Mr. Mitchell Billionaires' Club Book 2 - Raylin Marks Page 0,89
I loved the few nights we slept wrapped up in each other like this, and I was so thankful we found our way back into each other’s arms again. Jim didn’t wake, he just held me and like we both admitted…it felt right.
God bless this man’s heart. I did remember him carrying me to bed now. I remembered being so sleepy that I stayed in my clothes while he changed into his shirt and shorts—all after I begged him to hold me and never let me go. I guess sleep deprivation made me extra sappy. He was definitely a keeper, though. He’d stuck with me through all of yesterday’s insanity, and that deserved some kind of award on its own.
I inhaled his cologne, bringing me back to our wild times in England—that fragrance was intoxicating, there was simply no doubt about that. I couldn’t resist kissing his side that I was curled against, and after listening to his rhythmic breathing, I fell directly back to sleep.
My phone’s ringing startled me awake. The sun had already risen, and I was alone in the room. I turned to the nightstand and grabbed my phone before it could go to voicemail.
“Avery?” Larry, Derek’s dad, said. “Hey, you there?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Oh. Hey, hun,” he said, and I could hear Addy giggling in the background. “I wanted to let you know that Derek was arrested last night. We’re not bailing him out this time.”
About goddamn time, I thought, knowing Derek’s parents could be my worst enemies at times. “What happened?”
“DUI and tried to resist arrest. He was pretty high. Maybe some time in county jail will help him sober up.”
“Yeah,” I said, rubbing my forehead and sitting up in bed. “What a fucking jackass. I’m glad you guys aren’t bailing him out. He needs to get sober, Larry. He needs rehab.”
“Mom and I know that,” he said. “We’re taking Addy to the zoo today. We don’t want her upset that her dad’s not here.”
“Good.” I scrunched my face up in annoyance. “You realize she’s more attached to you than him anyway, right?”
“Derek spends time with her,” he started to defend him.
“When he takes a nap. Seriously, he needs help.”
“We know that,” Larry insisted.
Yeah, you know that, but never do a fucking thing about it.
Then I heard Addy in the background. “Papa, let’s go to the zoo,” she sang the last word while Larry chuckled.
“Go ahead and go. I’ll be there tomorrow. I’ve got to figure out my car situation today,” I said. “The damn thing’s probably toast.”
“Maybe your new job can help you buy a new one?”
“You mean, maybe my new job can cut me an advance, and I can go and hope I can find another one? Addy and I will most likely be finding alternate ways to get to work.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“All right, I need to jump in the shower. Have fun today, and make sure to put on sunscreen.”
I got off the phone with Larry, his lack of concern for our automobile predicament not fazing me. Addy and I could easily manage to take the bus or something to get to work until I got paid. I was no stranger to making something work out of nothing.
I slipped out of bed and went on the hunt for Jim. My mood was beyond happy, knowing that Derek was behind bars, and Larry and Annette weren’t bailing him out this time. At this moment in time, the stars were aligning in my favor, and I wasn’t going to fight it.
I followed the scent of eggs and toast. It smelled too delicious; what was he cooking down here? I sniffed out the location of the kitchen like a starving dog, and I shouldn’t have been surprised when I saw it was a chef’s dream kitchen.
“I guess I’m never getting breakfast in bed so long as I’m with you,” I said, pulling my hair into a ponytail, trying not to be affected by the smack in my face of utter gorgeousness when I first saw Jim.
Jim smirked. He was in here cooking with no shirt on, and his black hair was sexy as fuck—still wet and revealing a natural curl he had. Damn, how long had it been? England felt like forever ago. How could I have forgotten this man had a body of perfection, built with tightly carved muscles that were highlighted by his tanned skin? His biceps, his broad shoulders, his beautiful face with that youthful look I’d noticed when Addison teased him.