Enticing You (How to Marry a Billionaire #1)

Episode 8

EPISODE 8

A CENTAUR-IFIC VIEW

River

While I wait for Evangeline’s “introductions” to kick off, I scan the area. Two women are missing, along with Sebastian.

Damn, Seb. A threesome already?

I’ve never been in a threesome—it’s not like they come my way that often on a Montana ranch—but I’m open to the possibility. Anything goes on this island, as long as the women consent.

Threesomes are probably normal for Seb. He is a rock star, after all, and a damned good one. Even when we were kids, he had a knack for music without any formal training. He’d strum his acoustic guitar, making up tunes and humming along in his rich voice that ranged from a low, raspy growl to a high falsetto, entertaining us as we planned our next mischievous caper.

“Thank God,” Evangeline mumbles within earshot when Seb emerges from the mansion.

Has she noticed two women are missing yet? From the frantic way her eyes are blinking, I’m thinking she has.

They appear a moment later, the redhead and the light-blond Brit. Both are flushed.

Sebastian, you dog.

Brett stands next to me, and Sebastian takes his place on my other side.

“Where have you been?” Brett whispers to Seb.

He waggles his eyebrows. “Tied up.”

His words aren’t literal. Sebastian Tate would never let anyone tie him up.

The two missing women edge into the crowd, and Evangeline pastes on a smile.

These eight women are indeed gorgeous, each in their own way. Still, Rachel stands out to me with her flowing sable hair and intense dark eyes. And those dimples that are still present even when she’s not smiling. They seem to wink at me.

They’re all spectacular, though. If it’s not in the cards for Rachel and me, I’ll have another to choose for sure. A sliver of regret punctures me at the thought.

“All right, ladies.” Evangeline widens her smile. “The gentlemen would like to say something. Brett?”

Brett refuses the wireless microphone that Evangeline offers.

“Thank you, Evangeline, but we’re a close knit bunch here. I’d like to talk without amplification.” He grins. “Ladies, welcome, and thank you for being here. Evangeline has already filled you in on the details, and I know the question on all your minds is why the four of us have chosen to meet women in this way.”

The women murmur, some of them nodding.

“The reason is simpler than you might think. We’ve been busy building our empires, and we haven’t had time for relationships. We’re in our mid-thirties now, and we’d like to have families. Quite frankly, we just don’t have time to meet women the conventional way.”

A new knot forms in the back of my neck. I resist the urge to massage it. Brett is telling the truth.

But only part of it.

Brett holds the group’s attention like a wrangler effortlessly taming a wild stallion. “You’re all beautiful, intelligent, and worthy women, but there are only four of us. Four of you will go home without a billionaire husband. And it’s possible that eventually you’ll all go home. Love may not happen here. But thank you to each one of you for giving this a chance.”

Evangeline holds up the microphone again. “Thank you, Brett. Do any of the rest of you want to say anything?”

Seb waves to the women. “I’ll just say you’re all incredible. Thank you for being here.”

The Brit looks down at her pushed-up breasts.

The redhead is blushing as well, but Seb isn’t paying her any mind. I thought I saw Brett talking to her earlier. What happened there?

Evangeline nods to Alex and me. “Anything you’d like to add?”

“I’ll just echo Sebastian,” Alex says. “Thank you all for being here. Whether love happens or not, I want you to have an enjoyable time.”

“Me too,” I add. “Enjoy yourselves, ladies. Anything you need, ask Evangeline or one of the house staff. It will be provided.”

Evangeline takes her microphone again. “Thank you, gentlemen, and now…we have a surprise for you! Tomorrow we’ll be taking a catamaran out onto the ocean where you can swim, snorkel, or just stay on board where we’ll serve a gourmet lunch and cocktails.”

Oohs and ahs from the women.

“That sounds wonderful!” the lingerie model gushes.

“Oh, it will be, ladies.” Brett grins. “And the best part? It’s clothing optional.”

A few gasps—one from Rachel. I’d bet a prize steer that she’s not showing up with every asset on display. A wave of protectiveness unexpectedly surges through me.

“Emphasis on the word optional ,” Evangeline says. “Swimsuits are fine. Or even shorts and a tee if that’s how you’re comfortable.”

“Is it clothing optional for the men as well?” the Brit asks with her eyebrows raised.

“Absolutely.” Evangeline smiles. “But again, emphasis on the word optional .”

I’m sure Seb and Brett will bare all. Alex and I most likely won’t.

Nothing wrong with my body for sure. In fact, I’m pretty impressive in a flaccid state. But nudity isn’t my thing.

“Please enjoy the sunset and the delicious spread,” Evangeline continues. “We’ll set up a dance floor in a bit, so continue to mingle and get to know one another.”

I grab Sebastian’s arm. “Two of them already?”

He wrinkles his forehead. “Two?”

“The cute redhead and the Brit who always looks bored came out of the house after you did.”

Sebastian laughs. “You’re seeing things, bro.”

“Bullshit. I saw them leave the mansion right after you. Both blushing.”

“Maybe the two of them were getting busy.” He grins. “In which case I wish I had been there.”

I roll my eyes. I won’t get a straight answer out of Seb if he doesn’t want to give one. No problem. I’m more intrigued by Rachel, anyway. Or the hair stylist, who looks like the anti-Rachel but is seriously hot in her own way. June, the lingerie model, doesn’t do a lot for me, probably because of her earlier comments about my animals—though I wouldn’t mind seeing her naked tomorrow.

I gaze around the large courtyard. Rachel stands away from the crowd near the large pool house, staring at the sky—a tapestry of fiery oranges, bright pinks, and golden yellows. Sunsets across the wide open skies of Montana are full of rich hues, but this is truly magical. Swept up in the moment, I draw in a breath and walk toward her.

“Rachel.”

She lowers her head. “Hello, River.”

“Stargazing?”

“Sort of. I’m waiting for the sun to set all the way. The sky will be so clear with no light pollution. I brought my mini telescope with me, but I’d love to be able to use my big one here.”

“We can get you one. Not a problem at all.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean?—”

“I know you didn’t.” I tilt my head back and stare at the sky, wondering what she sees, what she wants to bring even closer with her telescope. “It is gorgeous.”

“Isn’t it? I can’t believe I’ll finally be able to see Centaurus.”

“Centaurus?”

“Yeah. In Chicago, where I live, we’re too close to the horizon to see it in its entirety, but here, in a southern sky…” She points upward. “It’s not quite dark enough yet, but you can see Proxima Centauri, which is the star nearest to our sun.”

“Centaurus…meaning centaur?”

“Yeah. Once it gets darker, I’ll show you.”

“I look forward to that.”

She turns and faces me, her dark eyes wide. “You’re interested in stars?”

“I like to look at them. On the ranch in Montana the stars are always visible on a clear night. Really visible, like they are here. Of course, I don’t know one from the other.”

“They look a lot different that far north,” she says.

“How do you know so much about them?”

“I’m a physicist. An experimental physicist, actually, but I took some courses in astrophysics, and I’ve always loved stargazing. I decided not to specialize in astrophysics, though. I didn’t want to take something so beautiful and make it into work. I needed it to stay special.”

I can’t help a smile. Physics just became a lot more interesting.

And so did Rachel Cooper.

“Tell you what,” I say. “I’ll get you that telescope.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“You heard Brett earlier. Whatever you want, you ladies can have. All you have to do is ask.”

“We’re on a private island, River. Amazon isn’t going to deliver.”

She makes a good point. I can get one, but who knows how long that will take?

“Besides,” Rachel continues, “there’s something about looking at the heavens with a naked eye. That’s how we were meant to see it—the never-ending magnificence of it all. I’m never more at peace than when I’m staring up into the universe. The sheer beauty and complexity is humbling. To me, it’s like an equation where the sum is greater than its parts. Like there’s a reason we’re here, why we’re connected.”

I can’t help myself. I reach toward her, trail a finger over her cheek, touching her dimple as I inhale a waft of wildflowers from her perfume. “That’s a beautiful way to put it.”

She sighs. “It’s just my way of putting it. Everyone sees something different when they look at the night sky. I see meaning in my life and the lives of others.”

“Would you like to take a walk? We can get away from these artificial lights, really take a look.”

“They’re setting up the dance floor.”

“So?”

Rachel darts her gaze over my shoulder. “Evangeline said?—”

I stroke her lower lip with my thumb. It’s plump and soft, and it glistens. “Whatever you want, Rachel. If you want to stay here, we stay here.”

“I think… I think I’d be more comfortable here.” She clears her throat. “At least for now.”

“As you wish.”

She leans forward then, stands on her toes, and brushes her lips over mine.

They’re as soft as I knew they’d be, and my groin tightens.

We cling together for a moment, Rachel scraping her soft hand against my cheek with a whimper, until she breaks the kiss, gasps, and walks swiftly away without a word.