Mr. Mitchell Billionaires' Club Book 2 - Raylin Marks Page 0,44

more from him, though? Was he the kind of guy I could introduce to my daughter and trust him never to hurt us as her dad did? Those were the tough questions, the deep questions. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to ask those, or just live out this week and look back one day and thank God I met this man and enjoyed a week in England’s countryside with him.

That was the road we were on. Enjoy the week and be okay separating, yet holding onto fun memories. That’s why I had to be careful. This man was becoming my dream guy who was saving me from a world that was nothing but cruel to me. A world that treated me like trash and made me feel even worse sometimes.

I knew I deserved better, and what Jim was giving me was what I deserved, but was Jim a guy who could fall in love with a girl like me? I had hardcore baggage. I had severe issues with my druggie ex alone, and part of me never wanted to bring anyone into the world of shit I’d gotten myself into.

Fuck it. I was going to enjoy this bath. I slid in and reclined against Jim, and he started massaging my body and kissing my ear. This was the first time I felt him adoring my body as if it were his to cherish. His hands were gentle, and his kisses seemed meaningful.

Then he said the words.

“God, I never want to let you go, Avery.”

Chapter Twelve

Avery

The stay at Thornbury had me over the top with its Tudor Dynasty histories, and I was obsessed more than ever with King Henry and Anne Boleyn. I didn’t care, though. I was having a blast. Jim and I traveled through the countryside on our way back, laughing and teasing each other, and it seemed that we’d easily fallen into some exciting—should I even curse myself with the word?—relationship.

As hard as I was pushing back the stirring feelings that I had been slowly developing, part of me wanted to think I didn’t have to. Why the hell couldn’t I have my cake and eat it too? I deserved someone good in my life, and I knew I wasn’t the only one feeling what was happening between us. Jim felt the same. I could see it in his eyes and feel it in his touch and kiss. It wasn’t just me, conjuring some wishful dream to come true, right? Was I fooling myself? Was this too much too fast?

I woke up at five, and all of these thoughts were on a loop in my head. I needed to get out and take a nice, long run. That would help me get my head straight. I wasn’t surprised Jim wasn’t in bed. It was about an hour ago that a text came through, and he’d had to wake up and deal with it, so I got up and put on my running clothes and shoes before I ran downstairs to let him know I was heading out.

“I already told you that it’s none of your fucking business,” I heard Jim say from inside his office. “Can we get off the girl I’m with and back on topic? I sent my corrections after going through the issues.”

“Okay, okay. I’m just saying that you sound like you’re breaking all your Jimmy doesn’t commit rules,” I heard the man tease him.

I stood frozen in the corridor outside his office door. Something told me that I wasn’t going to like what Jim had to say to whoever was on speakerphone. I wasn’t the type to eavesdrop, and I really had no idea why I was starting now, but here I was.

“I’m not breaking shit,” Jim said, his voice seemingly arrogant and unashamed. “Fuck it. Maybe I have, but—”

“But?” the man laughed. “Did Jimmy finally have oral sex? Have we made it to second—wait, is it third base?”

“Fuck you, Jacob,” he said.

“Is that any way to talk to your brother after everything I’ve been doing to help Collin with your demands for this film?”

“Listen, there is no oral—there is no commitment.”

“Henry the Eighth?”

“Glad that made it to your highlights for the night.”

“Imagine my surprise to find out you’re taking time off at all, man? Then I find out you have some chick at Adelaile, and you’re researching England’s monarchy? I had no idea what the fuck to believe. A body snatcher could’ve gotten to you for all I know.”

“It’s nothing. It’s