Billionaire Protector - Alexa Hart Page 0,40

how I live... It just gets weird. Like they either can’t be themselves anymore because they’re too nervous, or they suddenly are glued to me because. You know. Money. I hate it.”

More silence.

The lights were getting brighter now, and soon we’d be turning onto the specific lane that led straight to the house. The walk would be incredibly well-lit from there. Anne was about to see the truth for herself.

“How many girlfriends?”

I almost laughed. Is that what had made her go quiet? Thinking about my past girlfriends?

“Not that many. Actually, none since high school. Scared you might have some competition?” I couldn’t help myself.

“No,” she returned testily. “Just wondered how much of a man-whore you really are.” She giggled then, and I realized the mansion aspect of this conversation hadn’t thrown her nearly as hard as I’d prepared for.

Maybe you’ll find out.

I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud.

Despite her calm demeanor, I heard the sharp intake of breath when the mansion became fully viewable. Standing there in all its glory, there was certainly no disguising the Hardick Mansion now.

It was what it was.

“It’s beautiful, Penn. Truly.” She paused then, turning to me. “I kind of figured you didn’t live in a shack after attending your dad’s party, you know. Maybe I didn’t expect this... but it’s not as shocking as you might think. I’m not gonna get ‘weird’. At least not any weirder than I already was.”

Her eyes were glimmering emeralds again, just like they’d been in the city lights. And for the first time since I’d met her, she seemed fully at peace. Her movements were relaxed, her smile wasn’t forced.

It was as though she felt safe. Finally. Which only made me wonder, why hadn’t she felt safe before?

We went straight in through the giant foyer. The house was silent, which made me assume Preston still hadn’t returned. My father was going to kill him if he wasn’t in the ranch office on Monday morning.

“I think everyone’s already settled down in their own...” I was going to say wing but thought better of it, “...rooms. I’ll take you to the guest room in my, um, section.”

Section? That was the word that was going to sound better than wing?

Anne said nothing, just nodded and followed me up the giant front staircase. Of course we couldn’t just have a normal staircase. Oh no. Not in the Hardick house. It had to be grand and ridiculously flashy.

There were five main hallways that converged in a large landing at the top of the stairs. Pierce and Payden were to the right, Preston and I were to the left, and my father was the middle.

I led Anne down the first hallway to the left, passing a few doors until I reached a guest room that seemed like a good fit for her and Murphy.

The bed itself was a king. More than enough room for the pair to be comfortable. Anne quietly pulled back the silk sheets, and I laid sleepy Murphy down gently.

“I guess the pajama thing didn’t matter after all,” she whispered, smiling and kissing his forehead before tucking the blankets securely around him.

There was an awkward moment where neither of us seemed to know exactly what to say, and I finally offered her some information that I thought might help her relax just a little bit more.

“We have a digital intercom system here.” I pointed to a pad on the wall covered in numerous buttons. I, of course, had them memorized. “I can connect this room to mine if you wanna... hang out... for a little while... You’ll be able to hear Murphy breathing, let alone anything else.”

Anne’s blush had gone straight past pink to a bright cherry red. “And can he... hear us? I mean. I don't want to wake him up. You know.” She was beyond flustered.

I tried not to grin too widely. “I can set it so that no sound comes through on his end.” Anne nodded, completely embarrassed, and I ran my fingers over the appropriate buttons rapidly.

After, I grabbed her hand and tugged. She gave another motherly look over her shoulder, still unconvinced that her baby was safe. I felt her hesitation, and liked her all the more for it.

“Anne, we’ll be right over there.” I pointed at the door straight across the wide hallway. “Super close.”

She shut Murphy’s door gently just as I opened the door to my own bedroom. It wasn’t overly decorated like every other room in the house, but it was