Page 83 of The Elusive Billionaire

“Wait,” I say as though I was just kicked in the chest. “Are you telling me that he made the breakfast…” I glance around the kitchen, checking for any signs of him, but find none. “Himself?”

“Yeah,” Clover laughs. “Apparently, he’s the cook in the family. We all know it’s not Braxton.”

Memories of the mess Brax and Pops made in here not that long ago bring a smile to my face. At the time, I thought it was amazing that Braxton even tried to make Madi something simply because he wanted to help.

Greyson freaking made me breakfast, and not only was it edible, but it was also delicious.

“Hey, y’all.” Elle, the fourth friend who makes up our little quad of Darlings, enters the room with baby Keela propped on her hip. “I’ve been stuck at home for days with no one but Keela for company while she got over her respiratory infection, and now Cian tells me I’ve missed all the gossip, so get dressed, we’re going to lunch.”

“I just ate,” I say, knowing full well she has no intention of allowing me to back out since I’m probably three-quarters of the gossip she’s referring to.

“Listen, Sav. I need adult conversation, and you need to tell me what the hell is going on, so you can sit and hold Keela while I eat because I also have not had a meal in months where grabby little fingers weren’t reaching for my food or my nostrils. Fair?”

Elle is a spitfire and nearly impossible to say no to. Especially when she shoves little Keela into my arms.

“Grey made Savvy breakfast in bed this morning.” Madi’s faux-whisper is embarrassing.

“No. Way.” Elle’s gasp is comical. Then she loops her arm through my free one and drags me toward the door. “This I have to hear.”

“Didwe have to choose the diner?” I don’t whine, but it’s a near thing. Everyone and their mother will be here this time of day.

“Yes, we did,” Madi calls over her shoulder as she leads the way to a booth in the back, while Elle snags the last highchair from the corner.

It takes a few attempts to actually get Keela to sit in the damn thing though. Who knew babies could make their bodies so stiff they’re impossible to bend when they don’t want to do something?

I have actual sweat dripping between my breasts by the time I get her in the damn thing.

“See?” Elle says. “It’s a good thing she’s so stinking cute, because this girl has an attitude the size of a Georgia moon.”

She pretends to be annoyed, but the love in her eyes outshines it all as she places a teething biscuit on the table in front of Keela.

But then she turns those eyes on me. “Spill. Cian has told me all the important stuff.” She makes a face that indicates she knows about the fake part of our relationship, which makes sense—they’re family too. “But I want the juicy details.”

“I’m not sure what you want me to say.”

“Start with the podcast,” Madi says. “Did you know that the clip of the two of you is still going viral? I bet it’s part of the reason the whole dang country is interested in your love story now. You could feel the sexual tension in your words. Dang, if he did a live podcast with you…” She fans herself, and my cheeks heat. “Geez, Sav. You’d probably break the internet.”

“Hmm.” Elle taps her chin, and I immediately scan for all available exits. “That might be a really good idea. A way to get your love story out there on your own terms.”

“There’s no story,” I hiss under my breath. “We’re not a love match.”

“Maybe not yet,” Madi waggles her brows like a perverted old man.

“Not ever.”

“But there certainly is chemistry.” There’s no use arguing with Elle. Grey and I do have chemistry…unfortunately, it’s the volatile kind.

“Ugh, she’s back,” Madi groans.

Slowly, I look up just as Elle and Clover turn in the booth to see who’s approaching us.

Bethany has garnered a small posse while I was locked up with Grey. They all look like your typical mean girl, except there’s something different about Bethany.

It only takes a second to spot what it is. It’s her clothing. She looks put together—nice, even. Her standard uniform of cutoffs and tank tops has been traded in for a perfectly tailored shift dress that makes her stand out in little old Happiness, Georgia.

Why the sudden change?

Old insecurities claw to the surface as I inventory myself. My wardrobe today includes light-wash jeans with holes in the knees and a tank that’s about a decade past its prime but is so soft I can’t get rid of it. After so many days wearing Grey’s clothes, I was thankful to have my own again and chose comfort over style.