Enticing You (How to Marry a Billionaire #1)

Episode 24

EPISODE 24

I'VE GOT YOUR BACK

River

Brett’s been my best friend in the world since forever, and I hate interrupting him and Ariel, but I’ve got to bring him up to speed. Alex is still in the mansion with June and Heather, but I made my getaway.

“Brett, thank God,” I say. “We need to talk. Now.”

“I’m a little busy, Riv.”

“I know, and I’m sorry, but this is important.”

Ariel looks up into his eyes. “It’s okay. I can get back to the mansion by myself.”

“Nope. River and I will walk you back. Right, Riv?”

“Sure. Of course.”

Ariel looks gorgeous, the moonlight casting silvery highlights onto her reddish-brown hair. Her lips are swollen and full. I don’t need to be clairvoyant to know what went on between her and Brett.

I know Brett too well. He loves the ladies. Always has. And Ariel is just his type.

We walk her back to the mansion, each taking one of her hands. Her hand is small and delicate in mine. Rachel was the woman I gravitated to first, but Ariel… Ariel is definitely worth exploring.

Unless Brett has already set his sights on her. He and I have a deal. We’ve had it since middle school. We don’t touch each other’s women. Hands off sisters, mothers, friends, exes…and potential love interests.

Seb and Alex aren’t part of that deal. We’re a tight foursome and always have been, but Brett and I have had each other’s backs since our single digits. We’ve been through some shit the other two don’t even know about. The four of us competing for love like this could strain our friendships, and we all talked about it beforehand and agreed not to let anything come between us. I love all three of them, but if push comes to shove, my first priority is keeping things cool with Brett.

Brett sees Ariel safely back to the mansion, and—after giving her a light brush on the lips—he turns to me. “Spill it.”

“It’s not good.”

“I had that feeling. But you’re a worrier, Riv. You always have been.”

“That’s because I’ve always needed to worry for both of us. You don’t take things nearly as seriously as you should.”

“Don’t I? You don’t build a multimillion-dollar tech company by not being serious.”

“You know damned well what I mean.” I look around the deck. The light is still on by the pool house.

“The ladies were in the hot tub when I invited Ariel for a walk. Or at least they were.” Brett yawns. “It’s pretty late.”

“June and Heather are in the kitchen with Alex.”

“Where’s Seb?”

“He’s…” I clear my throat. “He’s with Evangeline.”

“What the hell for?”

“It’s a long story. Let’s go get Alex. Maybe Seb is back.”

“Seb isn’t…”

“Only if he has to.”

“The fuck, Riv? What’s going on?”

“I’m not sure yet. But Seb is working on finding out.”

We head into the kitchen. Alex is still sitting at the table with Heather and June, who are drinking glasses of something white. Alex isn’t drinking, which doesn’t surprise me. The guys and I all decided beforehand not to overindulge during this event. We need to keep our heads if we’re going to get to know these ladies and see if we’re compatible with any of them.

“You’re back!” June rises and grabs my arm. “Sit with us. Alex is telling us about his latest book.”

I know all about Alex’s books. I’m his beta reader, so I already know what’s in the book. “Actually, ladies, I think we should all call it a night.”

“Oh, no.” Heather rises and grabs Brett’s hand. “The night is still young.”

Brett smiles down at Heather, and with his other hand, strokes her cheek. “Normally I’d agree with you, sweetheart, but we’ve got a huge day planned for you lovelies tomorrow, and we want you well rested. I’d be happy to see the two of you to your suites.”

Heather turns her lips downward, but June acquiesces. “He’s right, Heather. We want to be bright-eyed for the catamaran tomorrow.”

Brett holds out his other arm, and June takes it. He walks them out of the kitchen.

“Did you tell him?” Alex asks once we’re alone.

“Not yet. Seb’s not back?”

“He is now.” Seb’s voice.

I turn as Seb meanders into the kitchen.

“How’d it go?” Alex asks.

“I didn’t have to go where no man has gone before,” he says.

His words have humor, but his demeanor is dead serious.

“What’d you find out?” Alex asks.

“We should wait for Brett,” I say.

“You found him?” Seb asks.

“Yeah. He was with Ariel. He’s walking June and Heather to their rooms. He’ll be back.”

“Or will he? This is Brett we’re talking about.”

Brett saunters back into the kitchen. “This better be good. I could have had a nice little sandwich with those two. They were both willing.”

“This is definitely more important than a threesome,” I say. “I don’t want to talk in the house. Or even in the courtyard.”

“Agreed,” Seb says. “You’re not going to believe what I have to tell you.”

A brick lands in my gut. This isn’t good.

The four of us leave the kitchen and walk out to the deck, through the vast courtyard, until we hit the concrete-stamped pathway leading to the beach.

“All right, guys,” Brett says. “What the fuck is going on?”

I quickly relay my conversation with Misty.

“But she didn’t tell you what she thinks she knows?” Brett says.

I shake my head. “I tried to get it out of her. Seb thinks she’s playing games.”

“I’m not so sure anymore.” Seb draws in a breath. “I was just in Evangeline’s suite, and I intercepted an email from Misty. It was only sent a few minutes before.”

“Fuck.” Alex rakes his fingers through his hair.

“Evangeline said she wasn’t feeling well and went to the bathroom, so I took a look while I was alone. Then I marked it as unread and came back down here.” He pauses a moment. “Misty’s got something on Evangeline—says Evangeline owes her—and it seems she’s set her sights on you, River. Plus, she wants Rachel and June out of the picture. Do you have any idea why she wants you?”

Normally I’d say something like, “Isn’t that obvious?” But I’m too fucking fretful at the moment. “Hell, no. I never met her before today. But she did tell me I was the hottest man here.”

Brett elbows me. “In your dreams.”

"What about the women?" Seb asks.

"I spent time with both Rachel and June earlier," I say, "but nothing happened with either."

“The thing is,” Seb continues, “Misty wanted to be here and approached Evangeline to make it happen. It could be as simple as her wanting Riv, but with all due respect to your ultimate manliness, Riv, I doubt that’s the case.”

“No offense taken.” I rub my jawline. “I’m not remotely interested in her. I had my eye on Rachel, but I’m far from making any decisions.”

“Warm up to Misty,” Brett says. “See if you can find out what she wants.”

“Fuck. That’s Sebastian’s style. Not mine.”

“I’d do it,” Seb says, “but Misty and I have zero chemistry. There was nothing between us when we attended that charity shindig a couple years ago. It’s you she wants, Riv, which means only you can get the information out of her.”

They’re right, of course. “How?”

“Use your masculine wiles,” Alex says dryly.

“I’ve got it.” Brett lights up. “Tomorrow on the catamaran, we’ll have Evangeline orchestrate a drawing for a special date with each of us and we’ll tell her to make sure you get Misty.”

“Then she’ll know I was reading her email,” Seb says.

“Why would she?” Brett shrugs. “What if we just tell her who we want to be set up with? And have her make it look like a drawing?”

“That might work better,” Alex says. “I’ll take Sienna.”

“Nope,” Brett says. “We should each choose someone we haven’t spent time with yet. I’ll take Sienna.”

Alex shoots darts at Brett, but then, “Fine. I’ll take Ariel.”

Brett doesn’t seem fazed. “Fine with me. Who do you want, Seb?”

“Hell if I know. How about the hottie doctor? Ginger? No, wait. I don’t want to know. We’ll tell Evie?—”

Alex’s eyebrows shoot up. “Evie?”

“Her nickname. I got it out of her.” Seb smiles. “We’ll tell Evie to put me with anyone she wants.”

Brett nods. “Good enough. And Riv, sorry, you get Misty.”

I sigh. “Out of the cast iron skillet and into the fucking inferno.”

“You have a way with clichés, Riv.” Brett nudges me. “I’ve got your back, man. Always.”

Twenty Years Earlier

“I’ve got your back, man,” Brett says to me.

“I know that.”

“Then know this.” He grabs both my shoulders, something he never does. We’re not a touchy-feely bunch. “The rest of us need this, each in our own way. Especially Jake. And you do too, Riv.”

He’s not wrong. I look down at Ernie, at my side as always. There was never a more loyal mutt, and if Larson had his way, Ernie’d be pushing up daisies. My dog looks up at me, pure trust in those big brown eyes.

“I’m in,” I finally say. “I’m all fucking in.”

Present Day

“I’m in,” I say. “Tell Evangeline what we want, and I’ll do my best to charm all the secrets out of Misty Holmes.”

Sebastian shakes his head. “Oh, man. River, you know I love you, but try not to bully it out of her.”

“I’m no bully.”

“I mean literally. Don’t be a bull. Use some finesse.”

“You think I don’t have any finesse? I’m a fucking bull whisperer , man.”

“It’s not a bull whisperer we need,” Brett says. “It’s a Misty whisperer.”

I nod, inhaling deeply. “I’ll do what I have to do to get what we need. Even if it means taking her to bed.”