Page 40 of Basil

Apparently, no one knew what he meant, and I couldn’t believe he used the termbarefoot and pregnantin twenty freaking twenty-five.

He laughed uncomfortably. No one joined him.

There was only silence. Ominous. Stuffy.

I was about to tell him off when my man leaned back in his chair, fixing his company’s potential investor with a look that I recognized well—the one that said he was about to make someone regret their life choices.

“You know, Randy, Summer runs one of the most successful small businesses in the area. She built it from the ground up. No investors, no handouts—just hard work, intelligence, and a talent for what she does.”

Randy’s smirk faltered. “I didn’t mean?—”

“Of course, you didn’t.” Basil took a sip of his drink, then set it down carefully. “You know, we from Stratos are here to prove our worth and the company’s so you’ll invest in us. Summer’s got nothing to prove, she’s already a success in every way I can define it.”

Silence fellagain, but this time it was empowering.

The conversation meandered after that, and Randy stayed the hell away from me.

“Is this going to mess things up?” I asked Felix, who was grinning from ear to ear.

“There are other VCs—we don’t need Randy Thatcher’s misogynistic ass.”

I had to say I was liking this new and improved Felix…a lot.

I was also liking how Basil shut Randy down publicly…a lot.

Basil didn’t make excuses like he used to. He didn’t tell me to suck it up or make it work or tell me I imagined it—he told the motherfucker to shut the fuck up about me.It was beautiful.

I let out a slow breath, my fingers curling around my glass as I fought back a smile.

“Basil Masters,” I whispered in his ear. “You’re gettingsolucky tonight.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Sunshine, I’m lucky every night because you’re with me.”

20

BE MY BABY…FOREVER

BASIL

Ihad never beenthisnervous in my entire life.

Not when I pitched my company to investors, not when Stratos signed its first big contract, and not even when I had to fire Drew and cut ties with the people I once called friends.

But standing in Summer’s shop, an engagement ring burning a hole in my pocket, surrounded by Summer’s friends—who had, graciously, accepted me back into their lives—and my mother, who was beaming like she had personally orchestrated this entire moment…yeah, I was feeling it.

Summer was having an open house with drinks and snacks, which was why everyone was there.

Felix clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Breathe, man.”

I exhaled. “Iambreathing.”

“Then stop looking like you might pass out.” He chuckled. “Bad optics for a proposal.”

Meadow, who was in on the whole thing, sauntered up. “You ready?”

“Nope.”

She grinned. “Good. Let’s do this.”

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