My Grumpy Billionaire (The Lasker Brothers #2)

by Nadia Lee

I turn toward Griffin. He’s looking at me with a small smile, his eyes bright and satisfied. I lift my trembling hands and cup his warm cheeks. I kiss him; his mouth parts. Cheers erupt around us, and I pull back in mild shock, remembering we’re surrounded by tens of thousands of people. I hug Griffin hard. My heart gallops against my chest, and I can feel his thumping too. I bury my face in his shoulder as my eyes heat with tears. All the loneliness I’ve felt since Mom and Grandma died starts to shrivel and die. In its place is a sense of belonging and love. Griffin might be my fake boyfriend, but what I feel for him is real.

For a moment, she feels like mine. My girl.

She leans closer, resting her head against my shoulder, and sighs softly with happiness. I lean down and kiss her, helplessly drawn to her. Although my head says it’s the trip, the jet lag and the champagne, my heart whispers, It’s the girl—Sierra.

Wow. That wasn’t what I thought she was going to say. So my guys are that persistent and strong, huh? It gives me an absurd sense of pride.

“Incredible. So Griffin’s alpha sperm overcame the obstacles and did the horizontal tango with your egg?”

“If you want something, fight for it. If people treat you badly because of this, you have to fight that to hold on to what you have. Don’t let anything or anyone take away what you want. If you do, you aren’t fighting hard enough.”

It’s good that I found out he loves his career and anonymity more than me before I made a bigger emotional investment. But that doesn’t lessen the pain from the fact that I’m always going to be number two with the man I love.

The weirdly achy throb in my chest I felt when she referred to the triplets as her family but not mine ripples through me again, more intensely this time. She couldn’t make herself clearer. It’s a fuck-you-and-goodbye box.

“Little ones, it’s just you and me. But it’ll be okay. I’m going to make sure that you’ll never, ever feel the lack from not having your daddy around. We’re going to be great together.”

No, he isn’t. Griffin starts singing over a karaoke version of the song. All my food cravings go away, and my morose mood vanishes. All I can think is that Griffin is in the lobby, singing me one of the sweetest love songs ever—despite the fact that he hates singing. It was my grandma’s favorite. She and Grandpa danced to it at their wedding. She told me every time she heard the song, she felt loved.

“I love you so much.” He pulls back slightly, his expression gorgeously somber. “Forgive me?” “I love you too. And yes, of course I forgive you. All that matters is that we’re going to be happy together.” I smile. He claims my mouth as the lobby bursts into loud cheers and applause.

“No. I didn’t bring it up to ask you to sign a prenup. I don’t care. Money isn’t that important. And what other people think about me isn’t important. What’s important is you. And our babies.” I loop my arms around his neck and seal the promise of forever with a searing kiss.

–Dad: WTF? –Dad: I am your family!!!!!!!!!!!!!! –Me: Hope you get run over by a semi.

Ellie jumps to catch it, but it bounces off her arms and hits Grant, who grabs it out of reflex. “Shit.” He immediately throws it back in the air like a steaming potato. It flies and lands on Huxley, who acts like he just got hit by a grenade.

“This is for you, Sierra, the love of my life, the light of my soul, the keeper of my heart.”