Without Warning: A Billionaire Romance (Playboys of New York Book 5), JA Low [book suggestions .TXT] 📗

“It was nice to meet you, Rhys.” She holds out her hand to me, and reluctantly I take it. But as soon as our hands touch, sparks of electricity shoot up either side of us, and we break the connection.

We both stare at each other as if trying to work out what the hell just happened.

“I’ve got to go.” Ariana opens the door and disappears out of her office, leaving me behind, utterly confused.

I walk out and down the hall to my father’s office, interested in what he has to say. His receptionist lets me in, and I take a seat.

“Rhys, good to see you back from London.” Finally looking up from his paperwork, he shakes my hand.

“Why am I here?” I question, not beating around the bush.

Moments later, Stanford comes in with coffee for all. My father gives him a strange look but takes the coffee anyway.

“Can’t an old man catch up with his son?” He looks over the rim of his coffee directly at me.

“Isn’t that what he’s for?” I ask, pointing my thumb in the direction of Stanford.

“Fine.” My father drops the niceties and places his coffee on the desk. “I heard you acquired the old marina hotel in Montauk.”

And there it is.

He wants me to use him for the damn renovations.

“Yes. I did.”

I know the story about that hotel. His best friend and colleague won the contract to design the hotel over him. His best friend also happened to be dating my mom at that time. Mom always told the story from rose-colored glasses that our father fell in love with her and that they were some kind of star-crossed lovers, but in reality, my father was upset that he lost his first-ever account to his best friend, so he thought he would get him back by taking his woman.

“You know how I feel about that place,” he tells me, keeping his emotions in check, but I can see it on his face he would kill to have the hotel under his control.

“I do,” answering him, then I take a sip of my coffee.

“And?” His voice raises.

“And… I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with it yet.”

“I want it,” he declares.

“I know.” Taking another sip of my coffee, I can see my father’s cheeks go red as his anger begins to build.

“Let me know when you have worked it out,” he tells me, then I’m dismissed.

Well, that was a fruitless exercise, not sure why I expected anything different to come out of the conversation.

Stanford follows me out. Obviously, he has something to say.

“Just spit it out, Sandy.” Losing patience with this fucking family is my pastime.

“Ariana’s mine.” He glares at me. “So, if you want my sloppy seconds, then go right ahead. But just know I’ve been there first.”

I want to reach out and wrap my hand around him and squish every single muscle in his neck. I’m one hundred percent sure there is no way in hell Ariana has fucked my brother, not from the conversation I overheard when I arrived.

“I guess she was left unsatisfied then.” Turning on my heel, I get the hell out of there. I have no more to say to these people.

10

Ariana

Unknown Number: It was good seeing you the other day.

I stare at the message that’s come through on my phone. Is this from Rhys? How the hell did he get my number? Probably went through the company’s files. No, he said he wanted nothing to do with his father’s business.

Ariana: How did you get this number?

Rhys: Your business card from your desk.

Damn, he’s good.

Ariana: Why are you messaging me?

Rhys: Because it was nice seeing you again.

Ariana: Are you a masochist?

Rhys: Never thought I was, but it seems like maybe you bring it out of me.

Why am I smiling?

No. Shaking my head. I will not be sucked into his flirty messages.

Rhys Davenport is off-limits.

Then why did you google his name as soon as he left the office? I was checking to see if his story checked out, that he was truly getting a divorce, and it was true. The sordid details about his marriage splashed across my screen. I felt a little icky reading about his personal life, but it’s not like I really know the guy. You just let him fuck you. That’s because I thought he wasn’t a stranger. Why the hell am I arguing with myself? This man has me all flustered, and I don’t like it.

Ariana: Maybe I’m just the wrong woman for you.

Rhys: Pretty sure we know we’re compatible between the sheets unless you want to try again to be sure?

Is this guy serious?

What is the matter with him?

Ariana: I think I’m okay.

Rhys: Look, I’ve ordered way too much food for dinner tonight. Why don’t you come over and we can hang out?

Ariana: Put it in the freezer.

Rhys: Or I could share it?

This guy doesn’t give up.

Ariana: I appreciate you explaining what happened the other night, but I think it’s best we just leave it at that.

There, I’ve let him down gently.

Rhys: I really did have fun the other night. And it was nice running into you at work. I was looking forward to maybe getting to know you, but I get it. And honestly, no hard feelings at all.

I fall back against the bed, feeling like such a bitch. Everything is messed up.

“You okay?” Emma walks into my bedroom with a bottle of champagne in her hand. I look a mess. Moving my hand away from my face, I stare up at Emma’s concerned eyes.

“I don’t know.”

“Okay, let’s move into the living and pop this bubbly and sort your shit out.” She pulls me up off the bed, and we make our way back into the living room, where she pops the bottle and pours us both a glass. “Now, tell Aunty Em what’s going on.” She taps my leg, which makes me smile.

“You know how I told you about what happened on the weekend?” Emma nods her head