Going Down Hard (Billionaire Bad Boys 3)

“No, I’m getting married soon. Like, on Valentine’s Day. Maxie and I don’t want to wait until the baby is born. We want it all legal ahead of time. Plus, I can’t wait to make that woman my wife. So will you two be my best man? Men? Would you stand up there with me?” he asked, chuckling.

“You know we will,” Derek said, pulling his friend into a brotherly hug before Kade did the same.

“We’re keeping it small. You know, because Maxie isn’t close with her parents.”

Derek understood. Their situation was complicated. It was a miracle they were getting married at all, Derek thought. Lucas and Maxie had had their timing all wrong, Maxie having been married to Lucas’s asshole brother, who’d all but tricked her into being with him. They should have been together all along. But now not only were they a couple, they were having a baby. They were a real family, as it should have always been.

“I’m happy for you,” Derek said.

“I’m happy for me,” Lucas admitted.

“What about you? How’s the missus?” he asked Kade.

“Fucking great. I highly recommend marriage,” he said with a stupid grin.

Derek shook his head. “And Lexie’s sister? Is Kendall holding steady?” Kendall was bipolar and was on an upswing after an extended stay at an inpatient facility for treatment.

“Thank God, she’s fantastic too. She’s walking dogs for people in our building and working at a shelter. Holding down a job, taking her meds,” he said with pride.

“And staying away from Julian?” Lucas asked.

“Yes. She was hurt enough by that bastard,” Kade muttered, his fingers flexing at just the mention of the man’s name.

Julian, one of their college friends who’d been in on the inception of Blink but who’d succumbed to a drug addiction instead of focusing on the billion-dollar prize. He’d reared his head when Blink was ready to go public, almost ruined Kade, and used Kendall, Lexie’s sister, to do it. Most recently, he’d tried to contact Kendall again, something all three men swore they wouldn’t let happen.

“Speaking of dogs, you still haven’t explained why Oscar’s here. Not that I don’t like him, but you don’t normally bring him to the office,” Lucas said.

“He’s here because Cassie likes him,” Derek admitted.

“And you need to butter her up. Got it,” Lucas said, laughing.

Derek turned to Kade, who remained silent on the subject of Cassie. “Did you say Kendall is walking dogs? Because if so, I need her phone number. Oscar’s walker quit.”

“She’d love to do it. I’ll shoot you her info on your cell later.”

“Thank you. And now, if you don’t mind…”

“You want to be alone when Cassie gets here. Got it,” Lucas said. “We’d laugh at you except we can’t. We’ve been where you are.”

“What? No. I’m not that—”

“Involved?” Kade asked, glancing down at the dog who had never been to the office before.

“Out!” Derek pointed to the door, and his friends left, laughing.

A few minutes later, Becky announced Cassie’s arrival. Derek rose as the door opened, and she walked in, looking every inch the professional interviewer. From the way her hair was pulled up to the dark pencil skirt and heels and through to the white blouse, she was prim and proper—except for the hint of cleavage revealed by the open buttons. An enticing hint that had him licking his lips, the memory of her taste strong.

“Good morning,” he said, walking around and meeting her by the door.

“Good morning.” She smiled warily. He didn’t blame her. Their last parting hadn’t been a great one.

No sooner had she spoken than Oscar heard her voice, jumped up, and greeted her with his bounding enthusiasm before flopping to the floor.

“Hey, pal!” She knelt by his side to give him a belly rub.

While she gave the dog attention, Derek shut the office door and locked them inside.

“What’s Oscar doing here?” she asked, rising to her feet.