The Billionaire's Widow

20

Paige’s POV

“Are you absolutely sure it’s okay for me to stay the night?” I asked as Hailey led me back to the guest room I’d changed in earlier.

She turned to me with that casual smile that somehow always made me feel safe. “Yes, Paige. Relax. It’s not a big deal—make yourself comfortable.”

She leaned slightly against the doorway, arms crossed casually. “Besides, you might want to get used to sleeping over. The twins love you. They practically begged for you to tuck them in tonight.”

I smiled. “Maybe I should just become their live-in nanny.”

She laughed. “They’d love that. Probably more than I should admit.”

The sound of her laughter filled the room like sunlight. I watched her, a little too long, caught up in her. Her hair was still damp from the pool, curling a bit at the ends. Her skin glowed faintly from the warmth of the day, and her lips—God, those lips.

“You’re staring,” she said, her voice dipping a little lower.

I didn’t even try to deny it. Our eyes locked again. The silence grew heavy, but not uncomfortable. It was... intimate. Like the moment was holding its breath.

This was the third time we’d fallen into this kind of gaze. But this time, I wasn’t pulling away.

I stepped in, closing the already small gap between us. Her breath hitched. My heart thudded. My hand brushed her arm, and slowly, almost cautiously, I leaned in. When my lips met hers, it felt like something clicked into place.

Soft. Warm. Familiar.

To my surprise—and thrill—she kissed me back. Slowly at first, then like she’d wanted to all along. It was gentle but intense, as if we both knew what we were stepping into.

Then she pulled away, eyes wide.

“I... I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely there.

“No, that’s on me,” I said quickly. “I kissed you. I shouldn’t have put you in that position.”

“I just...” She looked away, like she was trying to collect herself. “You probably didn’t expect me to kiss you back.”

I reached up and touched her chin lightly, guiding her gaze back to mine. “You don’t owe me any explanation.”

She searched my face. “You’re not... shocked? Or freaking out?”

I chuckled softly, easing down onto the edge of the bed. “The only thing I’m freaking out about is that I just kissed my drop-dead gorgeous, billionaire boss.”

Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink as she bit her bottom lip. “You think I’m gorgeous?”

“I know you are. You’re stunning. And sometimes, when you look at me like that, it takes everything in me not to kiss you.”

Something shifted in her eyes.

“I think now’s a good time to mention...” I took a breath. “I’m into women.”

She blinked. “You’re into women?”

“Yeah. I’ve known since I was a teenager.”

“That explains why you’re not completely losing it over what just happened.” She paused, then slowly sat beside me. “Was I... the first woman you kissed?”

I shook my head gently. “No. But I have to ask—was I yours?”

She blushed again, nodding once. “Yeah. You were.”

“How did it feel?”

She hesitated, then smiled shyly. “Different. Not in a bad way... just different. And now I don’t know what to do with myself.”

I was about to reassure her when her eyes suddenly widened.

“Wait... the other day, when I asked if you had a boyfriend, you said no. So... you have a girlfriend, don’t you?”

“What?” I blinked, confused. “No—”

“Oh God.” She stood up abruptly, holding her head. “What did I just do? What have I—”

“Hailey, wait—”

But she was already gone, slipping out the door in a panic before I could explain that I wasn’t dating anyone at all.

I exhaled heavily and sank back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Great.

Hailey’s POV

I woke to the familiar emptiness of my bed. Cold sheets. Silence. Just like every other morning for the past five years.

No one to kiss. No one to hold. No one to make love to. Not since Xavier.

But last night?

Last night changed something.

Kissing Paige had stirred something in me I thought had died with him. She made me feel again. Touched a part of me I had locked away and forgotten how to access.

Damn it, Paige.

I sat up and ran a hand through my hair, still damp from the night before. After twenty minutes of tossing and turning, I finally forced myself to get up, shower, and make my way downstairs. It was nearly breakfast.

My nerves buzzed as I wondered if Paige was still here. I didn’t know what I’d say to her. I didn’t even know what I felt.

“Good morning, Hailey,” Charlotte greeted as I reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Morning,” I replied. “Are the kids at the table already?”

“Yes, ma’am. Everyone’s there. Even Miss Brooke.”

I nodded. “And Paige?”

“She left early, ma’am,” Charlotte said. “She asked me to tell you her sister needed her urgently. She’s sorry she couldn’t say goodbye in person.”

“Oh... okay.” My heart sank just a little.

“Did Bobby drive her home?”

Charlotte shook her head. “No, her sister picked her up.”

“Right. Thanks, Charlotte.”

I made my way to the dining room, where laughter spilled out. The twins were giggling with Brooke, their plates already half full. I paused at the doorway, just watching for a moment. Grayson spotted me first.

“Mommy!” he shouted, jumping from his chair and running to wrap his arms around me.

“Morning, my boy,” I smiled, lifting him for a moment before setting him back down.

“Where’s Paige?” Camilla asked, looking up at me with those wide, innocent eyes.

I forced a smile. “She had to go help her sister with something important, sweetie.”

“Oh.” Her smile faded a little.

“Come on now,” I said gently. “Let’s eat.”

But as I sat down and began dishing food for them, all I could think about was Paige. Her laugh. Her eyes. The way her lips felt against mine.

What now?

What do I do with these feelings?

And more importantly...

What if I want to kiss her again?

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