The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires #1)(87)

“Remember this moment when you end up stuck in bed with a bowl of chicken soup in a couple of days.”

“Who cares. We’re living for today.”

“That’s great and all until I lose nine out of ten fingers from frostbite.”

“Aw, poor baby.” She grabs my gloved hand and kisses each finger.

“I know something a little lower that could use a warm kiss too.”

A laugh explodes out of her. I lean over and peck a soft kiss on the curve of her neck, too tempted by her exposed flesh.

Her eyes heat as she gathers herself. “Let’s go, Jack Frost. We’re almost done.” She runs a mittened hand across my zipper, bringing my dick to life.

Zahra has that kind of power over me. A few touches from her, and my dick is all systems go.





“Where the fuck have you been? You’ve been ignoring me,” Declan snaps the moment I answer his call.

“I’ve been busy.” I lock the door to my office just in case Zahra gets out of the shower faster than anticipated.

“Busy doing what exactly? Scheduling book signings in New York for no other reason except that you’re losing your goddamn mind?”

My grip on the phone tightens. “How did you find out about that?”

“I know about everything that happens within the company, including the fact that you took a vacation for the first time in years. What the hell is going on with you?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Give me the abridged version.”

I drop into my leather chair. “Is this the real reason behind your call?”

“No, but I want to know why you’re acting like a dumbass only a few weeks before the vote.”

“I decided to spend a weekend doing something I liked.”

“Save me the bullshit excuse about New York.”

“I don’t need to give you an excuse. You’re not my keeper.”

“No, but I’m the one who’s going to knock some sense into you when you’ve clearly lost your goddamn mind over a woman.”

What the fuck? He knows about Zahra? “Who told you anything?”

“I have eyes and ears everywhere, Rowan.”

“Stop poking around in my affairs. If I wanted to tell you what I was up to, I would.”

“No, you wouldn’t. You never do.”

I chuckle low under my breath.

He sighs like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “I’m worried about you.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t be.” It feels pointless to even say it. Declan might act like a hardass, but I know it comes from a good place. His protective instinct has been ingrained in him since a young age.

“I don’t like the idea of some woman manipulating you into taking time off so close before the vote. It’s suspicious.”

My jaw clamps down. “I don’t see how that’s possible when it was my idea.”

“You actually like her?” He laughs mockingly.

“Is that so hard to believe?”

“And to think I considered you my more intelligent brother. What a disappointment.”

My molars grind together. “Declan, I’m in the middle of something so either get to the point of your phone call or I’m going to hang up.”

“The letters have been sent to Grandpa’s chosen voting committee.”

Fuck. This is the last kind of stressor I need. “Any word on who he picked?”

“No, but you need to get your shit together because we’re all depending on your presentation.”

“I’ve been prepping for months. There’s no way I don’t have this vote locked down.”

“Good. Once you get the approving votes, you’ll spend a month transitioning the next Director into the role and they’ll take on the project from there.”

“I thought while you were settling everything with your part of the letter, I could stay here and oversee the project myself.” The idea slips out of me. If I stay at Dreamland, it will give me time to work through my feelings for Zahra without sacrificing anything in the process.

If we fizzle out, I go back to Chicago like planned.

And if you don’t?

The silence coming from Declan’s end of the phone makes the back of my neck prickle.

“I thought you were joking.” He speaks after a whole minute.

“No. What’s the point in me moving back if you still haven’t gotten married yet?”

“You’re going to shadow me and take over a portion of my CFO role so I can concentrate on finding my future wife.”

My teeth grind together. “Give me six more months as the Director. It’ll be less confusing for the employees to have a Director for a whole year.”

“Since when do you care about confusing employees?”

“It’s my job to care.”

Declan’s low laugh carries through the small speaker. “No. It’s your job to finish up and move back to Chicago after the vote.”

“Grandpa said I have to be Director for at least six months. But he never stated when I had to leave.”

“I’m well aware of what Grandpa said. It doesn’t change the outcome for you. I’ve already chosen the next Director and he will be contacting your secretary after the vote.”