Sutton and the CEO Forever (Bedding the Billionaire #5) - S. Cinders Page 0,32
mistake after another.
Finally, Knox sent her out on a bogus assignment. They both knew it, and it didn’t help to improve Katie’s mood.
By the time she went home, Katie was grumpier than a mad hornet. When she saw the flower beds, all of her earlier concerns seeped in, and she made up her mind to nip the problem in the bud—pun completely intended.
Katie marched up to Brian’s door and banged on it until he answered.
“What?” Brian scowled at Katie in her cute uniform. “Did you have to knock at the door like that?”
Katie blew out a short breath, “I have a stalker problem.”
“You stalk people?” Brian repeated in confusion.
Katie rolled her eyes, “No, ugh, I have someone stalking me. I need to hire a private investigator.”
Brian immediately went on alert. He wrapped an arm around her waist and whisked her into his house.
“Come away from the windows,” he barked. “Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner? Was this why you were on the countertop? Did you see the stalker?”
Katie shook her head, “No, I only learned about it this morning.”
Brian sat back, “You’ve had a stalker for less than a day?”
“Look, do you want the case or not? I am willing to pay cold hard cash!”
Brian’s lips twitched. He wondered if she had any idea how much it would cost to retain his firm. Likely more than she made in the last five years.
“Why don’t you tell me everything? Please start at the beginning.”
Katie took a deep breath, “Okay, well, I was backing out of my driveway when I saw it.”
“A note? What did it say? Do you have it?” Brian felt the familiar zing of adrenaline that came when working on a case.
Katie shook her head, “No, it was the rosebushes.”
Brian felt his cheeks begin to darken. In a gruff voice, he questioned, “What about them?”
Katie leaned in, and Brian smelled her light perfume. It washed over him and caused his dick to twitch. She was so close that Brian could feel her sweet breath against his ear.
“The stalker was in my rosebushes. I’ve been thinking, and maybe it’s a metaphor. Maybe he wants to cut me up and bury me there?”
Brian’s jaw dropped open. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
18
Julio pulled his car into the beautifully kept neighborhood. He was driving a nondescript sedan and had no issues pulling up next to the minivan in the drive. He locked the doors and made his way up the walk with a whistle under his breath. Before he could knock, the door was flung open by a short, curvy Latina wearing a large grin on her face.
“Julio! We are so happy to see you! Come in, come in!”
Julio reached out and kissed her cheeks, “I do think you are lovelier every time I see you, Gina. How are Marco and the baby?”
Gina waved her hand, dismissively, “They are fine, all is well. Please come inside. Everyone will be happy to see you.”
Julio walked into their home and admired the lovely bright colors that Gina had used to decorate. There was nothing mild or meek about this woman. Having formerly worked with his nephew Jennings as a hired gun, Gina was more than capable of holding her own.
Her husband, Marco, came out with a three-year-old on his hip. The handsome man had a birthmark that covered part of his face. Julio knew that Marco had been, at one point, rather self-conscious of the defect, but through the love of his wife, he had come to realize that she saw him and not the red patches of skin.
“Lizzie, come and see your Uncle Julio!”
The little girl stretched her arms out to Julio, and he gladly took her into his own.
“Be careful,” Marco warned, “She is sticky, and I haven’t figured out what from quite yet.”
Gina smiled and placed a hand on her growing belly, “Let’s hope that this one is a little better behaved than her older sisters.”
Julio turned to Lizzie, “Have you been a good girl?”
She nodded and threw her arms around his neck, “So good! Do you have a present?”
Marco groaned while Gina gasped.
“We don’t ask for gifts!” Gina admonished.
“You ask daddy for things all the time,” Lizzie reasoned and grinned when Julio pulled a candy from his pocket.
“You will spoil her,” Gina said to Julio affectionately.
Julio couldn’t help the smile that crossed his face, “She deserves every happiness and more. Where is my other niece?”