Billionaire Bachelors 7 ; The Billionaire's Final Stand(90)

Kinsey's eyes grew heavy and exhaustion overtook her while she climbed into her bed and fell asleep. She had time to figure it out later.



"I can't believe dad's getting married today. It's so weird," Trenton exclaimed.

"I know what you mean. I'm happy for him, really happy, but it seems so strange. Especially the fact that he's acting like a teenager," Max said.

"I think it's incredibly romantic. Esther's been blushing all morning," Bree added.

"Yeah, it's great. I haven't seen dad this happy in a long time. Moving back here was a really good thing. All of you getting married, now dad, too. What the heck? I guess we're grown up, now" Austin said.

"What do you mean, we. I don't see a ring on your finger," Trenton said.

"Yeah, whatever."

Austin hadn't seen Kinsey in weeks, but couldn't get her off his mind. When he hadn't heard anything from her by last week, he figured he had his answer on whether or not she was pregnant. He knew if she were, she'd call him, she'd promised. What really surprised him was the disappointment hanging heavily over him like a dark rain cloud getting ready to pour.

How could he possibly feel as if he'd lost something that he never had to begin with? It didn't make any sense.

"Austin Anderson, who the heck do you think you are? Seriously? Are you God's gift to women, Mr. love em and leave em? Huh! What do you have to say for yourself?" Cassie thundered as she stomped into the room, fire burning in her eyes. 

"What did I do?" he asked, taking a step back. His sister-in-law was frightening in a temper. He had new respect for his brother.

"Sweetie, what's this about?" Max asked as he stepped toward her.

"Don't you sweetie me, Max," she snapped, stopping him in his tracks. Then she turned back to Austin. "What did I do? Really? Kinsey isn't some cheap two-dollar-hooker. She's a lady. She's beautiful, compassionate, fun and freaking fantastic. You were lucky enough to have her fall in love with you, and you think you can just throw that away?" Cassie snapped, stepping up to him, her hands on her hips as her toe tapped.

Austin was speechless as the room went silent. He'd never seen Cassie throw a fit before and it was impressive, but her words were what muted him.

Kinsey loved him.

Love.

His mind whirled as he thought about the girl he couldn't forget no matter how hard he tried. Her smile, laugh, temper, passion. All of it was intoxicating. He wanted to be with. Not for just a night, or even a week, but he really wanted to be with her. The have and to hold kind of being together. He wanted to see her walk down the aisle to him, where they said vows and then kissed in front of their friends and family. He wanted to claim her as his forever. He couldn't let her go …  he was in love with her.

"I love her," he muttered.

"Well, hallelujah, he finally admits it," Trenton said with a laugh as he thumped him hard on the back.

He looked up in surprise, forgetting about his family standing there. Cassie was looking at him with suspicion in her eyes, but at least the raging anger was gone. His face turned up in a huge smile as he reached out and lifted Cassie off the ground, spinning her in a circle.

"I love her. I really do!" he shouted, then gave Cassie a smacking kiss on the forehead before setting her down. "Thank you, Cassie. I have to see her." He turned to leave when Max grabbed his shoulder.

"Hold up, Romeo," he said, but the smile on his face was proud.

"What?"

"Do you really think the best idea is to ambush her?"

"Yes!"

"Do you honestly think she's going to let you in to her apartment? She thinks you just want sex, that's all, nothing but steamy, erotic sex," Cassie said.

Austin shifted uncomfortably as all eyes focused on him. He couldn't even look his sister-in-law in the face. What had Kinsey told her?

"Oh, get over yourself. All women talk, so yes, I do know … a lot," Cassie said.

Austin lost the battle with his embarrassment and felt his cheeks grow warm. He didn't understand women. He'd never, in a million years, want to know about any of his siblings' sex lives. That would scar him forever.

"You need a plan of action. First hurdle. How are you going to get her to let you in?" Trenton asked as if he spoke from experience.

"I don't know. I'll knock," Austin said with a shrug. His answer made them laugh.

"You poor, clueless man. It's a good thing we're here for you," Bree said as she smiled at him to take any sting from her words. He was beginning to feel tag teamed.

"You really do love her?" Cassie asked as she looked him deep in the eyes.

He felt no panic at her question, zero hesitation.

"Yes, I do, Cass. I have since the day she took my breath away at your wedding. I just couldn't admit it. I guess I'm not much different than these idiots," he said, looking around at the men in the room, who at least had the decency to shift uncomfortably as his words hit close to home.