Enticing You (How to Marry a Billionaire #1)

Episode 12

EPISODE 12

MEAN GIRLS AND A WARDROBE MALFUNCTION

Ariel

I’m trying to avoid staring at Brett. After pulling Emily and me onto the dance floor, he hasn’t given me another look. He’s been too busy dancing, first with Sienna and then Heather. No more time for the woman who ran off and admitted defeat, at least in her head. He’s still on the dance floor—and I swear there’s a magnet drawing my eyes to him.

I force myself to look away. Heather is talking to Sebastian, and Sienna is…

I dart my gaze around the courtyard.

No Sienna.

And no Alex.

One man down.

River is sitting at a table with June and Misty…and he doesn’t look happy, though he’s a brooding cowboy. I’m not sure I’ve seen him smile yet.

Brett is dancing with Ginger now—a slow dance. She’s so tall and glamorous. Her arms are wrapped around Brett’s neck and she’s gazing into his ocean-blue eyes…

Yeah, landing a man like that is a pipe dream. Like the richest and best-looking man here would really go for me .

I turn at a nudge on my shoulder.

Emily holds two full champagne flutes and offers me a commiserating smile. “Bar’s closing, love. We’d better get another drink while we have the chance.”

I take the flute from her. “Thanks.”

She glances toward the table where Heather is draped over Sebastian. “I like Heather, and she’s a wildly talented stylist, but at the moment I’d really love to claw her eyes out.”

I nod, take a sip of the bubbly, and swallow. “I’m feeling the same way about Ginger about now. And about Misty and June, for that matter. And Sienna. She’s gone. And so is Alex.”

Emily raises an eyebrow. “You haven’t set your sights on anyone yet?”

I hate lying, but I can’t tell Emily everything about my encounter with Brett and what a fool I made of myself. She already knows I did something stupid. “Not really. The idea is to get to know all of them, right? See if we click? Or rather if they click with us ?”

“You haven’t taken your eyes off Brett and Ginger.”

I don’t reply. Instead I give her a sincere smile. “What does it matter? I think you’re ahead of any of us. You’ve gotten a kiss.”

“And a little above-the-waist action, but who’s counting?” She takes a sip demurely.

I draw in a breath. Even though I didn’t finish high school, I’m the youngest of the women here, so I still remember what it was like. The competition for guys, the cliques, the mean girls.

I don’t want that to happen on this island. We’re all grownups now, right? Aren’t we supposed to be mature and confident? When gorgeous billionaire men are involved…I just don’t know how to feel about my competition.

I mean… These women are nice. Emily, I think, is truly nice. She's far from a mean girl, but now that she’s had a kiss and more from Sebastian, it looks like she’s feeling a little…possessive. But I’m sure she doesn’t really want to claw anyone’s eyes out.

Although I definitely get it. I’ve had nothing from Brett and I’m feeling the same way, especially as he stares into Ginger’s perfect emerald eyes.

I was the first woman Brett approached…and now? I’ve become invisible to him. It bothers me more than it should. It’s hard to blame him for something I brought on myself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want another chance with him.

Emily downs the rest of her champagne and grabs my arm. “Dance?”

I set my half-full flute on a nearby cocktail table. “Sure. Why not?”

Emily grabs my hand and practically drags me to the dance floor. We don’t have dirty dancing moves like Sienna, but she’s no longer here, so we can put on our own little show. Sebastian and River are both occupied, and Brett is clearly enamored with Ginger, so why not cut loose with Emily? Just be myself?

Years of balancing trays while wearing roller skates should make me be better at navigating a dance floor on stilettos, but sadly, it hasn’t. So when Emily kicks off her strappy numbers to dance in her bare feet, I follow her lead.

This is the first time either of us has been on the dance floor all night, and it feels good. A short while ago, I was ready to go home and never look back, but thanks to Emily, I’m still here.

Whether I go home as a billionaire’s bride? Who cares?

Well, I do, but I may as well have fun no matter the outcome.

I follow Emily onto the floor and begin moving to the fast music. Evangeline insisted that we all wear our hair down this evening, and after a few minutes I pull mine off my neck with my right hand and continue dancing while holding it up.

I resist the urge to look over at Brett and Ginger and focus on Emily, who’s moving to her own groove. She’s moving her chest in erotic circles—something I’ve never seen before.

“What’s that move?” I shout over the music.

“It’s a chest circle. A belly-dance move.”

“You’re a belly dancer?”

“It’s a hobby. Good exercise.”

Hmm. I don’t recall reading that in her bio. Of course, Emily didn’t need to pad her bio the way I did.

“Teach me?” I ask.

“Sure. Isolate your hips, shoulders, and head, but move only your chest. Watch.”

I rest my gaze on the bodice of her dress, still swaying my hips to the rhythm. When I try to mimic the movement, I fail miserably. How can I move only my chest without moving the rest of my body?

Emily smiles, stifling a laugh, I’m sure. She pulls me to the side of the dance floor. “Here. Let me show you. Set your feet about hip-length apart and bend your knees just slightly.”

I obey.

“Good. Now, remember to keep your hips and shoulders stable.” She places her hands on my hips. “You’re going to use your core muscles to stay aligned. Move your chest back and forth first.”

I stick my boobs out and then back.

“Good. Now, try side to side.”

Yeah, that’s the problem. I move my hips every time. But Emily stabilizes me with her hands on my hips, and a few tries later, I can do it.

“Great! Now combine the movements into circles, like this.” She steps back, holds her hair in one hand as I’ve been doing, and circles her chest without moving any other part of her body. She continues, until?—

She gasps as the top of her strapless gown slides down, exposing her breasts.

I rush to her and help her pull her dress up. “What happened?”

“The safety pin must have snapped.”

“Come on, I’ll help you get back to your room.”

She steps back then, letting her dress stay around her waist, her gorgeous breasts on display as she gives me a saucy wink. “What the bloody hell? It’s not a party until someone gets naked, am I right?”

Every eye on the dance floor plus the deejay himself arrows straight to Emily.

Including Brett Dawson, who is alone now. I scan the courtyard. Ginger has moved to the table with Sebastian and Heather. I’m sure that won’t go over well with Emily. Is Sebastian the reason for her true dirty-dancing moves?

Emily’s nipples are hard, and she has a dazzling smile on her face. “Come on, Ariel. Loosen up.”

The idea intrigues me, but I didn’t come all this way just for these men to think I’m easy.

A moment later, Misty and June, dragging River with them, hit the dance floor and pull their clingy dresses down to expose their tits.

Heather isn’t far behind, though Sebastian stays seated and seems to enjoy the view.

Rachel sits by herself at a table, nursing a glass of what appears to be water, until Ginger leaves Sebastian—what?—and joins her.

Heather has joined Brett on the dance floor, and her tits bounce against her chest. River looks uncomfortable and soon joins Sebastian at his table.

I’m tempted. My tits are as good as any of theirs, but I don’t want to send the wrong message.

Except the message tonight is fun .

Emily’s earlier words ring in my mind— I deserve to be here!

“What the fuck?” I murmur as I pull the thin stretchy straps of my teal gown off my shoulders and then around my waist. My breasts fall against my chest, I pull my hair up by my hand once more, and I execute a perfect chest circle.

“That’s my girl!” Emily flashes her grin.

I glance over at Evangeline, who’s standing near the French doors that lead inside our mansion.

She’s glaring at us.

I guess tonight’s mixer wasn’t supposed to be clothing optional. Will she believe the whole thing is the result of a wardrobe malfunction? Does it even matter?

I move closer to Emily when hot breath caresses the back of my neck.

“Would you two care to dance?”

I turn into Brett’s stunning blue eyes. My nipples harden at his fiery gaze.

“Absolutely, we would,” Emily replies. She slides over to Brett and clings to his right side.

I’m on his left, so I mimic her movements, sliding my hand up his chest and snuggling into his left shoulder.

Heather, June, and Ginger all stare at us, jealousy permeating their gazes.

I remember those looks from high school. From the mean girls when a guy one of them liked got a little too close to me.

I look away and focus on Brett, who smiles first at Emily and then at me.

“Ladies,” he growls, “I love a good sandwich.”