The Billionaire's Paradise (Sexy Billionaires)(55)

His laughter filled her ears when she surfaced. She splashed water at him, swimming deeper into the waves.

“I had a request to consult at a hotel in Greece,” she said when he reached her. “We could play in the Aegean Sea.”

“Sounds perfect,” he replied. “It’s not a terrible plan, shacking up with a hotel consultant. Think of all the competitors I’ll be able to scope out.”

“Looks like I’ll be dealing with some conflicts of interest in the future.”

He caught her hands, pulling her against him. “We’ll figure them all out,” he promised. “Nothing will jeopardize what you’ve built.”

She smiled, touching her salty fingertip to his lips. “Thank you,” she said, her voice soft. “For understanding how much I need what I do.”

He kissed her finger. “I understand you, love. It comes with the territory.”

She cupped his face, both of them kicking to keep above the waves. “We’ve got a chance,” she said. “A real one, you and me. As much as I love it here, I’m looking forward to going home.”

“You’re mine,” he whispered in her ear.

“The feeling is mutual,” she replied.

And bobbing in the surf with him, the future didn’t seem as scary as it once had. Not with Hayden finally by her side.





Chapter Seventeen

Avery held up the dress to her body and examined herself in the mirror. She had a date later tonight with Hayden and she wanted to look her best.

Stepping closer to the mirror, she cocked her head to the side. The dress was different somehow. Or maybe she was. She peered at her own face. Her eyes weren’t as dull as they’d once been, and her skin had more color. Even her hair cascaded around her shoulders with bouncing volume instead of being confined to its usual severe clip. She looked…

Happy.

A slow grin spread across her face. That’s what love did. She twirled, feeling lighter than she had in years. Hayden didn’t try to suffocate her the way Jon had. He lifted her up instead of holding her down. And he was willing to try, really try, to make this work. It was beyond anything she’d dared to hope for.

Stripping out of her clothes, she tugged the red dress over her head and smoothed it down her body. She wondered how long it would be until it found its way to a crumpled heap on Hayden’s floor. Not long, she’d bet.

The ring of her phone pulled her away from the mirror. Striding to the purse on her bed, she fished it out and checked the screen.

Number unknown.

A frown crossed her face. Could it be the same person as the last two calls? Maybe it hadn’t been a telemarketer, after all.

Hitting accept, she raised the phone to her ear. “Hello, Avery Clarke speaking.”

“Avery.”

Ice water doused her at the sound of the voice. It was one she knew as well as she knew her own.

“Jon,” she whispered, dropping to the edge of the bed.

“Hi, baby,” he said. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”

“Have you been drinking?” she asked, forcing her voice to remain calm. It’d been nearly six months since he’d last drunk-dialed her. She’d hoped he’d finally moved on.

A pained sound escaped him. “No,” he replied, his voice low. “I’m sober. Nearly five months now.”

“What?”

“I got help.”

Her eyes widened. Never in a million years had she expected her arrogant ex to admit to anything remotely wrong with him.

“For the drinking,” he clarified. “I haven’t touched a drink since leaving rehab. Or a woman, for that matter.”

Part of her wanted to congratulate him for his work, but another part of her wanted to hang up the phone. Addressing his problems was too little, too late as far as she was concerned. It wasn’t like he could get help for being a colossal cheating bastard.

She swallowed hard. “Good for you,” she said, opting for the high road. “I hope this will lead to some positive changes in your life.”

“One of the steps I’m working through is to make amends,” he said. “And, baby, if there is anyone I need to make things right with, it’s you.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m fine,” she said and realized it was true. Thinking about him would always sting, but she wasn’t bleeding the way she had been before Hayden.

“I know that’s not true,” Jon said, a touch of his old self shining through. “How could you be after what’s happened to us?”

“Maybe it was for the best,” she said. “We wanted different things. Had different goals.”

“Like your little job. Baby, if it makes you happy, then keep doing it. I’m sure we can compromise on hours. I owe you a little joy.”