The Billionaire Next Door (Billionaire Bad Boys #2)(64)

Shaun licked his lips like he was debating. In the end, he must have reconsidered challenging Tag, who stood like a mountain daring to be climbed. Shaun’s jerky gaze snapped to her. “Sorry, Rach. If it makes you feel better, Larry said he wouldn’t have promoted you anyway since—”

“And you’re out.” Fist wrapped around Shaun’s coat again, Tag physically moved Shaun through the bar and around tables, shouting, “Clear a path!”

Bree dropped to her elbows next to Rachel, and they watched as both men staggered out into the cold. When the door swung shut behind them, Tag gave Shaun a shove. Shaun practically sprinted down the sidewalk.

“What will we tell his Tinder date when she shows up?” Rachel murmured as Bree laughed.

Tag walked back into the bar and cheers rose from the crowd.

Bree joined the applause and arched one dark eyebrow at Rachel. “Marry that man.”

*



“I thought it was nice for Bree to offer you a job as a bouncer.” Rachel faced Tag on his bed, resting on a pillow opposite his.

“I’ll keep the Andromeda Club in mind if this whole Crane Hotels thing doesn’t pan out.” Tag’s smile was tired. He pulled a hand over his face. He’d stayed for a few beers while Rachel finished her glass of wine. Then they shot some pool and she realized Tag couldn’t do everything. He was a horrible pool player. She’d smoked him.

He hadn’t brought up the hospital, his family, or Eli. Rachel let him have the reprieve, figuring he’d open up when he was ready.

They were fully dressed, relaxing on top of the blankets of Tag’s bed. When he’d stepped into his apartment tonight, he’d gone straight to the bedroom and flopped onto the bed. Rachel followed.

She’d planned on returning to her apartment, but after the day they’d had, she couldn’t get motivated to leave him. Even though her bags were packed and standing at the front door.

“I shouldn’t have escorted your ex-douchebag out of Andromeda,” Tag said around a yawn.

“No?” It wasn’t like him to have regrets.

“No.” He gave her a lazy-cat blink. “I should’ve thrown him in the street after I put a dent in his face.”

“That would have been great to witness,” she said with a small smile. She liked Tag defending her honor. Making Shaun apologize. Mostly, she’d liked that she hadn’t allowed Shaun to steamroll her the way he used to. She’d stood up for herself.

“He made you think you weren’t sexy, Rachel.” Tag brushed her cheek with his fingers, his touch gentle and at odds with his harsh tone. “Do you know how sexy you are?”

He ran those same fingers down her neck, over her gray sweater and cupped one breast.

“How often I think of you naked?” He tilted one eyebrow and pegged her with those ocean blues. A blush stole across her cheeks. Her entire body. She’d never been in the position of being complimented the way Tag complimented her.

Often. And like he meant it.

“Is it as often as I picture you that way?” she asked, leaning closer.

Slowly, he shook his head. “Doubt it.”

When he blinked, his eyes nearly stayed shut. She reached forward to cradle his cheek. “I’m sorry I didn’t go in with you to meet Eli.”

“Don’t be. Merina was right. It’s better you didn’t.” Pain lanced through his features at the memory. “Seeing him there…his leg…” He blinked a few times in thought. “I…he could have died. Life without my brother…” He shook his head, unable to continue for a long, silent moment. “Losing Mom was too much. I couldn’t take it if Eli followed. I knew there was always risk, him being overseas, but to me he’s always been bulletproof. Grenade proof.”

Tag was such a light, fun, happy guy that it was easy to forget he hid deep, dark hurts behind his resilient confidence. He had so much love for his family, he was bursting with it. Even when he and Reese were squaring off, she could tell how much they cared for each other. People fought the hardest with those they loved the most.

She sat up, rested on her elbow, and stroked a hand into Tag’s hair.

“Eli looked out for me when Mom died. He may have been broody and quiet, but he looked out for me.”

“I can’t imagine how difficult losing her must have been for you and your brothers. And, oh, your poor dad.”

“He was devastated.” Tag shook his head, his gaze soft on the window. No snow fell, but the night was frigid all the same. “Even as a sixth grader I knew something was off. I went to the nurse every day with stomachaches. Came home from school more than I was there that year. Damn near didn’t make it into junior high.”

“Stress,” she whispered. She’d been stressed and anxious before, but never to that severity. Losing a parent at such a young age would be like losing half your world.

“I was lucky. Magda, our housekeeper—now Reese’s—stayed late every night to help me catch up on my homework.”

“That’s sweet.” She stroked his hair again.

“She’s a great person.”

“You’re a great person,” Rachel told him, meaning it. When she’d first laid eyes on him, she’d had no idea about his depth, or how he would turn her world on its head by simply being in her life. “Thank you. For everything.”