The Future of Love (Bachelor Billionaire #6) (8 page)

His
feet hit the pavement harder with each thought that passed through
his mind. Hours passed before he walked into the house with sweat
dripping down his face and chest.

“
You
were supposed to let me know they were going to dinner,” he
heard John say as he turned off the music.

“
Sorry,”
he said. “I didn't mean to be out there for so long.”

He
walked into the kitchen, grabbed a cold water from the fridge, and
drank the entire bottle in one long drink.

“
Everything
okay?” John asked. “You seem stressed way more than
usual.”

“
I'm
fine,” he answered. “I need to get some work done. I'll
be in my room.”

Kyle
turned and walked out of the room.

“
Kyle,”
John called out, but he didn't stop.

Jenny

Jenny
threw on some comfortable clothes after her shower. She listened
closely to make sure Kyle was gone as she walked down the stairs. The
kids were watching cartoons, and Gavin was still out back.

“
You
met a guy at the bar?” Becky asked, as soon as she stepped into
the kitchen.

“
Yep,”
Jenny answered.

“
You
kissed him in the bar?”

“
No,
on my way back here.”

Becky
was definitely up to something, and Jenny knew it.

“
He
walked you back here?”

Jenny
let out a huff.

“
Did
you happen to see Kyle at the bar?” Becky asked.

“
Did
he tell you?” Jenny asked with an attitude.

“
It
doesn't take a genius to figure it out, Jenny. He was at that bar
last night. I didn't think you let some strange guy walk you back
here. When Kyle walked in a bit ago, you got all weird and nervous.”

“
It
was just one moment. Some guy was trying to get me to have a drink
with him, and I really didn't want to. Kyle walked up to help me. I
didn't even know he was there. We were talking on the way back and
both got sucked into the moment. That was it. He pulled away and
walked off quickly. It was nothing.”

“
Sure,”
Becky said.

“
What?”
Jenny asked.

“
Nothing.”

“
I'm
going to read. I don't want to talk about. Don't say anything to
Gavin about it. It was a mistake and shouldn't have happened,”
Jenny said, as she walked out the back door to the beach.

Jenny
got comfortable and started her book. She kept looking down the
beach, but Kyle never came out. She looked the other way to see Julie
out with the kids, so she ran down to talk to her. The two of them
had gotten pretty close because of Becky. They hung out with the
group and spent time together often. Jenny was glad Julie had never
held the comment she made about Ethan being hot against her. It was
before Jenny knew about the Julie and Ethan's relationship. She
thought they were an adorable couple and loved the way Julie messed
with him. Julie would joke around and tell Jenny she could have him.
They both knew Julie would never give him up. She loved her man, and
Jenny wanted to find that same love for herself one day.

“
You
feeling better?” Jenny asked, as she walked up.

“
Not
really,” Julie answered. “I've been nauseous for two days
now. I must have eaten something bad.”

“
Where's
Ethan?” Jenny asked.

“
He
went down to work with Kyle for a bit. You'd think he'd leave the guy
alone. I know he wants to make sure everything's good, but he needs
to trust him. Kyle's amazing at what he does. I've played some of his
games. I would never tell Ethan, but they're better than some of his.
They suck me in for hours.”

“
You've
played Kyle's games?” Jenny asked.

“
Of
course,” Julie answered. “Those guys give them to me as
soon as they're done with them. I know Ethan trusts Kyle, he just has
control issues. That company is very important to Ethan. He's getting
better though, but I know it drives Kyle crazy to have Ethan checking
up on him.”

“
Makes
sense,” Jenny mumbled.

“
What?”
Julie asked.

“
Nothing,”
she answered.

Maybe
that was why Kyle got upset when she'd asked about him being there.
She knew he was great at his job. Gavin had grumbled about him
picking Ethan to work for several times. Gavin wasn't a gamer at all,
so Ethan was definitely the right choice.

“
I'll
play with the kids,” Jenny said. “Sit back and relax a
bit. You need anything?”

“
No,”
Julie answered. “I'm good. Thank you for checking on me. You're
such a sweet person.”

Jenny
sat in the sand and played with the kids. There were only three since
the littlest was down for a nap.

“
I
don't know how you take care of four little ones,” Jenny said.
“You're a great mom.”

“
They
drive me crazy,” Julie said with her eyes closed and head back.
“I wouldn't trade them for anything. Ethan is really good with
them. He spoils them all.”

Jenny
couldn't help but be envious of Julie and her family. She really had
a great man.

Kyle

John
and Sandy left to get Gavin and Becky for dinner. They weren't gone
ten minutes when John called Kelly to see if little John wanted to
play with little Gavin. She was already in her pajamas and didn't
feel like walking him down the beach. Her husband Eric was in bed
watching a game on television. Little John wanted to go so badly, so
Kyle said he would walk him down.

The
two couples left by the time Kyle got there. He dropped off his
nephew and turned to leave.

“
You
want to stay and watch a movie with us?” Jenny asked.

Kyle
wasn't sure he wanted to watch a cartoon, but he also didn't want to
pass on seeing her.

“
We're
making popcorn,” she added. “You can't pass up popcorn.”

He
shook his head and laughed, as he kicked off his shoes and turned to
face her. She had a smile on her face, and he knew he wanted to see
that beautiful smile as often as he could.

Kyle
pulled some blankets and pillows onto the floor and set them out for
the kids. Each of the kids had their spots picked and was ready when
Jenny came back with popcorn in tiny bowls. They turned the movie on
and the kids fell silent. Kyle watched Jenny as she watched the
movie. She was completely sucked into it. He laughed when tears slid
from her eyes at the sad part. She turned and glared at him, which
only made him laugh harder. Little John and little Gavin made their
way to the couch and both fell asleep. The movie wasn't even over
when Jenny had dozed off as well. Kyle found himself watching the end
of the movie alone. There were two kids asleep on the floor, two
asleep on the couch, and Jenny right along with them.

He
thought about how good she was with all of the kids and wondered if
she wanted some of her own one day. Then his mind went to her and her
ex, and he couldn't help but wonder what went on between them that
split them apart.

Kyle
carried each of the twins up to bed. Then he carried little Gavin up.
He grabbed one of the pillows from the kids and put it under Jenny's
head carefully. There was a blanket on the back of the couch that he
covered her with. She looked so damn cute. He picked his nephew up
and made sure to lock the doors on his way out.

The
night had actually turned out to be fun.

Jenny

Jenny
slowly opened her eyes to see Becky looking around at the pile of
blankets and pillows on the floor.

“
Looks
like they had fun,” Becky said. “You put them to bed?”

Gavin
walked in and laughed.

“
The
movie and popcorn must have been a hit,” he said, as he picked
up all of the bowls.

“
Kyle
must have carried them up to bed. I fell asleep with little Gavin on
my lap. That's the last thing I remember.”

“
Kyle
stayed?” Gavin asked.

“
Yes,”
she answered. “We all watched the movie together. He must have
taken little John home with him.”

Gavin
grumbled something on his way out of the room.

Jenny
stood up and waited for him to come back into the room.

“
What
is your deal?” she asked.

“
What?”
he said.

“
Your
attitude about him watching a movie with us. It's not the first time
you've grumbled about me being anywhere near a guy. Kyle mentioned
something about you on the beach the other night when we came back
from the bar.”

“
You
were at the bar with him?” Gavin asked sternly.

“
I
was there alone until some guy hit on me. Kyle walked up to help me.
He walked me home. What is your beef with him? Did you say something
to him about me?” she asked.

Becky
looked over at him and narrowed her eyes.

“
Shit,”
he mumbled. “I didn't do anything.”

“
I
don't believe you,” she said. “Why him? Why anyone?”

“
I
don't want you to get hurt,” he said. “You're like family
to me.”

“
You
didn't say a damn thing about Jim, and he ended up being a total
ass.”

“
That
won't happen again,” he said. “You're not getting hurt
again.”

“
Kyle
doesn't even like me,” she said. “I've known him for five
years. He's never tried to hit on me once.”

“
Damn
right he hasn't,” Gavin whispered.

“
What
did you do, Gavin?” Becky asked.

“
Nothing,”
he said.

“
You've
never said a single thing to that boy,” she said.

He
closed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair.

“
I'm
going to bed,” Jenny said.

She
heard Becky's voice rise as she walked up the stairs and shut her
door behind her. Did Kyle like her, she wondered? Did Gavin say
something to keep him from talking to her? She fell onto her bed and
looked up at the ceiling for what felt like forever before her eyes
finally closed.

Kyle

John
came into Kyle's room while he was working the next morning.

“
All
the guys are going golfing. Come with us. I want to spend some time
with you,” John said.

“
I
don't feel like it. I have work to do,” Kyle said.

“
Come
on,” John said. “We only have a couple of days left,
Kyle. Enjoy the time. You're going to go back home and work every
waking moment. I understand that. I'm so damn proud of what you've
done. You deserve a little time to relax. Come with us. It's more
about fun than it is golf. You'll have a great time.”