The Billionaire Bachelor (Billionaire Bad boys #1)(62)

Men. Seriously.

Clueless.

"Excuse me." The waitress came closer to the barstool where Merina sat. "I know this is really inappropriate"—she looked around the porch before continuing—"but is there any way you could introduce me to the guy with the long hair?"

"You want to meet Tag?" Merina's eyebrows went up in surprise. The other woman had to be at least twenty-one to serve the drinks, so at least they were in the safe zone there.

"I could lose my job, but…" She bit her lip and gazed over at Tag, hearts blooming in her eyes. "God, he'd be worth it, I bet."

Tag was laughing, Adam's apple bobbing. His casual button-up shirt was open one more button than necessary, revealing the top of his golden chest. His hair was down and ran over his shoulders, his beard proving he had no problem growing body hair.

"He is very attractive," Merina said as the waitress, still staring, gave a mute nod.

But when Merina's eyes tracked to Reese, leaning back, feet crossed at the ankles and his hand gripping the arm of the deck chair, her mouth watered and heart stuttered. If that was anywhere near the way this sweet college-aged girl saw Tag, then she was right. Hell yeah, he'd be worth it. How long would she have the dumb job anyway?

"I'm Merina," she introduced.

"Taylor." Her dark eyes swept over to Tag and she sighed with longing.

Adorable.

"You've never worked for the Cranes before, I take it?"

"Oh, yeah. But…" She wrenched her eyes off Tag but it took some effort. "I've never talked to him."

Maybe it was the wine, or maybe Merina felt bold since Alex had told her she fit in here, but she decided to make this girl's Cinderella dreams come true.

"Lucky for you, I know him well." Merina stood and looped her hand around Taylor's arm. "Ready?"

Taylor blushed, her smile dazzling. "Ready."

* * *

"You baited him," Reese said, feeling loose after way too much to drink. It was nice relaxing with his brother and dad. In this house of all places. And Merina had let him do it. Not once did she ask to go home, or excuse herself to bed early. At the end of the night when Tag vanished with one of the waitresses, she came to sit with Reese by the fire. He'd sat, his fingers woven with hers as Alex told a war story he'd heard a dozen times. Merina was rapt, orange firelight bouncing off her gorgeous face, her hand lazily resting in his.

He'd felt more at home with her next to him, a thought he'd blamed on the booze. It'd better be the booze or he was in big fucking trouble.

"I didn't bait him," Merina said. "I made an introduction. Taylor wanted to know what kind of shampoo he used." She grinned at her own joke and took the cosmetic bag Magda had dropped off earlier into the bathroom.

"Baited." But his firm tone didn't scare her. Not that he ever scared her, but she really didn't react now.

He'd been certain when this day started that it'd end with him in a much more sour mood, but so far, he didn't feel anything but glad to be here.

"Did she put my mouthwash in there?" He peeked over her shoulder as she dug through the bag.

"Yes, Your Highness." She offered a travel-sized bottle over her shoulder. He took it and went to the second sink, and side by side, he and his wife participated in a nighttime ritual they'd never done together. They brushed their teeth. At one point, Merina looked over, her mouth foaming like Cujo, and smiled.

He smiled back, curious at his own reaction, because moments like these didn't make him sentimental. Especially after he'd been forced to strut around like a damned prize poodle for the attending members of the board.

"That was brief," Merina commented after she rinsed her mouth and pulled her hair down. Honeyed strands fell like silk, wavy from the day's humidity.

"What was brief?" He toweled off his mouth.

"Your light mood." She still wore her dress but had undone the belt at her waist and a matching turquoise bra peeked from behind the material.

He absolutely wasn't going to broach this topic. Not while his veins were flooded with scotch. God knew what he'd wind up admitting.

He stepped forward and swept open her dress, resting his hands on her waist. Being with Merina physically was easy. He could give her what she needed physically. Emotionally, not so much.

"Softest fucking skin I've ever felt." Yep, still a little drunk. He wasn't slurring but the words came slowly and weren't easy to enunciate.

"Ever?" she breathed.

He kissed her collarbone, ran his tongue over her tattoo. She was fishing, but he decided to answer her anyway.

"Ever." He closed his lips over her hectic pulse.

"What'd you and Dad talk about?"

He stopped his exploration to shake his head. "We're not talking about family while I'm seducing you."

"I'm not having sex with you here." Her eyes widened in alarm. "This is your childhood bedroom."

"Actually, this one was Eli's, so no worries."

"That's worse!" She gave his arm a playful slap. "I haven't met him yet."

Reese's shoulders stiffened. Would Merina ever meet him? Unlikely. Eli wasn't due back soon. He e-mailed and called every few months, but by the time he came home, Merina would be out of Reese's life. Permanently, he imagined. He didn't see how they'd remain friends. A sudden surge of melancholy made him frown.

"I don't want to talk about my brother." He smoothed his hands over her shoulders and pushed the dress off her body. Lace panties matched her bra. He plucked one of the little black bows decorating them. "I don't want to talk at all."

"I can't ask about my parents—"

"Nope." He kissed her neck.

"—or your family?" Her fingers in his hair sent a surge of warmth through his limbs. This was working. Under the attention of his fingers and his mouth she caved every time. She trusted him enough to let down her guard, which made him uncharacteristically humble.

"Correct." He placed an openmouthed kiss on the top side of one breast.

"Share a shower?" she gasped, gripping his hair.