Love Redesigned (Lakefront Billionaires #1) by Lauren Asher

His brows scrunch together. “I’m not risk-averse.”

“You obsess over probability statistics and make pro-andcon lists for everything.”

“That’s called making an informed decision. Perhaps you should try it sometime, given the current state of your life.”

“Screw you,” I hiss as I reach for the rolls. Berating myself over my life choices is one thing, but having Julian do the same feels like taking a knife to the chest.

His eyes widen. “Dahlia.”

“What?”

“I was joking, but clearly it wasn’t funny.”

I frown. Julian rarely admits when he is wrong, so to say I’m shocked is an understatement.

Groundbreaking.

I glare. He scowls. A tale as old as time.

He speaks first, which in itself is abnormal. “You’re right.”

“I’m sorry. Can you repeat that? I think my brain malfunctioned for a split second.”

His frown deepens. “Don’t let this get to your head.”

“Are you kidding? I might get the words and today’s date tattooed across my forehead solely so you’re stuck staring at the reminder.”

He wipes a hand down his face. “I can’t believe I said anything.”

That makes two of us.

He rambles on without his usual inhibition. “I’m not a risk-taker. Never have been and probably never will be, but that doesn’t mean I have a right to judge people who are.”

“Then why do you?” The question slips out before I have a chance to think better of it.

“I’m jealous.”

I can’t find words to answer that in any language, so I lean against the table for support.

He runs his hands through his hair, ruffling the strands. “I wish I could be the type of person who doesn’t give a damn about probability statistics and worst-case scenarios, but that’s not who I am.”

My head tilts, along with my whole world. Julian and I don’t do feelings. Hell, we don’t do much talking either.

Arguing? Yes.

Teasing? Of course.

But sincere admissions? Abso-freaking-lutely not.

To be honest, it might be unnatural, but it is also kind of… nice?

Fuck me. My heart feels like Julian wrapped his ginormous hand around it and crushed it.

“As much fun as this has been…” I reach for the rolls again with shaky fingers, only for Julian to clasp his hand around my wrist.

“Wait.”

Blood pounding in my ears makes me second-guess what I heard. “What?”

“I’m sorry.”

I’m not sure how I keep my voice neutral as I ask, “Two apologies in one week? Are you dying or something?”

“Feels like it,” he grumbles.

“Well, figure out if that shit is contagious before you pass it on to someone else.” I attempt to pull my wrist free from his grasp, but his hold tightens.

“Apologies aren’t contagious, Dahlia.”

No, but feelings are, and I sure as hell don’t know what to expect if Julian keeps stepping up to be a decent man. I can deal with him being angry after spending most of our lives slinging insults at each other. But him maturely apologizing after hurting my feelings and admitting when he is wrong?

I’m better off not getting to know this Julian, for both of our sakes.



Nico devours his lunch at a disturbingly fast rate before taking off for the living room to watch his favorite show, leaving the adults alone.

“How’s the house going?” Josefina takes a sip of her water.

“Dahlia and I are meeting with the team on Monday,” Julian speaks up.

“Which Founder’s house did you buy again?” Lily asks.

I turn to my sister. “The blue one.”

“Oh.” Her gaze drops.

“What?”

The skin between her brows scrunches from how hard she frowns. “I heard that place is haunted.”

“Same,” Rafa says.

Julian glares at his cousin. “Not you too.”

He shrugs. “I said I heard about it. Not that I actually believe it.”

I throw my good arm in the air. “See! I told you everyone knows about the ghosts there!”

Julian’s eyes roll in a way that almost makes him appear human.

“Dear Lord. Is it too late to sell the place?” My mom makes the sign of the cross while Josefina laughs.

“People say there’s a reason it gets put back up for sale.” Lily props her elbows on the table.

“It’s true.” Josefina nods.

“Tell us everything you know.” I motion for her to continue.

My sister’s voice drops as she says, “Flickering lights—”

Julian cuts her off. “Faulty electricity is normal with a house this old.”

“If you’re going to give me a hard time, I won’t say anything,” my sister huffs.

With my uninjured arm, I elbow Julian hard enough to make him grunt. “Let her finish.”

He glares at me out of the corner of his eye.

Lily stares Julian down for a few seconds before focusing back on me. “Anyway, during high school, a few people from my class spent the night there on a dare.”

“And?”

Rafa and Julian share a look from across the table.

Lily ignores them. “Supposedly one of them still sleeps with the lights on to this day. The other one moved away and became a priest.”