Humbling the Spoiled Billionaire

by Stephanie Street

  Sitting back in his chair, Carter pushed those thoughts aside to deal with another time. For now, he’d see what the next week or so brought. There was time to deal with the rest later.

  Chapter Six

  The next day, Carter pulled his Aston Martin up the winding drive to Chris and Oakley’s house located on twenty acres just outside Denver’s city limits. The house sat on a hill with a view of the city to the east and the mountains to the west. Carter found the property himself and knew immediately the sprawling manor style brick house would be perfect for Chris and his new family.

  At the top of the drive, Carter shifted into park and cut the engine. He’d just finished his workout at the gym and his muscles protested as he unfolded his body from the small car. Maybe he should think about getting a bigger vehicle. He loved the ease and speed of driving a sports car, but hated squeezing himself into them.

  Carter eyed his brother’s pickup through the open garage door.

  “Stop drooling over my garage.” Chris stepped around the side of the house wearing a baseball mitt on his hand.

  “Not the garage. The truck,” Carter said, stretching his arms over his head with a groan. “What’s with the glove, Mr. Football?”

  Chris rolled his eyes as he removed the glove. “We watched a baseball game on tv the other night and now Kaden’s convinced he wants to be a pitcher when he grows up.”

  Carter couldn’t hold back his grin. “And he asked you for help? You didn’t even throw a football.”

  Chris smacked Carter’s stomach with the mitt. “I’ll have you know I played three sports in high school and baseball was one of them.”

  “Overachiever,” Carter coughed into his hand.

  “Whatever.” Chris tilted his head in the direction of the backyard, indicating Carter should follow. “If I remember right, you played three sports as well.”

  “I was also on the debate team, math league, and student council.” To name a few.

  Chris shook his head. “Who’s the overachiever now?”

  “I don’t know, but this place is amazing. You’re lucky to have me as a brother so I could find it for you.”

  “Your humility knows no bounds, Carter.”

  The two men rounded the corner of the house where a huge lawn spread out behind it. Several yards out, Kaden ran through a sprinkler in nothing but his underwear. Toys littered the grass and Oakley sat beside her best friend, Cam Taylor, under an umbrella, her six month pregnant belly protruding over her lap just a little. Carter headed straight for his sister in law while continuing to razz Chris.

  “Whatever. We both know you have it all, man.” He leaned over to kiss Oakley’s cheek. “How’s this baby girl?” Carter asked her stomach.

  “That’s my baby girl, Carter. Get your own.” Chris knocked Carter’s hand away from Oakley’s belly making Cam giggle. He proceeded to wrap his arms under Oakley’s arms and knees, lifting her right out of her chair.

  “Chris!” she squealed as her husband plopped down in her spot with her in his lap.

  Carter scowled. “Jealousy doesn’t become you, brother.”

  “I’m not jealous.” Chris nuzzled Oakley’s neck with his lips. “Just territorial.”

  “You’re both crazy,” Oakley pointed out as she melted into Chris’s embrace.

  Carter turned to Cam and rolled his eyes. “How can you stand to be around them? I’m going to play with Kaden.” Carter ruffled Oakley’s hair as he marched by on his way into the yard where Kaden danced in the water.

  “It’s good to see you, too!” Cam shouted at his back. Carter threw her a grin over his shoulder before stripping off his t-shirt.

  Cam whistled. “Looking hot for a guy who’s name isn’t Chris!”

  Carter shook his head. Cam was nuts. He’d heard all about Cam and Oakley’s obsession with famous men named Chris. Cam liked to tease Carter saying he’d be better looking if his name was Chris.

  Kicking off his sandals, Carter tossed his t-shirt to the grass.

  “Uncle Carter!” Kaden shouted and Carter opened his arms to catch the kid who’d changed his life. A year ago Carter would have shown up for a Sunday afternoon barbecue in slacks and a button down shirt, maybe even a tie. After several ruined pairs of pants, Carter went out and bought some ‘play clothes’. It didn’t even bother him when Chris razzed him for the next six months. He was too busy having more fun than he’d had as a child himself.

  “Kaden! Did you miss me?” Carter swung the little boy up into his arms and ran for the sprinkler, trying not to slip in the wet grass.

  Kaden giggled, reaffirming to Carter it was his favorite sound. “Jump me in the pool, Uncle Carter! Daddy said no.”

  Carter tossed Kaden over his shoulder and spun in the big drops of water. “I don’t believe that.” Kaden had Chris wrapped around his tiny finger.

  “He did! He did! Jump me in the pool, Uncle Carter!”

  Carter stopped spinning and dug his finger in his now ringing ear. “Take it easy with the screaming, bud. You’re going to make Uncle Carter deaf.”

  Kaden lifted himself off Carter’s shoulder with his five year old abs of steel and set his hands on Carter’s cheeks. “What’s deaf mean?”

  Carter grinned at Kaden’s serious face. The kid was stinking cute. Carter never knew how much fun kids could be, but Kaden had made him a believer.

  “Deaf means you can’t hear anything.”

  Kaden frowned as he shifted in Carter’s arms to talk into his ear. “Can you hear me?” he shouted.

  “Whoa! Kade!” Carter reached for the side of his head.

  “What? Did you hear me, Uncle Carter?”

  Carter closed his eyes and laughed. “Yes, Kaden. I think all of Colorado heard you.”

  “Yay!” Kaden jumped in Carter’s arms. “Now can you jump me in the pool?”

  Carter glanced at Chris and Oakley, still wrapped in up in each other while Cam scrolled through her phone. They wouldn’t care if Carter and Kaden took a dip.

  “Sure, bud. Hold on tight!”

  Kaden squealed again as Carter took off at a run for the deep end of the aqua swimming pool.

  “Get ready to go under!” Oakley called out to her son, but they’d been jumping in together all summer. Carter knew Kaden would be ready.

  Besides, as soon as they got close enough, Carter shouted, “Ready! Set! Jump!”

  The cool water closed around them and Carter immediately began kicking to the surface. Kaden’s little legs wrapped around his waist in a vice-like grip. Carter held him tight with one arm while using the other to propel them through the water.

  Kaden’s laugh burst through the water as they surfaced. “Again!”

  Carter swam to the shallow end and pitched Kaden in the air. The kid landed with a splash. Carter watched carefully, ready to pluck him out if he floundered.

  “Carter, we won’t be friends anymore if you drown my son!” Oakley called from the edge of the pool.

  Carter grabbed hold of Kaden’s arm, pulling his small body completely out of the water to show Oakley he was just fine. “See, he’s good. Aren’t you, Kade?”

  Kaden nodded, corroborating Carter’s story. The boy was a good swimmer and Carter adored him. He’d never let anything bad happen on his watch.

  Oakley pointed her finger at Carter. “I’m serious, Carter.”

  Carter sobered. “Oak, I have him. I’d never hurt him. I promise.”

  She watched as Kaden lurched forward almost making Carter lose his grip. Carter scrambled to keep him close to his body, not that there was any real danger for Kaden in two and a half feet of water and Carter within arms reach, but still, the kid was making him look bad in front of his mom.

  “Dude, chill. You’re going to get us in trouble,” he fake whispered to his small charge before grinning at Oakley who fought a smile of her own.

  “You two are gonna be the death of me.” She shook her head. “Now, who’s this friend of yours you took to the party last night?�
�

  “Deacon Tate. He plays for the Rush. Didn’t I tell you that already,” Chris spoke up from behind the grill. He’d just fired it up and was getting it ready to put the meat on.

  Cam sat up. “Really?”

  “Yeah. Do you watch basketball?” Carter asked her.

  Oakley smirked and answered for her friend. “No, but her new boyfriend bought season tickets to the Rush games for the both of them.”

  Carter whistled under his breath. “That cost a pretty penny. Rush tickets are hot right now. Who is this guy?” He hadn’t heard anything about Cam dating anyone.

  “His name is Patrick Burton. We went to school with him,” Cam answered, her attention back on her phone.

  “Is that who you’re talking to,” Carter asked.

  Cam blushed. Cam blushed? Carter didn’t believe the outrageous woman was capable of such a thing.

  “Yes.”

  “Patrick owns a software company downtown. He hired Cam to do a lunch for his employees and the rest is history,” Oakley supplied when Cam seemed reluctant to share any information.

  “How long have you been seeing each other?”

  “A couple of months,” Cam shrugged like it was no big deal.

  Carter raised his brows as he picked up Kaden who hopped around at his feet waiting for Carter to throw him back in the water. “Here you go,” he grunted, sending the little boy flying before turning back to Cam. “He bought you season tickets? That sounds pretty serious. I mean what if you guys break up before the seasons over?”

  Cam glared at him. “Nice, Carter. Way to have faith.”

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” Carter chuckled. “I’m just saying, if you guys break up then you’re stuck sitting beside him for the rest of the season.”

  Cam shook her head. “If we broke up I doubt I’d still go to the games. Although,” her expression turned devious. “If we broke up because he turned out to be a jerk, going to every game and sitting beside him would be excellent payback.”

  “Cam!” Oakley exclaimed.

  “What? If he breaks my heart I reserve the right to make his life miserable.”

  Carter had to laugh. Cam at least kept things fun.

  “Uncle Carter, can we jump me in again?” Kaden tugged on Carter’s shorts.

  “Sure, bud.” Carter lifted the little boy out of the pool and backed up several paces before running and doing a cannonball with Kaden in his arms.

  “Yay!” Kaden screamed as the broke the surface.

  Carter grinned as he swam to the shallow end where he rose up out of the water and came face to face with Harley.

  And Brent.

  Harley’s eyes traveled the length of his body and Carter silently thanked Dom for his ripped body. The expression on Harley’s face made every excruciating workout over the last year worth it.

  Of course, Harley didn’t know it, but she only had herself to blame for the fact she couldn’t tear her gaze away from him. A year ago, she wouldn’t have been so impressed. It hadn’t been until she’d turned him down that Carter began working out at Precision MMA. Apparently, he didn’t take rejection well.

  Harley’s cheeks burned bright and Carter wondered if she was remembering what he hadn’t been able to forget since the night before, their almost kiss.

  But then again, she was here with Brent, so probably not.

  “Uncle Carter! Throw me!”

  Kaden’s shrill voice brought him back to the present. Blinking, he glanced at Oakley, who watched him with too much curiosity as she introduced herself to Brent, and Chris who rolled his eyes knowingly.

  But it was Kaden’s innocent exuberance that made Carter realize he’d have to be on his best behavior no matter how much he hated Brent James. He had to be a good example for Kaden. Gripping the boy under his arms, Carter lifted him into the air and hefted him into deeper water.

  “No more, Carter. You two need to get dressed for lunch,” Oakley ordered giving him a ‘you’re going to tell me everything’ look before turning back to her guests.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Carter saluted her back earning himself a frown from Chris. Carter shook his head with a sigh and grabbed Kaden under his arms. He was almost thirty years old, for goodness sakes, but for some reason whenever he came to visit, Oakley lumped him in with the pre-schooler.

  Carter lifted Kaden to the patio and the little boy, immediately noticing Harley, ran to wrap his dripping wet self around her legs. “Harley!”

  Carter stepped out of the pool and grabbed a towel from the table, rubbing it over his chest and arms while he watched Harley interact with Kaden.

  Someone snapped his thigh with a towel.

  “Ow!” He frowned at Cam, who pumped her brows up and down while grinning. Carter bared his teeth at her, but she just laughed.

  “Kaden! You’re all wet!” Oakley chastised her son, rushing toward him as quickly as she could, towel in hand.

  “Oakley, he’s fine,” Harley reassured, drawing Carter’s attention again as she took the towel from Oakley and wrapped it around Kaden’s shoulders.

  “How are you, buddy? It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I think you grew a whole foot!” She rubbed his shoulders and back briskly over the top of the towel as she spoke.

  Carter wrapped his own towel around his shoulders as Kaden glanced down at his wrinkled toes. “I only have two feet, Harley!”

  Harley and Oakley giggled at Kaden’s misunderstanding.

  Harley bent to hug Kaden. “You are so right.”

  Kaden pulled out of Harley’s arms enough to check out the guy standing next to her. Immediately, Carter’s protective instincts kicked into overdrive.

  “Who are you?” Kaden asked with all the unfiltered finesse one could expect from a child his age.

  Brent’s upper lip curled into a condescending smile adults gave children who annoyed them. “My name is Brent.”

  Of course, Harley stepped in to cover any awkwardness. “Kaden, Brent is my friend. I brought him over to meet you.”

  “Hi, Brent!”

  “Hi, Kaden,” Brent said, obviously trying not to sound like a jerk, which only make him sound like a jerk.

  Carter couldn’t take it anymore. He had to get Kaden away from the guy. “Come on, Kade. It’s almost time to eat.” Carter held out his arms to his nephew.

  Kaden didn’t resist and Carter lifted him in the air, throwing him onto his back. Kaden patted Carter’s bare skin. “Mom said we have to wear shirts at the table.”

  “Unfortunately,” Cam sighed at Carter’s elbow, earning herself another glare. The woman was a menace!

  “Well, I guess we better get dressed then, huh, because you don’t have a shirt or pants,” Carter said, bouncing Kaden on his back. The little boy giggled as they moved through the French doors leading into the house. Before closing them, he glanced back, his gaze finding Harley still watching him, her eyes troubled as she bit her full bottom lip.

  He knew exactly how she felt.

  Chapter Seven

  “Sweet tea on a Sunday morning!” Oakley’s friend, Cam, fanned herself as Carter and Kaden went into the house. “What on earth has gotten into Carter? Since when does he look like that without a shirt?”

  “Cam, stop drooling over my brother,” Chris called from behind the grill.

  Harley seconded that! She liked Oakley’s cute friend, but didn’t at all appreciate the way the woman leered at Carter. Although, she could hardly blame her. Harley had done the same thing herself when she walked into Chris’s back yard to find Carter shirtless and glistening from the pool. He looked so good, Harley wanted to snap a photo of him and have it tattooed to the insides of her eyelids.

  Cam shrugged. “I’m just looking. Carter’s too arrogant for my tastes.”

  “He does think highly of himself,” Chris deadpanned.

  “Oh, Carter’s not that bad,” Oakley defended Carter. “And he’s only arrogant because he can usually back up his claims.”

  Brent snor
ted at that.

  Harley’s cheeks burned. This was such a bad idea! She’d tried to beg off, but after last night Brent was determined they go. Between him and Missy, Harley felt stuck between a rock and a hard place.

  What a disaster!

  Annoyed as Harley felt with Cam for her apparent interest in Carter, she could have hugged the other woman when she suggested the three women go in to get the cold food ready to bring outside.

  Cam hooked her arm through Harley’s. “Brent, you can keep Chris company for a minute,” she called over her shoulder with a saucy grin as she half dragged Harley into the house with Oakley waddling as quickly as she could behind them.

  “Giiirl, what on earth is going on?” Cam whirled on Harley as soon as the door closed behind them.

  “What do you mean?” Harley looked to Oakley to save her, but her friend only lifted a brow as she headed for the large stainless-steel refrigerator in the gourmet kitchen.

  Cam rolled her eyes dramatically. “Hon, you might have shown up with one man, but your eyes were undressing, well, finishing undressing, another.” Cam fanned herself with her hand. “Not that I blame you.”

  “Seriously, though,” Oakley agreed. “Carter’s been working out at this MMA gym. His assistant says he’s addicted. He goes six days a week, at least. He’s even fought in a couple of bouts. Nothing big, but he’s undefeated.”

  “Why are you talking about me?” Carter demanded playfully as he came into the kitchen, Kaden hot on his heels. Kaden ran straight to Harley making her heart almost burst. He was so adorable!

  “Cam likes your new muscles,” Oakley teased and Harley’s cheeks blushed for Cam’s sake when hers refused.

  These people were ruthless with their teasing!

  Carter raised his arm and lifted his short sleeve up over his flexed bicep. “Oh, yeah?” He patted the bulging muscle obnoxiously. “You mean these guns?”

  “Ohmigosh, Carter, I take it back. Put it away!” Cam covered her eyes in the first show of bashfulness Harley had ever seen in the woman.