Billionaire's Bunny (XOXO: Spring Love 2020 Book 1)

by Brynn Paulin

  “Nothing else?”

  “Why? What did he say?” Embry had to have said something. No one else had been around.

  “He just called here and demanded I fire you. I’ve seen him on TV and in person a few times at civic functions. He’s never sounded agitated like this.”

  “Please, Susan,” I begged. “All I did was deliver the basket. I mean, it’s pouring, so I got drenched in the process, but I can’t control the weather. Please, I need this job!”

  “Don’t worry, hon. He’s not the one who hired us. I politely told him to shove off.”

  “You did?”

  She huffed a breath. “No one tells me how to run my business—certainly not some billionaire.”

  “Thank you. Billionaire?” I asked as that sank in. He lived in a modest home, considering.

  “Yeah, you didn’t know? He’s considered the most eligible man in the state, if not the country. Young, hot…rich. If I wasn’t taken, I could be tempted to deliver my own Bunny Gram to him—that’s not very boss-like of me, is it? Sorry.”

  I laughed. “Thanks, Susan. I needed that.”

  “Anytime. Now, I know you work your other job tomorrow, but check in with me. I might have something lined up for you. Also, stop by when you can. I have a tip for you. Embry Fitzgerald might be a dick and demand I fire you, but he tipped well anyway. Rich guys are so weird.”

  Chapter Three

  ~ Embry ~

  What the hell was that?

  Frozen in place, I watched the girl of my dreams run away. I was still in shock from seeing her standing mostly naked in front of me. The rain had made her top and bra nearly transparent, giving me a good look at the perfect breasts that had made my mouth water for months now.

  “Wait!” I yelled, moving to run after her. I tripped over her umbrella, mangling it. After stumbling a few steps and grabbing up the twisted thing, I dashed to catch Paige. Her eyes were wide while she tried to start her car. The old thing looked about a bazillion years old and heaved like it was a ninety-year-old with emphysema when she cranked it. I added a new car to the list of things I planned to give her.

  This girl was my future. She just didn’t know it yet.

  And she was delivering…whatever the hell. I wasn’t even sure. All I knew was she was almost naked on my porch.

  “Paige, stop!” I yelled, but the car chugged to life then sped down the drive, leaving me in a spray of muddy ice water. Fuck!

  Whipping her damaged umbrella into the trashcan by the garage, I stomped back into the house. Angrily, I snatched up the basket. I’d dropped it inside the door when I’d run after her, dumping the contents all over. I scooped them back inside. The front door slammed, and I sank to the foyer floor.

  An Easter basket. Belatedly, I remembered she’d had sodden bunny ears on her head. Okay, so like…some sort of singing delivery? Only she hadn’t sung. So… It didn’t matter. She had her coffeeshop job, and I knew she was going to college. Why the hell was she going to strangers’ houses making deliveries…dressed like that?

  No one got to see my woman that way. It was bad enough I’d been waiting on the sidelines for her. Just biding my time until she graduated then came to work for me. I had the whole full-court press planned, all the responses to any arguments about me being her boss.

  Paige had no idea she was my muse, that I’d created entire clothing lines around her for the past three years. I’d never done anything as popular as the Stories collections. Story was of course inspired by her name, Paige.

  Sweet Paige. I longed to hold her in my arms and feel her curves against me. To wrap her around me while I filled her, claimed her, made her forever mine. I couldn’t wait any longer. The time was now, before she ended up on some other man’s doorstep.

  A card stuck out of the mess I’d shoved back inside the basket. Pulling it out, I read the back, not even caring to open it and see who thought this would be funny. I was sure it was from staff. They always teased me about being uptight and regularly tried to find ways to get me to “loosen up.”

  Delivered by Messages Managed

  Pulling out my phone, I gave them a call. My girl might hate me for it later, but I would be her last delivery.

  * * * *

  My regular hat and black-rimmed glasses in place, I headed into the coffeeshop where Paige worked. I’d been coming in here for years, sitting in the corner and working. I had a great view of Paige at work while I was here, but she didn’t have a real good view of me. One of my close friends, Des, owned and ran the place, so he usually came out and sat with me for a bit and brought me my black coffee. Since I was a silent partner—though only of a small portion, Des intended to buy out eventually—we usually spent some time discussing the business.

  Not caring if Paige saw me or not, today I’d sit in plain view of the counter and study her. Frankly, I was in a piss-poor mood. Her boss at the messenger place refused to fire her only Bunny Gram girl and had pretty much told me to fuck off. I’d spent way too much time figuring out how to work around that, too. Helpful that Susan, the owner, happened to be married to my roommate from college. After I’d promised him a trip to Paris, complete with the use of my flat in the city and my private plane, he’d told me he’d work on getting Susan to capitulate.

  I’d already spoken with Des, and he’d promised Paige’s hours would be cut way back. Yes, I was an asshole, but I also did whatever I needed to do to get my way. And I was done waiting. She was coming to work for me at the end of May, but I needed her now. So I didn’t feel all that guilty. I was manipulating her into a better life. With me.

  “Paige,” I said as I approached the counter.

  Her eyes went wide. A flush crept up her fair skin. She recognized me from yesterday. Good.

  “Embry Fitzgerald.” I held out my hand, but she stared at it as if it were a snake. “And you’re Paige Wright,” I supplied for her.

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “Come have coffee with me?”

  She bit her full bottom lip. “Can’t.”

  “Sure you can,” Des said, coming beside her. “If you want.”

  “Please,” I said.

  “Why?”

  My friend chuckled as he walked away to “do something” at the other end of the counter.

  “Because I like you. Because I’ve liked you for a long time, but I’ve been waiting for you to be done with school.”

  “Look, I’m sorry about yesterday,” she said, color flooding her cheeks. “That was…” She shook her head, eyes closed. “I’m so embarrassed.”

  “Come have coffee with me?”

  “Okay. What can I bring you?”

  “Got it,” Des chirped, handing her two cups. Obviously, he’d been listening. Paige came around the counter, and I took my drink from her. With a nod of my head, I indicated for her to follow me. I led the way to the somewhat secluded table where I usually hung out. Paige slipped into the booth, then I slid into the other side facing her.

  We sat in silence, regarding each other. The heat in her eyes reflected what I felt until red filled her cheeks and she ducked her head.

  “I didn’t know you did message deliveries,” I told her. “I thought you just worked here and went to school.”

  That’s what the file I’d had run on her said. Paige Wright, college senior, only child. She had no other family except her estranged mother. And from what I’d learned of that woman, I didn’t blame Paige for separating herself. Aside from school, which she’d paid for herself, mostly with scholarship and her income, she worked here. She was driven and got exceptionally good grades.

  Most importantly, there was no man in the picture. Now or anywhere in the past that I knew of. Not that it would have been a deal breaker. I would have found a way around it. With one look at her, I’d known. It had hit me in the gut. Paige and I were meant for each other. When I’d run her dossier and found how similar we were, it had completely supported my belief.

  We were two people clawing our way
into a better life. But we could be two people together making that life. I’d worked my ass off to earn my billions. Until Paige, my existence had been work and making connections that would serve to move me forward.

  “I was. Yesterday was my first delivery,” she told me. “That went well,” she added in a mutter as she looked out the window over my shoulder.”

  “Hey, don’t.”

  “Don’t tell me you don’t think it was a huge disaster. I was practically naked, froze up, and you tried to get me fired.”

  “That was only because I didn’t want you going to strange guys’ houses.”

  “Especially in see-through clothes.”

  “There is that. I don’t want anyone else seeing…that.” I almost said what’s mine, but decided it could be too soon.

  “Yeah, you have no idea how sorry I am about that. I didn’t know until I was on my way home.”

  “Why did you run then?”

  “You looked angry.”

  I supposed maybe I had. Seeing her exposed that way, knowing she could have been on anyone’s doorstep…

  “Why did you pick up another job, anyway?” I asked.

  “Long story.”

  “I’ll try to keep up.”

  “It’s embarrassing really.” She shrugged her slim shoulders, and I wondered how she didn’t have men chasing after her. My woman was adorable. Delectable. My mouth watered for her, and I just wanted to get closer to…

  “Why is it embarrassing?” I asked, cutting off my thoughts.

  She took a deep breath. “I grew up poor—”

  “A lot of people do. I did,” I confessed.

  Her eyes narrowed, and she studied me, as if she could see if it were true. Just having her blue-eyed gaze on me, my dick twitched, getting hard. I was glad there was a table between us to hide my reaction.

  “I promised myself that I wouldn’t be that way. I worked hard to get scholarships…to pay my way through college, to always take care of my bills on time. But there was a mistake in accounting. I didn’t catch it and neither did they until they did an audit. I owe a couple thousand, or I won’t graduate. I have to graduate. Of course, I don’t have that amount of cash hanging around. So I picked up another job. I’ll make it happen. It’s what I do.”

  That’s what I’d learned. Paige was a doer. She didn’t let adversity hold her back.

  Then an idea popped into my head. “I have a charity event on Saturday in two weeks. I’ll hire you to be my date. You can be my bunny for the night.”

  She reared back in her seat as if I’d struck her. “No! I thought you…” She shook her head. “I have to get back to work.”

  I caught her wrist, keeping her with me. “You thought what? That I like you? Paige, I more than like you. Stay. You haven’t even had any of your drink.”

  Neither of us had. I’d been too busy soaking her in. Purposefully, I lifted my cup to my lips. When she settled back and lifted her own cup, I released her wrist.

  “Then why would you suggest that?” she whispered after a moment. “I might deliver Bunny Grams, but I’m not…a paid escort or something.”

  “I’m not suggesting I’d pay you for sex,” I growled quietly. “When you come to my bed—and you will come to my bed—money will have nothing to do with it.”

  Paige gasped, and maybe…well, maybe, I’d just gone too far.

  Chapter Four

  ~ Paige ~

  Two hours later, I was still reeling.

  This guy…Embry Fitzgerald wanted me and had for a while. All the time I’d been harboring my secret crush, he’d been lusting after me. And I was pretty sure lusting was the right word for it since he’d flat out said we’d be leaping in bed together.

  Walking into my small apartment, I whipped my things into the chair by the door. Embry’s proposition aside, I was in a crappy mood. At the end of my shift, Des had pulled me aside and told me he was cutting back hours. I’d only have one night a week at the shop. Thinking I could offer Susan more time, I’d given her a call. Despite telling me last night she wouldn’t fire me, she suddenly had no jobs for me.

  I was in worse shape than a week ago when I’d only had one place of employment!

  My chest was tight, and I sucked in air through my teeth, refusing to give in to tears. No fucking crying, Paige. You will figure this out.

  Problem was, I wasn’t so sure things were figure-outable anymore. I had two and a half weeks before my meeting with the school’s financial advisor, no viable income… I was one internet search from selling a vital body part.

  Closing my eyes, I willed the universe to send me answers. Anything that would get me through this.

  Two words throbbed through my head like a mantra: Embry Fitzgerald, Embry Fitzgerald, Embry Fitzgerald…

  “No!” I moan, throwing myself backward on the couch and pressing a throw pillow over my face. I like the guy. I really, really liked him. But I wanted to go out with him because he was interested in a relationship, not because he was paying me.

  I’ve liked you for a long time, but I’ve been waiting for you to be done with school.

  Did he really mean that? Reaching into my jeans pocket, I pulled out the crumpled square of paper he’d given me. Huffing, I tossed the pillow on the floor and stared at the boldly written numbers. More so, I mulled over all he’d said to me this afternoon. He liked me. He’d been waiting for me. He didn’t want me around other men. He was sure he and I would eventually sleep together… And he’d implied he knew an awful lot about me.

  A plan formulating in my head, I pulled out my cell to dial him. Thankfully, it wasn’t playing games with me today. Unfortunately, I saw a missed call from my mother. Probably wanted money. Not happening.

  Growling, I cleared the screen then brought up my phone book. After I programmed in Embry’s number, I clicked to dial through.

  “Paige,” he answered. “I’m glad you called.”

  “How did you know it’s me?”

  “You’re programmed into my phone, of course.”

  “But how did… Never mind. You had a file run on me, didn’t you?”

  “Well, when you’re in my position, it’s something you do. I never walk into a situation blind.”

  “Well, don’t! If you want to know something about me, just ask. I don’t want you poking around behind my back. I’m not one to keep secrets. I’d tell you things, if you asked me.”

  “Does that mean you intend to be around?”

  “Are you going to let things go any other way?”

  “No.”

  “Well then,” I replied, resting my case.

  “Are you calling to tell me you’ll take the job?”

  “No.”

  “Oh. Then…”

  “I’ll go with you to the charity gig. But I don’t want you to pay me. I’d take a loan, though. But I want to go with you, because we want to go together, not because you need a random date.”

  “There’s nothing random about you, Paige.”

  “Oh, I can be pretty random.”

  “You know what I mean. You’re very specifically the woman I want. The only woman I want. I very much want you to be my date to the gala. I’d also like to go out with you before that.”

  “When?”

  “Tonight?”

  “Okay. When?” I glanced at the clock. It was already after seven.

  “Have you eaten dinner?”

  Technically, since I was on the high-fat latte at work diet, I had actually had dinner, but I knew he didn’t mean that. “No,” I told him.

  “Great. Okay. I’ll be there at eight.”

  “I’ll be ready.” That should be enough time to wash the coffee scent off me and look halfway date-worthy.

  “And, Paige?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Don’t be pissed with me, but I already paid off the college. I didn’t want that hanging over your head and scaring you.”

  “I wasn’t scared.” Sure, I wasn’t… I’d been terrified I would
n’t graduate. My eyes burned as relief flooded me. Damn it, this man was going to make me cry yet. “Thank you, though. I’ll pay you back.”

  “Paige—”

  “No, Embry, this is important to me.”

  “Okay,” he agreed after a long pause. “I’ll see you at eight.”

  Hanging up, I pressed my phone to my chest and closed my eyes. A thousand emotions shook me. I guessed the universe was looking out for me after all.

  Maybe.

  Somehow, I had the suspicion I’d be navigating a whole new minefield now.

  * * * *

  While I’d gotten ready tonight, I’d worried that Embry was out of my league, that I’d be too casual for this date, that…well, a million things. But when I’d opened the door, wearing jeans and a bright yellow sweater, every trepidation had fallen away.

  He’d stood there in jeans and a pullover, smiling at me as if he’d won the grand prize in some contest, and I had to admit, I felt very much the same. Immediate flutters had taken off in my belly. It had taken all my willpower not to step in and hug him hard. Maybe more.

  “Ready?” he’s asked. He’d reached out and linked our fingers, pulling me close then kissing my cheek. It was less than I’d wanted yet… It was everything. The simple affection was exactly what had always been missing from my life.

  “Yes,” I’d whispered. I was ready for whatever this evening offered and wherever it led us.

  Now, hours later, I leaned against Embry’s shoulder while we listened to a band play and sipped hot chocolate at the Spring at the Park event he’d brought us to. It was chilly out, but there were outdoor heaters running and Embry had us wrapped together in a huge plaid blanket. It was cozy and intimate. Comfortable.

  We’d talked about everything tonight. My future plans, his work in design. He’d been slightly vague, but it was often that way in the industry. Projects were secret. But I loved that we had this in common. We talked about schooling and our backgrounds. We were somewhat similar there, too. Where I’d at least had a parent, he’d had none, but like me had been determined to break out. Given his success, I’d say he’d succeeded.

  And I was one-hundred percent curious about his work and how he’d gone from foster kid to billionaire before thirty, but I didn’t want to pry too deeply. Not tonight. I had a feeling I’d know all about him soon. At least, I hoped so. Rather than worry too much about the unknown, I sank into the comfort of being in his arms while we enjoyed this casual evening together. I loved the way he held me, the way he’d randomly drop kisses on my temple. And I wanted more. I wanted to turn my head at press our mouths together, but I didn’t want to press for too much too soon.