Going in Deep (Billionaire Bad Boys 4)

Well, that was interesting, sad, and way too old a way of thinking for her age, Kendall thought sadly.

Julian eyed her warily. Kendall did the same. She wasn’t going to let her get away with brushing off something so serious as her relationship with her brother. Whatever that might—or might not—be.

Alex needed to know she didn’t have to keep her feelings bottled up inside and live with them eating away at her. “It’s not easy to have a rift with a sibling,” Kendall said.

And she ought to know.

Julian met her gaze, a mixture of wariness and sadness in his eyes. She hated what she was doing to him. She just didn’t know how to fix it.

“It is what it is, at least in my case,” Alex said, playing with the straw in her drink.

Kendall sighed. Either Alex was telling the truth and her brother’s behavior and lack of caring really didn’t bother her or she was hurting and damned good at covering it up.

“Well, I just want you to know,” she said, reaching across the table and touching her hand, “I’m here for you. If you want girl talk or to talk about your family, school… anything… you can call me.”

“Okay. Thanks,” Alex said, her gaze already back on her phone.

Julian glanced at the waitress and gestured for a check.

“Actually can I meet you at home? I have homework to do,” Alex said.

“Sure. Go ahead,” Julian said.

Alex headed out, leaving Julian and Kendal

l alone. They hadn’t seen each other all day, and they’d had a teenage buffer throughout the meal.

Now he studied her from across the table. “Are you okay?” he asked her.

“Yeah. It was just a tough day.”

“Have you heard from your sister?” he asked, obviously wondering if Lexie had had a chance not only to digest the fact that her twin was dating Julian but to tell her husband.

“Not yet. But I did hear from Josie. Our sister shelter in Maryland got in a bunch of dogs. I didn’t get the details, but we’re going to bring some of them back to our shelter. She asked me to go down there for the weekend, deal with the paperwork, and accompany their person back here with the animals.”

His eyes opened wide, his surprise evident. “You’re leaving for the weekend?”

She nodded. “It’s for work.”

And it was good timing, she thought, feeling bad. But being away would give her time without the guilt about the time she spent with Julian, knowing her sister was upset. Or the time she spent away from Julian, knowing he was probably disappointed they couldn’t be together. She was torn and frustrated. This trip came at just the right moment.

“I understand.”

She wondered if he’d say more, but the waitress placed the check on the table, interrupting any serious conversation.

Julian picked it up and pulled bills out of his pocket, leaving the money on the table. “How about you come back to my place? We can relax and watch a movie.”

She drew a deep breath, a sudden pain shooting through her chest. She could go and live with feeling torn and guilty or she could make it easy and give them the separation that would help her get her head on straight.

“I can’t tonight.”

“Can’t? Won’t? Or don’t want to?” He leaned on the table and met her gaze.

She sighed. “A combination of each?” she said with regret.

She didn’t want to set them up for a night of painfully looking at each other, knowing things were up in the air.

He clenched his jaw tight. “Well, at least you were honest.” Even if he obviously didn’t like what he was hearing.