“The way a boy does when he has a crush on a girl and doesn’t know how to express himself. I believe you told me Bryce did the same thing and admitted his crush on you.”
I slump in my chair. Just a little, of course, since I’d get scolded for poor posture otherwise. “Oh, this is killing me.”
“Don’t take it so hard.” She chuckles. “If you’re sure there won’t be anything between you but friendship, you have to let him know. It’s the only fair thing to do.”
“I know you’re right. I don’t have to like it or look forward to it, but I know you’re right.”
But here’s the thing that nags at the back of my mind the entire way back to the apartment, up the stairs, and inside, where Phoebe dances with joy when I come in.
I crouch in front of her, giving her a good scratch behind the ears in greeting.
“Daddy will be home soon. Let’s go for one more walk,” I coo.
When we’re finished, I lead her back to Matt’s and get her settled in. “I wish I knew for sure how I felt about your daddy,” I whisper before hugging her around the neck and walking out the door to pack for my trip.
Sometimes, I wish life were as simple for humans as it was for dogs.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“There she is!” Paxton greets me with a wide smile and a huge, tight hug when I climb out of the limo he sent to the family’s private airstrip.
The family’s private airstrip. It doesn’t even sound right when I say it in my head.
Dating Blake Marlin was one thing. Yes, he was a billionaire, and yes, his wealth overwhelmed me at times. But he was a little more reserved about it.
Paxton, on the other hand, comes from a dynasty. He might not consider himself pretentious, but they love their money and don’t shy away from spending it. I could tell as much on the jet, which included two bedrooms and a dining room.
On a private jet. Which only I was flying on along with the crew, including an attendant who plied me with champagne, fruit, and pastries for brunch. It blew my mind.
“How was your flight?” He leads me away from the limo, where he murmured instructions to the driver.
Apparently, my bags will find their way to my room—I thought we’d be spending the nights together, but he insisted I have my own space to work in.
Because obviously, I’m going to work. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I can’t afford to waste it.
“The flight was incredible. You spoiled me with all that champagne.”
He chuckles, tipping back the brim of his sexy hat. “You deserve to be spoiled, though that’s nothing compared to what I have in store for you this week.”
“Oh, really?” My heart skips a beat, I can’t lie. Who wouldn’t want to be spoiled by him?
“So, what do you think?”
We come to a stop in front of a sprawling mansion. There’s a deep porch and rocking chairs and a gorgeous collie currently running down the stairs to greet us. A beautiful black horse is tied off to a post in front, where he nibbles on grass while his tail flicks back and forth.
I would’ve assumed a house this size would be considered the main house and not a house suited for a single man.
It’s like something out of a fantasy. The outside is stone in various shades of brown and tan. A wide path leads from the front door and extends out in both directions and then runs around to the back of the house.
“The pool is back there,” Paxton explains. “I hope you brought your suit.”
“I did.” Meanwhile, I’m counting front-facing windows, and I’m up to seventeen. “How many rooms are there?”
“Six bedrooms, six full baths, plus two partial. Living room, sunroom, office, library. Kitchen, dining room, breakfast room.” He scratches his chin. “Oh, and the movie theater and a full gym are in the basement. Does the wine cellar count as a room?”
Right. Because who doesn’t need a movie theater in their house? Or a full gym for just one person?
“Wow. This is stunning.” And it is. I step inside the airy, bright, welcoming house with its high ceiling and open windows, which allow a breeze to flutter the sheer curtains. “So homey.”
“My brother Preston and his wife like that real fancy marble and whatnot.” Is it just me, or is he even more Southern now that we’re here? It must be a location thing. “I prefer wood, stone, lots of light and air.”
He also prefers animal heads on the walls of his study. Welp, I guess I should’ve expected that. They make my stomach churn a little—these were once living animals. I really can’t let myself think of them that way, but it’s true—and I tell myself it was the champagne on the jet that’s making me feel wonky.
“I can see why you’d rather be here than visiting different offices.”
We make a stop in the kitchen, where a pair of women with kind smiles are in the middle of preparing something that smells divine.
“I thought we’d have dinner here tonight, just the two of us,” he explains. “Otherwise, we can fly into Dallas or Houston or even Austin, if you want. Except for Thursday night.”
“What’s Thursday?”
Confusion washes over his face for a second. “The party. Remember?”
Sweat magically makes itself known on the back of my neck. Cold, dread-filled sweat. “No. You never said anything about a party.”
“I didn’t?” He perches on a stool positioned in front of a wood-topped island. “I could’ve sworn I mentioned it. Maybe I forgot. It wouldn’t be the first time I forgot something.”
We’re getting off track here.
“What’s the party for?”
“It’s my father’s birthday.”
I’m pretty sure I hallucinated that. It can’t be true. “Pardon me? Your father’s birthday? Is that what you just said?”
“Yeah, that’s what I said.” He rubs the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly. “Sorry. I must’ve forgotten to bring it up.”
“You certainly did. Is it going to be a big event?”
“I’m afraid so. At the main house and everything.” When I very obviously wait for more, eyes wide, he explains, “It makes this place look like a toolshed.”
“Fantastic. With all his friends?”
“Only about two hundred.”
I’m going to kill him. The man is going to die right here and now, in the middle of this enormous kitchen, with two witnesses. Though they’re women and thus probably have more sense than men, so they might understand and in fact back me up and help me bury the body.
Somehow, I manage to keep a non-murderous expression on my face. At least I imagine I do since he doesn’t recoil in horror. “I don’t think I have anything with me that would be right for an event like this. I’m completely unprepared.”
He scoffs gently. “Don’t worry about it. We can always go into the city and pick up something for you.”
Right, because in his world, things are that simple. In his world, he already knows these people too. He’s not going to be an outsider at this party.
He has nothing to prove.
Why do I feel like I have something to prove?