Billionaires Dollar Series

Yes, this had been an excellent place for this.

Blair pulls me along to say hello to her cousin. Hugs ensue, and I shake a few hands, introducing myself to people I might have met before but have forgotten, either way.This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.

Blair’s cousin gives her a very unsubtle glance, eyes briefly flicking back to me. The message is clear. You two? Why haven’t you told me?

I smile. Yes, Blair will practically be drowned in questions after this. I look forward to hearing a few of her replies for myself.

Cole finds me a while later, leaning against one of the walls. Silently, he hands me a glass of brandy. “Thought you might need something a bit stronger.”

“I’m not about to bolt.”

“Just in case,” he says, his grin wolfish. “So you two chose to upstage my Christmas party, huh?”

“It was Blair’s idea. I don’t really care where we ‘come out,’ as she so tactfully phrased it, but she thought this was the best place for it.”

Strike, likely bewildered by all the people, weaves through legs to come sit at Cole’s feet. His tongue lolls out of his mouth, paws too big for his body. “Hi, buddy,” Cole says. “Yes, well, perhaps she was right about that.”

I take a sip of my brandy. It’s far more grounding than the champagne I had earlier; Cole knows me well. “Is it still weird?”

He raises an eyebrow. “You dating my sister?”

“Yes. And if so, at what point does it stop being weird to you, do you think?” I’m pushing it, perhaps. He’s been very good these past few weeks, never once mentioning anything about Blair and me in front of her. The four of us have even been out to dinner together-all of one time. It’s been grating on Blair. In her mind, I think she always envisioned this as a seamless thing.

Cole leans on the wall beside me. “I don’t know,” he says. “I know you independently, and I know her independently, and seeing you together… I just don’t know.”

I nod. It’s not unexpected, but it still stings a little bit, especially knowing that I’m not who he would have chosen for his sister.

So I can’t resist. “You used to say that you wanted us to get along better.”

He shoots me a withering glare and I hold up my hands in apology. “I couldn’t help myself. As long as I don’t get my godparent-to-be status revoked.”

Shaking his head, he swirls his whiskey around in his glass. “It’s not revoked. And if you want my honest opinion… I’m cautiously optimistic. She’s glowing with happiness, you know. And she’s more determined than ever with her work. I do think you have a little bit to do with that. And you’re… well, Nick, you don’t scowl quite as much.”

Selfish, vain pride courses through me at the glowing with happiness comment. “Right.”

“But I’ll be right here to tell you off if you fuck up.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“And if it’s still going well in a few months’ time, I’ll consider letting the two of you stay in the chalet.”

I chuckle. “How magnanimous of you.”

“Skye keeps telling me the signs were all there. I knew before they knew, she says, like she’ll get some sort of medal.” He snorts. “Worst part is, perhaps she’s right.”

“She might be. She’s intuitive, your wife.”

Cole nods. “Perhaps I was just blind. If I hadn’t been so sure you two disliked each other, so sure that you were complete opposites, I wouldn’t have been so surprised.”

“She surprised me too,” I say.

“And the more I think about it, the more sense the two of you make.” He shakes his head again, but this time, there’s a small smile on his face. “To think I might one day call you brother-in-law.”

“Imagine that,” I say. His voice hadn’t sounded entirely displeased, either.

“And you’re not cringing from that statement, either? Christ. The world really has turned upside down.”

“It has. You’re a father in, what, four months?”

“Four months, two weeks, and six days.”

“Not counting at all, are you?”

He takes another sip of his whiskey, his eyes focused on Skye now. The burgundy dress fits snugly around her baby bump. “I’m a shameless counter,” he says, voice far away. “I even have one of those apps that lets me follow along.”

I shake my head at him, but it’s good-natured, and when my eyes land on Blair again… She really is glowing. Talking to Skye, her arms gesturing as she discusses some topic. It’s easy for my mind to imagine her round with child, instead. My child.

Dear God.

“We really are whipped,” I note.

Cole snorts beside me. “Gladly.”

Ethan finds us like that. He’s become a staple on Cole’s guest lists and an increasingly common tennis opponent. I’ve found that I don’t mind at all. The man has a decent backhand and an indecent sense of humor. Too bad he’s a single dad with basically no time for playing.

With a brandy glass of his own, he nods at the guests. “I’ve said it before, but you throw excellent parties, Porter.”

Cole tears his gaze away from his wife to nod at Ethan. “You should try it sometime. We’re practically neighbors, and yet I’ve never been to yours. At this point it’s practically an insult.”

Ethan’s smile is crooked. “Yes, well, I have two little hooligans at home who have black belts in wreaking havoc.”

“I’ll have one soon, too,” Cole points out.

“Yes, but I hate to break it to you, they don’t do much for the first year.”

“They really only graduate to hooligan level after the year and a half mark,” Ethan says.

“And what are they when they’re teenagers?” I ask dryly.

Ethan pretends to shudder. “I have no idea yet, thankfully. Terrorist, perhaps? I should begin to prepare.”

“Build a safe room under your house,” Cole suggests. “Surely Greenwood zoning regulations allow that?”

I slip away quietly from the discussion of paternal struggles to find Blair. She’s no longer talking to Skye or her mother, but rather engaged in an animated discussion with a few of her friends. I recognize them instantly.

This should be good.

Coming up behind her, I revel in their wide-eyed gazes as I wrap an arm around her waist. Touching her grounds me-there’s no other way to describe it.