Billionaires Dollar Series

“You think?” Her smile is bright over her shoulder. “You have to like it too, Mr. Partner.”

“I do like it, Miss Partner. Besides, the location is perfect, and that’s the only thing we can’t change. Go crazy on the inside.”

Maddie smiles, stepping closer. “That’s not very romantic of you. You’re supposed to comment on the atmosphere, the vibe. The history of the place. That’s what’ll really make a restaurant pop.”

I frown in pretend confusion. “I thought it was the food?”

Chuckling, she leans into me. “That too, you idiot.”

I press a kiss to her forehead. “Well, you’re the one who has to say it, Maddie, but I think this might be the one.”

She takes my hand and pulls me out into the space. The storefront is large enough to sit a decent amount of people without losing any sense of intimacy.

“It’s the one,” she declares. “God, can you believe we’re really about to do this?”

The smile on her face is everything. It’s what I’ve tried to bring forth over and over again in the past couple of months; it’s what she bestows on me freely, several times a day.

It’s my anchor and my light.

“I can, mostly because I believe in you.”

“The fellowship will help in getting press about this place. We could have culinary critics booking tables for opening night.” Her eyes widen. “Oh God, I’ll have to cook for critics.”

“And you’ll wow them all,” I say. “Did Alma say yes to joining you?”

“Oh, she’s practically as excited as I am!”

I grin. Maddie’s friend has grown on me in the past months. “Good. You two are a good team.”

“Just like us,” she says, sliding her arms around my neck. “Are you sure going into business together is a good idea?”

“No.” I cup her cheek, using my thumb to brush back a strand of dark, silky hair. “I have absolutely no idea if it is. But you and I always find a way to make bad ideas into good ones.”

“We’re good at that.”

“The best,” I agree. “Do you want to know something else?”

She cocks her head, so beautiful that it tears at my heart. “Yes?”

“I love you.”

Smiling, she kisses me with a sweetness I never thought I’d come to crave. Now I know I can’t live without it.

“I love you too,” she murmurs, and damn if those aren’t the best words a man can hear. Once I’d thought it was I need you. It’s still a close second, but only from her.

I lift my head from hers. “Do you remember the engagement ring?”

Her brow furrows. “Of course I do.”

“Do you remember how you thought it was too ostentatious in the beginning?”

She draws back, eyes intent on mine. “Yeah, I remember.”

“You got used to it by the end.” I make my tone nonchalant, my arm around her waist. “Was that an act, or the truth?”

Maddie wets her lips. “What are you really asking here?”

“Oh, nothing. I’m just trying to figure out if you genuinely liked that ring or if you’d prefer something else.”

I shrug, turning us around toward the front door. “I’m just making conversation, Maddie.”

“Sure you are. Besides, you returned the ring, right?”

“Did I?” I frown, holding open the door for her. “I remember saying I intended to, but I’m not sure if I ever did. I’m a busy man, you know.”

“Liam!” Maddie bumps into me, her wide smile back. The love in her eyes threatens to undo me. “You can’t tease me like this!”

“Oh, but it’s what I do best!” I wrap my arm around her shoulders and lead us toward the car. “Come on, you budding restaurateur. We’re late for lunch at Cole’s, and I’m all out of ring secrets to share.”

She laughs, leaning into my side. It’s the perfect fit. “For the record, it wasn’t an act. I did end up liking the ring. But-”

“Good to know.”

“-that doesn’t mean it’s not too ostentatious.”

I snort. One day in the future, I’ll have to make Maddie aware of just how much money is no longer an issue for me-and won’t be for her, either, once she lets me. Once we become a we in a more permanent way than now.

But one step at a time.

“You deserve nothing but the best,” I tell her instead. “After all, you chose me, didn’t you?”

Her laughter warms me down to my very soul.

The drive to Greenwood Hills is routine, now, as I’ve made the trip nearly once a week in the past months. I’m parking on Cole’s driveway when Maddie clears her throat in a very un-Maddie way.

“So, your mother told me something the other week, actually,” she says. “I forgot to tell you right away.”

“What was it this time?”

“Not a talk about the birds and the bees, I promise. No, it was about you and Ethan.”

My hands flex on the wheel. “Oh?”Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

“She said the two of you are so similar. ‘My boys always fought,’ she said, ‘because they’re more twins than brothers.'”

I’m quiet for a beat. “Hmm.”

“Anyway,” Maddie murmurs. “I just thought you’d want to know.”

I put a hand on her knee. “I’ve never thought of it that way before.”

“Me neither,” she says. “But it rang true to me when I heard it.”

The words settle in me, and I know I’ll have to revisit the thought. Perhaps looking at it that way explains more than I’ve let myself consider.

We make our way to the Porters’ backyard and Maddie slides her hand through mine.

She snorts, never the one to admit such a thing. “No.” But then, “Only, I haven’t really spoken to your business partners, with the exception of Ethan, since the whole… fake engagement thing went south.”

“Trust me, they don’t hold it over your head,” I say. They had held it over mine, but even then, it had been brief. I’d made it clear I’d never pull a stunt like that again. They’d made it clear that one would not be tolerated.

And then we’d moved on.

“Besides,” I tease, “you’ve spent enough time with me now that they can’t be intimidating anymore, right?”

Maddie chuckles. “What, because you’re so intimidating? I think you might just be drunk on your own importance.”

“Love has made me confident,” I say. “It’s really your fault.”

“Oh, is it?” She shifts closer to me, voice lower. “If my love is that powerful, I wonder what else I can make you do?”