Page 61 of The Billionaire's Ride

“I’ll be a lot better after a few of these,” he says, taking one of the drinks and chugging it like his life depends on it. This is surreal. I’ve never had to babysit my big brother before. He’s the one who always has everything together. Always the perfect one. Now I see that no one has it all together, even when they think they do. And for the first time ever, I can finally relate to Mick.

“Pour me another, would you?” Mick hands the empty glass over and slides into the jeans. I hand him a fresh drink. He takes a swig and stumbles over to the fireplace. “How do you turn this on?”

I click a button on my house remote, and flames erupt from behind the glass. He seems satisfied enough and wanders aimlessly around the flat. Then, he picks up the pieces of his black tuxedo and piles them up on the floor.

I narrow my eyes. “What are you doing?”

“I can’t stand the sight of this damn thing. I want it gone.” Mick opens the glass fireplace doors and chucks his bowtie into the blaze. Then his cummerbund.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to?—”

“Supposed to what?” Mick looks at me, dazed and in despair.

“Never mind,” I say and sit beside him on the floor. We watch quietly as what is supposed to be the happiest day of his life goes up in flames.

“I’ll never trust women again. I’ll be single for the rest of my life. I’ll never have children, and I’ll die alone.”

“You won’t be alone,” I say. “You’ll have me and Kent.”

Mick’s a really good man. He saves people’s lives for a living. He doesn’t deserve this in the least. I hate that he’s hurting. I just hope he’s wrong. I hope he doesn’t hurt forever.

“You’re right. We’ll be the Bonnaire bachelors together forever.” He clinks his glass against mine. Bonnaire bachelorsforever? Mick takes another sip, and his movements are fluid. Is he already smashed?

“Have you eaten today?” I ask.

“Not really.”

I pat his shoulder and rise to my feet. “C’mon, let’s go get you something to eat.”

“As long as we can keep drinking.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

BEAU

I’m horrified.Like literally horrified. Kate’s just told me everything about her sleazy investor and how he ended up being Drew’s friend. Holy crap!

“So that’s it? It’s over now?” I ask.

Kate drops her head, and a tear spills onto her pretty, red dress. “I think so. It had to end sometime.”

Her phone vibrates on the bed, and the screen lights up with her London lover’s name.Drew Blake. Or DrewFake,as she dubbed him earlier in a fit of anger. It’s the second time he’s tried to call. Seems like it’s not totally over for him. Kate stares longingly at the phone, and for a second, I’m sure she’ll finally answer. But she just lets it buzz and buzz and buzz.

“You’re not going to get that?” I ask.

Kate shakes her head. “I’m not sure what to say. Maybe it’s better this way. I needed something to snap me out of the love haze.”

“Did you saylove?”

“Yeah, but I meant sex haze or whatever. I’m leaving the country soon anyway.” Kate throws herself back against the pillows with a growl. “Ugh, I hate this. This is exactly why I don’t get involved in relationships. It’s so messy.”

“Yeah but look what came out of it. You would never have designed your new line if it wasn’t for this. I haven’t seen you that enthusiastic about sewing since you started your company. And you’re smiling again. You seem so much more relaxed, even in the midst of this chaotic week. And I don’t know if you noticed, but when you were working at the studio this week, you were humming. Freaking humming! If you ask me, it was worth it.”

Kate takes in a deep breath as she takes in my words. I know she feels something for this guy. Something real. She just can’t admit it yet. And maybe she will end up just like me, heartbroken over some sexy foreigner. Or maybe she’ll be one of the lucky ones. Maybe he’s not DrewFake. Maybe he feels something real for her too.

“I want to go home,” she says.

I reach out and rub her shoulder. “Okay, we can go.”

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