Billionaires Dollar Series

“Just sex,” he agrees. “Uncomplicated, no-strings-attached sex.”

I glance at his chest, his shoulders, the sharp cut of his jaw. The man is sex on a stick, and I’m sure he’s used to this kind of situation. Not to mention the glittering amusement in his eyes when we spar. The curve of his smile, sly and teasing. Enemy or not, I’d have to be a fool to throw that away.

“Hot-as-hell sex,” I correct softly.

His answering grin is all masculine pride. “You’re coming over to mine on Saturday.”

“Oh?” I say, reaching out to run a hand over his chest. “I am?”

“Definitely.” He reaches out to flip me over, his body moving over mine. “We’ve only just begun.”

Nick slaps me on the shoulder. It’s his normal greeting, has been since we were in our early twenties. I slap him back. “Man, it’s been weeks since I’ve seen you around.”

“Sorry about that. Work has been… well, a lot.”

“Is your new development set to start?”

“Yeah, within a few weeks,” I say, taking a sip of my whiskey. Skye would have my head for phrasing it that way, but I know better than explaining the business deal I made with Between the Pages to Nick. He’d tell me all the ways it was a terrible decision.

He nods, leaning back in the booth. “Ready to lose on Saturday?”

“Hah, you don’t stand a chance. I’m not losing three sets in a row.” I lean back, draping my arm over the back of the empty chair next to me. “Blair might swing by toward the end. Promised her a game too. That okay?”

Nick nods, even though his face tightens. For some reason, he’s never gotten along with my little sister. “Sure.”

The circles under his eyes look deeper than usual, even if he’s otherwise the picture of health. “Business booming?”

He snorts. “You could say that, yes.”

I recognize the wolfish glint in his eyes. “What failing company are you taking over now?”

“NDA,” he says. “I’ll tell you in a week.”

I grin. Seattle society has never known what to make of Nicholas Park. Brilliantly wealthy, but very obviously new money. Talented and efficient, but with a penchant for ruthlessness.

We’d been classmates in college and had stuck together ever since, both of us drawn to winning and accomplishment like moths to a flame.

“The number of enemies you make in a month must be hard to keep track of,” I say. “Do you keep a list? A little black book?”

He smirks. “Of course. I’ll make a copy for you in the event of my death.”

“So I can track down your murderer?”

“Yes. I have complete faith in you.”

I snort. “I don’t. But I’ll hire the best private detective that money can buy.”

Nick tips his glass to me. “I’d expect nothing less.”

In my pocket, my phone vibrates. It’s usually something I ignore when I’m with family or friends, considering how many hours of the day I work.

“Give me a moment.”

He nods and looks out over the hotel bar. Another one of mine, but not Legacy, thank God. I haven’t been back there since that first night.

It’s Skye. She’s sent me a photo, no text, of the crowded storage room at Between the Pages. On the wall is a small dartboard with the nearly unintelligible logo of Porter Development taped over it.

Arrows pepper it.

I grin at my phone.

Cole Porter: Not a single arrow is in the bull’s-eye. There’s room for improvement here.

Her answer is immediate-like she was waiting by the phone.

Skye Holland: It’s hard to aim when I’m overcome with anger.

Cole Porter: If I’m to be vandalized, at least try to do it properly.

It’s easy to picture her face, amused and annoyed in equal measure. Asshole, she’s saying to herself right now.

Nick is shaking his head at me. “You’re smiling at your phone? Don’t tell me it’s Blair.”

“No.” I lean back in the booth, looking at him. Nick has always given it to me straight. Sometimes brutally so. “Remember the girl I told you about?”

“The one who worked in the building you’re demolishing?”

“That’s the one.”

“What about her? No, don’t tell me. You’ve started sleeping together.”

I shrug. “Yeah. It’s casual, though.”

“To you, maybe,” he warns. “It always starts casual.”

“Mutually agreed casual, actually. She still can’t stand me on a personal level.”

Nick chuckles darkly. “I like her already. So what? The two of you are having hate sex?”

“Yeah.” From my side there isn’t much hate at all. She regularly likes to remind me of hers, though. Nick isn’t the only one talented at making enemies at work.

“Perfect setup, man. It’ll blow up in your face, but enjoy it while it lasts.”

“There’s a risk, but it’s minimal,” I say.

Nick grins. “When was the last time you did casual?”Content is property of NôvelDrama.Org.

“It’s been a while,” I admit. “But once upon a time it was the only thing I did.”