The Billionaire’s Bun In Her Oven - Ellie Rowe Page 0,41

Zsa, “she just knows a good egg when she sees one.”

Just over Claudia’s shoulder, I see Kyle seethe. I give Zsa Zsa a vigorous rubbing down along her back and a loving scratch behind her ears. Good dog.

“Well, dinner is ready,” Claudia announces.

I turn to the dog and baby-talk some more. “Shall we go to dinner, Zsa Zsa? Hm? Good girl wanna go to dinner?”

The poodle whimpers expectantly and wags her tail. She lets me hold her like a baby as I stand up and follow Leonard into the dining room.

Cynthia steps close to me under the guise of giving Zsa Zsa a belly rub. She whispers, “You’re doing very well.”

“Glad I’m here?”

“Almost as glad as the dog is,” she says.

I give the dog one last round of petting and scratching before setting her down and following Cynthia into the dining room.

Thirty-One

Cynthia

“We can tell you what a joy it is to have your company,” my mother purrs. “It’s been so damned boring around here, hasn’t it, Leonard? I’m not sure if Cynthia mentioned, but we used to host the most wonderful parties.” She breaks into a laugh as she looks at me in comradery.

I hardly know how to handle all of this. He was already in their good graces, but this is something else. Zsa Zsa’s approval really sealed it. I look at her, curled up in Stephen’s lap and receiving her favorite scratch behind the ears. She raises her head lazily, her face a painting of pure bliss.

Don’t I know it, I think. I’ve been in his lap a few times and probably had the same face you’re making. Stephen shifts in his seat, staring at my hand on his lap — well, not really his lap, I’m petting the dog!

Zsa Zsa sits up looking confused, and turns her nose toward his crotch, shifting uncomfortably. Wait a minute, I look at Stephen suspiciously, but he pointedly looks away, focusing hard on whatever my mother is saying.

It can’t be, I think as I remove my hand, letting my fingers trail on his thigh for a second, is he… getting hard? He finally gives me a look as he feels my fingertips on his leg, and I’m starting to think my hunch was correct.

Zsa Zsa starts to get up, but he quickly places a gentle hand on her, desperate to keep her covering him. In her amorous state, she can’t refuse him, and melts contentedly back on his lap. I bite my lip to keep from laughing or smiling too broadly, and Stephen closes his eyes and shakes his head surreptitiously at me. Caught you.

“Now, my pets, we would love to have you stay the night! Wouldn’t we, Leonard? Darlene makes the most wonderful brunch. She’ll be honored to have someone like you enjoy it!” My mother beams at Stephen.

“Well, if Cynthia loves it, I can’t imagine I’ll have a differing opinion. She’s got pretty remarkable taste.” He smiles at me, and I mouth, “laying it on thick, eh?” out of my mother’s line of vision.

He smiles, but when I look back at my mother, I catch a glimpse of Kyle staring at us hard. Oh shit, did he just see me say that? It shouldn’t be a problem, right? Don’t real couples chastise each other when they over compliment?

“We’d be honored to stay the night,” Stephen smiles at my parents.

“I’ll let him take the Pembershire room, and I’ll just grab my old one,” I say offhandedly to Mother.

“Separate rooms?” Kyle pipes up.

Excuse me.

“Why are you staying in separate rooms?” Kyle asks, eyeing us suspiciously. “Well, after all, if you’re in such a charming relationship, I can’t imagine why you’d want to be separated for even a moment.”

Oh, shit. I didn’t mean to slip up like that. It’s just — we’re not dating! I look at my Mother, my face in a panic, seeing her eye me curiously. Her eyes have contorted to a squint and I know I’m being scrutinized.

Fuck. It was always like this with Kyle. For some reason, she deems his word as God. I swear she’d start rethinking her whole life if Kyle mentioned it was in fashion. I stare furiously at Kyle, wanting to wipe that stupid smirk off his face.

“Uh, well, you see, I just thought —”

“To be frank, we spoke a little bit about this earlier should we be so kindly asked to stay,” Stephen says, giving Zsa Zsa a pat. “We understood our relationship would be news to you, and I would never