My Unexpected Vow: California Billionaires Book 2 by Harlow James (children's ebooks free online TXT) 📗

“Are you sure you’re okay to handle this, Wave?” Her concern is apparent by the dip in her brow.

“I don’t have a choice, Shayla. I can’t ruin my career with a tabloid stunt right now before it ever gets started. I come from a family of powerful men but want to make a name for myself on my own, and Hayes has his reasons for this to last too. I’ll be fine.”

She sighs but smiles back at me. “Okay. Just know I’m here, alright?”

“Thank you.”

I end the call just as I hear footsteps on the stairs. I rush to my door, flinging it open as I see Hayes trek up the last step while pulling on his tie.

“Hey, how’d it go?” I ask, drawing his attention to me. “I don’t see any broken noses or black eyes.”

The side of his mouth tips up. “No, I made it out physically unharmed, but your brother is not my biggest fan right now.”

“Well, what were you expecting?”

“Hey, I didn’t see you sitting beside me convincing him that this would all work out,” he spits out as he walks to his room. I make the decision to follow him immediately.

“You didn’t want me there. You said it was better if you two talked man to man,” I remind him while impersonating his voice.

He tosses me an annoyed glance. “Yeah, I know.” His butt finds the cushion of one of the dark grey chairs positioned at the foot of his bed, and that’s when I take in his room for the first time, a relaxing atmosphere that’s cohesive to the rest of the house. The space is much larger than mine, obviously, since this is the master bedroom. But there are small touches here and there that speak to who Hayes is—a sci-fi novel on the nightstand by his bed, a worn O.C. Rays baseball hat on his dresser, and a picture of him and his parents on the wall.

“I just didn’t think he’d be so angry. And then all of a sudden, he had this smug look on his face like he knew something I didn’t.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” he says as he stands and walks into his closet. I don’t follow him because we are definitely not at the level of marriage where we watch each other change, and I don’t ever plan on getting there. “He agreed to the six-month expiration, although he wants us to wait until after the wedding.”

“Shayla sort of mentioned that too.”

“When did you talk to Shayla?” he asks as he steps out of the closet in workout clothes that show off his muscles underneath. The outline of his perfectly symmetrical pecs is clear through the white fabric of his tank top, and his grey mesh shorts about take my breath away when I see the bulge outlined in the fabric.

I quickly draw my eyes from his crotch before he catches me staring. “Earlier on the phone. She and Chloe know about our arrangement now too.”

“Joy,” he replies sarcastically.

“So what did he say that has you all finicky right now?” I ask, waving my hand in his direction.

“I’m not finicky.”

“You’re clearly irritated.”

He runs his hand through his dark hair, messing up the strands even more than they already were, looking like he just rolled out of bed and someone was tugging on his hair all night. “He seems to think this isn’t going to end the way we think it will.”

“What? How?” I furrow my brow at him while simultaneously trying to decode my brother’s cryptic message.

Throwing his hands up in the air, he steps around me and heads out the door of his room. “The hell if I know!”

“Going to work out?” I call after him as he heads for his in-home gym.

“Yup. See you in forty-five,” he replies, shutting the door behind him, leaving me all alone to ponder my brother’s reaction.

A text comes through on my phone as I trudge downstairs while my stomach starts to growl. I realize it’s been a while since I’ve eaten and hunger hits me with a vengeance as I scour the fridge for something to eat.

I retrieve my phone from my pocket and swipe across the screen to see a text from my brother waiting for me.

Wes: I’m disappointed you didn’t tell me what happened, but I think it was best Hayes and I spoke alone. I’m not mad, just… frustrated. But I love you no matter what, and I think you’re doing the right thing letting this ride out for a while. If he does anything that makes you feel uncomfortable and unsafe, you call me immediately. But I know Hayes, and he seemed extremely apologetic for landing the two of you in this situation. I honestly think this all might work out for the best. I just wanted you to know that I love you and am here for you—always.

His words make my eyes tear up instantly.

Me: Thank you. I love you too. I’m sure I’ll be fine. The good news is if I murder him and go to jail, orange happens to look fabulous on me.

Wes: LOL Don’t murder him. But maybe fuck with him a bit? That ought to be fun for both of us.

Me: Us?

Wes: You and me. The man deserves a little revenge for the clusterfuck he’s caused.

Me: LOL Any suggestions?

Wes: I know the fucker hates spiders. Start there, and I’ll think of more. Talk to you soon, sis. Love you.

Me: Love you.

With a smile on my lips and plotting occurring in my head, I locate a can of soup in the pantry and pull out a container of spinach to make a salad. It’s not a gourmet meal, but it’s something. I make my dinner and get comfortable at the table, eating slowly as the sound of Hayes’s feet pound the treadmill above me.

Make him pay, huh? I don’t want to do anything too devious, but my brother does have a