Enticing You (How to Marry a Billionaire #1)

Episode 26

EPISODE 26

BLIND MAN’S BLUFF

Sebastian

The jerk of the catamaran leaving the dock smooths out just as quickly. Evangeline retrieves her phone. “Where was I?” she says again, tapping onto the screen. “Yes. Our pairings for this evening. We’ve got River and Misty, Alex and Ariel, and Brett and Sienna. That just leaves…”

Me. It leaves me. But Evangeline seems hesitant to look my way. She’s no doubt embarrassed about me overhearing her get sick last night. She claimed she was fine when she emerged from the bathroom, so I left. I hated invading Evangeline’s privacy, but weighed against Misty invading mine, Brett’s, Alex’s, and River’s? I had to do it.

I’m going to be damned furious if I compromised my integrity and it turns out Misty just wants a taste of River’s dick. Still…we can’t make assumptions where Misty Holmes is concerned. I just hope Riv is ready for whatever their date night may develop into.

“…Sebastian,” Evangeline continues, still without meeting my gaze. “Your date for tonight is…Heather!”

Heather, who looks hot as forty hells in her black-and-royal-blue suit, claps her hand to her mouth. “Seriously? That’s fantastic!” She looks my way with a saucy grin.

I can live with that. Part of me was hoping to hear Emily’s name, but she and I got too hot for each other too soon. I hated being interrupted when I had her against my wall last night, but it was probably for the best. I have to give each of the women a chance.

I return Heather’s smile and wink.

We’ll have fun. Heather’s a fun person. She’s already proved that on the dance floor with her firm tits flying.

“All right,” Evangeline says. “If you weren’t chosen for a date with one of the men, don’t despair. The other four of you will have one-on-one dates with them tomorrow night, and again, the pairings will be random. The night after, our own Sebastian Tate will be performing for us on the island, and I know you’re all looking forward to that.”

Light applause from everyone but me. I’d clap for myself, but that wouldn’t look good.

“Now that Captain Joe has got us on our way, we’re going to play a game.”

The guys and I don’t know what the game is. We gave Evangeline a few ideas but told her to use her imagination as long as none of the women would choose to opt out, which means things won’t get overly physical.

“Gentlemen,” Evangeline continues, “if you’ll all come up here and join me.”

We join our matchmaker at the front of the deck.

“Take a good look, ladies,” Evangeline says. “Take in every detail of those shoulders and chests, because in a moment, I’m going to give each of you a blindfold, and you’re going to have to tell who is who simply by touch!”

A grin splits my face.

Nice, Evangeline. Good game. Soft fingers caressing my shoulders and chest sounds pretty damned awesome.

Brett smiles, and so does Alex. Riv has his normal brooding expression. What the hell does Misty want with him, anyway?

“No touching now , of course,” Evangeline warns. “Looking only.”

Misty waves her hand. “What if we’ve already touched them?”

Evangeline laughs. “I’m sure some of you have. But no touching this morning. Not until you’re blindfolded.”

Brett shoots up his hand. “Question, Evie.”

“Yes?”

“Do we guys get to play the same game later? Figure out who the women are by touching their shoulders…and chests?” He waggles his eyebrows.

Evangeline shakes her head, smiling. “He thinks he’s such a comedian, doesn’t he, ladies?”

Misty, Heather, and June giggle. Ariel, Sienna, and Rachel blush. Ginger has no visible reaction, and Emily looks bored. She’s got resting bitch face down.

“The answer,” Evangeline says, “is no, of course, Brett. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

“Hey”—Brett flashes his ridiculous grin—“what’s good for the goose and all.”

Evangeline rolls her eyes. “Pay no attention to Mr. Dawson. You have one more minute to stay where you are and look to your heart’s content. Trina will be circulating with blindfolds. Once you have one, put it on. When it’s your turn, Trina will guide you up front. The men, of course, will changes places each time so they’ll be in a different order for each woman. Any woman who is able to identify all four men correctly will get a lunch date later this week with the gentleman of her choice. Trina, you ready?”

Trina, one of Evangeline’s lovely blond staffers, nods, holding a basket.

Once the ladies are all blindfolded, Trina takes Ginger’s arm and leads her up to where the four of us are lined up in a row.

We’re all tall and broad. Brett is the only one of us with no hair at all on his chest, so he’ll be an easy pick. River and I have about the same amount of chest hair, though his is darker. Alex has slightly less.

Ginger’s the tallest of the lot—a natural bombshell. It’s a shame to cover those gorgeous green eyes with a black silk blindfold.

I’m the first in line, and her touch is warm and pleasant, but I don’t feel a spark. In fact, she’s moving her hands almost methodically, as if she’s identifying different muscle groups. Then I remember she’s a doctor. I feel like I’m getting a physical.

“Hmm,” she says, her lips twisted. “Great deltoids and traps. Very sexy.” She slides her hands over my chest. “Chest hair, nice.”

Giggles from the others.

“Great pecs, too, but then you all have great pecs.” She glides her fingers over my left nipple. “Average sized nipple.”

More giggles, and Brett, who’s next to me, gives me a side-eye.

I silently tell him to fuck himself.

“I’m not quite sure,” Ginger says. “Can I touch the others before I make my choices?”

“Of course,” Evangeline says.

Trina guides Ginger to Brett, and she feels him up, taking less time than she did with me.

Then on to River.

She gives him a good pat down, similar to what she gave me, and then the same with Alex, commenting on musculature but never again nipple size. I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult to me.

“May I touch the first one again?”

“Absolutely,” Evangeline says.

She goes straight for my shoulders this time, caressing the bottom of my neck as well. “Okay,” she says. “Number one, here, is Alex. Number two is Brett. Number three is Sebastian, and number four is River.”

“You may remove your blindfold,” Evangeline says.

Ginger slides the silk from her eyes and drops her jaw. “Only one out of three?”

Evangeline smiles. “It’s more difficult that you think, isn’t it?”

Next, Ariel grips tight to Trina’s hand, making me feel sure the cloth tied over her eyes isn’t allowing her to see anything through it. The other men and I switch places.

River is first in line this time. Ariel, her hands slightly shaking, reaches toward him and caresses his shoulders first. Unlike Ginger, she doesn’t make any commentary. Just as well. I don’t need to hear another treatise on my nipple size.

I’m next, and Ariel’s hands are small and cooler than Ginger’s. Her touch is sweet but tentative. She’s obviously nervous. She glides over my shoulders and chest quickly, more quickly than with River. She spends even less time on Alex and Brett.

“I don’t know,” she finally says. “I’ll guess number one is River, number two is Sebastian, number three is Alex, and number four is Brett.”

Give the girl a freaking medal! She got us all right.

“Nicely done,” Evangeline says. “Take off your blindfold.”

Ariel removes the silk and her eyes go wide. “I got them all?”

“You did.” Evangeline claps her hands together. “Who would you like to share lunch with?”

“Today? On the boat?”

“No, dear. Today is for everyone. Your lunch date will be tomorrow or some other time. It's up to you.”

“Can I…think about it?”

“Of course you can, but if someone else gets them all right, she may choose the gentleman you have your eye on.”

Ariel’s cheeks go pink. “All right. I choose…Sebastian.”

I stop myself from dropping my jaw. I glance toward Brett, who’s gone rigid.

Interesting choice, Ariel . I give her a rock-star smile. “It’ll be my pleasure, beautiful.”

After we switch positions again, Trina escorts Emily to the front. I’m in the fourth spot this time, and a sliver of jealousy hits me when Emily slides her fingers over Brett’s hairless pecs.

I suppress it. I’ve got a date with Heather tonight and a lunch with Ariel soon, and I want to give them my full attention.

Emily gets to me at the end of the line in record time. “Got it,” she says, after touching my shoulders and pecs lightly. “In order, it’s Brett, Alex, River, and Sebastian.”

“Unreal,” Evangeline says. “You may take off your blindfold, Emily.”

“I don’t need to. I already know I’ve got them all.” She slides the silk off her face with a satisfied smile.

“How’d you do that so quickly?” Trina asks.

“I have an advantage,” she says. “Clothing is my business. I have to know exactly how a garment will fit on any particular body.”

“Who will be your lunch date tomorrow, Emily?” Evangeline asks.

She can’t choose me. Ariel already staked her claim, and though I’m looking forward to getting to know both her and Heather better, I still can’t forget the feel of Emily’s nipples under my tongue.

Emily faces me, her blue eyes like cerulean fire.

“I choose…Brett.”