Текст книги "The Taming of the Billionaire"
Автор книги: Jessica Clare
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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 16 страниц)
Edie chuckled. “I’m glad, at least.”
“Besides, I bought this place with you in mind. Now that we’re going to have even more cats and I’m running the cafés downtown, I might look for something bigger in Manhattan proper, since I assume you’re going to want to help with the cats?”
“Of course,” she said, excited about the prospect. It would be a chance for her to make a genuine difference in the lives of so many cats—and people. She was brimming with ideas for encouraging adoptions. Christmas cat pictures with Santa, pet-food drives for the local shelters, all sorts of things. “I might end up taking over the project, actually.”
“Nothing would make me happier,” he admitted. “I’ve got a lot on my plate at the moment with the game, so you’re welcome to it.”
She rubbed her hands together, grinning.
“So you’re moving back in with me?” His tongue traced the shell of her ear, then he nibbled on her lobe. “As of tonight?”
“I can’t.” He stiffened against her, and she pressed her hand to his chest. “Your cat just had kittens. She’s feeling protective. The last thing I need to do is introduce seven more cats to a new environment, a new mommy, and a blind cat, only to turn around and move them again in a few weeks if you’re really going to look for a new apartment in Manhattan.”
Magnus groaned, tilting his head back against the couch. “So . . . new apartment first?”
“It’s less moving for the cats. Less traumatic for them to constantly keep changing their territory. I—” She frowned as he got up and she fell backward on the couch, off balance. “Where are you going?” She watched his delicious ass flex as he crossed the room.
“Getting my phone to let Hunter know I need a new place right away. Manhattan, one floor, big enough for a cat army. Needed ASAP because I want my cat lady with me.”
Edie just snorted.
“It’s true,” he told her, returning with his phone. “I thought I was going to tame the cat lady, and it seems that she’s tamed me.”
And what could she say that was sweeter than that? Nothing. But when he returned with his phone, she straddled his lap once more and showed him how much she loved him.
Magnus didn’t text Hunter for several more hours.
Chapter Twenty
Two long, torturous weeks later, Magnus had signed the papers on a West Chelsea penthouse that overlooked the Hudson River and boasted a lean, mean, seven-thousand square feet. Or, as Magnus liked to joke, a thousand feet for each of Edie’s cats. And while Edie nearly fainted at the price, she had to admit that the penthouse (and the sky pool on the terrace outside) was gorgeous. Within another week, they’d moved in and purchased even more furniture, since now they didn’t have enough. Edie liked the new place. It had several elevators, and so even though she’d been a bit leery of living in a building with more than thirty floors, so far, so good.
Magnus’s new app had been featured in the news recently for its innovative approach to adopting shelter cats, and donations—as well as cats looking for homes—had poured in. Edie had to sideline her own personal feline behavioral business to devote her full time to the Coffee N’ Cats chain, but she was loving every moment of it. She saw so many cats on a daily basis, her feedback was listened to and applied, and more than that, she saw people interacting with cats, loving shelter cats that had a slim chance before, and people enthusiastic about adoptions. In one month, they had three hundred cat adoptions between all locations of the cafés. Edie was over the moon with that number. She expected it to slow down once the cafés became less trendy, but she and Magnus had already been discussing new ways to continually bump up their social profile and keep the cafés in people’s minds.
Edie was the happiest she’d ever been. Her days were filled with cats and making a difference in their lives. Her nights were filled with Magnus—her sweet, wonderful, funny Magnus who always made her feel like the luckiest woman on earth. Every moment with him felt magical. They decorated, they spent time on the couches watching TV and curling up with cats. They went to dinner together, caught shows, visited friends, and had sex. Lots of sex. Lots of toe-curling, pulse-pounding, Edie-whimpering sex.
Really, Edie couldn’t ask for more.
Which was why it killed her that she missed Bianca. Her sister was an awful person. She knew that. She knew Bianca was manipulative and selfish and all of those horrible things, but Edie still missed talking to her. Still worried about how Bianca was going to take care of herself if she didn’t have Edie’s help with the bills or work as Edie’s assistant.
“I think you should invite her up,” Magnus told Edie one night in bed after she confessed her feelings. It had been a month since she’d moved in with Magnus. One month of complete and utter bliss.
“I’m a little afraid she’ll ruin things,” Edie admitted. “I miss her, but I’m still terrified she’ll wreck my life again somehow.”
“So you bring in an intermediary,” Magnus said, thumbing her nipple casually. He loved to play with her breasts after sex . . . usually because it led to more sex. “Someone who isn’t going to let her manipulate you into a corner again.”
“You?” Edie asked, tracing a line down his chest.
“Not me,” he said bluntly. “I’m afraid I have nothing nice to say to her. I don’t want her in your life, but I’m willing to put up with her because you do. But don’t ask me to be understanding to someone who’s hurt you so badly. Have Gretchen do it. She sees through Bianca’s bullshit.”
***
“Oh my god, they are so cute,” Gretchen squealed, holding one of Lady Cujo’s kittens. The teensy little tabbies didn’t have the gleam of their mother’s purebred coat or her unique swirling pattern, but they did have brilliant striping and the most adorable little faces. “How can you stand to give them all away?” She pulled the kitten close and snuggled it under her chin. “I’d keep all of the little buggers if it were me.”
“Are you kidding?” Edie asked, pulling a rambunctious kitten away from her shoelaces and setting it back down on the sofa. “We already have nine cats. That’s more than enough for anyone, don’t you think? We don’t need more.”
“I love this little one,” Gretchen said, cooing to the kitten in her hands. “He might become Igor’s new best buddy.”
“You’re welcome to take him home with you,” Edie told her. “I can’t thank you enough for showing up today. I need all the solidarity I can get.”
Gretchen held out her fist for a bump, and Edie bumped it. “Girl,” Gretchen said. “You know I’m all over this.”
“Thank you again,” Edie said. If anyone could keep Bianca in her place, it was Gretchen.
“When’s she supposed to get here?”
“Any minute now,” Edie said, snagging another kitten as it wandered past. They definitely had their hands full. Edie never thought she’d say it, but she had too many cats. She was looking forward to the day when things quieted down again. At least her elderly cats didn’t streak across the apartment at full speed several times a day like the kittens did, clawing everything and knocking things over. They were lucky they were so darn cute, because they were nightmares. Cute, fluffy little whirling dervishes with claws.
As they played with the kittens, they waited for Bianca to show. She wasn’t on time; Bianca never was. She loved to make a late entrance, not only because it got her attention, but because it simply wasn’t important to Bianca to stick to anyone else’s schedule. Eventually, though, there was a knock at the penthouse door, and Edie handed her kitten to Gretchen and got up to answer it.
“Be strong,” Gretchen whispered.
Edie nodded and then opened the door. There was Bianca, looking just as pale and fragile as ever. Her big, dark eyes blinked, her tiny mouth quivered, and then she began to cry, dramatically flinging herself into Edie’s arms.
Good ol’ Bianca. “Hey, kiddo.”
“I’ve missed you so much, Edie.” Bianca wept. Bianca didn’t sob. She never sobbed, because sobbing might lead to snot and puffy eyes, and those things didn’t exist in Bianca’s world. She wept. Daintily. “I’m so glad we’re going to get the chance to talk.”
“I felt like we should,” Edie said, a hesitant smile on her face. “Come in.”
Bianca nodded, and Edie was surprised to see that her sister wasn’t wearing eye makeup. Normally Bianca didn’t leave the house without eyeliner and mascara. Had she skipped it because the tears were genuine? Or was this more manipulation? Edie looked over at Gretchen, who wrinkled her nose at the sight of Bianca.
“Gretchen’s here today,” Edie said, announcing the obvious.
“Howdy,” Gretchen called out from the sofa. “Wanna pet a kitten?”
“It’s all right,” Bianca said, sitting down on a nearby chair and glancing around at the penthouse. Edie was surprised at that, too. Bianca normally loved to nose around and mentally price out things. Instead, she turned sad eyes to Edie. “Your new place is lovely.”
“Yeah, isn’t it? I offered to pay for half the rent, but when Magnus told me how much it was a month, I told him it was all his,” she joked.
Bianca didn’t laugh. “He’s a good guy,” she said, twirling a lock of hair nervously around her finger. “You shouldn’t worry about him, you know. Not like Drake. I never told you, but Drake always hit on me when you weren’t around.” Her lower lip jutted out. “And I was a horrible person to sleep with him. I know that. I couldn’t tell you about it, not after your accident.”
“When is there ever a right time to tell your sister that you fucked her boyfriend?” Gretchen added sweetly.
Good point.
“But I always regretted it,” Bianca said. “I guess I was just looking for my own sort of purpose. And thinking only about myself, if I’m honest. I dumped him once your accident happened, and I turned you into my purpose. I devoted my life to taking care of you.”
“To making me need you,” Edie corrected.
“Bam!” Gretchen whispered. “Good one.”
Bianca glared at Gretchen, and then turned a hurt expression to Edie. “Maybe I did. Maybe I thought if I made you love me enough, it wouldn’t matter that I was a horrible person. I fucked up. I admit that. I’m not trying to pass the buck or make light of it. I totally screwed up and I’ve spent the last six years trying to make up for it in my own way.”
Edie wavered a little. She did have a point. How long was she going to punish her sister for that? She wasn’t ready to forgive just yet, of course, but it wasn’t off the table.
“I tested Magnus for you, by the way,” Bianca said.
“You what?” Edie crossed her arms over her chest. “What do you mean, you tested him?”
“I didn’t want you to get hurt by another guy the way Drake hurt you. So I tested him. I Skyped him and flirted with him,” she admitted baldly. “He shut me down completely. He didn’t even want to think about what I was suggesting.”
Gretchen’s mouth hung open.
Edie’s did, too.
“So I just wanted to get that out in the open,” Bianca said.
“Gee, thanks,” Edie said sarcastically.
“Can we be sisters and best friends again?” Bianca asked her, eyes big and sad. “I’ve missed you. You’re the only sister I have.”
“We’re always sisters,” Edie told her. “And I’ll always love you. I will. But I’m still pissed at you, Bianca. It’s going to take a lot longer than a month or two for me not to be pissed at you.”
“But I’m trying really hard.”
“Try harder,” Edie said. “Try and not hit on my fucking boyfriend, for starters.”
“Bam,” Gretchen whispered again.
“I was trying to be helpful—”
“Maybe we can skip you being so helpful and just go back to you being my sister, Bianca? How about that?”
She gave a little toss of her hair. “Fine. Just don’t shut me out again, okay?” Her eyes watered and she swiped at them. Genuine tears again. Wow. Bianca must really be upset.
That decided Edie. She could soften a little. “I won’t shut you out. But you need to give me space, too.”
“And stay the fuck out of her relationship,” Gretchen added.
“That, too,” Edie said.
“Fair enough.” Bianca smiled at her sister. “So tell me about the cat cafés.”
She knew how to get on Edie’s good side too easily, Edie grumped to herself an hour later. Bianca had gotten her talking and by the time she finally stopped going on and on about how wonderful Coffee N’ Cats was, an hour had passed and she hadn’t wanted to strangle her sister once. It was a start. But when Bianca started to turn the conversation toward herself, Edie shut her down.
“You should probably go,” Edie announced. “I’ve had enough sisterly love for one day.”
Bianca looked startled, then shrugged. “That’s fine. I thought while I was on this side of town, I’d stop by and see my sweet Cooper.” She got up, tossed her hair, and then pulled Edie into a hug. “I’m so glad we’re talking again. Please don’t hate me forever.”
She gave her sister an awkward pat on the back. “Me, too.”
Gretchen made gagging noises.
“But distance,” Edie quickly added. “We’re going to give each other distance.”
“Distance,” Bianca agreed, releasing Edie and heading for the door. “I’ll call you in a few days, then. Bye, Sis!”
Gretchen looked thoughtful as Bianca left the room. “So she sunk her claws into Cooper? That poor, poor man. He’s been snagged by the subtlest of gold diggers, and is probably happy as a lark about it.”
“Should we warn him?” Edie asked.
“Nah. He needs to get laid.” Gretchen tilted her head and glanced at Edie. “Speaking of groomsmen and such . . . Levi dropped out of the wedding, you know. Said it was harshing his free spirit. I think he’s still sulking over Bianca dumping him. He told Hunter he was going to vacation in Europe for a few months and to pick someone else.”
“Oh, no.” Edie frowned. “Are you short a groomsman? I feel like we’re responsible.”
“Don’t worry,” Gretchen said. “Among Hunter’s band of merry men, I’m sure someone has a younger brother somewhere.” She winked. “This is still going to be the most spectacular—or spectacularly awful—wedding of the year. Just you wait.”
Edie believed it. Gretchen never did things halfway. “Well, I’m sorry if I hooked up with one of your groomsmen.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Gretchen told her. “You’re not the only one getting herself a little some-some from one of Hunter’s buddies. Didn’t you hear about the others?” At Edie’s shake of her head, Gretchen’s eyes widened. “Girl, have I got stories to tell you . . .”
Look out for the next sensuous book in
Jessica’s Billionaires and Bridesmaids series . . .
Coming soon from Headline Eternal.
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