Page 28 of The Runaway Billionaire's Inconvenient Baby
I look around at all the people smiling and playing, the kids laughing and squealing with each other. People and their families and friends, all spending this little time together, not worrying about money or life. Just enjoying a beautiful, sunny afternoon together.
“Before I came here, I was so sure I wanted to be a recluse,” I say to Sage and Louise, chuckling,
“The big city getting to you?” asks Sage.
I nod. “Everything is so busy there. Everyone always wants something. I really thought I would come to this island and realize that solitude was the thing I had always been missing.”
“And now?” says Louise, sensing the hidden meaning under my words.
I shrug. “What about now?”
“You saidwhenyou came. Suggests you’ve changed your mind.”
“Maybe,” I say quietly. “Maybe I have.”
CHAPTER 15
BILLIE
Over the years, we’ve managed to get the cooking situation for this event down to a fine art. I usually manage the vegetarian grill. Jeff is on burgers and hot dogs. And Tommy deals with any special things he wants to do.
Last year, it was ribs. This year, it’s some delicious-smelling spiced chicken. He wouldn’t tell us exactly what it was, but I have no doubt that the people are going to love it.
I flip the corn on the cob over, clack the tongs together twice, and then put them down again, staring out over the beach. People are laughing and playing, and Steven is DJing. Everyone looks like they’re having fun.
The thought that this could be the last time we ever do this keeps trying to invade my mind, but I force it away. I’m not going to let that happen.
I don’t think Jacob is completely cracked yet, but I think he’s starting to doubt himself. Maybe he’ll move here, which would be okay. He’s not a terrible person, and I think he’s starting tosee that our way of life is a special one that he can’t rip away from us like it’s nothing.
“Who you staring at, Bills?” asks Tommy at the grill next to me.
“No one,” I say, possibly too quickly.
“You’ve got a twinkle in your eye today, girl. Who’s caught it?”
I press my lips together. How can I confess to him that I was watching Jacob without it sounding weird? Because I was.
Right now, he’s over with the giant beach games, playing tic-tac-toe with some of the kids. Whatever he’s doing, he’s making them scream with laughter, chasing them around, doing a great job entertaining them. I watched him go up to all the parents and make sure it was okay for him to join in before he did, and they all seemed happy to have someone else entertaining the kids for a while.
It’s cute to watch. I hadn’t expected him to be this kind of person, good with kids. Maybe that’s cold, but I would have expected him to be the kind of person who hates kids and doesn’t want them anywhere near him. But the smile on his face right now is the biggest one I’ve ever seen.
Tommy follows my gaze and raises both eyebrows hard. “The rich guy? Really?”
“No.” I pick up the tongs and snap them at him in warning. “I’m looking at everyone.”
“Hey, Jeff, guess what? Our Billie has got her eye on someone.”
“Who?” says Jeff, looking out at the beach with us. “That rich guy? What was his name? John? Jim?”
“Jacob,” I huff.
“Jacob,” they both repeat, grins sliding onto their faces.
“I’m not looking at him,” I insist, though I know the more I say it, the more I’m digging myself into a hole. “I was just seeing where he was. That’s all. I don’t want him to get into any trouble.”
“You don’t want him to start evicting us prematurely,” Tommy jokes.
I shoot him a glare. “He’s not going to do that.”
