Page 30 of The Billionaire's Teacher

“Closet serial killer?”

I snickered. “No. Well. Probably not.”

Sunny grinned at me. “Lawyer, huh? Bet that comes in handy.”

“It has. Many, many times. Something’s up with him right now though. We’ve all noticed, but he’s being cagey.”

“And you’re letting him get away with it?”

Her words echoed the thoughts I’d had numerous times. “For now, yeah. But I suspect we’ll gang up on him pretty soon if he doesn’t spill. He talked to Noah a bit in the spring, but we’re not convinced it was the real scoop.”

“Sounds like a good group. Have you talked to them since you’ve been down here? I don’t see you on the phone much.”

“I haven’t. Sent some texts. Photos.” I shrugged. We were friends, not stuck in one another’s pockets all the time. “I guess I should update them about the change in our plans so they don’t worry. Now and then they can all have moments where they act like old ladies.”

Sunshine laughed. “But not you, right?”

“Of course not.” I puffed up my chest. “I’m the stoic, manly type. Haven’t you noticed?”

Something flashed in her eyes—appreciation? Nah. Couldn’t be that. It was gone before I could analyze it.

“Super manly.” Sunshine made an exaggerated fanning motion and her voice dripped with sarcasm. “So hot.”

I clutched a hand over my heart. “Ouch. You wound me, woman.”

A beep from the controls cut off any reply she would have made. I watched as she concentrated on the displays. When it became clear that she needed to focus there, for whatever reason, I slipped back out to the ladder and climbed up to the top deck.

After taking a seat and spending a moment enjoying the breeze and the view, I dug out my phone and checked the time. Church should be over back home. The gang might even be together having lunch, although more and more, the couples were looking for Sunday afternoons to be couple time. Family time.

I didn’t blame them. Mostly.

It just stank not being in a relationship. Or even dating. Before all the money, I’d been the one in the group who always had a date. Or two.

Now?

Well, we tried to stay out of the public eye, but we’d had enough publicity that I’d been burned one too many times when it came to the dating apps. Or even chatting up a nice-looking woman when I was out. Once they got that look in their eye and started to hint around to determine if I wasthatWes Allen, I was done.

Besides, I was busy enough with the shop.

At least, that was what I told myself.

I tapped Noah’s contact and settled back as it rang.

“Wes? Hey, man. How’s the Caribbean?”

“Hot.” I smiled as something in my chest settled with Noah’s friendly greeting. “Diving’s good though. How’s Virginia?”

“Also hot. And sticky. Like every June. Guess you didn’t escape the weather with your trip, did you?”

“Not so much.” Although the ocean breeze when we were underway kept the humidity down. “But I’ve made some great contacts. Changed up some of my tentative plans. I’m glad I did this. Still wish you—or the rest of the group—could have tagged along.”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” Noah even sounded sorry, which was more than the other guys had when they’d begged off.

“I get it. What’s the news?”

Noah laughed. “News? Did you forget how things work around here? It’s just the same grind, day by day.”

I snickered. It definitely could be that way. “You love it.”

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