Free Bossing the Billionaire: Billionaire Brothers Kent - Ryder's Story (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) by Judy Angelo

the relationship.
    “Hey, Ted,” Peggy and Barbara said in unison then Peggy slid her
hands into the back pocket of her jeans and straightened. “What brings you by?”
She gave him a suspicious look, not quite a glare, but she knew Ted like the
back of her hand. After so many decades of living in the same town with him she
knew that the wider he smiled the more careful you’d better be around him. And,
for some reason, today’s grin looked mighty suspicious.
    “Oh, not a whole lot.” By this time he’d reached close enough for
them to get a whiff of his cologne. Old Spice. As always. “I just came by to
see if you’d heard about the surprise birthday supper they’re having for old
Ezekiel. Are you going?” He slid both hands into the back pockets of his jeans,
mimicking Peggy’s stance.
    She frowned. “Of course I’m going. It was my idea to throw him a
surprise party.”
    “Oh? I didn’t know that.” He’d raised his eyebrows in surprise but
then he smiled. “But I should have guessed, shouldn’t I? So, you want me to
come get you tomorrow?”
    “No.” Her answer was quick and brutal. “I know where Ezekiel lives.
I can get there by myself.”
    Barbara cleared her throat and then she threw Peggy a cutting glare
but, to her credit, she didn’t say a word.
    Still, the look had the effect Barbara intended. Peggy felt suitably
chastised. She’d given a biting response to a simple question and that had been
uncalled for. She’d been touchy with Ted but lately he just seemed to rub her
the wrong way. She sighed. Time to be nice. “I’ll probably have to make a stop
on the way to Ezekiel’s,” she explained. “I’ll see you at the party.”
    “No problem,” he said with a shrug. “Maybe we can take a walk
another time.” He glanced across at Barbara who sat watching from her seat on
the bench. He gave her a bow then tipped his hat. “Enjoy the rest of the afternoon,
ladies,” he said then turned and sauntered off, back down the pathway and
around to the front gate, whistling as he went.
    “He likes you, Peggy. A whole lot. But I’m sure you already know
that.”
    “Excuse me?” Peggy turned from how she’d been standing, staring
after Ted, and glared down at her friend. “What in the dickens are you talking
about?”
    “I’m talking romance. Love. It’s in the air.” Barbara had a glint in
her eye and a satisfied smirk on her lips.
    “Not in the air around me, it’s not.”
    “Well, it’s in the air around Ted. He’s smitten. Can’t you see
that?”
    “Not by me,” was Peggy’s sharp retort. “I’ve known Ted all my life
and from day one he’s been nothing but a troublemaker.”
    Barbara rolled her eyes. “Just because he stole a kiss when you were
five years old. That was over five decades years ago. Get over it.”
    “He’s done lots more over the years-”
    “And all because he likes you. Why don't you give him a chance? He
might be the one to stir those old embers of yours.”
    “Who? That messy old coot?”
    “Oh, you be quiet. He’s all of six months older than you are.”
    “Old enough for me to call him an old coot. Forget about him.” She
waved a dismissive hand. “It’s those kids I want to talk about. Blake and Ryder
make such a handsome couple.” She took two steps to the bench and dropped back
down onto it beside Barbara then leaned toward her friend.
    “I’m going to make Blake happy,” she said, her voice vibrating with
determination, “if it’s the last thing I do.”

 
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
     Jerome Slater had the slimiest of smirks on his lips as he leaned
back in his chair. He hadn’t even shown the courtesy of getting to his feet
when Blake entered the office. In fact, as she stood there in the middle of the
room glaring across at him, he lifted his arms and, as casual as you please, he
folded them behind his head and raised his feet to prop them on the edge of his
desk.
    “This is no