The Billionaire Next Door (Billionaire Bad Boys #2)(65)

“You got it, Dimples.”

“Come here.” She motioned for him.

He did, laying his head on her breast and wrapping an arm around her waist. A deep breath accompanied a guttural male hum that made her smile.

“Rest as long as you need to, and I’ll be here.” She waited for the quip, the joke to call up their usual playful antics. None came.

“Thanks, Rachel.” His fist clutched her sweater.

The response made her chest feel full and her body seize with the realization that Tag was more than playful antics and great sex. He had become part of her world, part of who she was. Her focus narrowed on her suitcases by the front door. They looked out of place there. She wasn’t in any hurry to take them to the apartment and unpack. The idea scared her. No longer because she was shying from commitment, but because she wasn’t sure how he felt. Yes, they were close, but the truth was Tag might not be any closer to commitment than he was the first night he’d kissed her.

She decided it didn’t matter. The point was she was here, and he was here, and his arms felt more right than any she’d ever been nestled in. She turned her head to admire the city lights beyond his bedroom, her fingers in his hair, her mind on this moment and this moment only.

“Anytime, Tarzan.”

She was answered by a soft snore.





Chapter 19



The next two weeks flew. Rachel and Tag went out for dinner or lunch, depending on her schedule with Andromeda and his visits with Eli, either at the hospital or while readying Eli’s downtown warehouse for his return home.

Since Tag escorted Shaun out of the bar, Bree had taken to referring to him as “the billionaire bodyguard,” and tonight she didn’t mince words when she tied her apron for her shift.

“Are you moving in with him?”

“Bree.” Rachel paused drying a wineglass, lunch shift having ended and only a few occupied tables remaining. The dining room wouldn’t pick up for another hour or so. “Why…would you ask that?” She pretended to be fascinated with a spot on the glass.

After the night spent holding Tag in her arms, she’d gone back to Bree’s the next day. She’d only stayed at Tag’s one time since, and that was fine. If not eye-opening. Whatever was happening between her and him still included everything it had before—she just had to travel across town to go to bed rather than down a flight of stairs.

“I have a not-at-all altruistic reason for asking.” Bree grimaced.

Rachel put the spotless glass next to a row of others and faced her.

“Dean and I found a house to rent. It’s the perfect location, and available now, and we can break the lease on the apartment for a small fee if we leave the place the way we found it.” She took a breath, which was probably needed since she’d blown out the announcement on one exhalation. “Unless you changed your mind about renting it alone?”

Rachel couldn’t rent their place alone. It was a luxury three-bedroom, three-bath with a garden balcony. It was located in Edgewater. For the last few weeks, she’d been pounding the pavement with resumes and had received only one callback: an offer for a receptionist position that she’d turned down graciously. She wasn’t too good for answering phones, but at the Andromeda she’d make twice as much money as the position offered.

“Um…”

“I’m sorry,” Bree said quickly. “I didn’t mean to pressure you. It’s—”

“Stop. You’re too nice. The truth is, I can’t afford the apartment on my own. And moving in with Tag would be…” A long pause settled between them before she finished with, “Insane.”

At that, Bree cocked an eyebrow. “Dean and I fell in love fast. It could happen.”

“No. It couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

Oh, sweet Bree.

“What you and Dean have is rare, and most of the time isn’t what the rest of us find.” It was as likely to spot a unicorn as it was to find a couple as in sync as those two. They were on the same page in every way—like the other day when they’d accidently matched in jeans and the same shade of royal blue shirt.

“But if it’s real and you’re denying it based on your past with some idiot like Shaun, that’s not fair to you or Tag.”

“Shaun has nothing to do with it. I mean, sure, I was intimidated about sex”—she whispered the word—“but I’m over that. I think it had more to do with me finding my confidence again.” And she had. She felt like her old self. In no small way, thanks to Tag.

“I never believed you were scared of sex.” Bree’s eyes widened. “Oh man.”

“What?” Rachel felt her brow crease.

“You’re scared of falling in love! That makes so much sense. After Shaun, why would you want to commit only to be left behind again?”

Rachel let out a disgruntled huff rather than reply. It was like Bree had been reading her mind these past few months. Inconvenient when there were certain topics she didn’t feel like hashing out.

The front door opened and four men and women marched in, briefcases in hand. Bree grabbed a pen and pad of paper as she headed out to greet the foursome that sat in one of the booths by the window. Before she walked off, she turned to say, “We’re not done talking about this.”