Enticing You (How to Marry a Billionaire #1)

Episode 17

EPISODE 17

THE GAME IS AFOOT

Sebastian

Misty Holmes is beautiful, of course. The clingy pale-rose dress she wears accents her creamy skin and luscious curves. Her tits are pretty awesome too. As River and I walk with her across the concrete pathway that leads to the beach, she shows no signs of wanting to pull her dress up and cover them.

I love looking at naked women as much as the next guy, but what River and I need to talk to Misty about is much more important than getting a peek.

About two years ago, Misty and I attended a charity gala together set up by our respective publicists—one of those affairs that costs ten grand a seat. The tabloids loved it. Colorful photos were splashed all over the Internet for a few weeks, but there was nothing between us. I have no reason to believe she feels otherwise. I’d all but forgotten the event until Misty’s name showed up on the list Evangeline provided us. It struck me as slightly odd that an heiress would want a chance to marry a billionaire, but I didn’t think much more than that until River told me what Misty said to him.

I know all your secrets.

“What do you two feel like doing?” Misty asks with a seductive smile on her full lips.

“Talking,” River says abruptly.

Good old Riv. I love him, but he’s got about as much finesse with the ladies as a bull out to stud. Which I guess makes sense since he raises beef.

“About…?” Misty raises her perfectly sculpted eyebrows.

I take her hand, bring it to my lips, brush them over it lightly. “About whatever you’d like, gorgeous.”

Her flawless skin glistens in the moonlight, and in the distance the waves crash onto the sand.

River’s granite jaw is clenched. “Beginning with why you’re here.”

For fuck’s sake, Riv…

Misty turns to me. “I came for you , Sebastian.”

I stop my jaw from dropping. “Oh?”

She giggles. “Just kidding.” Then her smile fades. “Or am I?”

For God’s sake. Typical rich kid bullshit. When you’ve grown up wanting for nothing, you learn how to play games for your own amusement. I’ve seen it before with sons and daughters of celebrities.

I’m not a fan.

I worked my ass off to get where I am today—and so have Brett, River, and Alex. Misty may be having a good old time toying with us, but I swear to God if I ever have kids, they’ll learn the value of hard work and money.

Maybe River has the right idea. Let’s get to the damned point.

“Tell us what you think you know,” I say, “and don’t leave out a single dirty detail.”

Her blue eyes go wide. “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what he means,” River says, his voice harsh. “You said before that you know all my secrets. What do you think you know?”

Misty turns, focusing her gaze on the ocean in the distance. “I might be persuaded to tell you… if the two of you go skinny dipping with me.”

I resist an eye roll.

Yup, the game is afoot, but I’m betting spoiled Misty Holmes is no Sherlock. She’s about to learn she’s playing against a master.

I unbutton my shirt. “Sure. I could use a dip.”

River eyes me, but then unbuttons his black shirt slowly, revealing his flesh inch by inch.

And Misty takes notice. Oh, does she take notice.

Nice job, Riv.

We both shed our shoes and leave them on the stamped concrete. Misty’s are probably somewhere near the dance floor since she was dancing barefoot earlier. Her dress is still scrunched around her waist, and she shimmies out of it, wearing only a lacy pink thong.

I suck in a breath.

I don’t like what this woman is pulling, but I sure like what I’m seeing.

I glance at Riv. He’s unbuckling his belt, unzipping his jeans, sliding them over his hips.

Damn. I never thought he’d be ahead of me in this stripping game.

I remove my jeans as well, and River and I stand naked except for our boxer briefs.

“Let’s go,” I say.

“Skinny dipping means all of it.” Misty winks.

“You haven’t taken it all off,” River says. “Besides, I don’t want to walk naked on the beach.”

“I’m with Riv,” I agree.

“Have it your way, then.” Misty steps onto the sand.

I take one of her hands, and River—rather reluctantly—takes her other one. We stroll casually across the sand to the water. Misty walks smoothy. Good. She’s not drunk. Good. Otherwise I wouldn’t be taking her to the ocean.

River says nothing, and neither do I. Misty already gave us her terms—skinny dipping. She didn’t even guarantee anything. She said she might be persuaded to tell us what we want. Fucking games.

But River and I can’t afford to take a chance. If this woman knows something about our past, we need to find out what it is. I’d rather be back in my room pressing Emily against the wall, but this one’s for the team.

Twenty years earlier…

“This one’s for the team,” Brett says. “We all need it, and he’s got it. Plus, the old coot gets what he deserves.”

Alex, Jake, and I are in, but River’s our one holdout.

“Come on.” I nudge him. “Have you forgotten what he tried to do to your dog?”

Ernie sits beside River. I’ve never seen a dog as loyal as that silly mutt. He follows Riv everywhere, and we all love him as if he’s our own.

Riv gives him a pet on his soft head. “I don’t disagree that he’s a first-class motherfucker, but Ernie’s okay, and what you’re suggesting is…”

“Criminal?” Alex says. “We know that. But what choice do we have at this point?”

“There’s always a choice, Alex.” River removes his cowboy hat, shoves his hair out of his face.

Jake pushes his wheat-colored hair off his forehead as well. He won’t wear a hat. Says it covers up his best feature—his thick blond hair. It’s even thicker and lighter than Brett’s. Jake’s jaw is tight, and he spits tobacco—how he can stand to put that shit in his mouth is beyond me—on the dusty ground. “Let River talk. We should hear him out. ”

Jake is the conscience of our fivesome. His sense of justice is what’s kept us from getting into real trouble up until now, which is why I was surprised as hell that he so readily agreed to Brett’s suggestion. Are things worse for him at home than we know? There’s some reason he’s in on this one. Otherwise he’d be on River’s side. I gaze at Jake. He’s big and tall, but he’s slightly thinner than the rest of us. We all live modestly, and we all have our reasons why we need this to work. What is Jake’s reason? It must be dire. Are he and his mom—it’s just the two of them as his dad died shortly after Jake was born—going hungry? My stomach churns at the thought.

Nah, he’d tell us if that were the case.

Wouldn’t he?

Or would he be too proud? I can’t ask him. I’d never embarrass my friend like that.

“Talk then, Riv,” Brett says.

River shakes his head. “I don’t feel right about it. It’s wrong. I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve it. I’m not saying we don’t need it, but?—”

“You think I feel right about this?” Jake interjects.

“You must,” River says. “Otherwise you of all people would shoot this shit down.”

Jake looks to the ground. “Things aren’t always as they seem.”

“Jake…” I begin.

“I’m done talking,” Jake says, meeting my gaze. “I don’t have to justify my reasoning to any of you. I’m in on this one. That’s all you need to know.”

River’s eyebrows shoot up, but he says nothing.

This is so fucked up. We’ve been planning capers since we were knee-high, but this is different. I’m in, though, because it will help us all out of a pinch. Plus, I can’t fault Brett’s logic. It can be done, and it can be done quickly and efficiently, without any trace of evidence pointing to us.

That’s me, though. And Brett, who’s fearless. Alex, for being the quiet type, is always ready for action. We usually have to talk River and Jake into our plans—and normally River caves first.

But something’s rotten here, and I’m thinking it goes beyond hunger.

What has convinced Jake—and his sense of justice—to turn to the dark side?

Present Day…

The water laps around my ankles. Misty removes her thong to reveal a perfectly shaved pussy. She wades into the water, turning around to stare at us. “Well?”

I slide my boxers over my hips. River strips as well, and the two of us enter the water. Misty jumps into River’s arms, whispering something in his ear.

River’s eyes narrow.

Uh-oh.

I know that look. It’s the same look Riv had when things started to go wrong twenty years ago.