The Billionaire's Paradise (Sexy Billionaires)(50)

Avery grinned at Karen. “Neither did I.”

“I take it this means you’ve gotten over your emotional hang-ups and finally screwed the boss?”

“And how,” she agreed, shivering at the memory.

After a night of sex, they’d slept well into the day, waking just in time for a last hike to the cliffs before packing up to meet Keon. She’d spent the whole ride back wrapped in Hayden’s arms, feeling more secure than she had in years.

But though it felt as if they were on the same page, there was one thing they had both been very careful not to talk about. Neither had mentioned how long their affair would last. She wondered if he still thought they would part when the job was finished. Because the work they’d been doing the past couple of weeks had been excellent, and if solving the hotel’s problems was their romantic deadline, then it would be fast approaching.

Intellectually she could understand why Hayden would shy away from anything serious after Sophia. But couldn’t he see that connections like theirs didn’t come around every day? She’d thought loving Jon was as close as she could get to another person, but the night she’d spent with Hayden proved that theory wrong. It was possible to love more than one person in your life. And love them in different ways.

She froze, her hands stilling on the files she was flipping through.

“Avery?”

She didn’t acknowledge Karen, her mind racing too fast. She didn’t love Hayden. Did she? She’d felt close to him, it was true. She loved what they did together in bed. But real love was so much more than physical. It was about wanting to understand everything about a partner, wanting to support them through thick and thin, wanting to be their rock and spend a lifetime making each other smile.

The way Hayden made her smile.

Christ, she thought, stealing Hayden’s favorite curse. Loving him would be the height of idiocy. He’d been burned far worse than her. He wouldn’t allow himself to love so readily.

But there it was. The desire to be near him. The need to make sure he was okay.

The right to stand by his side for the rest of her life.

“Sorry,” she whispered. “I was just wool-gathering.”

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“That might have been better.” She waved a hand. “Never mind. What did you find?”

Karen shrugged, passing her some financial document. “There is definitely evidence of mismanagement. Look at these numbers year after year.”

Avery tried to focus, but for the first time in her life worked seemed so unimportant right now. Just what had she gotten herself into?

“Avery,” Karen sighed again.

“Sorry.” She studied the numbers Karen indicated. “Embezzlement or just poor leadership?” she asked.

“Hard to tell. We need to dig a little deeper.”

“Let’s do it.”

“I can’t wait to get to the bottom of this,” Karen said. “But I’ll be sad to leave paradise.”

Avery’s heart clenched. “Me, too.”

Especially if it marked the end of her ill-fated romance.

Would her heart survive breaking twice?

…

He managed to wait till evening before seeking her out, a feat in and of itself. Since coming back from the cabin, all he wanted to do was spend the day at her side.

She’s got you wrapped around her little finger.

And he wasn’t sure he minded. There was no hiding the smile that crossed his face just thinking of her. He’d thought sharing his past would push her away, but instead she’d stood by him, defended him the way no one else had ever cared to.

When he’d woken with her in his arms, it’d been like a weight had lifted off his chest. All because of Avery.

Walking down the hotel hall, he couldn’t help his mood. Anticipation built within him at the thought of seeing her again.

He stopped outside the meeting room she and Karen had taken over as their office. Pushing the door open he heard his lover say, “I think the picture is starting to make sense. Send me these notes to type up, and I’ll schedule another interview with the GM tomorrow.”

She turned from writing something on the whiteboard propped up beside their table and saw him.

A wide grin lit her face.

Pride swelled within him. He was responsible for her expression.

“I thought I’d take you to dinner,” he said.

“You have perfect timing.” Grabbing her purse, she rounded the table and moved to his side.

“Hi,” she said, pressing one hand to his chest for balance and rising to her tiptoes. Her light kiss made him want more, but conscious of their audience, he let her step away from him.

“Hello, Karen,” he said in greeting.