Billionaires Dollar Series

“You’re not talking about…?”

His smile is massive. “No. But now you’re making me wish I was. No, I was going to ask you to be my date to an event tonight.”

“Your date?”

“Like, out in public?”

“That’s usually the way it works, yes.” His eyes glittering, he leans in closer, setting a large hand on my thigh. “Brooks & King are having a social tonight.”

“No way.”

“Yes. I’d said no months ago, but when I received yet another email about it today… well. It might be fun.”

Fun. That’s a mild way to put it. Brooks & King is one of the biggest publishing houses on this side of the country. When I’d been a student, I’d followed their vacancies religiously, looking for updates on traineeships and junior positions.

He’ll be recognized. If we go together, I might be, too. “We can’t take any pictures together,” I say.

“Agreed.”

“Maybe I need a code name. Do you think Skye is too uncommon?”

Cole’s lips quirk, and leaning back against the headrest, he’s watching me through hooded eyes. “That’s where your mind went first?”

“It’s a legitimate concern,” I say, but there’s no seriousness in my voice. “Oh, Cole. Are you really sure? Can we go?”

His thumb smooths over my thigh. “Absolutely.”Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

“Thank you. Oh! We’ll need to stop at my place. I can’t go dressed like this!”

“We’re already on our way.”

I lean back in the seat, closing my eyes at the rush of excitement pulsing through me. Brooks & King! And Cole, doing this for me. He said he wouldn’t have gone to the event otherwise.

A small portion of my mind is telling me to focus on that. To dissect it. To face the facts-his actions, from giving Timmy the best night of his life to this event, are making it harder and harder for me to stay emotionally uninvolved. Hush, I tell it. A bit more living and a little less thinking. At least for tonight.

Back in my apartment, Cole has a seat on my bed while I get dressed. “Seen it all already,” he says by way of explanation, but judging from the way his eyes rake over my body, he’s enjoying the show.

“First row seat, huh?”

He leans back on his hands, eyes darkening. “You’re stunning.”

Empowered, I change into a matching set of lingerie. While he watches, I slide the red lace underwear up my thighs, tugging them in place on my hips.

“For later,” I say.

Cole’s jaw clenches. “You have about two more minutes to get dressed, and if you’re not done by then, we’re not leaving at all.”

“Is this testing your self-control?”

“More than you can imagine.”

I laugh, slipping into my silkiest black dress. It hangs off my shoulders on two spaghetti straps and falls nearly to my knees, but hugs my form. It’s indecently decent. “I’m done,” I say. “I want to sleep with you, but I really want to go to the Brooks & King event, too.”

“This is how it starts,” he says morosely. “I’m getting replaced.”

I grab his hand and pull him out of my bedroom, stopping in the bathroom to put on a dab of perfume. “Not at all. For now, I’m determined to have my cake and eat it too.”

Charles drives us to a beautiful villa by Lake Union, a wrap-around porch extending onto the water. Lights illuminate the driveway as he cruises through wrought-iron gates. Cole has fallen silent beside me, but at my quiet intake of breath he smiles.

“It’s a nice place they’ve rented,” he remarks.

A valet approaches, intent on opening the car door for us, and nerves reawaken in my stomach. My silk dress feels too cheap; my makeup too simple. I’m here as a plus-one-what do I have to talk to these people about?

Cole steps out beside me and puts a hand on the low of my back. “We’ll stay for as long as you want,” he whispers in my ear. “Or however short.”

My grip on his arm loosens. “Thanks.”

We walk up the oak steps together. A small jazz band is playing music in the corner; along the opposite wall is a giant table of books with a small gold-plated sign. New Releases. Something in me relaxes immediately. They have books here.

A middle-aged man approaches us, hand outstretched. “Mr. Porter! We’re so happy you could make it!”

Cole gives the man’s hand a firm shake. “It’s a pleasure.”

“Did you just arrive?”

“We did, yes.” Cole nods to me. “This is Mr. Edwin Taylor, of Brooks & King’s executive department.”

He extends a hand to me-to me! “Skye Holland,” I say, shaking his hand firmly. “I’m Brooks & King’s biggest customer.”

His eyes light up with delight, darting from me to Cole. “Is that so?”

“An exaggeration perhaps, but a slight one,” Cole says dryly. “She’s both an avid reader and a writer.”

“Excellent,” Edwin says, smiling at me. “Well, you should fit right in tonight. The table over there displays all of our upcoming releases. Feel free to look around and talk to our guests. Most of our department heads are here tonight. Ask anything you want, anything at all.”

Cole nods, like this is a perfectly normal thing to be offered. “Lovely. We’ll talk to you again, I’m sure.”

“I hope so.” Edwin smiles at me again. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Holland.”

As soon as we’re out of earshot from other guests, I turn to Cole, unable to hide my excitement. “The head of their executive department?”

His lips quirk. “Figured you’d get a kick out of this event.”

“We get to see their releases ahead of time? Before they’re announced? That’s wild!”

“And the way he spoke to you… You were invited to this? Why?”

Cole shrugs, ignoring the glances several in the room are aiming his way. I can’t tell if it’s to admire his looks or his power. “I’m invited to most things. You asked me about it once, actually.”