Page 17 of The Renegade Billionaire

For heaven’s sake. This handsome stranger is going to seriously turn my town upside down. And if I’m not careful, I might forget why I’ve sworn off all romantic relationships forever.

“He’s looking for his happy?”Savvy asks for the third time. She’s the most practical of my friends, which was why I was so shocked when she and Clover followed me home after my life was turned upside down at the end of our freshman year of college. “Was that some kind of a pick-up line or something?” Her bluntness is sharper when she’s concerned.

I press a button on my phone to expand the FaceTime images of my friends.

“He’s handsome, isn’t he?” Clover asks in that wispy voice of hers.

“Yes.” My answer came far too quickly.

“And he’s staying at the Hideaway?” Elle asks. We’ve been friends since I came to live with Pops when I was young. She was the town sweetheart who grew up to marry her high school love.

At least that worked out for one of us.

“And the handsome stranger is at the Chug right now?” Clover will probably call himhandsome strangerin her head for the rest of her life. For a thriller writer who routinely scares the crap out of herself, she truly has a romantic soul. I’ve been trying to convince her to try romance for years, but she says she needs the fear to feel.

My friend is a complicated soul with a heart so big it contains oceans full of love.

“Yes,” I whisper-shout. “He bought a monthly unlimited membership for an entire year, but he says he has no idea how long he’ll be staying. It’s probably a waste of money.”

“Or he’s smitten.” Elle makes googly eyes at the camera as only she can.

“We’ll be right there,” Savvy announces. “Elle, tell your bodyguard to stand down. I’ll be there to get you in five minutes. Clover, meet me at my car. And Madi, don’t move a muscle.”

“I have to. I’m hiding in a closet on the second floor, and it’s so hot in here I have boob sweat.”

“That’s impressive with your B-cup.” Savvy has more snark than the rest of us combined.

“That’s why I said it. I’ll meet you guys downstairs. Come quick. I can’t tell if he’s just trying to fit in, or if he’s going to kill me in my sleep.”

“That’s a real concern in dating these days,” Clover says sagely. “You can never be too careful.”

“Clover,” Savvy and Elle say together.

“Right, sorry, they’re not dating. We’ll be right over. Love you, Madi.”

“Love you. See you soon.”

With the knowledge that backup is on the way, I ease out of the closet, shake out my shirt to encourage the air to dry my boob sweat, then head down the rickety stairs to find Ethan and Braxton sitting side by side, taping Ethan’s laptop back together again.

Why does the handsome stranger have to be so dang helpful?

5

BRAXTON

The space iscozy and inviting. It’s so far removed from my sterile office at Omni-Reyes, and I’m honestly not sure why I never changed the office after I moved in.

Or you could have taken Ace’s office,the voice in my head taunts.

Madison’s Chugaloo is much more my speed. Or what it would have been had I not been hardened by learning of Alistair’s choices the last few years.

I told Madison I was searching for my happy. Who the fuck says that? It just…happened.

I want you to find your happy, Braxton. Find your purpose and reason for getting up in the morning.Ace’s letter has been messing with my mind since I read it.

And don’t get me started on why I offered the football player help. I must be bored—that’s it. My body’s used to working eighty hours a week. It’s all I’ve done for the last six months.

Rolling my neck and enjoying the crackle of the stretch, I open my new laptop. I need to focus on something other than Madison Ryan.