Kian (Undercover Billionaire, #1)(44)

“That’s why it’s worth it to be patient,” Sherman told them.

Lucian glared at the two men. “Again, I tell you it’s easy for you to say. I think we’re going to have to either push Kian into moving quicker, or we’re going to just have to talk directly to Roxie. She’s in love with him, and when she can admit it to herself, we can all be one big happy family. My wife needs to hold her granddaughter.”

“Ha!” Joseph said on a bout of laughter. “We all know you’re just as anxious.”

“Yeah, I really am,” Lucian said with a beaming smile. “Lily looks just how my precious Dakota did at that age.”

“I love all of my grandchildren equally,” Joseph said before he looked around to make sure no one was sneaking up on them. Then his cheeks flushed a little bit. “But I have to admit there’s something special about the first. Jasmine stole my heart from the moment I held that girl in my arms. There’s no other that will ever take her place.”

“She’s going off to college, isn’t she?” Lucian asked.

“Yep, she got accepted into Yale, of course,” Joseph said, beaming so big it was a wonder his cheeks didn’t split.

“That’s a long way away,” Sherman pointed out. Joseph’s lips turned down.

“I know. I was excited she got into her first choice, but bummed she was going so far, but she promised I can visit anytime I want, and I will hold her to that. Don’t tell Katherine, but I already bought a house close to the campus,” he said. Sherman and Lucian laughed. “It’s an investment,” Joseph said in defense.

“Sure, the billionaire needs an investment in a small house,” Lucian said sarcastically.

“It’s not exactly small,” Joseph said, puffing out his chest.

Both Sherman and Lucian laughed again.

“Thanks for that, my friend. I needed it,” Lucian told him.

Joseph sat back and grumbled. He didn’t like being the butt of the joke with his friends. He liked being the one dishing it out. So, he was a little overprotective of his favorite granddaughter. There was nothing wrong with that. Oops, he’d thought of her as his favorite again. He had to be careful about that.

“Well, let’s talk about Kian, Roxie, and Lily,” Joseph said, deciding it was time to change the topic.

“What should we do next?” Sherman asked.

Lucian smiled. “I have an idea or two.”

The men grew quiet as they put their heads together and once again got up to no good. Their wives would kill them if they knew what they were planning. A little jealousy always seemed to help a romance move right along, though. And the guys knew just what to do next.





Chapter Seventeen

Lily’s scream woke Roxie from a dead sleep, and she was on her feet and running before she was fully conscious. Rushing through her niece’s bedroom door, she found Lily sitting up in bed, tears streaming down her face.

“What’s wrong?” Roxie asked as she moved forward and sat on the bed. Lily scrambled into her lap, practically crawling up her neck as she buried her face against Roxie’s neck and sobbed.

Looking around, Roxie didn’t see anything indicating danger. Her skin was tingling, with the fight-or-flight mode fully in place. She rubbed Lily’s back as the child shook uncontrollably and mumbled nonsensical words.

“It’s just a nightmare, little one,” Roxie assured her.

Roxie rose from the bed and carried Lily with her to her bedroom. She propped a pillow up and leaned back against the headboard as she continued mumbling comforting words to the terrified child.

After what had to be a half hour of sobs and muttered words, Lily gave a few hiccups and finally began to settle down.

“Do you want to tell me what scared you so much?” Roxie asked. She was almost afraid to do so. She didn’t want Lily to fall back into a panic.

“Someone was knocking on my window. He’s trying to get me,” Lily said in between hiccups.

Roxie’s entire body froze at her niece’s words. She tried telling herself it was just a bad dream, that Lily hadn’t truly heard anything. But what if . . .

“I’m sure it was just a dream, sweetie. Some dreams feel very real,” Roxie assured her.

“No!” Lily cried. “He called my name,” she said, leaning back, terror still clearly in her eyes.

Roxie’s body froze in fear. Though she didn’t want to think the man who’d killed her sister was still out there, was still wanting to finish the job he hadn’t completed, she would rather err on the side of caution.

Without really thinking about it, Roxie found herself lifting her phone and dialing Kian. He answered before the first ring was even finished.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, no trace of sleep in his voice.

“Lily thinks someone was knocking on her window,” Roxie said, her words barely audible.

“I’ll be there in five minutes,” he said.

The call disconnected.

Roxie was sure not even five minutes had passed when Kian rushed into her house, finding her and Lily in the same spot they’d been in for the past thirty minutes. There was a wild flare to his eyes as he looked in all directions before his gaze landed on the two of them.

He nodded, then rushed from the room, and she heard each door open before closing again less than a minute later. She was sure he was checking all the locks on the doors and windows. Then she heard the front door open, and she felt her stomach tighten. Within five minutes he was back, his eyes still alert, but a bit calmer now.