Page 79 of Rival to the Billionaire

"Get up," I growl when I finally find my voice. She does, closing her eyes and expelling a breath as I reach for her. Just as the sound of a loud knock reaches us.

I frown. Fucking great. Room service.

When I turn with Jenny in my arms and she nods, I turn the water off and step out of the shower, reaching for a towel. Handing it to Jenny, I watch her as she steps out behind me, wrapping it around her and stepping into the small row of white robes, then hands one to me.

Tying the robe around my waist, I pull her to me and kiss her wet lips. "I'll get the door. You finish up. And when you're done, meet me in the bed," my gaze slides over her naked form, "just like that. I'm going to recover soon."

Grinning, I walk out of the bathroom and cross the expanse of the gigantic suite, pulling the front door open, anticipating room service standing there with a cart and several trays.

Instead, I find Julian Sabado, the entrepreneur—and Jenny's ex-blind date from a few days ago—standing there.

He looks utterly shocked to see me.

He looks even more shocked when he hears the voice behind me. Jenny bounces up behind me, a wide smile on her pink mouth until she turns around and sees the person standing before us.

And the surprise I read on his face is no match for the look on Jenny's.

Unbridled jealousy flares inside me.

Just what the hell is going on between these two?And why do I get the feeling that I'm the last to know?

ChapterTwenty-Two

JENNY

I know I'm gaping at Julian Sabado. My mouth is open and my eyes are wide. Instead of finishing up my shower, I opted to sneak a quick snack from our room service order.

Then I stepped to the door and saw Julian standing there…

The man whose help I recently enlisted to oust Ryder from his CTO role at Hare & Holeton.

The night of my blind date with Julian, I'd danced with Ryder, regretted it and, afterwards, hatched a plan to get Julian's help to find someone to replace Ryder at the company.

But that was before. Before I'd started to believe in Ryder's app. Before I started to believe in his business plan.

Before I'd started to believe in him.

My eyes slide to Ryder who is frowning, his arms folded tightly over his chest.

"Um, Ryder," I begin, "you remember Julian Sabado, of course."

"Of course I remember him, Jen," Ryder says, his voice clipped. He turns to Julian. "I assume he's not here to talk about motor vehicles with you the way he does with me?"

My heart rate picks up. "Actually, he's here to talk business. Uh, Julian here was considering investing in Hare & Holeton. Buying stocks as soon as we go public."

"Is that so?" Ryder's muscles tense and he gazes over my shoulder at Julian. "Well, we haven't gone public yet."

"Yeah, we, uh, I mean, yes, that is correct," Julian says, trying to smooth things over. He looks from me to Ryder with his own dark brown eyes, his face tight with tension. "I'm here to see if, uh…"

"Gee, I'm sorry, Julian," I say quickly. "Our meeting isn't scheduled until an hour and a half from now. I think it's better if we have a more…clothed conversation then," I say, glancing down at the towel on my frame.

"Yes. Of course. I'd better go," Julian agrees, sending us a small wave before walking quickly back out toward the elevators.

I slowly close the hotel door behind him, careful to avoid staring at the only partially subsided bulge in the front of Ryder's robe.

Right now, this small room seems very small and very stuffy, the atmosphere charged with tension.

"So, you and Julian… You're still talking after that blind date?" Ryder asks, his wet dark hair slicked back from his face, his eyes assessing me.

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