Her Big Fat Foxy Billionaire Best Friend

by Victorine E. Lieske

  “Well, you could still go.” Drew took the pan off the heat and lifted a piece of bacon with his tongs, laying it on some paper towels. “Maybe meeting Captain Lyle Crosby will take your mind off things.”

  “I’m dying to meet Peter Walker. I just can’t imagine going by myself. Walt and I were going to—” her voice cracked, and she stopped talking to let the swelling in her throat go down. She was not going to cry over Walt anymore.

  Drew set a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon in front of her, along with a glass of whole milk. The good stuff. He knew what she liked. “Eat. Don’t think about Walt.” He pulled out a chair and sat with her at the small dinette table.

  “You’re right,” she said, picking up her fork. “I need to get my mind off him.” She stuffed some eggs in her mouth, a spicy flavor filling her tongue. “Mm, this is good. What did you put in here?”

  “Cheese and salsa.”

  “It’s really yummy.” Her hunger hit with full force. She’d been too upset yesterday to eat anything. Now? She inhaled the food.

  “I think the cruise would do you good. You should go.”

  “I don’t know. I’d have to go to all the shows alone. Eat at a table full of strangers.” She paused. “It would be depressing.”

  Drew’s fork stilled. “Then I’ll go with you.”

  She stared at him. “Really? You’d go with me?”

  His lopsided smile formed on his face. “You know I’m a huge Venturer.”

  Miranda grinned back. “Gina Hummel is going to be there.”

  “What? Now I have to go. I can’t believe they’re going to have Zee on board! She was the best character. They really should have put her in more episodes.”

  Excitement grew in Miranda’s chest. “I know, right? And they’re going to show never-before-seen bloopers.”

  “I love bloopers.”

  “And the whole main cast, plus Brooklyn Scott, the girl who played the captain’s daughter, will be there. They’re going to have a Q&A panel, and you know what I’m going to ask.” She could hardly sit in her chair.

  Drew rolled his eyes. “Not this again.”

  She pointed her fork at him. “Yes. And I’m going to get my answer, too. You know I’m right. Zachary Dunham totally had lipstick on in that scene, and I’m going to get him to admit it.” She scooped the last of her eggs into her mouth.

  “It was the lighting, and if you ask you’re going to embarrass yourself.”

  “I know lipstick when I see it.”

  He shrugged, giving up. “Okay. Suit yourself. Just don’t feel bad when Zachary Dunham laughs at you.”

  “What would I care? He’s just a kid.” She bit into her bacon and the flavor almost made her moan. Drew bought the good stuff, the kind with maple. He’d made it crispy, just how she liked it.

  Drew raised an eyebrow. “He’s our age.”

  Miranda kept forgetting that the show had first aired twenty years ago. “Oh. Right.” She picked up her phone to find out how old he really was now. “Oh my gosh. He’s totally hot now.”

  Drew made a face. “What? Let me see that.” He pulled the phone out of her hand.

  “See?”

  He stared at it before handing her phone back. “Only if you like the blond and broody type.”

  She laughed and whacked his arm. “Just because someone isn’t smiling in their picture doesn’t mean they’re brooding.”

  He waved the comment off. “Whatever.” He stood, picked up the empty dishes, and set them in the sink. “Are we going to watch Star Venture or what?”

  Drew knew how to cheer her up. Her heart already felt lighter. Going on the cruise alone would have rubbed salt in her wound. But going with Drew? That would rock. “I’ll get dressed and find a blanket and pillows.”

  Miranda went into her bedroom and threw on a pair of jeans and a blouse. Her thrift-store couch wasn’t as comfortable as the leather one in Drew’s house growing up, but she piled the pillows around; it wasn’t so bad. Drew sat beside her. Whatever cologne he was wearing wafted around her, and she resisted the urge to lean over and sniff him. He smelled divine.

  He shifted and something crinkled. She eyed him suspiciously. “What do you have?”

  “Just your favorite.” He produced a cherry Airhead.

  “You’re the best.” She snatched it from him and ripped it open.

  “You’re not going to wait? We just ate breakfast.”

  “Airheads can be enjoyed at any time of the day.” Besides, she was still hungry, but she didn’t want to tell him that.

  She scrolled through the list on Netflix and Star Venture popped up. “Should we start with season one? Or when they added Zachary in season four?”

  “Oh, that’s easy. Season four,” he said.

  “I agree. The episodes got so much better after they found the cyborg teen on Alganore.” She clicked to start the show and then settled in against the pillows.

  Halfway through the episode, Miranda found herself snuggled against Drew, just like old times. But for some reason, things felt different. The warmth of his skin was making her heart beat faster.

  She scooted over and tucked her legs under her.

  Drew glanced at her. “You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”

  She hadn’t been, but now that he’d brought it up, Walt’s face popped into her head. “Yes.”

  “Don’t dwell on him. What he did. . .” Drew paused for a moment, and it looked like he was struggling to find the right words. His jaw clenched and released a few times. “He doesn’t deserve you.”

  It was sweet to see him go all protective on her. She patted his knee. “Thanks.”

  After they watched two episodes, Miranda stood and stretched. “Guess I should start getting things done. There’s a million people to call. Honestly, I’m not looking forward to it.”

  He got up from the couch. “I spoke with your mom before you woke up. She’s taking care of letting all the guests know.”

  Relief flooded over Miranda. “Oh my gosh, you are a lifesaver.” She threw her arms around his neck, and his strong arms wrapped around her. Her heart rate picked up again and she backed away. It must be the new muscles. She’d never been physically attracted to Drew before. Strange. She’d have to watch it. He had a girlfriend, and she didn’t want to betray that trust. Shelly had been really cool about letting them talk and be good friends.

  “I’m happy to help with the cancelations, too. Just give me a list of numbers and I’ll start calling.”

  He was so sweet she could kiss him. “Thank you so much. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  She went into her bedroom to get her binder. It had everything for the wedding in it, all worked out in detail. She’d divide up the calls between them.

  As she sat back down beside him, their legs touched. She discreetly moved over. She did not need any more tingly things happening. The last thing she needed to do was to fall for Drew. That would be disastrous!

  Chapter 3

  Drew tried to ignore the subtle things Miranda kept doing to put space between them. She’d never had any issues with being close to him before, and he wasn’t sure what was going on. He even discretely took a sniff of his underarms to see if he’d forgotten deodorant. Nope. It wasn’t his smell repelling her.

  He looked at the next number on the list. The florist. He dialed the number and waited for someone to pick up. The florist told him she couldn’t cancel the order, so he volunteered to pay for it and told the florist to donate the flowers to a funeral home.

  When he got off the phone, he noticed Miranda staring at him, her pen clutched tight in her hand. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “Offer to pay for the flowers. I can do that.”

  He squinted at her. “Really? You’re going to get mad at me for that? Do you know how much I have sitting in my bank account right now?”

  She hit him with the back of her hand. “Stop bragging.”

&nb
sp; He gave her a small smile. “I just know you’re stretched right now. And it’s no big deal for me, so just let me do this, okay?”

  She set her pen down. “Alright.” She exhaled and stared at the wall. “Sorry for getting testy with you. I think I’m just stressed.” She got up and rolled her shoulders.

  Drew couldn’t pass up the silent invitation. He crossed the room and placed his hands near her neck and started kneading.

  “That feels amazing.”

  Holy cow, it sure did. He quietly worked his thumbs into her muscles, enjoying the simple feeling of being close to her. Touching her. He switched to her neck, her warm skin sending sparks through his fingers. He’d always been attracted to Miranda, but for some reason it was stronger today. The pull to her was almost a force he couldn’t control. He leaned over, his lips only a millimeter from her ear. “How’s that?”

  Miranda wiggled away from him. “Fine. Thanks. I feel better now.” Her words came out rushed, and she didn’t meet his gaze. He’d made her uncomfortable, and guilt bubbled up inside his chest.

  He stepped back from her. “How about some lunch?”

  She stretched. “Sounds good. I’m starved.”

  “You keep making phone calls. I’ll make some sandwiches.”

  “You got it, squirt.” She tossed him a cheesy grin and plopped back down on the couch with her phone.

  He walked into the kitchen, which was only separated by linoleum on the floor instead of carpet. He tried not to glance at Miranda sitting on the couch as he pulled out the bread and deli meat. She was acting a little strange toward him, but he probably deserved it. What had he been thinking, touching her like that? It only made him want to do it again.

  If he was going to spend the next week with her on the Star Venture cruise, he had to get himself under control. No more touching her. Period.

  After lunch he called the cruise line and booked a cabin next door to Miranda. They had to move her to arrange it, and he tried to convince Miranda to let him upgrade her room, but she refused. Stubborn woman. So now they both had tiny cabins with no balcony.

  Miranda sighed and set her phone down on the kitchen table. “I think that’s the last of the calls.” She stretched her feet out in front of her and made a face. “I’ll have to start returning things now.”

  “How much stuff is there?”

  Miranda walked over to the closet and opened the door. Boxes were packed in there so tightly that Drew wondered how she’d gotten them all to fit. But it was a small closet, so there couldn’t have been more than ten boxes in there. “Well, that’s not so bad.”

  “That’s not all.” She led him to her bedroom and swung the door open. Fabric, ribbon, candles, flowers, and glass vases were piled everywhere. It looked like Hobby Lobby threw up.

  “Oh.”

  She rubbed her temples. “Yeah.”

  “Well, let’s just take this one store at a time. You have your receipts?”

  She opened a drawer and pulled out a fistful. He took in a breath. “Okay, then. Let’s start organizing these things.”

  “Thanks. For everything.” She touched his arm, but then pulled back, her gaze flitting around the room.

  He ignored the way she reacted toward him. “No problem,” he said, his throat tight.

  They worked together for a few hours, sorting through the mess and finding unopened items they could return. They divided everything into boxes, and Drew put them in his rental car. He lifted the last box and taped the receipt on the outside. “I think this is all the returns. The rest we’ll have to donate.”

  “Most of the stores close at five.”

  He looked out the window at the setting sun. “That’s fine; let’s not worry about it today. We should go out somewhere and leave this for tomorrow.”

  Miranda wiped her hands on her jeans. “Fine by me.”

  “Grab your jacket. I know the perfect place to go.”

  “They’d better serve food.” She went into her bedroom and pulled out her old denim jacket.

  He stifled a groan. “Why don’t you throw that thing away?”

  She slid it on. “It still fits.”

  “Yeah, but it has holes.”

  “They make them with holes now. You pay hundreds of dollars for a jacket with holes.”

  He frowned and picked up his own leather jacket. “It has no lining. It won’t keep you warm.”

  Miranda rolled her eyes and pulled her hair up into a ponytail. “Stop talking like you’re my mother.” She picked up her purse. “Besides, we’re going somewhere to eat, right?”

  “I thought we could go to Big Al’s Pumpkin Patch.”

  Her eyes grew large, and she smiled. “Are you serious? I haven’t been there since we were kids.”

  “They still do the haunted forest after dark, right?”

  “Of course. What are we waiting for?” She tugged on his arm. “Let’s go before all the caramel apples are gone.”

  He grinned as she pulled him outside. He unlocked the rental and opened her door. “Don’t get too excited. It might not be as scary as adults.”

  “I don’t care. It will take my mind off things.”

  And that’s what he was hoping. He slid into his seat and started the engine. The drive to the pumpkin patch wasn’t too long; the farm was only twenty minutes outside of town. Miranda fiddled with his radio until she got the local country station, bobbing her head to Keith Urban.

  When he pulled into the parking lot, dusk had settled in. Miranda didn’t wait for him to open her door. She sprang out of the car and started walking up to the entrance. He jogged to catch up to her. “You’d think you were sixteen.”

  “I kind of feel sixteen again. Remember when we came here and spent the day eating junk food and trying to go through all the haunted houses without screaming? And you ripped the pocket off your pants when you tried to show off?” Her laughter rang out on the night air.

  He remembered. She’d spent the day gushing on and on about Brad Thacker. How cute and tall he was, how she wanted to go to the fall dance with him. He kind of hated Brad Thacker after that. “Yep.”

  She whacked his arm. “Don’t be sore about that. It was funny. And you bought me that necklace made out of dried corn. I still have it.”

  She still had the necklace? His heart warmed at the thought. The ticket lady at the entrance stamped their hands, and he pocketed the receipt she handed him. “Have fun,” she said.

  “We will,” Miranda called out as she tugged Drew onto the main path. “Let’s go to the snack shack first.”

  “I don’t know how you’re so thin. You’re always hungry.”

  Her eyes held a smile. “You think I’m thin?”

  Of course she’d latch onto that. He chuckled. “You’re perfect.”

  She looked at him, her gaze appreciative. “Thanks.”

  They entered the snack shack and waited in line. It was basically an old barn they’d filled with picnic tables and had added a window for ordering. They’d built on a small kitchen where they cooked the food. Miranda peered at the hand-painted sign on the wall, her finger tapping her chin. “Should I go for the nachos or the burger?”

  “You always get the nachos.”

  “I know, but the burger sounds good today.”

  He shrugged. “Get both.”

  She shook her head. “I couldn’t possibly eat both.”

  “Then you get the burger, I’ll get the nachos, and we can share.”

  She brushed a strand of hair from her eyes and smiled. “No wonder you get paid the big bucks. You’re brilliant.”

  Not really. He’d created an online video game that went viral, then sold the whole thing to a big company. Then he’d invested it all, and it paid off in a big way. In other words, he got lucky. He’d been messing around, trying to come up with another game to sell, but all of his new ideas were lame.

  He ordered their food, and then they chose a place to sit. Miranda reached across the table and took one of his nach
os, scooping a healthy helping of cheese and meat onto it. She popped it into her mouth. “Mmm. I forgot how good these were. I should have ordered the nachos.”

  Drew hid a smile. He knew that would happen. “I’ll trade you.”

  She slid him the hamburger. “You’re the best.”

  He unwrapped the burger and watched as she savored the nachos. He loved the way her nose turned up a little at the end, and the small smattering of freckles across her cheeks. His gaze traveled to her lips. Her perfectly heart-shaped lips.

  She grinned at him. “What?”

  He tore his gaze away from her. “Nothing.”

  She kicked him under the table. “You’re probably thinking about Shelly. Did you call her yet? Is she mad you’re going on the Star Venture cruise with me?”

  Guilt once again surfaced in his gut. The whole Shelly thing was a mess. An accident. He’d called to tell Miranda he’d gone to the pound and found the cutest border collie, and he was trying to be cute when he mentioned the name Shelly, but things spiraled out of control. And then Miranda told him about her engagement and he felt lame admitting Shelly was just a dog, so he let Miranda believe he had a girlfriend.

  She’d been so happy for him. He felt like scum, but he couldn’t correct her. And now he’d been dating his dog for a year. He didn’t know what he’d do when Miranda started insisting he ask her to marry him. Awkward. He’d have to confess at some point.

  Maybe while they were on the cruise he could spill the beans. If she started to see him as more than just a friend…

  He reached for a napkin at the same time she did, and their fingers touched. She pulled back quickly to avoid the contact. His stomach soured. Who was he kidding? Miranda would never love him the way he wanted.

  Not like he loved her.

  Chapter 4

  Miranda stared at her hand. Why did Drew’s touch send little zaps of electricity through her? She picked up a nacho and bit into it. There was no reason for her body to get all weird around Drew. They were just friends. It had never been anything else. It was Drew, for heaven’s sake.