Page 4 of Four Money (Ever and Always 1)

Trent did some crazy shit for money, but he wasn’t that greedy. That was what separated him from his father. “Nah, man. We appreciate you bringing these guys out here to hang with. I’ve missed them and I’m happy to spend time with the old gang. Thanks, though.”

Lorenzo scanned them from their shiny shoes to Ford’s watch and must have come up with the same findings Trent had. “Are you investors?”

“Nah. Worse, we’re lawyers.” Josh laughed. The guy seemed less stodgy than Trent would have figured for a partner in a prestigious firm, but it made it damn hard not to like him. Self-made and didn’t take himself too seriously. All positives, as far as he was concerned.

“Oh, too bad.” Lorenzo wrinkled his nose. “Trent has this awesome idea he should be shopping around.”

“For what?” Cooper asked.

“Not worth getting into.” Trent glared at Lorenzo. He wasn’t trying to shake down his friends’ friends. Besides he hadn’t yet been able to earn enough to file his provisional patent on his solar battery technology, so he didn’t particularly enjoy discussing it in too much detail, especially in public or around people he’d just met.

As always, Owen noticed their rough edges and smoothed things over. “Yeah, I’m done with working for today. Time to play. So tell me, how many pretty girls are going to be at these festivities tonight?”

The guys laughed, and then Ford answered, “To tell you the truth, I think we’ve only invited a few. Our girlfriends and a friend of theirs. Maybe a couple clients who live in the area. Think we should expand the guest list?”

“I can sweeten the pot if you want. There is no shortage of gorgeous women looking for fun in Vegas.” Lorenzo grinned. “It’s the thing I like most about this place.”

“I thought you liked getting paid to take your clothes off and shake your ass the best,” Owen teased.

“That part doesn’t suck either.” He laughed twice as hard at the widened eyes of their guests. Then he shrugged. “Hey, at least I’m not a gambler. I work hard for my money.”

“I don’t want to hear it. From either of you,” Owen grumbled.

“Oh, like you don’t enjoy driving the exotic cars guests drop off for valet?” Trent knocked his shoulder into Owen.

“Yeah, I think of every parking job as a test drive so I know what I want when you become a bazillionaire and buy me a ride for Christmas one year.” He grinned. “Come on, let’s get out of here. We have a party to plan.”

With that, the nine of them headed toward the ritzy hotel across the street where their whole lives would change, even if they didn’t realize it yet.

3

Holly had never felt so glamorous or so unrecognizable. They’d been pampered, painted, and fancied up for hours. For fuck’s sake, she’d even let Andi and Kari talk her into getting her legs waxed, along with some delicate real estate farther north. It wasn’t like anyone was going to know or care besides her, but she admitted she’d always wondered what it would feel like.

Answer: it fucking hurt, but was also kind of…nice. It made her very aware of the silk lingerie she was wearing, and for a moment she wished for someone to show it off to later.

Tonight, it was easy to forget about her problems because she felt like an entirely different woman. She took a quick selfie so at least she could prove to her mom that she was capable of looking like a grown up with a hell of a lot of help. She fired off a text with the image as an attachment asking,How are you doing?

Her mother responded immediately.Everything’s fine. Enjoy your night and quit worrying about me. Now no more texts. P.S. You look beautiful.

She might, but that didn’t keep her from tugging at the black sequined sheath that hugged the equally obsidian lace she wore beneath it. For such a delicate-looking undergarment, it worked some serious magic, molding her shape into something that seemed airbrushed but obviously was not.

On the other hand, Kari appeared perfectly comfortable in the glamorous beaded red gown she’d chosen for herself at the up-scale boutique she’d taken Holly and Andi to, courtesy of her boyfriends’ diamond-studded debit card. In fact, it was more than that. Where Holly felt like an imposter, Kari seemed confident and downright radiant.

“You know, this has been a lot. Maybe I should go lie down in your room for a few…” she whispered to Andi.

“You need a couple minutes to rest?” her old friend asked.

“No, hours.” Holly winced. “I’m just not sure I’m up for this. I won’t fit in. Don’t belong. I’m still the same inexperienced yahoo I was when you took pity on me in the campus bookstore freshman year while I tried to figure out the difference between a study guide and a workbook.”

Andi hugged her. “You look incredible. This isn’t my world either. Or wasn’t until recently. But I promise you, Kari’s guys are regular people despite their heaps of money.”

“Other than the fact that they like to share their woman, right?” Holly reached out and put her hand on Andi’s arm. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that like it sounded. I know that’s how things are with you, Reed, Simon, and Cooper too. I’m thrilled you’re all so happy even if I’m a little jealous. It’s just that I feel really,reallyout of my league.”

Hell, she hadn’t even had a single steady boyfriend since their junior year in college, never mind a handful of them at once.

“I forgive you.” Andi put her fingers over Holly’s and squeezed. “Trust me. You might feel that way, but you’re not. Give it a try at least. I’m sure you’re going to have a great time. But if you don’t, I’ll bail with you. We can hang out, order room service, and stay up all night watching cheesy chick flicks instead as soon as Kari’s guys…uh… Well, I have a feeling tonight is going to be special for her. I want to be there. Then after, we can take off if you still want to.”

Holly’s gaze whipped to her friend’s as her eyes narrowed. That sounded oddly specific. Was something going on here that she didn’t know about? Maybe this wasn’t the casual billionaire jaunt to live it up in Sin City for a weekend as she’d thought. Oddly, it made her feel better to know it might be a special occasion and not an everyday occurrence for them to be this over the top.

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