Waterfall Kisses (The Kisses 9)

“You two are just too damn cute,” I groaned, rolling my eyes. “So lovey-dovey.”

Actually, I love it, I thought to myself. This was a true romance story. This was what love looked like and I couldn't be gladder that my brother had it. If anyone deserved happiness, it was him.

“Like you aren't exactly the same,” Ava teased. She grinned at my confused expression. “I heard you were in Leo's bed this morning.”

Red heat flushed through my entire body and I suddenly felt a little dizzy with the sudden loss of blood to the full body blush.

“And to think I had to hear it from this guy,” Ava continued, mock hurt filling her voice. She pouted her lips out. “I thought we were friends, Charlotte.”

“Um...” I couldn't find words. “Well...”

“I told you it would work out!” Ava grinned at me, holding onto Bastian. “I knew it from the moment I saw the two of you together.”

I looked back and forth between their knowing grins and sighed. “I'm so glad everyone is so involved in my love life.”

Bastian laughed. “It just means we care.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “You said those reports were in?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Yup.” He grinned, knowing exactly what I was doing to change the subject.

“Then I need to get to work.” I went to hug Ava. “I'm so happy for you. I couldn't ask for a better sister.”

“Thanks,” she whispered back, giving me one last squeeze before letting me go.

I turned and headed out of Bastian's office, glancing back as I closed the door behind me to see the two of them looking deeply into one another's eyes. If love was a visible color, the room would have been saturated in it.

I grinned, closing the door and heading to my own office. Today was a good day.

Chapter Twenty-One

“You ready to go?” Bastian asked, popping his head into my office.

I looked up in surprise. I had been so focused on my work that I had completely lost track of time.

“Um...” I looked at my almost complete report. With the gala and auction, I was behind on keeping track of all the financials for Bastian. “I just need to finish this and hit save. You go on ahead. I'll be right there.”

“Okay,” Bastian agreed. “See you in a bit.”

I could hear him talking to Ava in the hall. Another male voice that I assumed was Mr. Fairchild asked him a question, but by then they were too far down the hall for me to make out what was said. The front door opened and closed as Bastian, Ava, and Ava's parents left for the restaurant.

It only took me a couple of moments to finish entering the last bit of data and to press save. Somehow, these reports always seemed to get longer the more I had to do. I reached for the lid on my laptop just as a notification for an email came in. I thought about just ignoring it, but it was from the financial department and was probably important.

With a sigh, I opened it. The content just made me sigh again.

Apparently, money was missing from the CEO slush fund. The account was supposed to be for emergency business transactions, and it was closely monitored by the accountants. About one hundred thousand dollars was unaccounted for. I groaned, not wanting to deal with this right now. My stomach was rumbling for some food, so I just put an important label on the email for later.

The accountants were always on me for this account, never the billionaires. It wasn't quite fair, but I dealt with it. I knew it was important to keep all our numbers accurate. It was probably just a forgotten private jet flight or some dinner expense that Gabe, Leo, or Bastian forgot to mark down. Since they were the only ones other than me with access to that account, I knew it was just a mistake somewhere.

If it wasn't, there would be hell to pay.

I closed my laptop and hurried upstairs to put on something more appropriate for a night out in the Caribbean with friends. I put on a light pink sundress with a pretty floral pattern that was breezy and comfortable while still chic and classy.

Outside, it was humid and hot, especially after the cool of the air conditioner. A Porsche with a driver was waiting for me in front of the mansion, the air conditioning already going and the seats cool. I was glad I wasn't driving. Despite having access to cars that would make most people drool, I hated driving them. I really preferred my old beat up truck back home to these finicky little sports cars.

The drive was short and pleasant. The driver pulled up to the main entrance and stopped the car, running out to open my door for me. The heat of the island hit me, somehow warmer here than it was back at the mansion.

I thanked him and he drove off, heading back to the mansion and revving the engine slightly. I hoped he enjoyed driving the car. Someone should. I laughed quietly as I heard the engine again further up the road. It was the perfect day for driving a fast car. The skies were clear and the roads open. The driver was having a little fun and I was glad.