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

released Phae’s hand and lazily removed his wallet from his back pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it onto the booth’s counter.
    Neesa snatched it up and shook her head. “I can’t make change for a hundred.”
    Kent grabbed up Phae’s hand again. “Keep it. That was no one dollar kiss.”
    Phae found herself inexplicably tongue-tied. Sylvie and Neesa had no such problems.
    “Oh, that’s sooo romantic,” Sylvie gushed.
    “Yeah, that’s pretty good. I’m Neesa, by the way, Phae’s cousin. Are you a billionaire?”
    Phae came crashing back down to earth. “Neesa! For God’s sake.”
    James gave Kent a wary look. “You can’t buy my cousin, you know.”
    “I’d think she’d want more than a hundred bucks,” Kent said, laughing.
    James harrumphed. “Regardless, no more of these public displays. I’ve got order to maintain. I’m closing down your booth, you three. It’s a health nuisance.”
    “What?” came the outraged responses from the three women.
    Hands on hips, Phae, Neesa and Sylvie advanced on the blustering sheriff.
    “I don’t know who you think you are, but—”
    “Listen up, buddy, you can’t order us—”
    “Why are you being such a dick—”
    Kent stood back, amusement lifting one side of his mouth, while James tried to hold off his outraged relatives.
    “Okay, okay,” he said. “It’s not because of health issues. Here’s the thing. I need you two, Neesa and Sylvie, to follow these other two around and keep an eye on them. Make sure they don’t get into any trouble.”
    “Since when are you my keeper, James? Ignore him. He’s being obnoxious,” Phae said.
    “Kent may be my friend, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give him free rein with you,” James said.
    Phae turned to Kent. “You’re friends with James?”
    “I didn’t get the chance to tell you the other day. I met him—”
    “What the hell do you mean, ‘free rein?’” Neesa broke in. “Phae isn’t a horse, James, you jackass.”
    “Hold up there,” James said. “Watch what you call me. I’m the sheriff, after all. Respect the position. And I don’t see why you have a problem protecting your cousin, Neesa.”
    Kent turned his attention to James. “What do you think I’m going to do to her, exactly? Kidnap her?”
    “I’ve known you too long, my friend, and heard too many stories about your conquests. This is your first date and I want to make sure it’s done properly.”
    Phae glowered at James. “Kent and I aren’t on a date. And what’s gotten into you? I’m a full-grown, twenty-eight-year-old woman. If you think for one minute I’ll let you tell me how to run my life, then you’re in for a big surprise. The more I think about it the madder I get. Men! I ought to—”
    “Simmer down, Phae,” James interrupted. “Don’t get worked up. I know I can trust you. It’s the company you’re keeping that I’m not so sure about.”
    “Look what you’ve done,” Kent said with a sigh. “She’s ready to explode. I had her all softened up with that kiss and now you’ve blown it and made her mad.”
    He pulled out his wallet and tossed another bill onto the counter. “You’re costing me a fortune, woman,” Kent said, tugging Phae into his arms.
    She pushed against his chest. “Have I fallen into a time warp where you’ve all turned into cave men?”
    “You tell him, Phae,” James said.
    “Don’t listen to him, Phae,” Sylvie said. “Kiss Kent. I don’t want to have to give back all this money. Think about the poor shelter animals.”
    Neesa snorted. “Right. The animals. The hell with that. These two big animals are acting like Phae’s a piece of meat to fight over. Tell ‘em where to get off, cuz.”
    “Hit him with a karate chop,” James said.
    Phae briefly considered the suggestion, then made the mistake of getting caught in Kent’s smoldering gaze. Before she could stop herself, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him toward her.
    Their lips