CHERISH (The Billionaire's Rules, Book 12) Read Online Free

“I’m glad we talked.”
    “Me too, Mom.”
    And she was.

 
    ***

 
    2 WEEKS LATER

 
    The restaurant was crowded, but the host
knew Cullen and instantly was able to find a table for them at a romantic spot
by the window.
    Cullen and Ivy sat down and began
perusing their menus.
    “I still can’t get over the change in
Becca Woodhouse,” Ivy marveled, as she thought about whether to order a soup or
salad.
    “She’s doing fantastic—much better
than expected,” Cullen agreed.
    Ivy and Peg had gotten together for
coffee earlier in the day and then visited Becca in the hospital.
    She was out of critical care, talkative,
lucid and progressing quickly.
    Ivy smiled as she looked out the window
and saw people walking by on the street, and somehow everyone seemed as happy
as she felt right then.   “Peg’s also
a lot nicer when she’s not trying to twist your arm to save her sister’s life,”
Ivy joked.
    Cullen smiled, but the smile was tinged
with annoyance.   “I’m not sure I can
ever get past that,” he said.   “But
I’m trying now that the two of you are friends.”
    The waiter arrived and they ordered wine,
and then calamari for an appetizer, to be followed by a pair of filet
mignon.   Cullen took his filet medium
and Ivy took hers medium well.
    The waiter gave a slight bow, collected
their menus and left the table.
    “Have I mentioned that you look
absolutely stunning?” Cullen asked, reaching for her hand across the table.
    “You can mention it as often as you
like,” she said, as they made eye contact for a long moment.
    “Oh, there’s nothing like young love,”
came the remark from nearby.
    Startled, Ivy turned to see Xavier
Montrose standing there with a blond bombshell on his arm.   She was taller than him in her six-inch
heels.   She looked like she’d never
eaten a meal in her life.
    Cullen shook his head.   “Xavier, are you still following us
around like a lost puppy?”
    “Hardly,” Xavier said.   “I just noticed the two of you on our
way out and thought I’d stop by and say hello.”
    “Hello,” Cullen said.
    “And goodbye,” Ivy replied, rolling her
eyes.
    Xavier grinned.   He enjoyed this, Ivy realized.   He was vaguely obsessed with Cullen and
probably always would be.
    “I have to congratulate you on the
surgery you performed on the Woodhouse girl,” he said.   “It’s the talk of the town.”
    “Somehow I highly doubt that,” Cullen
replied.
    “And I’m a big enough man to admit when
I’m wrong,” Xavier said.
    “Could’ve fooled me,” Ivy muttered,
sipping her water.
    “You’re a great surgeon and I was wrong
to doubt you,” Xavier told Cullen, and it was as though someone had ripped that
compliment out of him by force.
    “Thanks,” Cullen told him, nodding.   “I appreciate that, Xavier.”
    Xavier stood there with his vacant blond,
waiting.   “And?” Xavier asked.
    “And what?” Cullen
said, looking confused now.
    “And, now you’re supposed to say that I’m
a good surgeon too.”
    Ivy looked down and tried not to openly
laugh at the man.  
    Cullen glanced up at his old friend.   “I didn’t ask for that compliment from
you, and I don’t intend to be forced into giving you a return compliment.”
    The blond seemed more and more
uncomfortable now.   She lightly
tugged at Xavier’s arm.
    Xavier shot her an annoyed look and then
turned back to Cullen.   “If you
think I’m a shit surgeon, just say it, Sharpe.”
    Cullen looked up at him.   “You’re not a shit surgeon, Xavier.   You’re…adequate.”
    Xavier looked enraged, his cheeks turning
red and blotchy.   “You can’t ever
give me credit, Sharpe.   That’s your
damn problem.   You know that?”
    “And your problem is, you keep forgetting
that what I think of you doesn’t matter, Montrose.”   Cullen gave the man a wry grin.   “It’s not that big a deal.”
    Xavier’s mouth worked as if to say
something else.   Instead, he
motioned for the