Page 181 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 2
He pressed his lips together in a thin line.
“Be nice.”
“I’m stressed! I need a mimosa!”
“Um…how about some coffee? There’s a fresh pot in the kitchen.” I regretted the offer as soon as it came out of my mouth. Justin was already acting insane. He definitely did not need any caffeine.
I pulled out my phone to call the barbarian again. I shook my head. Daphne, not the barbarian. Justin was getting to me. I was just about to click on Daphne’s name when she started calling me.
“Hey, Daphne,” I said. “Remember last night when I said I’d ask Justin to help with the planning? Well…he’s here. Can you come over? I really think we should start tackling the planning right away.”
“Yes! You’re a lifesaver. Rob and I can be there in…twenty minutes.”
“Okay, great.”
“Really, Penny. This means the world to me.”
“It’s not a problem at all. He’s the best.”
“I know, your wedding was beautiful. Okay, gotta go get ready. See you soon!”
I hung up and smiled at Justin as he walked into the room with a coffee cup filled to the brim. “Rob and Daphne will be here in twenty minutes.”
“They better be. I have a wedding I need to get to in…” he looked down at his watch and his eyes grew round. “We have two hours. To plan this whole thing. Because if I don’t start booking things right this second you can call the whole thing off. As it is the only venues left are probably prison yards and whore houses. Or worse…city hall.” Justin gasped. “There isn’t time! We can’t…”
“We can do it in two hours. Don’t panic.”
“You don’t panic!”
I just stared at him. I wasn’t panicking. He was.
He huffed and sat down at the dining room table. “I take it back. This woman isn’t a barbarian. She’s a sadist. The devil herself!”
“Would you quit it.” I lightly shoved his shoulder.
“Fine. I’ll behave. But…” his voice trailed off as he steepled his fingers together on the table. He cocked his eyebrows up. “But I need a few things in return.”
“Whatever you want,” I said, sitting across from him.
He smiled for the first time since arriving. And then leaned in like he was about to launch into a ton of negotiations. “I want three things.”
“Okay.”
“First, I want double my normal rate.”
“Done.” That was a low ball ask. Even if Rob didn’t want to foot the bill, James would take care of it.
“Second, I get to plan your baby shower.”
“I thought you wanted to focus on weddings?
He took a sip of his coffee. “I do. But I make exceptions for the people I actually like. And you and James are lovely. I’ll probably like the little one too, I guess.”
I smiled. When I said Justin hated children ringbearers, I meant he just hated all children. “I’d love it if you planned my baby shower, Justin.”
“Good. Besides, your maid of honor was flaky and I don’t trust her to throw you a good one. You need me.”
He just had to add the sass to his previous compliment. “Melissa and I were going through some stuff. She’ll be there for me now. But of course I need you.”
