Billionaire's Contract Engagement / Money Man's Fiancée Negotiation Read Free Page B

whispered fiercely.
    His big arms surrounded her in a hug that nearly squeezed the breath out of her. Adam always gave the best hugs.
    â€œIt’s good to see you too, Cece. I missed you. Took you long enough to come back home.”
    She slid down until her feet met the ground again, and she briefly looked away.
    â€œHey,” he chided as he nudged her chin until she looked at him again. “None of that. It’s all in the past, and it’s a good damn thing it is otherwise your brothers would hop the first plane to New York and beat the crap out of your former boss.”
    â€œHey, hello, I’m here, too,” Dalton said, waving a hand between them.
    She held Adam’s gaze for a moment longer and then smiled her thanks. Her brothers were overbearing. They were loud, protective and they certainly had their faults. Like not believing she needed to do anything more in life than look pretty and let them support her. But God love them, they were fierce in their loyalty to her, and she adored them for it.
    Finally she turned to Dalton. “You I saw two weekends ago. Adam I haven’t seen in forever.” She glanced back at Adam. “Why is that anyway?”
    He grimaced. “Sorry. Busy time of the year.”
    She nodded. Adam, her oldest brother, owned a successful landscaping business and spring was always a hectic time. They rarely saw him until the fall when business started to slow.
    Dalton slung an arm over Celia’s shoulders and planted an affectionate kiss on her cheek. “I see Mr. Baseball is here. Must have caught a break before the season starts.”
    â€œYou guys going to the season opener?” she asked.
    â€œWouldn’t miss it,” Adam said.
    â€œI have a favor to ask then.”
    Both brothers looked curiously at her.
    â€œI’m bringing a client and I’d like to keep my relationship to Noah on the down low.”
    Curiosity gleamed in their eyes. She knew they wantedto ask, but when she didn’t volunteer her reasons why, they didn’t pursue the matter.
    â€œOkay. Not a problem,” Adam finally said.
    â€œAre you three going to stand out there all day or are you coming in to eat?”
    Her father’s voice boomed from the front porch, and they turned to see him leaning against the doorframe, impatience evident in his stance.
    Celia grinned. “We better go in before he starts muttering threats.”
    Adam ruffled her hair then tucked his arm over her neck so he had her in a headlock. He started toward the house, dragging her with him.
    When they got to the porch, she laughingly stumbled from Adam’s hold and gave her dad a quick hug. He squeezed her and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.
    â€œWhere’s Noah?” she asked.
    â€œWhere he always is. Parked in front of the big screen, watch ing baseball.”
    She slipped past her father while he greeted his sons and entered the home she’d grown up in. When she got to the living room, she saw Noah sprawled in the recliner, remote in hand as he flipped through footage of past baseball games.
    â€œHey,” she called.
    He looked up, his eyes warming in welcome. As he got up, he smiled broadly at her then held out his arms.
    She hugged him then made a show of feeling his ribs.
    â€œThey don’t feed you in training camp?”
    He laughed. “You know damn well that all I ever do is eat. I think my tapeworms have tapeworms.”
    She glanced back to make sure they were still alone and then lowered her voice.
    â€œAre you going to hang around later or do you have to be somewhere?”
    His eyes narrowed, and he lost the smile.
    â€œI don’t have to be anywhere today. Why do you ask?”
    â€œI need to talk to you about something. I have a favor to ask, and I’d rather not get into it in front of everyone.”
    He frowned now. “Is everything okay, Cece? You in some kind of trouble? Do I need to kill anyone?”
    She