The Billionaire Next Door (Billionaire Bad Boys #2)(50)

“You have to let me work while I’m here, Tag,” she said when she pulled away. She put her hands in his hair and tingles shot down his arms. He loved the feel of her fingers in his hair. “I already feel guilty that you won’t let me pay for anything.”

“Shit, Rachel.” He huffed.

“What?” she argued, her tone suggesting she was ready for a fight.

“Hasn’t a guy ever treated you well? Bought you things just because he wanted to?” When the questions were out of his mouth, he stopped, sort of stunned he’d asked. Money had always been available to him, had always come easily. Not many people argued when he paid. Then the person he wanted to treat most comes along and she fought him every step of the way.

“I have my own money,” she said instead of answering him, crossing her arms over her breasts. A breeze caught her hair and lifted the white ruffles on her top.

He gripped her upper arms. “Stop being so stubborn.”

“I’m not being stubborn!”

So f*cking cute.

“She says, stubbornly.” He let his smile break free.

Rachel shook out of his grip and turned, walking along the shoreline away from him, butt wiggling in those damn shorts. He followed. That was becoming a habit.

“You’d give me your ideas for free, wouldn’t you?” he called after her.

She stopped and turned to face him, arms still crossed. “I’d tell you what I thought without compensation, yes.”

“Your opinions have worth. You have worth.”

She frowned but said nothing, like she was having trouble accepting that. His heart lurched. Had someone convinced her she wasn’t worthy?

“You don’t have to earn the right to be here.” Tag watched her carefully. She straightened the bright pink flower behind her ear and bit her lip in thought.

Voice small, she said, “I’m still going to work behind the bar.”

“Figures.” He snagged her hand and unfolded her arms, then tucked her against him again, his palm going to her jaw. “I’ve been waiting to take you back to bed all day.” His voice was a low rumble, his cock stirring at the mere suggestion. She made him crazy in the best way, and remembering the ecstasy on her face paired with her high-pitched cries of pleasure made him impatient for more. “How much longer are you going to make me wait?”

“You promised me a beachside stroll.” She smiled wickedly, enjoying her power. He enjoyed her taking it.

“A little longer, then,” he said.

“You’re the one who wants to know me.”

“I do. You actually going to tell me about yourself?” Or dodge some more?

She held up her hands. “I’ll talk. I’ll talk.”

Seriously. Cute.

“Fine. But after this ‘stroll’ of ours, it’s straight to heaven via my mattress.”

Her mouth dropped open, eyes widening. “I accept.”

“Let’s get to know each other, Rachel Foster.” He offered a hand and she interlaced her fingers with his. He set the pace for their walk, careful to not out-stride her since her gait was much shorter than his. Brought him to a shuffle, but he could live with that.

“Parents?” he asked. Warm breeze covered them, the smell of salt mingling with sweet plumeria.

“Two.” He didn’t have to look at her to hear the smile in her voice. “Still married. Still in love. They live in a small town in Ohio outside of Columbus. They consider Chicago the big time.”

“Why did you come to Chicago?”

“I wanted to escape Derby, Ohio.” Her voice flattened.

“Derby.”

“Derby. I came here with a marketing degree. I worked with my now ex-boyfriend.”

“Ah, finally pried that nugget out of you.” But he didn’t get more because it was her turn to pepper him.

“What about your parents?”

“Dad retired last year, when my oldest brother Reese took over as CEO. Mom died in a car wreck when I was eleven.”

Her steps faltered. “Tag, I’m so sorry.”

“Me too. She was the best.” He was being sincere. His mother, Luna, had been loving and open, honest and strong. Most of his memories from his childhood were of the laughter and love surrounding him and his brothers.

A memory crawled out of the back of his mind. One he hadn’t thought of in years. His mother, the kitchen, a PB&J sandwich. Tag had mentioned a girl on the bus he wanted to be his girlfriend.

“You know, someday, Tag, you’ll meet the girl you want to marry.” Her blue eyes sparkled when she shared this horrible news.

He took a bite of his sandwich and gave a heartfelt “Yuck.”

“Just remember, the girl for you will challenge everything you think you know about yourself. That’s how you know she’s a keeper.”

The fringes of the memory faded and he blinked at the moon, feeling unhinged. Where had that memory come from?

“I can’t imagine how hard losing her must have been for you and your brothers.” Rachel’s voice sliced into his consciousness, and he realized they’d walked a few more yards while he’d spaced out.

“Yeah. Reese dealt with losing her by achieving. Eli brooded.”

“And you?”