My Roommate, the Billionaire (The Billionaire Kings Book 3)

by Serenity Woods

  As usual, I have no idea how to negotiate the minefield, so I say nothing. We have seventeen days now before she goes, and I’ll have to hope that by then she’ll have come to the decision herself not to leave.

  I’m saved by my phone ringing. I pick it up and see that it says Erin. “It’s Hal’s mom,” I tell Remy, and answer it. “Hello?”

  “Albie? It’s Erin.”

  “Hey Erin. How are you?”

  “I’m good thank you. How are you after the storm last night? I’ve just spoken to Ryan and he told me what happened at the Ark.”

  I smile. Aunt Erin is a sweetheart. I spent a lot of time with her when I was younger, as my dad hung out with Brock and Matt a lot, and all us kids used to play together. Erin was always baking cookies and cakes. Every time I smell warm cookies, it takes me right back to their large house on the beach, to hot summer days, to sand-covered floors and the driftwood mobiles she used to make.

  “I’m good,” I tell her. “My shoulder’s a bit sore but that’s about it.”

  “And Remy, is she okay?”

  I’m not sure if she’s referring to the fact that we live in the same house, or if Hal’s suggested to her that our relationship has developed. “She’s good,” I say.

  “Ryan was telling me about her father,” Erin informs me.

  I sit up straighter and look at Remy. I’d completely forgotten about that. “Oh, yeah.”

  “He said her dad’s name is Richard Anderson?”

  “That’s right.”

  “I think he told you that Anderson is my grandmother’s maiden name.”

  “He did mention it, yes.”

  “She had a brother, Robert, and he had three sons, another Robert, whom they called Bobby, David, and Carl. Bobby moved to Australia in the eighties. David ended up in the Hokianga, and Carl in Doubtless Bay. They’ve all passed on now, but they all had several kids. I’m not sure of all their names, but I don’t remember a Richard. I’m going to do some investigating, though.”

  “That would be terrific!” I’m delighted for Remy.

  “What year was her father in France?”

  I ask Remy and pass it on.

  “Okay,” Erin says. “She’s off soon though, isn’t she?”

  “Yes. Two weeks this Wednesday.”

  “Okay, I’d better get cracking then. I’ll let you know if I discover anything.”

  “Thanks, Erin, I really appreciate it.”

  “Take care of yourself.”

  “You too.” We hang up.

  I smile at Remy, whose eyes are wide with anticipation, and then tell her what Erin said. “So no news yet, but you never know.”

  “I feel closer than I have ever been,” she replies. She curls up on the bed against the pillows and sips her tea, then rests her head on the headboard. I try not to think of how it was banging against the wall earlier. “It would be so strange if I ended up being related to you.”

  “Well, strictly speaking we wouldn’t be, because I’m not related to Erin by blood, but I know what you mean. It would be really strange.”

  She looks up at me, and her brown eyes glisten a little. “I am so glad I met you, Albie.”

  “Aw, that’s a nice thing to say.”

  “I cannot explain how you make me feel. Safe, I suppose. Protected.”

  “You realize if there was a zombie apocalypse, I’d be running in the opposite direction at a million miles an hour?”

  “You would not,” she says, “you would stand in front of me and defend me, I know you would.”

  “That’s what you do for someone you… like, isn’t it?” I nearly say love, but I stop myself.

  She reaches up and kisses me, then rests her head on my shoulder, and we sit like that as we drink our tea, warmed by the morning sun.

  Chapter Twenty

  Remy

  “So,” Nix says. “You and Albie got back home safely last night?”

  We’re in the rehoming center with all the animals. Izzy’s here, as well as Jules, Poppy, and Clio. Summer’s the only one who hasn’t turned up this morning. The guys are all outside dealing with the fallen tree, clearing up the debris.

  We’ve taken all the dogs out for a walk, and now Izzy and Clio are seeing to the injured animals while the rest of us give them a morning snack and then a brush and a bit of fuss. I’m sitting on the floor with Belle, who seems to have taken to me. I’m brushing her with a soft mitt that makes it more like stroking, and she’s pressed right up to me, her head on my lap, looking up at me adoringly.

  As the girls all glance over at me, amused, I know they’ve been talking about Albie and me. “Oui,” I say. “Safe and sound.”

  “How’s his shoulder?” Jules asks. “Hope you gave him a good massage.”

  Nix snorts, and the others laugh. I poke my tongue out at them. I did, in fact, massage his shoulder this morning with some anti-inflammatory gel, but I’m not about to tell them that.

  “Leave her alone,” Poppy says mildly.

  “Why?” Nix wants to know. “You all gave me no end of grief when I started seeing Leon.”

  “You deserved it,” Jules says.

  “Well, thanks,” Nix replies, and we all chuckle. “We’re interested, that’s all,” she tells me. “We’ve never seen Albie like this, and we all think it’s wonderful.”

  “Mon Dieu,” I say, “are you trying to make me blush?”

  “You can talk to us,” Nix insists. “That’s what we’re here for. We’re all crazy about the King men.”

  “Especially when they put Humpty Dumpty back together,” I say. That makes them all laugh.

  I smile at them fondly. I’ve only been here four months, but I already feel closer to these women than to any of my friends back in France. Izzy is quiet and practical, strong and reliable. Nix is fun and spirited, and you can always rely on her to turn a gathering into a party atmosphere. Poppy is very like Albie inasmuch as I can see her thinking about what to say before she speaks, and as a result she’s very quiet. She tends to keep to herself, but she’s very protective of her younger brother, and she’s always been nice to me. Clio is nothing like Leon—she’s bright and bubbly, and she works really hard; I think she’s keen to impress the other vets that she looks up to. My favorite is Jules, though, because I know her best. She’s a Taurus—she’s patient, organized, and dedicated, but she’s also got a wicked sense of humor. She’s watching me now, and I can see she’s struggling to keep her curiosity in check. She knows I don’t talk about myself often, and that I’m probably embarrassed by these personal questions.

  But the thing is, I know Nix is right. The fact that everyone is either a member of the King family or is getting married to one means I feel I can trust these women, and can talk to them about anything. I want to be included in their tight-knit group, and I want to talk to them, to confide in them and discuss my complicated life. So even though it doesn’t come naturally, I eventually admit, “Well, we did… um… you know… last night…” My face grows hot.

  I wait to see if they make fun of me, but all I see on their faces is delight, and Jules comes over and gives me a hug. “He’s a lucky man,” she says.

  “I’m a lucky woman,” I tell her as she releases me. I don’t miss Poppy’s smile as I say those words.

  “So… was it a one-off, or do you think you’ll make the most of your final two weeks?” Nix wants to know.

  “Seems a shame to waste the time,” I say, and they all chuckle.

  “I bet Albie’s in seventh heaven,” Nix teases. “The perfect arrangement for Mr. No Commitment to be with a girl who has a use-by date!”

  Izzy, Jules, and Clio laugh. Poppy frowns, though, and I can’t help but stiffen. I know Nix well enough to understand she’s joking, but even so, I know her comment would have upset Albie. And I don’t like her implying that this is a purely physical fling. It might be a fling—how can it be anything else? But it’s certainly not a non-emotional one.

  “He is not like that,” I
tell her, somewhat hotly. “He is not anti-commitment. He is terrified of screwing a relationship up. You have no idea how hard it is for him to understand unspoken communication. He acts like it does not bother him, but it does.”

  Nix’s grin vanishes. “I wasn’t thinking,” she says in horror. “Oh shit, Remy, that was unforgivable. It was rude and I was going for the cheap laugh. I’m so sorry.”

  “It is okay,” I reply, somewhat mollified. But she comes over and puts her arms around me. “It is all right,” I say, rubbing her back and giving Izzy an amused smile over her shoulder.

  “It’s not,” Nix whispers. “The absolute last thing I’d want to do is offend you, Remy. I really am sorry.”

  “Nix, forget it. I am not offended. It struck a nerve because he has been telling me how he struggled growing up trying to understand how to communicate, and he still finds it hard. He covers it by being blasé and nonchalant, but inside he is terribly afraid of upsetting people.”

  “It’s true,” Poppy says. “I know how he feels. Both of us inherited Dad’s Aspergic tendencies. Dad’s helped us a lot because he knows what we go through, but it makes relationships difficult, if not impossible, if the other person isn’t willing to make allowances.”

  I think it’s the most I’ve ever heard her say. Jules has told me that Poppy’s last relationship ended really badly. My heart aches for her. She’s so gorgeous—she has all this long curly auburn hair, and a beautiful smile. She should have men falling at her feet. It’s sad that it can be so hard to find true love.

  I think of Albie, and look away, out of the window to the still-breezy morning. What Albie and I have… it’s not true love. I’ve only just slept with him, for God’s sake. Love grows after months and years of getting to know someone, of learning to trust them, of sharing your life with them, of not wanting to be apart. I’m not there yet.

  But am I in love with him? Maybe a little bit.

  “Coffee time!” The door opens and Leon comes in bearing a couple of trays with takeaway cups. He starts handing them around, and I take a latte, thankful for the morning caffeine boost.

  “Hey,” he says as Nix comes up and slides her arms around him. He hugs her and kisses the top of her head. “What’s up with you?”

  “I’m an idiot,” she says, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

  “And that’s news to me?” He smiles.

  “I spoke without thinking and upset Remy,” she says.

  Leon looks me and I roll my eyes and smile.

  “She doesn’t look upset,” he murmurs to her.

  “I made a joke about Albie and I wish I hadn’t. I want you to know that I didn’t mean it.”

  He frowns, handing over the last few cups as Izzy comes to take them, and putting his other arm around his girlfriend. “Hey, come on, Albie has broad shoulders. He wouldn’t be a King if he couldn’t take a little teasing.”

  “I forget he’s on the spectrum, that’s all,” she says. “I thought he was anti-commitment, but I didn’t realize the real reason why he hasn’t settled down with anyone, and I should have put two and two together.”

  Leon looks at me again, and I can see he’s guessed what’s going on here. “Yeah, we all forget how tricky it can be for him sometimes. His dad told Hal and me when we were kids, though, that we mustn’t make allowances for him. He said the best way to help Albie cope was to help him develop ways to deal with people, rather than just to stand in front of him and defend him, because then what would happen when we weren’t there?”

  Charlie told them that? I feel another surge of respect for Albie’s dad, because he didn’t try to shelter his children from the world.

  “We’ve always teased him,” Leon continues. “I’m sure we’ve hurt his feelings sometimes, and I regret that. But it has helped him develop a thicker skin, and a sense of humor that he can use as a shield if he needs to.”

  “Relationships are hard enough,” Nix says, “without having this extra worry.”

  “The right person will help him through the minefield,” Leon tells her. He glances at me. His lips curve up a little.

  My face heats, and I look away, my gaze falling on Poppy. She looks sad, and I know she must be wondering whether she’ll ever find the right guy who’ll be patient with her, and understand that relationships are trickier for her than for most people.

  “Any news from Summer?” Clio asks, changing the subject.

  Leon nods, releasing Nix, who sits back down with the kittens she was playing with. “I spoke to Zach this morning. She’s staying at home today.”

  “Is she okay?” Clio asks.

  “She caught a bit of a cold yesterday, and he’s obviously concerned it might develop into something more serious, so he’s tucked her up and the boys are playing board games with her on the bed, apparently.” Leon smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He’s worried.

  “How are you doing with clearing up outside?” Izzy asks.

  “We’re making progress. Fitz has organized for a crew to come in tomorrow and sort the tree out. We’re just clearing away some of the rubble so they’ve got better access. Hal’s talking about putting one of the rooms in the veterinary center aside as a temporary Ward Seven—he said he and Stefan can share for a bit, and they’ll need somewhere to put the animals who’ve had ops, so…”

  I leave him discussing options with Izzy and the others, and rise and slip out of the room, carrying my coffee. I walk out of the main door and circle the front of the building to where the guys are working.

  Sadness sweeps over me as I look at the damage—the huge tree lying across the left-hand part of the building, the broken windows, the fallen bricks. I haven’t seen Noah today, and I wonder how he feels about it all, whether he’s very upset that his beautiful Ark has been damaged.

  I feel all mixed up and emotional. My gaze falls on Albie, standing to one side and drinking his coffee while they assess the work they’ve done. His T-shirt is covered in dust and dirt. I hope he’s taking care of his shoulder. He sips his coffee, his gaze swinging across the Ark, and as it falls on me, pleasure lights his features, which warms me all the way through.

  He comes over to stand beside me and sips his coffee. “Hey, you. How’s it going in there?”

  “Fine.” I know there are people around, but I don’t care. I slide my arms around his waist, still holding my coffee, and press my cheek to his chest.

  “Aw,” he says, and hugs me with his free arm. “What’s up?”

  “Leon said Summer’s not well.”

  “Yeah, I know. She’ll be okay. She’s a tough old bird. She’s been through worse.”

  I swallow hard. “I’m so sorry about the Ark.”

  He sighs and looks at the building. “Yeah. It’ll take some sorting out. But we’ll get there. And it’s not all bad. Some positive things have come out of it.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, Hal spoke to Noah this morning about making Ward Seven bigger when they rebuild it—we can extend it down the length of the building. They’re talking about enlarging the rehoming center because Ryan’s often pushed for space. And there’s also talk about starting up a proper kennels, where people can leave pets while they go on holiday.”

  “That would be amazing.”

  “Yeah, so you see? It’s not all bad.”

  “How’s Noah?” I ask. “I hope he hasn’t taken it too badly.”

  “No, not at all. He’s determined to use it as an opportunity to expand and reorganize. He was here this morning—he’s only just gone back. It’s good to see him out and about.”

  I look up at him. It’s late morning and the sun is moving from the Pacific to over the hills behind us, and it throws a beautiful golden light over Albie’s face. My heart gives a mysterious bump as I look into his hazel eyes. Working here has been such a wonderful gift. Not only have I had a chance to work with animals, but I’ve met all these amazing people. There’s something magical about the Ark. They call it an animal sanc
tuary, but it’s so much more than that. People come here broken and damaged, marred by the harshness of life, and it’s a sanctuary for them too, a place for them to heal under the warmth and protection of the Kings.

  And now I’m being soppy, but my eyes are stinging and there’s nothing I can do about it.

  “It’s the sun,” I say to Albie as he cocks his head, spotting my tears.

  “Yeah, yeah,” he says.

  I let him kiss me, closing my eyes and feeling his lips pressing lightly across mine, while the cool June breeze plays with my hair.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Albie

  We spend a couple more hours at the Ark, tidying and getting things straighter. By then, some of the other members of staff arrive, and there are soon plenty of people to look after the animals.

  I check in on Belle, and am pleased to discover she seems to be doing really well. “Hal tells me you’re thinking of adopting her,” Ryan says.

  “I don’t think so.” I stroke her, trying not to melt as she looks up at me with the most beautiful brown eyes. “I don’t think I want to make that commitment again.”

  “Yeah,” Ryan says, “you know that heartbreak’s coming, don’t you? But think of all the years of joy you’d have in the meantime.”

  I smile, torn in two as I think back to losing Merry and Pippin. If I’m honest, I was more broken up over that than when my grandparents died. I think maybe it was because the dogs were mine, and I poured all the affection and love I hadn’t been able to direct toward anyone else onto them. At the moment, I have Remy, and I know being with her and having a dog would be a different experience. But she’ll be going soon, and I know it’s going to be hard for me. Although a dog would be a comfort, I’m loath to turn to an animal to heal my heart.

  I tell him I’ll think about it and head out to discover Hal telling everyone that Noah has offered to buy pizza and directing them over to his house. I stop Remy, though, and take her to one side.