Page 55 of Born a Billionaire

Her heart was suddenly in her throat. She couldn’t do that. She couldn’t put her family’s business out there any more than it already was. This was a private struggle they were going through, and as much as she wanted to keep Olly out of the tabloids, she knew her parents would be disappointed in her if she went through with it.

Thoughts and ideas raced through her mind as she tried to come up with a way to stop this from happening. Then something occurred to her, and a smile spread across her face.

“Preston Wright, I have another story for you.”

Adelia felt like a superhero as she walked into Gus’s house that afternoon. She had singlehandedly solved her problem and maybe their bigger problem as well.

“What’s that smile about?” Merritt asked.

“The junket is over.” She raised her arms in the air and did a happy dance, which caused her friends to laugh. Her arms fell as she looked around the room. “Where’s Oliver?”

Gus motioned toward the back of the house, and she spotted him in the hot tub, staring out toward the ocean.

“What did you guys do today?” she asked.

“This is it.”

Her brow furrowed. “Oh. I thought he’d want to see some more sights before we fly back tomorrow morning.”

“He’s been pretty quiet all day.”

Adelia made her way out onto the patio, and Oliver watched her as she took a seat on the edge of the hot tub and dropped her legs in.

“Hi,” she said with a smile.

“Hi.”

“You look relaxed.”

The corners of his lips turned up in a little closed-mouth smile. “You didn’t punch anyone else today, did you?”

“I almost punched one of the reporters, but we came to an understanding.”

Oliver’s eyebrows scrunched up. “What happened?”

She looked out over the bluff to the view beyond. “He asked some questions he had no business asking, but I handled it.”

“I’m sorry you have to deal with jerks at these events.” Oliver’s hand skimmed up her calf and settled there, and goosebumps traveled over the rest of her body.

She reached over and ran her fingers through his hair, pushing it away from his forehead, and his eyes drifted closed.

They stayed like that for a while. The breeze was soft, the late day sun warm on her face. She could have stayed there forever with her fingers in his soft, dark hair, helping him relax, while his strong hand gripped her leg and his thumb moved against her skin.

He was so still, she thought he might’ve fallen asleep. But then he gave her calf a soft squeeze before letting it go and moved to stand.

“Getting out so soon?” she asked.

“I’ve been in here too long already.” He showed her his pruney hands.

Her laughter died in her throat as he came out of the water, dripping wet and perfect. Her gaze traveled over his chest and down to the elastic of his swim trunks. She hadn’t gotten this close a view of him that day in the bathroom, and it was obvious he took excellent care of his body.

One side of his mouth curved up as he caught her checking him out.

She smiled unashamedly. She didn’t care if he knew she found him attractive. She wanted him to know. If only it would make a difference for them.

Oliver grabbed his towel and dried off, and Adelia’s gaze followed him into the house. He grinned at her over his shoulder in a way that seemed flirtatious, and it gave her a little spark of hope.

Adelia stayed by the hot tub for a while longer. She was relieved this weekend was over.

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