Tears crested her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She told him, “Christian, we both lost our mothers because of circumstances beyond our control. We can’t change that. But something all my friends keep telling me is that what I do as I progress in my life is something for my mom to be proud of. She’d appreciate my tenacity, the strength I’ve finally found, the huge amount of love I have in my life. The fact that I both give and receive it.”
She hugged him tight. Then she turned to Rory.
“You give me all kinds of crazy fulfillment I never anticipated.”
He chuckled. “I do like to keep you on your toes.”
“And you’re quite good at it.”
Rory exchanged a quick look with Christian, then extracted a long, narrow box from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. “This is from us. For … everything.”
He kissed her forehead.
Bayli stared at the pale blue box with TIFFANY & CO. stamped on the lid and a white satin ribbon tied in a pretty bow.
“Why do I already know this is going to be way over the top?” she asked in a breathless voice.
Christian said, “Just a little something to keep the smile on your face.”
“You both do that amazingly well without jewelry.”
“Open it,” Rory told her.
Christian took her champagne flute so that she could accept the box from Rory. She pulled the ends of the bow and the satin unraveled. Bayli lifted the lid, peeled back the neatly folded white tissue, and gasped.
Nestled in velvety folds was a diamond tennis bracelet. And they were no small diamonds.
The gift completely took her breath away.
Rory freed the bracelet from its tiny clasps and secured it around her wrist. He said, “We know it can’t replace the one your mother gave you, and we’re both sorry about that. But you’ll always have her in spirit, honey. And a constant reminder that Christian and I love you.”
She threw her arms around him and held on tight. Then she hugged Christian again.
“I love you, too.”
Bayli had two incredible men, fantastic friends, and a blossoming career. She’d paid off all the medical and credit card bills and was finally officially starting her life.
She led Christian and Rory into the apartment just as Pierre served the appetizer plates.
Phillip and Colin both shoved back their chairs, jumped to their feet, and let out girlish cries.
Phillip pointed at the prawns and wailed, “They still have the heads on them!”
Bayli laughed, boldly, loudly, wickedly.
And her friends joined in.
Read on for an excerpt from The Billionaires: The Stepbrothers, coming soon from Calista Fox.
Butterflies took flight in Scarlet’s stomach and she felt a little giddy, which she could maybe blame on the wine but knew better what the real reason was. She was antsy over the rest of the evening. Anxious to see Michael and Sam naked and hard.
Wanting her.
Heat burst on her cheeks. This was quickly becoming the longest dinner ever.
Both men kept the conversation light and she was grateful for that. She wouldn’t have been able to concentrate on anything too mentally taxing.
They had crème brulee and coffee in a separate room, in front of a tall fireplace. The drapes on the windows and patio doors were pulled back to showcase the grounds and the falling snow. It was all very lovely and even cozy, despite the enormity of every room.