Billionaires Don't Like Nice Girls (A BWWM Romance) by Mia Caldwell

Aunt Eugenia finds out I’m gone,” Kent said. “I’ve already pushed my luck.”
    “You’d better hurry. I don’t want her finding you with me. She’ll accuse me of being a bad influence again. Remember when she did that?”
    “As I recall, you spread trash all over her back yard and made me play in it.”
    James wasn’t impressed. “Don’t start. You know it was you who threw that trash everywhere because you wanted to pretend we were on a treasure hunt. Best treasure I found was a half-eaten cupcake covered in grass clippings.”
    “Hey, that was an ancient offering to Pharaoh Tut.”
    “You were a bossy kid. Imaginative, though,” James said with a grin.
    “I wasn’t all that bossy.”
    “Hell you weren’t. You’d get full of yourself and start bossing me around like I was one of those servants you had back at your folks’ mansion. I’d have to take you down a peg or two every now and then to remind you what’s what.”
    “You’re exaggerating. I wasn’t that bad. And anyway, I’ve outgrown it.”
    James cocked an eyebrow. “Sure you have. Anyway, here’s a warning. Don’t try bossing Phae around, not if you don’t want to be taken down a dozen pegs at a whack.”
    Kent tossed some money on the table and rose from his chair. “James, your cousin can take me anywhere she wants. And now I’m getting out of here before you start attacking all my other faults. Not that I have many.”
    The two men chuckled as Kent walked away.
    Before Kent reached the door, James called out. “Hey there, Luke. Did I ever tell you I’ve known that fellow by the door there just about forever? Yep, we were buds every summer when he visited his aunt.”
    Kent opened the door and almost managed to slip away before hearing James’ punch line.
    “Yep,” James called, “I knew that fellow a looooong time before he got all famous for knocking himself silly on laundry poles.”
    The cafe patrons hooted.
    As he shut the door on their catcalls, he wondered if he’d ever live that one down. Probably not.
     
     

Chapter 6
     
    PHAE STOOD IN FRONT OF the small booth and inspected the growing crowd. She glanced at her watch. It was nearly seven-thirty. She peered around the fairgrounds once again.
    “I can’t imagine who you’re looking for,” Neesa said, fussing with a pink crepe paper bow affixed to the front counter.
    “I’m not looking for anyone. I’m impatient to get home.” She sighed and turned to Sylvie. “Honestly, you can’t have a kissing booth in this day and age. There’s too many diseases.”
    “I’m doing all the kissing, so I don’t see what your problem is.” Sylvie strolled up and plopped down on a metal stool behind the counter, smiling at the passersby and batting her eyelashes.
    “My problem is that we aren’t doing any business,” Phae said, leaning against the counter.
    “Quit that!” Neesa interjected. “You’re mashing my decorations. And stop griping. She’s only kissing on the cheek.” She propped her hands on her hips. “And if we aren’t doing any business, it’s your fault. You’re supposed to be the barker. So get on out there and bark, sister. Bark, bark, bark.”
    “I’m not some damned dog,” Phae mumbled as she shuffled to the front of the booth. “But fine, I’ll do it.”
    She couldn’t believe she’d agreed to do this stupid thing. In a bored, weary voice, she called out, “Hear ye, hear ye. Gather around.”
    People swarmed past, paying her no attention.
    She rolled her eyes and waved sloppily. “Buy a kiss from the pretty lady. Sure, it’s only a kiss on the cheek, but you can’t be too careful these days. Guaranteed mono-free.”
    “Psst!” Neesa hissed at her. “We don’t make guarantees. We don’t need legal issues.”
    “Hey, I resent that,” Sylvie said. “I don’t have mono!”
    “Whatever,” Phae said and called out into the crowd. “Probably mono-free, mostly, but not guaranteed for legal reasons. Come on. Buy a kiss