And Jewel was more than happy to be shared by these angels.
Read on for a preview of
THE BILLIONAIRES: THE BOSSES
coming in September …
Copyright © 2017 by Calista Fox.
As Christian lit the multiple fires and dimly set chandeliers, Bayli passed through glass doors to the terrace. Rory followed closely behind.
“He has a swimming pool,” she drolly commented. “Why am I not surprised?”
“And a spa.”
All sleek and stylish, with water features made of flat, polished obsidian stone, all artistically lit. Bayli stood at the railing and took in the scene once more.
“Not too shabby, eh?” Rory said from beside her.
“Your apartment is incredible, too. Remind me to never show you mine.”
“Bayli.”
“Shh.” She kissed him. It was meant to be a quick kiss, but of course Rory took charge of it. His arms slid around her waist and he hauled her up against him.
Where Christian’s kisses were intense and all-consuming, Rory’s held the playful promise of wicked things to come, making her toes curl.
When she finally pulled away, she breathlessly said, “I had a point to make.”
He grinned deviously. “So did I.”
Unraveling from him—and fanning her flushed face with a hand—she took a couple of steps back so that she didn’t fall into his embrace again.
She told him, “This is all extremely nice,” she gestured toward the terrace and Christian’s apartment, in general, “but it’s not the reason I’m here. Yes, I want to someday be someone and maybe have my own swimming pool, too. You know this about me already, and it’s one-hundred percent true. I want more for myself than I’ve ever had—I’m sure that’s also how Christian felt from the time he was a kid. But … There’s something much more enticing and poignant about all of this that has nothing to do with material desires.”
Rory crossed his arms over his chest. Cocked his head to the side. “Tell me.”
“It’s like when you read a novel and the character has painted himself into a corner, and as the reader, you’re wondering how the hell they’ll ever free themselves. How they’ll escape whatever drudgery or peril or cage they’re facing with no obvious route in sight or in mind. And then something mysterious happens—they discover a secret or accidently flip a switch that reveals a private passage through the walls or they find a trap door. Whatever. And suddenly, a slew of new opportunities are laid out before them. It’s a very heady sensation for the reader as much as for the character.”
“You might be losing me on this one, babe.”
She laughed softly. “Think about it. When I came to your restaurant it was because I needed a job. Would I have been content coming in three nights a week to seat people who’d look right through me—a nobody—because they’re more interested in seeing and being seen in a roomful of VIPs?”
“Likely not. One of the reasons I didn’t hire you.”
“Smart of you. But I faced a corner because you turned me away. Luckily, I had the gig at the fund-raiser with the opportunity to impress Christian. He was my trap door … Except.” She held up her finger as Rory started to speak. “Not in the way I’d anticipated. The show will be a fantastic break for me, and I’m eternally grateful for the chance to prove I can do this, for being chosen. But I got painted right back into the corner, because I came full circle with you.”
“I’m your corner?”
She grinned. “You’re my trap door, too.”
“Why am I not getting that logic?”
With another laugh, Bayli said, “Because I’m high on champagne and aphrodisiacs and a really amazing orgasm. But, Rory, what I’m telling you is that I was living in fear of not landing the hostess job—because I really need the steady paycheck. And while I was all tangled up in that fear, the two of you were already working out my escape route. And the truth is, I don’t care about this amazing view of Central Park. I mean, it is amazing … But my point is, for the first time in my life I’m understanding that what I want isn’t just about being special in the eyes of strangers. It’s about feeling special, and worthy, when I’m with people I care about. Who care about me.” She got
a little teary-eyed, but Rory didn’t seem to mind.
He brushed his fingers over her cheek. His breath blew against her temple as he said, “Beautiful Bayli. Sometimes you’re just too much in your head, honey.” His finger and thumb gingerly pinched her chin and lifted it so that she stared him the eyes. “Christian and I aren’t your escape route. You’re ours. From the moment we saw you, even though it was separately, we both knew you were the answer to our problem with the show. And that we both wanted you. That you are what we both want.”