Page 32 of The Rebel Billionaire

At that thought, I shookmyhead.

This is sex, I reminded myself.Friends with benefits, without the friends part. There would be no forever for Lucasandme.

We had nothing in common and neither of us wanted more than sex. Since sex would have to wait until later, I might as well get myworkdone.

I was not going to sit around doing nothing and mooning overLucas.

With the help of some YouTube videos and the directions on the supplies I'd bought, I went to work stripping the paint from the mantle in thelivingroom.

It was a gross, smelly, time-consuming job. I had enjoyed ripping the boards off the front porch. I was not enjoying strippingpaint.

Every time I got frustrated, I closed my eyes and envisioned the woodwork cleaned of decades of paint, the grain of the wood brought to life by a warm stain. Between the hardwood floors and all the trim, the housewouldglow.

It was just going to take work. Based on how slow the paint was coming off the mantle, a lotofwork.

A few hours after I'd started, my stomach was rumbling and I had a headache from the paint fumes. The glare of the work light aimed at the fireplace mantle wasn'thelping.

The sun had long since gone down. If I was going to work in the evenings, I was going to have to get more worklights.

I put away my equipment and jumped in the shower, the fruity floral body wash delicious after the caustic scent of paintstripper.

I was starving, but I took the time to smooth on lotion that went with the body wash and put on just a little makeup. I didn't know when Lucas was coming back, but I knew hewascomingback.

Getting dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, I shoved my feet into my flip-flops, grabbed my purse, and headed out. One of my favorite things about living in the Highlands—I could walk to all sorts of fun places like shopping, cafes, and mostimportantly,food.

Goodfood.

My street was dark. There were streetlights, but not as many as there were on the main road. A spot between my shoulder bladestingled.

I couldn't help looking behind me. There was no one in the street. The houses around me had their lights on and cars in the driveway, and up ahead, I could hear peopletalking.

I was only jumpy because of what had happened the nightbefore.

Which was nothing. Nothing happened the nightbefore.

I'd gotten spooked. I bet everyone got a little spooked the first time they lived on their own. It was just that I was doing this later than most people, thatwasall.

My stomach was tight until I reached the end of the block and turned right onto Virginia Avenue. Here, the sidewalk was well-lit and there were peoplearound.

Most of the retail shops were closed for the night, but the bars and restaurants were doing a brisk business. I fit right in with the crowd, though in my jeans and T-shirt, I was a little more dressed down thaneveryoneelse.

I'd planned to eat out, but everywhere was crowded and loud. If I hadn't been alone, it would've been fun, but I found I wasn't in the mood forpeople.

I wanted food and the quiet peace of my house. Fortunately, my favorite burger place was not only a few blocks away, but the line for takeout was blessedlyshort.

I got my favorite, a luscious concoction of greasy meat, three different cheeses, avocados, bacon, and onion strings on a brioche bun with a generous side of hand-cut fries and alemonade.

I placed my order and leaned against the tile wall of the restaurant, flicking through YouTube videos on paint stripping while Iwaited.

It wasn't long before I was collecting my meal, packaged neatly in a brown shopping bag with twine handles. I headed back out the door, sipping mylemonade.

My mind was mostly on my dinner as I walked home. Since I'd been working on the house, my appetite had increased. I guess it was the difference between sitting at a desk all day and spending hours using my muscles, small thoughtheywere.

I was going to have to stock up on more than yogurt and coffee. Idly, I wondered what Mrs. Williamson had made Aiden for dinner. My chest hollowed at the thought of him eatingalone.

Not myproblem.

Except that it was my problem. Aiden was my brother. I loved him. But there was nothing I could doaboutit.