Playboy Billionaire

“This is our house,” Mom said stiffly. “And we make the rules. Kristin does not pay rent, therefore she is obligated to do as we say.”

Andrew snickered. “She’s twenty-two, Carissa,” he said. Every time he called my mom by her given name, she flinched. It was almost enough to make me giggle.

“She’s still my child,” Mom said.

“She’s your child, but she’s not a child,” Andrew said. “Don’t you know that it’s dangerous for girls like her to be so sheltered?”

Mom and Dean glanced at each other. Just when I thought Mom was about to open her mouth, Andrew kept going.

“Girls like her get out in the real world and realize they don’t know anything,” Andrew said. “She’s going to like, wind up doing porn or dating some abusive asshole because she doesn’t know how to respect herself with people her own age.”

Mom’s jaw dropped.

“That’s enough of that kind of talk,” Dean said angrily. “Andrew, if you can’t learn how to talk to adults, you’re not going to be allowed at this table any longer!”

“So what, Dad?” Andrew countered. He shook his head. “I have my own place, and my own job – I’ve done just fine. But what you’re doing to Kristin is a crime,” he added. “And she should really have more autonomy.”

“Kristin, you want to come out with us later?” Victor asked. “We’re going out to dinner.”

“She most certainly does not,” Mom roared. “She’ll be staying in. Kristin is being punished. She lied to me, and she’s grounded.”

Andrew burst out laughing. “She’s twenty-two,” he repeated. “You can’t ground her, Carissa. You can kick her out, but grounding he

r doesn’t really work.” He glanced at me and winked. I felt a warm, delicious feeling spread from my lower belly to the rest of my body.

“Thanks,” I murmured under my breath.

“I’ve just about had it with you coming in here and giving my daughter dangerous ideas,” Mom said. “Your father and I are proud that you’ve managed to make it on your own, Andrew. But this isn’t the time to lecture us. Kristin is staying home today, and that’s final.”

I stood up, knocking my chair over. “Actually, guys,” I said. “I’d love to go. I finished my paper. I don’t have any more work to do until next semester.”

Mom stared at me, her jaw hanging open. “Kristin, think about what you’re doing,” she said slowly. “Think about this. Your actions have consequences. You can’t just run around with these boys, willy-nilly!”

“Or what, Mom?” I sassed, putting my hands on my hips. “You won’t let me have any dessert?”

My mom looked as angry as she had the day she’d slapped me, but she pinched her lips tightly together.

“Fine,” she said tightly. “Go out with Andrew and his ‘friend.’ Then you can see for yourself the horrors of the real world.”

“I will,” I said, smiling sweetly. “Thanks, Mom.”

Going out with Andrew and Victor was the most fun I’d had since leaving Boston. They even behaved themselves – they were still obviously vying for my affection, but it wasn’t anything that I couldn’t handle. In fact, I actually kind of liked it.

“I’m gonna head home tonight,” Victor said. He smirked. “I’ll leave the two of you alone with your beloved parents.”

Andrew rolled his eyes. “God, like you’d want to miss out on all that?”

Victor laughed. “It was good to see you, Kristin,” he said, pulling me into a tight hug. I waited for his hands to grab my ass or for a kiss, but he did neither of those things. The hug felt almost brotherly, like we’d known each other for years.

“I guess it’s just you and me,” Andrew said with a smirk as we watched Victor drive away. The outside air was chilling me to the bone, but I felt so good standing alone with Andrew that I didn’t want to face Mom and Dean…at least, not yet.

“Yeah,” I said softly, my voice echoing through the winter air. “I guess so.”

“How are you?”

I sighed. “You saw my email,” I said. “So you know.”

Andrew raised an eyebrow. “That bad, huh?”