Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“I know you’re young, Ariel,” he says. “The youngest of all the women here. But you’re also the most real, I think. You haven’t had the chance to try to conceal who you truly are.”
“Oh, Alex...” I sigh. “I have. This isn’t me. This place isn’t me. I’m a roller waitress, for goodness’ sake. I left school at sixteen. I still live at home with my mama to help her with expenses.”
“Ariel—”
I hold up a hand to stop him. “Don’t say it doesn’t matter. I’ve come to terms with who I am, and I deserve to be here as much as any of the others. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. But when you said I haven’t been concealing who I truly am...” I shake my head. “This isn’t me. I could never afford to stay at a place like this. Clothes like I have here. I could never—”
He places his fingers over my lips. “I know that. I know who is paying for this place. I know who paid for your clothes.”
I can’t help laughing. He paid for all of it, of course. He, Brett, Sebastian, and River. Four handsome billionaires. Maybe they would have been five if their friend had lived.
“Something funny?” he asks.
“No. I just sound silly as a goose, though, don’t I? Of course you know I can’t afford all this stuff. None of us can. Not even Emily, the hotshot fashion designer or Sienna, the law—” I clamp my hand over my mouth.
Not a good idea to mention Sienna. Alex had sex with her the first night.
Then she took off.
Alex raises an eyebrow, but there’s a hint of amusement in his gaze.
“You chose me,” I say softly.
“Yes,” he says, his eyes softening. “I chose you.”
Tears prick at the corner of my eyes. It’s the first time anyone’s ever chosen me without any expectation or agenda. But it also terrifies me, because I don’t know what to do with it.
I think of Sebastian, with his intoxicating charm. Marc and Zion, with their magnetic allure. Brett, with his gorgeous California surfer-boy good looks and a personality to match.
Alex is different from them all. Gentle but mysterious, caring but contained. Except for today. He told me he wouldn’t be gentle, and he wasn’t.
And it was intoxicating.
His confession has me spiraling in a whirlpool of emotions that terrify and excite me all at once.
And I want to be a part of it. Of all of it.
Alex lives in New Orleans. Though he’s not native to the south, like I am, he understands the south. Chooses to live there.
“I love you too, Alex,” I finally say. “I think I’ve loved you since you made that perfect Southern dinner for me.”
“To be fair, the chefs made the dinner.”
“But you told them what to make. You did it so I’d feel special. And I love you for it.”
After a shower, Alex and I head downstairs. Time to tell everyone the good news—and Evangeline needs to know that one bachelor is off the marriage mart.
I’m giddy. I can’t keep a smile off my face. I’m sure I look like a kid who just found out Christmas is coming early, eyes sparkling and heart racing with excitement.
We find Sebastian and Brett standing by the front door talking in hushed tones.
“Hey,” Alex says, his fingers entwined with mine. “Ariel and I—”
“Riv took off,” Sebastian interrupts. “He’s off to Miami for some fucking reason. Says he’ll be back by tomorrow night.”
“What the fuck?” Alex’s eyebrows nearly fly off his head.
“Right?” Brett shakes his head. “He’s acting so strangely. I know him inside out, and I can’t figure out what’s going on. But we do have some good news.”
“Yeah? What’s that?” Alex asks.
“Sienna’s coming back. Tonight.”
Alex drops my hand.
Just drops it. I’m not sure how he got our fingers untangled so fast, but he did. Then he steps away from me.
And I’m pretty sure my billionaire regrets those three little words he just said.
I slink away, up the stairs. I’m pretty sure Alex doesn’t even notice.
EPISODE 162
IN LOVE OR LUST?
Emily
I’m back in my own suite.
Alone.
Still wearing the sheet from River’s bed. It’s tangled around me, infused with his perfect scent of spice, outdoors, and raw sensual musk.
I can’t help inhaling.
I opened myself up to him this morning. Told him those three bloody words that I wasn’t sure I’d ever say to a man.
I’m ready to drop the sheet when someone knocks. I tighten it around me, walk to the door, and look through the peephole.
It’s Ariel.
And she’s...
Not crying, exactly, but she looks distraught. I open the door. “What’s wrong, love?” I ask.
She walks in without invitation. “Oh, Emily. I think I’ve made a terrible mistake.”
“You and me both,” I say dryly, though my words don’t ring true. River may not have returned my sentiment, but I love him with all my heart. Telling him was the right thing to do. I’m sure of it. Even if it ends in heartbreak.