Page 97 of The Billionaire Experience

“Good news,” Reagan said after she and Brody had stepped aside. “I’ll be able to fly out with you tonight.”

“It’s better for the environment to carpool.” Jaylyn paused mid-pen stroke and smiled. “Jet pool.”

“Dad and Dante are staying for a few days,” Brody said. “I’ll take the bullet and entertain them while they’re here.”

Jaylyn finished her bid and stuffed it into the box. “I have to fetch my bag from my room and find a town car to take me to the airport. I should have booked one. Can I borrow Bruce?” She batted her dark lashes. “Please?”

“I’ll see if he’s available.” Brody reached for his phone.

“He’s available,” Jaylyn mouthed to Reagan.

A minute later, Brody confirmed their ride. “He has another pickup scheduled—my mom. But he can take you in half an hour. That will include a ride to my apartment so that Reagan can collect her things. Too early?”

“We can drink champagne on the plane while we wait for the pilot. But I’m ordering food too. Do I have a chef for the flight home?” She pecked something into her phone and waited a beat before grinning. “I do, indeed. I’ll text him our requests. Reagan? Poke bowl?”

“Oh, um…”

“And sushi. And crab Rangoons. Or, oh! How about jalapeño poppers?”

“I’m not that hungry, but I’ll have a bite of whatever you order,” Reagan vowed, not wanting to burst Jaylyn’s bubble. “I guess…we should go.”

“I already said goodbye to those knuckleheads.” Jaylyn gestured to her father and Dante who were at the bar laughing over a glass of scotch. “Just this one to go,” she said before throwing herself into Brody’s arms.

“Text me if you need anything,” he told his sister. “And when you’re home safe.” He released Jaylyn and dipped his chin at Reagan. “You too. Promise?”

“I promise.”

He gave her one last kiss goodbye, and then she followed Jaylyn to her hotel room.

After the auction ended, Dante, Octavius, and Brody relocated to their father’s suite rather than going out. O announced that he’d ordered steaks for the three of them and had brought a box of his best cigars. Reagan had painted an accurate picture of their evening. Cigars. Steaks. Check and check.

“What are you going to do with that?” Dante asked as Octavius pulled Jaylyn’s ring from his suit pocket and set it on the breakfast bar.

“Dunno. But no way was my baby girl’s ring going to sell for less than three thousand.”

Dante tilted the ring, the stone in the center catching the light. “Is it a diamond? It’s green.”

“Green diamonds are incredibly rare and incredibly expensive, so…no. But replacing it isn’t a problem if you know the right jeweler.” Octavius lifted his eyebrows. “I won’t be needing a diamond ring in the foreseeable future. Just wanted my baby girl to know she’s valued. Which is why I paid ten for it.”

“You paid ten grand for a ring without a real diamond?” Dante glanced at Brody. “Time to have him evaluated. He’s not thinking straight.”

“You’re one to talk. How can you live in LA?” Octavius pulled three cigars from a wooden box.

Dante handed Brody their sister’s ring. It was made to look like a tree with branches, a larger stone in the center of the trunk, and smaller jewels cut into the shapes of leaves surrounding it. Brody was proud of her. She’d been brave and had stepped out of her comfort zone. The design was unique, one of a kind.

Just like Reagan.

He scrubbed a hand over his face and hopefully the thought from his head. He accepted a glass of scotch from Dante. If only to numb his brain so that he didn’t think about her anymore. The last twenty-four hours had been stressful, which might explain the tightness in his gut. Nothing between him and Reagan had actually changed. They’d had a misunderstanding and had resolved the issue with make-up sex. Everything was great.

Or so he kept telling himself.

After they’d eaten their steaks—turned out ribeye paired with scotch was the key to Brody relaxing—they retired to the balcony to enjoy their smokes.

“Too bad Zander couldn’t be here,” Dante said as he lifted a snifter of brandy.

Brody agreed. He could have used his oldest brother’s advice tonight. No matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, he had a niggling feeling that he should have left with Reagan. “He probably didn’t want to leave Chloe.”

“Chloe is capable of travel, I presume,” Octavius said.

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