Going in Deep (Billionaire Bad Boys 4)

Although he couldn’t say he hated the idea of living in the suburbs, having a deck on which to barbeque and a backyard.

And a woman to share it with? If that woman was Kendall, a voice in his head answered. Who’d have thought Julian Dane would yearn for the house and the white picket fence?

He blew out a long breath, knowing at this point he was far from being able to consider even asking Kendall to go to dinner, let alone anything more serious. After all, wasn’t that why he was here? To talk to Nick about his problems?

He and Lauren chatted a little about Brian and his having to switch schools when September rolled around, and how she couldn’t wait to bring him to the shelter for a dog when the move was complete.

Finally Julian heard the sound of keys in the lock and the slam of the door.

“Looks like I should make another cup of coffee,” she said, greeting her husband as he walked into the small room.

“No coffee for me,” Nick said, then turned to Julian. “This is a surprise. Everything okay?”

“Yes. I just… Hell.” Now that Nick was here and Julian had had a chance to calm down, he felt like an idiot for just showing up.

“Julian needs to talk, and I’m going to take a long, luxurious bath.” Lauren poured what was left of her coffee into the sink. “It was good catching up,” she said to Julian.

She paused to kiss Nick. “See you in a bit.”

Nick eased himself into the seat across from Julian.

“You’ve had a long day. Sorry to just show up here,” Julian said.

“Actually I didn’t work this afternoon, just tonight, so no worries. What gives?” Nick asked, always agreeable, always there when Julian needed him.

He hoped he gave the man at least half the friendship Nick gave him.

Since Nick knew his history with Kade, Lexie, and Kendall, the summary was pretty quick. “I slept at Kendall’s last night. Her sister walked in on us this morning.”

Nick winced. “I take it she wasn?

?t happy to find you there?”

“Understatement.” Julian leaned back in his seat and folded his arms across his chest.

He went on to explain Lexie’s negative view on them as a couple, and how he and Kendall had left things between them tonight. “She’s going away for the weekend and wouldn’t come over. She’s torn in two and it’s killing me to see. I hate that it’s my fault.”

Not to mention her words, which were still running around his head. I just want to hear back from Lexie. See if she’s able to get Kade on board.

What if she couldn’t?

Julian had known better than to ask. “I feel like my entire life can be decided by a man who rightfully hates my guts.” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

“Your entire life, hmm?” Nick leaned an arm on the table. “A man only makes an extreme statement like that if he’s all in with a woman.”

“All in? Of course I’m all in. I love—” He reared back in his seat, shocked the word had come out of his mouth, even if he wasn’t completely floored by the emotion.

He’d known for a while he was falling hard for Kendall, but admitting that he loved her out loud for the first time had taken him off guard.

Nick grinned. “Exactly. You love her.”

“I damn well do.” And it would rip him apart if Kendall didn’t feel the same way, or if she decided her sister’s and Kade’s feelings meant more than his. Than her own.

He loved Kendall Parker, and Nick gave him time to digest the information.

Love was a new emotion for Julian. Oh, he loved his sister, but he’d never had that depth of feeling for a woman before. He’d never wanted someone’s happiness more than his own. Not Mr. Julian Self-Serving Dane.

Everything about Kendall was different. It wasn’t just that their physical compatibility was off the charts, but now that they’d spent real, quality time together, there was so much more to their relationship than sex. Kendall was sweet and compassionate, as evidenced by her feelings for the dogs in her care and how she’d instinctively reached out to Alex with the offer to turn to her for anything.