Page 49 of The Billionaire Who Saved My Cat From The Mafia

But it’s obvious that in Frankie’s company, the standard rules don’t apply.For whatever bizarre reason, I need her to know me, and I’m sure my story is safe with her.I get the sense that whatever she’s been through—whatever baggage she carries on that lovely back of hers—has made her the one person I can open up to.

The one who won’t judge me or put a label on me.

Yeah, it’s crazy.It’s never happened to me before, but I know I’m right.There’s no doubt in my mind.

I recognized her the second I laid eyes on her.

I seem to have stopped my jabbering for the time being, so I enjoy the feeling of the quiet night falling around us.Whatever happens, happens.I’ve got no plan for Frankie tonight, no goal.

Once we get her bed set up, I’ll ask if she’s okay with me staying.If she is, I’ll put down a pallet and sleep out here by the fire.If she prefers that I go, I’ll take the ATV down the mountain a bit, at least get as far as I can before I hit the most dangerous section of switchbacks, and I’ll sleep there.

I don’t allow my imagination to go any further.I stop myself from having expectations.

But if I’m honest with myself, I’m holding onto a fair amount of wishful thinking.I imagine what it would be like to hold her in my arms.Inhale the sweet floral scent of her hair.Feel her silky skin beneath my fingertips.

Get my lips and tongue all over her.Get my dick inside her.

I exhale loudly.She looks over at me, curious.Then she gives me a soft smile.

I can sense she feels comfortable with me, too, and she’s tempted to tell me more about herself.But something’s holding her back.I don’t push her.Because I don’t want her to put an end to our campfire conversation.I want this to last a good long time.

“So,” she says, changing the subject.“Before your brothers got married, did you all live together, like in a fraternity house or something?”

“Hell, no.We’d have killed each other.We have our own homes.”

She nods.“All five of you came back at the same time?”

“Yes.We left the Navy over three years ago and one of the first things we did was build our own homes, each according to our own preferences.”

She sticks her index finger in the air and closes her eyes.“Hold on.Let me guess.You live in a one-story no-frills cabin with a Great Pyrenees, who sleeps on your bed while you curl up on the bare floor.You have no kitchen because you’ve never cooked, and your bathroom has a shower and tub huge enough for you to fit into.”She opens her eyes, again.“How’d I do?”

“Not bad,” I say.And then out of nowhere, I laugh.It’s a hearty belly laugh, too.I’ve so rarely laughed like this lately that I don’t recognize the boom of my own voice as it echoes through the trees.

She playfully slaps my arm.“Come on.Fess up.Tell me about your cabin.I’m curious.”

My laughter fades.Pussy has raised her head and is peering at me through one green eye.I think my laughter surprised her as much as it did me.“Well, you’re right that it’s one story.The rest, not so much.”

“Details, please.”

“I have three bedrooms.”

“Just like my house—my old house, I mean.The one in Las Vegas.”

I nod.“With three bathrooms.”

“I only had one-and-a-half.”

“And yes, all of them have tubs and showers that I can fit in.The bill for all that tile was astronomical.”

“I bet.”

“And there’s an office and a game room… but with a pool table, since I prefer pool over video games.That’s more Finn’s speed.”

Her eyes widen.

“And a media room with my own popcorn maker.I like old black-and-white movies, believe it or not.”

“Okay.”She looks shocked.