Enticing You (How to Marry a Billionaire #1)

Episode 16

EPISODE 16

STARRY-EYED

Ariel

Brett Dawson’s ass is a freaking work of art. Sitting in the hot tub with the others, I can’t help but stare, my neck tilted, as he stands on the pool deck, his back to us.

Not only is it perfectly shaped and muscled, but the pale moonlight filtering over the tub cloaks his naked body in silvery luminescence.

Yeah. I just had that thought. Me. Ariel Tanner from bumfuck Alabama is waxing poetic over a man’s ass.

Jealousy settles in my gut. How am I supposed to share Brett with three other women, all of whom are more beautiful and intellectual than I am?

He approached me first.

Then again, Sebastian approached Emily first, and now he’s off somewhere with Misty. Or maybe June, Heather, or Sienna.

Best not to choose favorites, at least not this early in the game. But how can I not? Brett has the looks of a surfer god, the brain of genius, and the charisma of a Hollywood star.

Plus he’s the only blond in the bunch, and I love blond hair. I always wished for it. My bestie back home, Jazz, is blond, and the guys always flocked to her more than to me.

In fact, if Evangeline had stumbled upon Jazz during her shift at the local bar, I’m sure she’d be here instead of me.

But I’m here.

I need to make the most of it, even if I don’t go home with a billionaire—which I probably won’t.

Time seems to be moving in slow motion. Brett hasn’t turned around yet. Instead, he walks, his back still toward us, to the pool house. A moment later he emerges wearing trunks.

Seriously?

We’re all naked as jaybirds and he’s going to cover the goods?

“Really, Mr. Dawson,” Emily says with a scoff as Brett steps into the hot tub. “You do know we’re all naked, right?”

“Oh, I know.” He winks.

“I’m with Emily,” Ginger announces. “Maybe we’d like to see a little more of you.”

“I’m thinking of you ladies,” Brett says. “I don’t want anyone to feel threatened.”

“There are four of us,” I say dryly. “Besides, Evangeline guaranteed our safety.”

Rachel hasn’t spoken at all.

Brett squeezes in next to me—his chest is muscular, hairless, and perfect—with Ginger on his other side. “So…what are we talking about?”

“What do you think?” Emily says with a sly smile. “About you. And the others.”

“And have you come to any conclusions?”

“Not really,” Ginger says. “This is only the first day. Not even a full day. An evening.”

“Exactly.” Brett relaxes, stretching his arms around the edge of the tub. He’s not touching Ginger or me, but if he lowers his arms slightly, he will be. “We knew this would be difficult. We need to get to know each of you, and we want you to get to know each of us.”

He’s right, of course. That doesn’t help the ache of jealousy in my gut, though.

“So tonight, I’d like to get to know…” He looks past Ginger to Rachel, and then back to Ginger. He turns his head, focuses his gaze on Emily, and lastly on me. “You.”

My heart thunders as I swallow. Me? After I made such a fool of myself with him earlier? It was one thing to dance with him. We weren’t alone. But?—

“You, Ariel. Are you up for it?”

“It’s…late,” I say.

“That’s true.”

Emily pokes my thigh under the water.

“But sure.” I will my voice not to stammer. “What would you like to do?”

“Whatever you’d like. We can go inside and have a drink. Or we can take a moonlit walk on the beach. We can watch a movie in the home theater. Any of those sound enticing?”

He didn’t mention going to his room for a fuck.

Which honestly doesn’t sound bad at all. Despite my worries that I’m the youngest and might be seen as easy if I just tumble into something with one of these billionaires, I can’t help my curiosity. Now that I’ve seen a lot of what Brett has to offer, I’m eager to see the rest.

But he’s right. He needs to get to know me before he decides if he wants to try anything physical. I’d do well to remember that myself. I can’t be getting starry-eyed over a handsome billionaire. Sex isn’t love. Men never seem to have an issue separating the two. Why is it so difficult for me?

“The walk, maybe,” I finally reply. “Or a movie, but I can’t guarantee I won’t fall asleep.”

Emily punches my thigh underwater again.

Yeah, she’s right. Did I really just say I might fall asleep in Brett’s company?

Brett smiles. “A walk it is then. Stay here. I’ll get you a towel.” He rises, steps out of the tub, and returns to the pool house. A few minutes later he reappears wearing jeans, a light-blue button down, and slip-ons. His muscular arms hold a plush white towel. “Here you go, Ariel.”

He holds the towel out in a rectangle—impressive arm span—and deliberately looks away like a gentleman.

Not the behavior I was expecting. He’s already seen my boobs. Hell, they’ve been pressed against his chest.

Just as well, though. This way I can hide Tweety a little while longer. I stand and step out of the tub and into the towel. He wraps it around me and then turns his head to face me as he secures the terry cloth over my chest.

A comforting gesture…as well as an arousing one.

After his performance on the dance floor, I was sure Brett was a player. Then again…would a player come to an island to find a wife?

Probably not.

I glance at my robe lying across a lounger. “I should probably get some clothes on.”

“Not a problem. The pool house lockers have each of your names on them. They’re filled with clothes in your sizes.”

I drop my jaw. “Evangeline didn’t tell us about that.”

“That’s because we didn’t tell Evangeline. We had the lockers stocked while the party was going on.”

“How lovely,” Emily says. “Have a nice walk, you two.”

“Yes, enjoy yourselves.” Ginger smiles.

“Have a nice evening,” Rachel finally says.

I walk to the pool house and make my way to the changing rooms. Sure enough, the lockers now have names on them. I open mine, and I choose a flowing blue sundress, a pair of white lace panties, and sparkly silver flipflops. I grab a wire hairbrush and tug it through my damp hair. A blow dryer hangs on a hook in the locker, but I choose not to use it. I want to get back to Brett before he changes his mind.

Brett is waiting outside the pool house for me. He takes my hand. “Ready?”

I nod, as I seem—temporarily, I hope—unable to form words.

I turn and wave to the others, and we leave the pool area.

The courtyard is empty except for staffers who are still cleaning after the party. We wave to them as well, and then Brett and I walk toward the beach.

“I’ve been wanting to talk to you alone,” he says to me.

Here it comes. He’s going to want to know why I lied about yoga in my bio, why I ran away from him at the beginning of the evening. I draw in a breath and brace myself. “Why?”

“I think you know why.”

I clear my throat. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For being…” I sigh. “I don’t know.”

We stop on the stamped concrete path that leads to the ocean. He turns to me and tips my chin up so I’m meeting his gorgeous blue gaze. “All you need to do is to be yourself, Ariel. Do you think I asked you to have a drink because I read your bio?”

“Didn’t you?”

He chuckles. “Of course not. I read all the bios. They contained interesting information, but if we could get to know you all from your bios alone, why would we orchestrate this big event?”

Okay. Now I feel like an idiot.

“I don’t care if you lied about doing yoga.”

“I didn’t…lie exactly. Evangeline?—”

“Evangeline wrote about you based on what she thought we wanted to know. She did a good job, but those are bios. Nothing more.”

“I watch yoga videos,” I say. “But I’m by no means an expert. When you asked me what kind of yoga, I panicked. I don’t know the different types of yoga, Brett. I just mimic what the instructors do on the videos.”

“I’m sorry I put you on the spot.” His blue eyes are warm and sincere, and he brings my hand to his lips and brushes them over it.

Chills skitter through me despite the warm night breeze.

“I think you’re beautiful.” He smiles. “I think all of the ladies are beautiful, but there’s a reason I approached you first, Ariel.”

“Why is that?” I ask, still reeling from the gentlemanly kiss to my hand.

With his other hand, he traces my lower lip with his finger. “Because you have the sexiest mouth I’ve ever seen.” He leans down.

My heart flutters.

And when his lips touch mine…

I open for him.

I open for his kiss.

And that advice I gave myself earlier? About not getting starry-eyed over a handsome billionaire?

It drifts away like delicate rose petals on the balmy ocean breeze.