Going Down Easy (Billionaire Bad Boys 1)

“No,” Kade immediately promised his friend. “Your money is safe. The company is fine. The IPO will go forward.”

Whatever was going on with that bastard Julian, Kade had no doubt he was behind the rumors, trying to rattle Kade and push him into over-settling. That wouldn’t happen. Kade would admit the truth himself and step aside before he’d let a company he’d worked his ass off creating be derailed. Nor would he let his friends lose out on gains they deserved.

“Fair enough.” Ian, always a man of few words, didn’t ask for more.

Kade understood Ian had flown all the way in to look him in the eye and get reassurance. Knowing the lengths he’d go to in order to protect Derek, Luke, and Blink, Kade had no problem giving it to him.

“Then let’s order food.”

For the next hour, Kade and Ian talked about the football team Ian was president of, the Miami Thunder, and their chances for another Super Bowl run. Ian filled him in on his family, and Kade talked about the excitement of taking Blink public.

They were waiting for the check when Ian asked, “So, anyone serious in your life?”

Good thing Kade had finished his drink, because he hadn’t been prepared for the question and would definitely have choked on his scotch.

“I’m seeing someone,” he said vaguely. Since the gala, Lexie had become increasingly entrenched in his life.

Not only because she was his PA and they spent even more time together, at work and outside of it, but because he couldn’t stop thinking of her. She filled his waking and non-waking thoughts in a way no woman ever had. None. Because she understood him on a level no one had bothered to reach before her.

He liked to think he got her the same way. On the outside, she was tough, capable of standing up to him at his most difficult and able to cope with a less-than-easy family life. The pain her mother’s illness caused her was never far from her mind. He often saw her eyes glaze, and she would go somewhere distant and painful. Kade knew how much it hurt to lose someone close to you. True, his mother had left by choice, but Lexie’s mother was gone just the same. And that was a hurt he could comprehend deeply.

Ian grinned. “That’s good. I want you to find what I did with Riley,” he said, breaking into Kade’s thoughts.

“Don’t rush it. We’re just beginning.” Kade wanted to believe they filled an empty space in each other’s lives, but any time he let himself have faith, fear returned, lodging in the pit of his stomach.

Ian studied him intently. “The idea of one woman for the rest of your life used to spook you. Don’t waste time on nerves or worrying about things you can’t control.” The man always had a way of seeing deeply and getting to the heart of the matter. “I did that, and I nearly lost the most important thing in my life.”

Kade didn’t know Ian and Riley’s history, but before her, no one woman had been able to pin Ian down. “How’d you do it?” Kade asked.

“Do what?”

“Stop … worrying. Give up that control you mentioned.” Because that’s what scared Kade the most. Letting himself go into a freefall over a woman and having his heart ripped out of his chest. Although, he had to admit, he was pretty far gone for Lexie already.

“Who says I did?” Ian asked. “I said to stop worrying about things and just enjoy life. But when it comes to your woman, even if you don’t have control, always, always maintain the illusion.” Ian laughed, and Kade joined him because he’d seen Ian with Riley, and it was clear she had him wrapped around her finger. He just wouldn’t be surprised if that changed inside the bedroom. A place Kade had no desire to go.

The waiter walked over, and Kade snagged the billfold before Ian could do the same, determined to treat his friend, considering he’d made the trip out of concern for his financial stake in Kade’s company.

Ian scowled but let it go.

He left the lunch knowing he had to deal with the Julian situation sooner rather than later. But for the moment, he wanted to see Lexie.

* * *

Lexie had expected an enjoyable lunch with her sister, but she’d forgotten the cardinal rule of living with Kendall. Never get too comfortable. No sooner had they left Kade’s apartment than Kendall became agitated. She was unable to sit still, wouldn’t look Lexie in the eye, and kept rubbing her hands on her thighs anxiously. She bailed on lunch, claiming she had a headache and wanted to go home and lie down. Lexie was skeptical but she’d agreed.

She also stayed close to home, her gut screaming that something bigger than a mere headache was going on, a hunch that was confirmed when Kendall bounced out of her room, grabbed her keys from the counter, and yelled, “Be back! Have to meet Jay.”

Lexie blew out a long breath and settled on the sofa with a book and Waffles by her side, to wait for her sister’s return. She read and she dozed off. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, so she pulled out her phone, surprised to see it was late afternoon and she had a text from Kade.

Pleasure filled her at the sight of his name. She knew he had a lunch meeting with an old friend who was also a major investor in Blink. The timing worked perfectly because she’d had lunch with her sister, or she was supposed to.

Come by tonight?

Everything inside her wanted to see him. She wanted to lock the door and close them in alone, not just in his apartment but h

is bed. When she was alone with him, his big body covering hers, nothing existed but them.

With Kendall gone, there was nothing she could do to find out what was bothering her twin or help her at all. She lifted her fingers to respond to Kade with a big YES, I’ll see you soon, when her sister barreled into the apartment, an anxiety-ridden mess.