Page 83 of The Billionaire's Teacher

“Okay. That makes sense, although being a man, I’ll point out that it’s weird to talk about loving my friends.”

Sunshine snickered. “Get over it. It won’t hurt you to get in touch with your softer side.”

“It might.” I grinned. “Tell me about the boat they hired.”

“They chose the larger sailboat. They’re sticking close to PR. Not even sleeping aboard.”

“That sounds more like them. Let me guess, Jenna found resorts.”

“Got it in one. I have a slip at one of the schmancy all-inclusives. They’re trying to get me to hang out with them instead of staying aboard.”

“You should do it. I can cover it for you.” I bit my lip. Was that too much? It wasn’t like I was trying to throw my money around to impress her. But at this point, I wanted her to get to know the gang. Maybe that would help win her over.

“I wasn’t fishing for that.”

“I know.”

“You sure?”

Which did she mean? Was I sure I could cover it or was I sure I knew she wasn’t hinting around for money? Actually? It didn’t matter. I was sure of both. “Yes.”

She sighed. “I could go for some girl time. If you really don’t mind footing the bill, I’ll take you up on it. Because your ladies have expensive taste.”

“The guys spoil them.” Which was as it should be, as far as I was concerned. “They’re not always like that, though.”

“Oh, I can tell. Like I said, I like them. I don’t think I’d like spoiled and rich.” There was a long pause, then she spoke again. “Can I ask you something?”

“Shoot.”

“Why were you mad that they came down here?”

Something about the way she asked it clued me in that the answer mattered. I rubbed sweaty palms on my legs. “I guess it boils down to me not wanting anyone to pressure you to feel something you don’t.”

“You think I don’t feel anything for you?”

My heart hammered in my chest. “I think you don’t want to.”

She scoffed. “You might be right on that. Or, I guess I should make that past tense. I like you, Wes. You’re a good guy. I like being around you. I’m just not sure that you should settle—”

“Whoa. Stop there. No one is settling. Why would you think that? The age difference? Because I don’t care about that.”

“Are you sure? I’m pretty sure kids aren’t in my future at this point. You could still have a big family.”

I nodded. I’d gotten stuck on that for a little bit. “We’ll be the cool aunt and uncle who take our friends’ kids to do all the fun things their parents won’t. And I just don’t think this is one of those things we have to figure out immediately. We can worry about it on island time.”

“There’s no worrying on island time.” She chuckled. “But I take your point. I didn’t think, from your emails, that you were interested.”

I blinked. Seriously? “Yeah, well, back atcha.”

“All right. That’s fair. Although you did sign yours ‘sincerely.’”

I groaned. “What was I supposed to do? Put ‘all my love’?”

“Maybe?” She cleared her throat. “If that isn’t out of the realm of possibility.”

“It isn’t. But you go ahead and ask the girls if I take risks when I’m not reasonably sure of the outcome.”

“Ah.” She blew out a breath. “Okay, if you need a tutorial here, when a woman signs her email with ‘yours,’ she means it. I’m yours, Wes. Unless you say no.”

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