Page 317 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

“I’m fine here,” Naomi calls from around the corner she apparently never left. “I’ll hold down the fort!”

Zach has an expression on his face like he just dove headfirst into a vat of rotten eggs, but bless him, he doesn’t say anything.

“Yeah, I don’t think the two of you under the same roof alone is such a good idea,” I whisper to Zach.

“Hey, I’ve been good,” he says.

“It’s not you I’m worried about,” I say. “We should probably schedule the flight for tonight. If we give my sister any time to plan at all, she’s going to ensconce herself in this place like an annoying caterpillar trying to become an annoying butterfly.”

Zach smirks. “I’ll book the flight, but you’re going to have to be the one to break the news to your sister. I’m not getting anywhere near that one.”

He gives me a kiss on the forehead and leaves me to tell Naomi we’re heading home. I feel sorry about carting Sammie and Max back and forth, but with as much as Zach works, they’re better off coming home, too.

I’ve gone the long, rational conversation route with Naomi before. The problem with that approach is that Naomi has a short attention span and has never, as long as I’ve known her, been rational. Therefore, I decide to try a different approach this time.

Walking around the corner where she’s still standing, I tell Naomi, “Pack your stuff. We’re leaving.” I don’t break pace.

It’s been two hours of listening to Naomi go off about how it’s not fair she should have to go, too, and that if I loved her, I wouldn’t make her return to that hellhole. Every time I try to get a word in, Naomi jumps in with another stupid reason why the north side of the beach house is rightfully hers and how I have no justification for making her abandon it.

By the time Trevor shows up to take us to the airport, nothing is packed, and I haven’t made any headway with Naomi at all. It’s not until I grab her by the wrist and physically wrench her from the house, foot by foot, that she finally relents.

Someday, I’m going to convince Naomi that not everything in the world was created especially for her enjoyment. Also, I might add something about how it’s legal in most states to shoot someone if you can make a decent case for trespassing.

For now, though, I’m just happy enough to get her in the car. Naturally, Trevor has to stand in front of the town car’s only back door to keep her from escaping.

Zach helps me collect Sammie and Max, and we get them out into the car. I’m hoping for a romantic goodbye, but Naomi pounding on the back window of the car goes a long way in killing the moment.

I give Zach a hug and a quick kiss, and I tell him, “I’ll give you a call when we land.”

“All right,” he says. “I’ll see if I can move some things around and come out there to see you soon.”

“Come on!” Naomi bellows from the backseat. “If we’re going, let’s go already!”

“I do not envy you on the plane ride back,” Zach laughs.

I agree with him before I even get in the car.

We get to the airport and board the plane, and I’ve never traveled so much for such unexpected reasons in my life.

“You know,” Naomi says about five minutes into the in-flight movie, “I thought maybe we should talk about something.”

“They’re not going to turn the plane around,” I groan. “Whatwasthat today?”

“I wanted to stay behind and look into your man because I know you’re never going to,” she answers.

“Like you ever stopped,” I tell her. “Found anything yet?”

“Not really,” she says, “just a lot of papers—business stuff. Keep those fingers crossed, though. I’ve got a feeling I’m going to uncover a mistress before this is all said and done.”

We’re on a plane, Grace. Relax, take a deep breath and— “Whatever your problem is, you need to cut it out right now,” I snap, eliciting a few gasps from the passengers around us. I may have been too loud.

“I’m just trying to look out for you,” she says. “Think about it: even if he does turn out to be everything he seems to be, are you so sure you’re ready to settle down?”

“What do you mean, settle down?” I ask. “We’re just dating.”

“Yeah, you’re dating,” she scoffs. “I suppose you didn’t happen to notice that you’ve been effectively living with him for like two months, right?”

I open my mouth and fill my lungs in preparation for my retort, only she’s right. Even before I told him I was all-in, I traveled to Manhattan with Zach for no other reason than he asked me.

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