Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Not with anyone.
I meet her gaze head-on. “I don’t have any secrets like that.”
I’ve gotten good at the lie over the years. We all have.
“That’s a shame. I would have liked to know something you don’t share with just anyone. But I guess there’s one thing I can tell you.” She smiles coyly.
“What’s that?”
“Promise you won’t tell?”
“Of course.”
“Okay.” She bites on her full lower lip. “This is so embarrassing…but Misty and I had a threesome once with an NBA player.”
Is she expecting her confession to shock me? Misty Holmes travels in celebrity circles, and apparently Juniper Loring does as well. Sebastian has bedded more than his share of starlets and groupies, sometimes two and three at a time. And NBA players? I’ve heard stories.
The server arrives with our drinks, and I take a sip of bourbon, letting its spice float over my tongue.
June picks up her glass of sparkling water. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“Do you want me to ask for details?” I say, my tone guarded.
“No!” She takes a sip, blinking her eyes. “It’s not something I tell people. I didn’t even know Misty that well, though I know her better now since we’ve spent two weeks here at the house. We met at a gala one night, and I had too much to drink… Long story short, that’s why I’m drinking sparkling water. I limit myself to one drink per evening. I’m never putting myself in that position again.”
“So you didn’t enjoy it?” I swirl the amber liquid in the lowball glass, letting its aroma waft toward me.
“I didn’t say that. It was fun, I guess. But I’m not champing at the bit to do it again.”
“Is Misty?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you ask her?” June gestures.
Misty’s walking toward us, carrying a flute of champagne.
“Good evening,” I say. “Would you like to join us, Misty?”
She flips her blond hair and sips from her flute. “River Barrett.”
“That’s my name.” I rise and pull out another chair. “Please.”
She takes the seat I offer. “June, how are you getting along?”
“Fine, and you?”
Misty lets out a soft huff. “Brett Dawson didn’t like it when I tried to cut in on him and the attorney dancing.”
“You mean Sienna?” June asks.
“Yes, whatever. But I’d rather talk to you two. I’m so excited about tomorrow!”
Right. The clothing-optional excursion on the catamaran. Not my idea. It was Evangeline’s, with raucous agreement from Seb and Brett, of course.
“It should be fun,” June agrees.
They both look to me.
“Yes. It will be.”
I’m already bored with this conversation. I bet Rachel’s feelings about a clothing-optional outing line up with mine. I imagine a lot of things about Rachel fitting me like we were made for each other…
“I haven’t had the chance to talk to you all evening, River.” Misty bats her eyes.
She’s beautiful, for sure. And loaded. So far, though, I’m unimpressed. But perhaps I’m biased because she was born into wealth.
I mean…she’s into threesomes, so she can’t be all bad.
“Let’s talk, then.” I rub my chin and take a sip of my drink. Why not try the same question? I’ll just rephrase it so I'm not asking for her deepest secret. “Tell me something about yourself that’s not in your bio.”
I get ready for her to divulge the threesome with June sitting right there, but the words that emerge from her mouth send a chill up my spine.
“Here’s something you don’t know about me. I know all your secrets, River Barrett.”
EPISODE 11
CAN'T BUY ME LOVE
Sebastian
Emily Kensington is the hottest thing walking, but my God, does she ever shut up? If we weren’t out here in front of everyone, I’d kiss her. That would do it.
If I kiss her, though, we’re going to finish what we started earlier tonight.
She’s yammering at me about tearing her dress—which looks just fine, by the way. She’s a dress designer, for God’s sake. Surely she had no trouble fixing a small rip.
I do my best to tune out her chattering—which hasn’t turned me off in the least, according to my aching groin—and scan the action across the room. Sienna Costello is dancing, along with Alex, Heather, and Ginger.
Emily grips my shoulder. “Are you even listening to me, Sebastian?”
I do my best not to sigh at her insistence. “Yeah. I’ve told you I’m sorry about the dress, and I’m sorry about your blue balls, though I still maintain you have to possess balls for them to actually be blue.”
“You’re impossible.”
“Emily,” I say, “if we hadn’t been interrupted, I would have gone through with fucking you. I think you know that. The question is, would you have let me?”
She sets her hands on her hips. “Are you accusing me of being a cock tease now?”
“No.” I rub my forehead. I wanted to meet her because I love a challenge, but Emily gives new meaning to the word. “I’m asking a simple question.”