shirt that hits her just above her knees.

“I don’t like the idea of any man seeing you like this, but you’re completely covered, and you look amazing. I promised your dad I’d take care of you, and that means feeding you.”

“Believe it or not, I actually feel like I could eat. I haven’t had anything since breakfast.”

I’m not surprised. Once they found that body, the sheriff kept her and Lexie busy all day. Besides, a dead body can turn anyone off the idea of eating.

“Let’s go then.” I open the door for her.

Chance and Miles are seated in the kitchen’s breakfast nook, so Carly and I join them.

I inhale. Smells great, kind of like ginger. “What’s on the menu?”

Chance takes a sip from his beer bottle. “Pork stir fry. One of my favorites. Sit on down, both of you. There’s plenty.”

“What do you want to drink?” I ask Carly.

“Just ice water, please.”