Enticing You (How to Marry a Billionaire #1)

Episode 22

EPISODE 22

YOU OWE ME

Sebastian

River, Alex, and I walk from the beach back to the house and in through the French doors leading to the kitchen. Alex heads to his suite to replace the clothes the tide swept away.

“See you back down here in a minute,” he calls, still holding my undies over his bare ass.

“I don’t need those back,” I say dryly.

He flips me the bird.

River grabs three bottles of water out of the refrigerator in the gourmet kitchen while I take a seat at the table. He hands me an ice-cold water and sits down across from me. “Brett should be here.”

“He should, but he’s not. This is on the three of us for now.”

“We could—” River shakes his head. “Fuck. No cell phones. We can’t call him.”

“Nope. Besides, two of us have already been cock-blocked tonight. I’m not going to do that to Brett.”

Alex returns wearing cargo shorts and a plain white T-shirt. He pulls his fingers through his hair and takes the third bottle of water. “I need a shower. My hair’s full of sand.”

“We could all use one,” I say, “but first things first. I’m going to knock on Evangeline’s door and get the information we need.”

River eyes me. “You plan to seduce the info out of her and you don’t want to shower first?”

I lift an eyebrow. “Maybe I’ll shower with her .”

Alex twists the cap off his water bottle, takes a long drink, and swallows. “She’s probably in bed.”

“Good enough. I’ll join her.”

“You’re serious.” River’s voice is low and a little menacing.

“Have you ever known me not to be serious, Riv?”

He scoffs. “Only…let’s say…all the freaking time, Seb. This is serious.” He leans in and lowers his voice. “If Misty conspired with Evangeline, or vice versa, and either one of them knows something?—”

The French doors open, and June and Heather—their dresses still down and their tits still showing—enter.

“Oh!” June gasps, pulling her dress up. “We didn’t know anyone was in here.”

We’ve already seen the goods, so why is she embarrassed now? This is a woman who models the skimpiest lingerie for a living.

The three of us stand.

“Easy there, June.” Heather gives her an elbow nudge. “River’s topless.”

They both gaze at Riv’s sculpted torso. I don’t lean even slightly that way, but I admit River’s a magnificent specimen. Must be all that ranch work. He could hire everything out, but damned if he still doesn’t like to be outdoors working.

“Sienna took my shirt,” River drawls.

“I’m sure there’s a story there.” Heather opens the refrigerator and pulls out a bottle of Chardonnay. “Anyone want to join me?”

Alex shakes his head. “We were just retiring.”

“Come on,” Heather cajoles, wiggling her firm ass clad tightly in her snug royal-blue dress. “The night is still young.”

Is it? I don’t have a clue what time it is. Don’t much care, either. These two women would make for some awesome bedwarmers, but the guys and I have an agenda—one that can’t wait a minute longer.

I smile—a big Sebastian Tate grin. “I’m sure River and Alex here can entertain you two. I’ve got something to do.”

“Something more important than the two of us?” Heather tilts her head. “I suck at using a corkscrew. I need you to open the wine.”

“Riv and Alex are both expert wine openers.” I back out of the kitchen, turn, and then look over my shoulder. River takes the corkscrew from Heather and opens the bottle.

River and Alex both hate Chardonnay, so I doubt they’ll imbibe. Not at this point in the evening. But maybe the two of them will get lucky tonight after all.

I’d rather be in their shoes—or balls deep in Emily. Or Sienna. Or Ginger—than deal with the fate that awaits me tonight, but this one’s for the team.

I walk up to the second floor, stop in my suite, wash up quickly and brush out my hair, and open my trunk to find a clean pair of jeans.

No shirt. No shoes. No underwear.

Just relaxed-fit jeans that highlight my abs and my Adonis belt—what women call that tight V pointing to you know where. Gets them hot every time.

Evangeline’s suite is on the second floor a few doors down from mine. I pad toward it and knock softly.

No response.

I knock again.

“Yeah? Who’s there?”

“Sebastian.”

“What do you want?”

“You,” I say. “We need to talk.”

“Yeah, sure. Just a minute.”

Seconds pass and she opens the door. Her long black hair is piled high on her head, and her face is devoid of the goth makeup. Her brown eyes are oddly pretty and long-lashed without all that eye liner. She’s wearing a black silk robe that reaches her ankles.

“What is it?” she asks, not even attempting to act like she’s not gawking at my physique.

Good. All is going as planned.

“May I come in?”

She holds the door open. “Yeah. Sure. I was just going over tomorrow’s schedule. There’s been a problem with the menu on the catamaran, and I?—”

I hold up a hand. “The menu’s fine.”

“It will be, but heads are going to roll. The salmon sashimi was delayed, so it will be all tuna, and the eel smells like it’s been warming in a garbage heap. The chef insists that it’s good, but I told him if he tries to serve it he’s fired.”

“Everything’s fine, Evangeline.”

“You didn’t mind the topless dancing?”

I tilt my head. “Why would I mind?”

She shrugs. “I was just hoping the ladies would conduct themselves a little more appropriately this evening. I know what this event is about, Sebastian, and I know what will go on here. But tonight was special. I wanted…” She sighs. “It doesn’t matter now anyway.”

“You’re right. Whatever is bothering you doesn’t matter. The party was a success. Thank you for your hard work.”

She eyes me for a moment. “You’re welcome. Why are you here?” She cocks her head. “This is about Misty, isn’t it? That’s why you were interrogating me about her earlier.”

“I won’t lie to you. Yes, it’s about Misty.” I close Evangeline’s door and meet her gaze. “I need the truth, Evangeline.”

“About what?”

“About Misty Holmes. Did you approach her?” I take a step toward her. “Or did she approach you ?”

Evangeline steps backward, nearly stumbling over a chair. I grab her arm to steady her.

“Thank you.” She looks at the floor.

“You’re welcome.” I keep hold of her arm, expecting her to yank it away.

She doesn’t.

“I followed your rules,” she says. “I found eight suitable women from all walks of life to?—”

“You did a wonderful job, Evangeline. That’s such a long name. Do you have a nickname?”

“Not really.” Her cheeks blush a bit. “Some friends call me Evie.”

“You did a remarkable job, Evie. We appreciate everything. I hope you understand that.”

“Of course.”

I let go of her arm. I want to be seductive, not threatening. “So about Misty… Just tell me the truth about her involvement. It will in no way affect your compensation.”

“I told you, I…”

I take another step toward her, this time slowly. “I’m not accusing you of anything. We simply told you to find eight suitable women. I want to know the circumstances behind Misty being on that list.”

She turns her head, glances at her computer screen on the desk. Her bedroom is through the door on the other side of the living area.

I’m prepared to take her there if I have to, but I hope I can get what I need without that.

“Please,” I say. “It’s important that I know how she came to be on the list.”

“Why?” Evangeline asks.

“Simple curiosity.”

Evangeline sighs. “And I thought Ariel would be the problem.”

“Why would Ariel be a problem? She’s sweet, beautiful, engaging.”

“No reason.” Her computer dings and she looks down at it, tapping to bring up the screen. “More emails. It’s the middle of the damned night. I have work to do, Sebastian.”

I extend a hand and grin. Her gaze darts to my chest and then back again. I reach forward and take one of her hands.

“The emails can wait. Now…Misty…”

Evangeline pulls her hand away, the top of her chest now flushed. “Yes, she came to me.”

“Why did she come to you, Evie?”

“I didn’t ask her why. It wasn’t a secret that I was looking for eligible women. I put out feelers in all the right places. Sifted through myriad photos and resumes. Invited the finalists to mixers and chose them from there.”

“But not Misty. She didn’t send a photo or attend a mixer, did she?”

Evangeline bites her bottom lip. “No, she didn’t.”

“How did she approach you?”

She pauses a moment, tightens her robe, and clears her throat. She opens her mouth, but closes it before any words come out. She opens it again, her throat moves, but— “Excuse me a moment. I’m sorry.” She heads into her bedroom.

I follow her, only to see her run into her bathroom and slam the door.

I knock softly. “Evie? Are you okay?”

Retching. She’s getting sick.

Clearly she’s not okay. I don’t think she’s come down with a bug. The food the staff served was fine or we’d all be puking.

“Just give me a minute, please,” she chokes out.

“Of course.”

I sit on her bed, but then jerk upward.

Evangeline is in her bathroom heaving while her computer is in the other room…and she’s online.

I scurry back to make sure the screen hasn’t gone blank.

“Yes!” I say out loud and then berate myself.

Keep quiet, Seb. Keep fucking quiet.

I don’t bother sitting, just read her emails—specifically the most recent one, sent within the last five minutes.

From Misty Holmes.

God, I shouldn’t. But I do.

Fun night, Ev. But remember, I get River, so I want Rachel out of the running. June too. It’s non-negotiable. You owe me.