Page 78 of The Billionaire's Ride

“Hey, what are you guys doing here?” I say, answering the door.

“We wanted to invite you to come to Chateau Marmont with us for brunch mimosas,” Beau says, giving me her usual warm hug.

“Thanks but I kind of want to lay low today.” I let them inside and wander into my kitchen. Mimosa aren’t the worst idea.

“You got something in the mail.” Garret sets a large envelope down on the white granite and places the rest of the mail to the side. It’s not a small stack either. I guess I haven’t been to my mailbox in a while. I peek at the return address.Lux Magazine. My stomach knots, and I hide my panicked expression inside the fridge. Where is the orange juice?

“Thanks,” I say.

“Don’t you want to open it?” Garret asks.

“Maybe later.” I stare at the champagne mixer on the shelf door. Beau and Garret whisper to one another. Who knows what they’re saying about me?

“Or, I can open it now,” Garret says followed by the distinct sound of ripping paper.

I slam the fridge shut. “No. Don’t!” I know what’s likely to be in there. And I’m not sure I’m ready to see it.

“Too late!” Garret’s gawking at whatever’s inside—eyes light up. “It’s a proof of the spread.”

Beau gasps. “Oh, my God, Kate! It’s gorgeous. You look amazing!”

“Very sexy. This is going to be huge for the brand,” Garret adds. Yep, just another photograph to remind me of Drew. That’s the last thing I need right now. “This is for you.” He hands me a small envelope withKatehandwritten on the outside and the initialsN.S.embossed on the flap.

“It’s from Nina Savoy,” I say, and my hands begin trembling. My friends gape at me while I open the letter and read it aloud.

“Dear Kate,

Congratulations on a gorgeous feature in Lux Magazine. I was so right to have you pose for the spread. Hope you’ll visit us in London again soon.

Best,

Nina Savoy.”

The three of us stare at each other slack-jawed. “I guess you won the queen’s heart,” Garret says and hands me the glossy proof.

I can’t look at it. What if it hurts? But it’s here. Right in front of me. So I can’tnotlook at it either. I swallow my fear and open the page. My eyes settle on a perfectly airbrushed photo of me in my lacy, black lingerie—my silky bra strap dangling off my shoulder, and my stockings straight.

The photo captures everything that I want my brand to be. It’s elegant, bold, and fiercely sexy. I stare at my expression in the picture—that look in my eyes. It’s the only thing they didn’t touch up. It’s the only thing totally real about the wholephotograph. And it was for him. For Drew. The man who I’ve broken all my rules for. All except for the most important one. And because of that, it’s over. He’s on my wall. In this photograph. But he’s out of my life.

Tears prickle my eyes and within seconds, I throw my head back in a huge sob. It’s so big that I’m positive there’s a bubble over my head that says,WAH!

“Oh, my God, Kate!” Beau rushes to my side, and I feel her arms around me.

“Oh, no,” Garret says then scurries off in a panic.

“I miss Drew. I miss him so much,” I manage to say during the ugliest cry I’ve ever had over a boy. Maybe the most tearful release ever. I step away from Beau, and slide down to the floor, resting my head against the cabinet.

“What do we do?” Garret returns with a box of tissues and begins tossing them near my face as if that’s how tissues wipe away tears. They fall at my feet, unable to do anything about this heartbreak. See! This is why. This is exactly why I don’t do this.

“Call Lisa,” Beau says and brings me into her arms again. If anyone knows how to manage a broken heart, it’s Beau.

Twenty minutes later, my friends manage to get me to the couch. Lisa’s standing over me as I cry wild tears.

“She’s been like this since I called,” Garret says.

“Okay, I’ve got it. Thanks, guys. You can go.” Lisa peels me off the couch and lays me on her chest like I’m six again. She soothes my head, shoulders, and back with her warm, motherly touch. And with the magic of her unconditional love, my tears slowly begin to subside.

“Just breathe,” she says softly, and I inhale and exhale. Inhale. Exhale. “What are you feeling?”

---