Page 47 of The Hookup Situation (Billionaire Situation #5)

“LadyLux has emailed you,” Asher says to me. “Do the interview tonight.”

“Okay,” Julie says, turning toward me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, holding her cheeks in my hands, looking into her shining green eyes.

“I’m worried this will ruin what we have. I could hurt your reputation, and?—”

“Don’t worry about me,” I say, taking her hands. “I’m used to this. You matter more.”

She searches my eyes. “I’m a liability. Your girlfriend’s nudes are trending .”

“My girlfriend is trending because she was brave enough to stand up to an abuser.”

A moment later, Autumn moves over to us with her phone open. It’s a video of Craig at the brewery, fighting.

“Is this live?” Asher asks.

“Yes,” Autumn tells him.

“We need to call the authorities,” Zane says, unlocking his phone, but I’m already on it.

Craig’s behavior is out of control.

“He’s escalating this,” Asher tells us. “A security system, even though it’s as locked down as Fort Knox in here, isn’t enough. You need personal protection.”

Julie’s mouth falls open. “I can’t have a bodyguard. That?—”

“You go nowhere alone,” Asher explains. “Not until he’s caught. ”

As I report the commotion going on at the brewery, Julie breaks down.

“I feel so violated. First my home, now my body—my privacy. He’s taken everything.”

Blaire holds Julie tight as she cries, and I hate this. It’s breaking my heart.

“No,” Autumn says. “He’s tried to take everything. But you’re still here. Still fighting. Still with Nick. You’re strong.”

Zane and Asher stare at me.

“Okay, sir, we already have a squad car heading out there now,” the dispatcher tells me.

“Thank you,” I say and end the call.

I move to Julie, and the girls step away as I wrap her in my arms. I kiss her hair, tell her how pretty she is and how we’re going to work through this.

Asher clears his throat, moving close to us.

“The LadyLux interview will be published tomorrow if you can return her email tonight. I know this sucks, but trust me when I say, I’ve cleaned up bigger messes than this.

I am in no way minimizing what happened.

It’s utter bullshit, and if I could chop off that guy’s dick and shove it down his throat, I absolutely would.

However, it could be a lot worse. We will remove all instances of it that are posted.

Eventually, a new scandal will happen, and everyone will move on to that. It’s the nature of this.”

Julie nods, finding that fighting spirit. “Do you promise?”

“Yes,” Asher confirms, then glances at me. “I’ll do whatever I can to fix this. Not to brag, but I’m the absolute best in the business.”

“I know that,” I say, grinning.

“Thank you. I’m … I’m so lucky to have all of you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Autumn and Zane head out, promising to keep an eye on the town chatter. Blaire leaves crystals on every windowsill, kisses Julie’s cheek, and threatens to hex Craig into oblivion before slipping out the door .

Asher lingers the longest, running through a list of follow-ups with his interns until I all but shove him out the door.

“We’ve got it from here,” I tell him.

“You’d better,” he warns, pointing at me like he’s the older brother. Then his expression softens when he looks at Julie. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you. I’ll check in first thing tomorrow.”

When the door shuts behind them, the silence feels heavy and welcome at the same time. Julie exhales, slumping against the counter like she’s been holding her body upright with willpower.

“Alone at last,” I mutter, crossing the room to pull her into my arms.

She lets herself melt into me for a long while before pulling back to meet my eyes.

“Alone except for the countless casseroles, flowers, and half a dozen military-grade security cameras.”

“Isn’t it romantic?” I ask, kissing her forehead with a smile.

She snorts. “Okay, let’s get this interview over with before I lose my very last nerve.”

I grab my laptop and lead her to the couch. She curls into me, her legs tucked under her. Julie’s chin rests on my shoulder as I open the email from LadyLux. A neat list of questions waits in my inbox, half thoughtful, half nosy in that classic LadyLux way.

Julie groans when she sees the first one. “Who is this person?”

I grin. “Well, that’s the thing. No one knows because she’s anonymous. The rumor is that she’s a widowed socialite who’s part of all the elite circles. She writes the truth though, and she’s fair, even when many I run with don’t deserve it.”

“Really?” Julie asks.

“Yes. I’ve tried to figure out who it is, and I think I almost have it pinpointed, but I’ll never tell her secret.”

“Who do you think it is?” Julie looks up at me.

“One of my friend’s wives.”

She bursts into laughter. “Scandalous.”

“There’s something about the way she watches that makes me believe it’s her. However, her husband is an asshole, and I don’t want to stir the pot,” I say.

“Wow.” She inhales. “Is this how your life is?”

“Sometimes,” I admit. “Other times, it’s quiet. But enough about that. We should probably get started.”

I read the first question out loud. “ How are you coping with such a personal violation becoming public? ”

Julie rolls her eyes. “How does she think I’m coping?”

“Some of this will be shit, but she has a way with words, I promise. Just speak your truth,” I say, fingers hovering over the keys, ready to type whatever she says.

“ All I can do is survive. Having intimate and private photographs of me displayed in such a crude manner has been tough. There was a time when I thought I’d marry that man, and every day, I’m thankful I didn’t.

I refuse to let his jealousy try to ruin and sabotage me.

I have a strong support system—my friends, family, and the entire town of Cozy Creek—and I’m focusing on that instead of what Craig did to me . ” She tilts her head. “How’s that?”

“That’s good. I’m adding on the end … casserole. Lots and lots of casserole .” I laugh.

“I’m excited about eating it,” she admits.

“Me too,” I tell her. “After we do this, we’re digging in.”

“Deal!” She bumps her shoulder into me.

I read the next one. “ How has this impacted your relationship with Nicolas Banks? ”

Julie’s cheeks flush. “Oh no. Here we go.”

I smirk. “Should I send her our sex tape?”

She swats my chest. “Nick! It is seriously too soon to even joke about that.”

“Sorry. I’m not sharing it with anyone other than you. I give you my word.”

She looks at me. “Can we watch it together?”

“After we finish these questions.” I study her face, knowing she needs this .

I swear I see fire in her eyes.

“Okay. Give me the laptop.”

“Sure, have at it,” I tell her as she places her hands on the keys.

Julie reads the questions and types away, her fingers flying over the keyboard. I watch her, but I allow her to give her words, until she gets to the end.

“These questions are for you specifically,” she tells me, passing the laptop back to me.

I place it on my upper thighs and read it.

How does this make you feel, knowing that this scumbag of a man did this to your girlfriend?

I’m upset for her. I’m upset that so many people are invading her privacy and supporting this cruel behavior. It makes me sick to my stomach, and I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. However, I will be there for her through this.

I move to the next question.

Are any of the rumors true? Is this a fake relationship to repair your reputation? You have to admit that all of this seems to have worked in your favor, and considering you are a Banks brother, it’s not below you to fabricate something like this. Thoughts?

Julie doesn’t react. “What does that mean?”

I glance at her. “Some people believe I’m here to repair my bad reputation and show the public I can commit so that the man-whore rumors will end.”

“Did you come here for that?” she questions, tilting her head.

“No. I don’t give a fuck about my reputation, babe. If I did, I wouldn’t have done half the shit in my past so publicly. Also, I’d never use you.”

“Oh, Nick. I’m so sorry. I never thought you’d use me. My head wasn’t thinking that way.”

“It’s fine. I just want you to know that I’d never do anything to hurt you. After what happened with Craig, you need to hear that. I promise you that on my sister’s grave,” I tell her. “And I’d never lie to my sister. ”

She tears up and wraps her arms around me. “Thank you. I’m so scared this is going to push you away.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here.”

I type the answer to the last question and set the laptop on the coffee table.

“LadyLux has her email. Can we eat casserole now?”

I grin. “Later. First, victory kiss.”

She arches a brow. “Victory kiss?”

I tug her into my lap, kissing her until she’s laughing against my mouth. Her hands fist my shirt, pulling me closer, and suddenly, the room feels smaller, charged in that way it always does when I’m with her.

When she pulls back, she whispers, “Can we watch it together?”

I search her face. “You were serious?”

She nods, green eyes fierce despite the nerves in them. “I want to see it. To see us.”

I pull my phone from my pocket, unlock the private folder Asher built for me, and press play. The Riverside bedroom fills the screen. I see her blindfolded with wrists tied to the bed, both of us raw, reckless, alive.

Julie’s breath hitches. “God, you look at me like?—”

“Tell me,” I mutter into her ear.

“Like I’m everything .”

“Because you are.”

As she continues to watch, her skin floods with goose bumps, nipples tighten beneath her shirt, and her thighs press together. I see it, feel it.

“Show me what you need.”

She swallows hard, then slides her hand under her joggers. My chest aches as I watch her. Every soft gasp, every tremble of her body wrecks me.

“You’re sexy,” I whisper, forcing myself not to touch her. “You undo me, Jules. ”

Her eyes stay locked on the screen as her hand moves, her breath stuttering, the sound of it breaking me open.

“Come for me, sweetheart,” I command, knowing she’s close.

She gasps my name and lets go, body convulsing with satisfaction. Julie on-screen is shattering at the exact moment as the one beside me. This is vulnerable, and so damn beautiful.

“Nick, that was so good, but I need you,” she whispers, still shaking.

I drag her into my arms, kiss her until she’s breathless, then lower her back onto the couch cushions.

When I finally slide into her, it isn’t desperate.

It’s slow, deep, and all-consuming. Every kiss, every brush of her hands is a promise.

She clings to me, nails scratching down my back.

Her hot mouth presses against my jaw, my throat, my lips.

“You’re mine,” I whisper against her mouth.

“I’ve been yours since the beginning,” she breathes back.

From then on, every thrust, every kiss, every breath is mine. She wraps her legs around me, begging for me to spill inside her.

When she whispers, “Please,” I give her everything and come undone with her.

My kisses are filled with so much emotion that it makes her whimper.

Later, when we collapse together, she buries her face in my chest.

“I don’t ever want this to end,” she confesses in my ear.

I hold her tighter, kiss her hair. “It doesn’t have to.”

Craig can try to take her home, her privacy, and her past, but he’ll never take this.

This is ours. And I want forever.