Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
I’m the only one who can handle River when he gets like this. “Easy,” I say again. “This is pennies to us. Let’s just figure out where we go from here.”
“That’s not the point. I told her today to get someone here and that money is no object. But this could have all been avoided, like I said. Now the women will be worried for no reason. What must they have thought when they heard the helicopter? When they saw the paramedics running in here with a stretcher? They’re already worried after what happened to Rachel.” He focuses on Evangeline again. “Is this what you’ve been keeping from us? Is this why you think your life may be in danger?”
River is on edge. After Rachel’s accident, the break-in at his parents’, and now this, he could blow. The man has a long fuse, but when he blows…
It’s not pretty.
“It’s only us here, Evangeline,” River continues. “We’re the ones who hired you, and we deserve an explanation. Why did you hide this pregnancy? Did you think we wouldn’t hire you if we knew? Because that would be illegal, and we all know it.”
Evangeline gulps audibly. “Of course I know that. I didn’t tell you because…” She closes her eyes.
“Why, Evie?” Sebastian’s voice is gentle, much gentler than River’s.
“Because the pregnancy,” she says, “is part of why I’m in danger.”
EPISODE 121
THE SOUS CHEF, THE BARTENDER, AND ME
Ariel
Kissing two men at the same time has never been on my bucket list. Then again, my bucket list was always limited to things like getting my GED and finding a job other than roller skating at the drive-in restaurant—like maybe working at Denny’s or something. In the last couple weeks, my bucket list has taken on a whole new meaning. Marrying a billionaire is actually a possibility for me.
Of course, neither of these two men are billionaires. Marc is a sous chef and Zion is a bartender.
But I care about that as much as a bear cares about a fishing license.
We sneaked back to my suite while the paramedics were taking care of Evangeline. I sure hope she’s okay. My leg injury isn’t hurting much at all anymore. I’ve taken a lot of ibuprofen, and I had a glass of wine with dinner. I’ve been drinking nothing but water since then, which is good. I want to remember everything about this exciting threesome with these two hotties. We’ve already made our way into my bedroom, and Zion is undressing me with his warm brown eyes.
But before it gets too far, a knock echoes through the suite. It’s soft but persistent, like an unwelcome thought. I’m torn between my fear of being caught and my curiosity as to who might be on the other side. Is it one of the men? Or is it news about Evangeline?
“Who could that be?” Marc asks, his voice a low rumble against my ear.
“I don’t know.” Zion pulls away from me. “Stay with Ariel. I’ll take care of whoever it is.”
My heart races. I hear Zion’s low voice followed by another that sounds female. I can’t make out the words, but the tone is serious. The atmosphere in the room changes, thickening with tension.
Marc slides his hand into mine, his fingers weaving a comforting squeeze. “Don’t worry. Whatever it is, we’ll take care of it.”
A few minutes pass, but they feel like an eternity. I try to focus on Marc’s steady presence beside me.
Finally Zion returns. “Everything’s okay,” he says. “It was Lori, one of the housekeepers. She was checking to make sure Ariel knew that Evangeline was going to be okay.”
I gasp. “Thank goodness!” But then— “Oh, no! She saw you here. In my room.”
“Don’t you worry about that, baby,” Zion says. “We staffers watch each other’s backs.”
But what if it had been someone else? I should have never let Zion answer the door. Before I can give it another thought, though, his lips are on mine while Marc slips the strap of my camisole over my shoulder.
And just like that, the unexpected interruption dissolves into the background. All around me is the fragrance of Marc’s woodsy cologne, of Zion’s musky scent. It’s a dizzying mix—a mix of two men.
My God. Two men!
Zion’s kiss is rough and passionate, and his tongue tangles with mine. Marc is behind me now, and his warm breath teases the back of my neck.
Marc finds his way to the curve of my back with his hands, and he presses me closer.
The world spins wildly around me, reduced to the sensation of Zion’s lips against mine, Marc’s body pressed to mine. Heat rolls off Zion in waves, a stark contrast to the cool evening breeze that blows from the window.
Zion moves from my lips to my neck, tracing a path with his tongue that sends me reeling, while Marc grazes my skin so gently that I erupt into goosebumps.