Page 6 of A Billionaire Rebel

He stuck out his bottom lip. “Cereal.”

“Then that’s what we’re having.” I put him in his chair to keep him out of trouble and then set about getting him breakfast. There were times when I could be the spoiling aunt, but on a normal day, I made sure I always backed what Jamie said. Being a single mom at nineteen was hard enough. She didn’t need me working against her.

By the time she joined us, I’d gotten Kevin started on breakfast and was in the middle of making my lunch.

“You’re getting off at five, right?” she asked before kissing the top of Kevin’s head.

“Right. And you’re dropping him off at Mom and Dad’s before your interview?”

Jamie nodded, her mouth tightening. She was good at hiding her emotions, but I knew her well enough to see her anxiety. “You’re sure it’s okay for me to take the car?”

“ Of course. And don’t worry, they’re going to love you,” I assured her.

“Sure,” Jamie said. “A high school dropout and teen mother who’s worked as a waitress her whole life.”

I narrowed my eyes and pointed at her. “Or they’ll see a woman who worked her butt off being a single mom while getting her GED and working at the same time.”

She gave me a half-smile. “Thanks.”

I could tell she didn’t quite believe me, and it hurt that she thought so badly of herself. Sure, our parents hadn’t been thrilled when Jamie had gotten pregnant at fifteen, and they hadn’t been overjoyed at her decision to keep Kevin, but they adored their grandson and never made Jamie feel like she wasn’t loved. Sure, there were times they butted heads with us, especially when it came to Kevin, but I suspected that would’ve happened even if she’d been married and in her twenties when she’d given birth.

“I’ll bring Kevin straight back here, and I’ll wait up to hear how things go.”

“You don’t have to do that,” she said. “I don’t want you being up if I get caught up with a lingering customer.”

I waved a hand dismissively as I drained the last of my coffee. “Let me worry about that. You just nail that interview, and we’ll talk about how to celebrate.”

She rolled her eyes, but I was used to it. She’d grown up a lot since finding out she was pregnant, but there were moments I still saw my smart aleck little sister.

I kissed Kevin’s cheek. “All right, little monster. I’ll see you at Nana and Papa’s later, okay?”

“K.”

I grabbed my lunch and purse and headed out to the bus stop. The heat was already stifling, and I hoped the bus had its air conditioning working, or it would be a hellishly long ride to work. Fortunately, the bus was cool when I stepped onto it, and when I arrived at the little plaza that housed the music store where I worked, I was cool again and in a decent mood.

Which disappeared the moment I saw the guy leaning against the wall next to the door. Spencer Patronzi was two years older than me and absolutely gorgeous to look at. Shaggy jet-black hair, light brown eyes, and dimples were the icing on top of the tall, athletic cake.

If only his insides matched the outside.

“Looking good there, Jae.” He pushed himself off the wall and sauntered up to me with that obnoxious swagger that some guys had when they thought the world revolved around them.

I wished I would’ve recognized that for what it was before I’d dated him.

“Good morning, Spencer,” I said politely. His parents owned the jewelry store at the other end of the plaza, and being rude would only make working here difficult, both for me and for Starla O’Bryne, who owned the music store.

He came up behind me, getting into my personal space. Not close enough to touch me, but still closer than I wanted him to be. If I reacted, though, he’d just laugh, so I picked my battles.

If he put his hands on me, all bets would be off.

“Those pants make your ass look amazing.”

I ignored him and unlocked the door. After I slipped inside, I turned to close the door and lock it again, but Spencer stuck his foot out and stopped me from closing it.

“I have work to do.” I kept my voice mild.

“Come on, Jae. Why don’t you let me in, and we can have some fun before you go to work?”

There were so many reasons why I’d never do that, but none of them would do anything to improve the situation, so I didn’t bother. My brain was racing, trying to find the best way to handle things, when a car pulled into the parking lot.

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