Mr. Mitchell Billionaires' Club Book 2 - Raylin Marks Page 0,23

“It’s all my brother’s Viagra.” He pressed his lips to mine again. “I’ve wanted to do that since the moment you sat next to me on the plane.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“I’m dead serious. The minute you caught my attention, I was at your mercy.”

“Wait.” The rain was pouring now, and I didn’t want it to interfere with this revelation. “You mean you would have…” I bit my bottom lip.

“Yes, I should have taken you up to fuck you on that plane, but I was a jackass and too proper.”

“And now, here we are. Out in the country, getting soaked—a second chance?”

“I’m hoping it moves that direction. Until then, you’re going to ditch my ass and head back to London if I don’t make up for lunch? Come on. I have a better pub you’ll enjoy just the same, and I’ll even order the whole menu if that’s what works to make it all up to you.”

“That kiss is holding me over,” I said as we both jogged through puddles, seeking some form of shelter. “God, it’s coming down.”

“It’s England. Awesome, isn’t it?”

You’re awesome, I thought, still enamored about the kiss, his personality, and the fact that I couldn’t be mad at any of this. Even if he was pissed about the asshole who’d shoved us, that was cool—it showed his no-bullshit side, and I liked it.

I could take care of myself, but I imagined how Derek would’ve reacted in that same situation. Even if he weren’t high—for some strange reason—he wouldn't have even noticed, much less gave a damn.

I could have fallen into the stream, and Derek would have laughed along with everyone else. That was how I was used to being treated. I wasn’t accustomed to some knight-in-shining-armor, sensing the rudeness of someone toward me and it pissing him off. All of my life, I’d never had anyone come to my defense like that. I’d never had someone who gave a half a damn about how I was treated.

I felt some anxious nerves creep up as we walked into the pub, and he pulled my seat out for me, but I wasn’t going to let my fear ruin this moment by overthinking it. Jim was a great guy.

Jim said that I intrigued him? No, that was quite the other way around. I was the one intrigued by him and fortunate to have met him, even if England was all we’d ever have. Trust me. My story? It wasn’t made to end happily. At least, up until now, I didn’t think so.

Chapter Seven

Avery

Jim and I enjoyed our lunch at the pub, me sampling the entire menu again. Well, not really. These places just served up their delicacies in the smallest portions, so I felt like I couldn’t stop ordering. Of course, that was my never-ending appetite talking because Jim was perfectly content with his sandwich and soup, all while watching me throw it down.

Jim and I went separate ways once we returned to his estate. One thing was for sure about this castle: you didn’t need my dumbass idea of time-traveling binoculars when you were here. The laundry room and a sitting room that had been transformed into a theater were the only two rooms in this place that weren’t historically accurate.

While Jim disappeared to play catch-up with pressing issues for his work, he showed me the laundry area, and I started sifting through my clothes. It was something that needed to be done, and I hadn’t had a chance since I took off to the countryside with a complete and hot stranger.

After dumping my dark colors in the washer, I ventured through the house. This place had it all. No kidding. There was an armory, bedrooms with antique, four-poster beds, and even a library that spanned three-bedrooms’ worth of space. It was like those libraries from movies with the two-story ladder and all.

Peeking into rooms and exploring the world of history that Jim had salvaged for this house led me to see the man had a love for England’s past. It was magnificent here from the floors, ceilings, carpets, drapes—every single thing. His armory even had knight suits, for Christ’s sake. I smiled at the realization that, from the way he was attentive to my needs from the moment we met on the plane, he could definitely suit up in that shining armor. As cheesy as that sounded and felt, it was the truth.

When it was time for dinner, we ate in the main hall at a polished table that