Page 92 of The Renegade Billionaire
“I’ve got it.”
Pops shrugs and goes back to checking the packets of sugar. When he’s satisfied, he sits with his hands folded on the table, literally twiddling his thumbs.
“Hey, Pops.” A man in his mid-forties steps up to our table. “Thanks for volunteering at the animal shelter last month with Savvy. We really appreciated the extra hands for the adoption event.”
He and Pops share stories for a few moments, but I didn’t miss the way Grey stiffened at the mention of Savvy’s name.
When the guy leaves, I lean in to the table. “What’s going on with you and Savvy?” I whisper.
“Him and Sav?” Pops says at full volume. “No way. She’d eat him alive.”
“Excuse me?” Grey crosses his arms over his chest, only partially covering the ketchup splatter.
“Well, I saw you two bickering at the fundraiser the night you arrived. She doesn’t back down, that one, but she’s got a real soft center, and she’ll tear you apart before you ever get close to it.”
“Savvy has a soft center?” I ask. “She always seems so?—”
“Argumentative?” Grey interrupts.
“Now you watch it, kid. Savvy’s a good egg who’s already been scrambled up by a bunch of sack suckers. The last thing she needs is another ball sack jerking her around.”
“Why must you be so…phallic?” Grey stares at Pops as if he’s an alien here to abduct him.
“Aw, Pops.”
I lift my gaze to find Savvy walking up the aisle. Grey heard her too, and his entire body turns to stone. He doesn’t generally shut down completely, so the fact that Savvy has gotten to him this way is extremely interesting.
“Savvy. We were just talking about you.” The mischievous glimmer returns to Pops’ expression. “Join us.” He slides all the way to the wall, managing to tug an unsuspecting Grey with him.
Sage and I both watch with silent laughter making our lips twitch as the mask she was wearing slips momentarily, before she feigns indifference and perches on the very edge of the seat, as far away from Grey as she can get.
“So Sage, how are you settling in?”
“Great. I’m having the best time of my life.” If he flashes her any more teeth, his face will split in two.
“That’s really good to hear.” She sounds so genuine, but Grey still glares at her as though she’s about to shoot poison from her tongue. “Small towns can take a little getting used to, but I really do hope you like it here. It was…life-changing for me when I landed here.”
Some of the ice in Grey’s eyes melts at her tone.
“So, what do you have planned for the rest of the day?” she asks.
“Pops wants to take Uncle Grey to Bitter Creek, then he’s going to show us the library before we have to get back so the uncles can do some work.”
“That sounds…really boring for you.” She laughs.
Does Grey realize he’s angled his body closer to hers?
“You have no idea.” Sage smirks conspiratorially. His words instantly have Grey back on edge.
“Do you not like it here? We can head home now if you want.”
“Uncle Grey.” Sage groans. “That’s not what I said, and we’re not running home just because you’re uncomfortable.”
Savvy turns a questioning expression his way. That’s when they both realize how close their faces are, and their necks snap back at the same time.
“I’m not uncomfortable,” Grey grouses. “I just have a lot of work to do.”
“And on that note, I’ve got to head over to the Chug to record my next episode.” Savvy stands, and Grey’s gaze follows much too slowly. “Have a good day,” she says to everyone, but never makes eye contact with my best friend.
