Page 231 of Dark Love

“Why didn’t you tell us? That’s a pretty big secret to keep,” Stella asks.

“Did it really matter if he’s a billionaire? Shouldn’t she love him for who he is and not his money?” Colin's lips twist in disgust.

“It matters.”

All eyes shift to Savie.

“There’s a difference between a man that is comfortably off and a man that has his own jet sitting on the runway waiting for him. People dream about being rich, but not that rich. People want what you have when you’re that rich, and they’re willing to use any means to take it from you. So, no. I’ll take a comfortable man. Save the billionaires for a woman that can only see diamonds and private islands.”

What happened? We all know Savie hasn’t had an easy life. Most of it was spent not having enough money to buy a pair of shoes. She’s only now starting to get to the point where she doesn’t count every single penny. We’ve never even heard her talk about a boyfriend.

“What happened honey?” Stella reaches over and sets a hand on Savie’s arm. “Who hurt you? We’ll straighten him out.”

Junie leans forward. “And if we can’t, I have a second cousin who owns some pigs.”

Did sweet little Junie really say that? I make eye contact with Dylan, and she shrugs.

“You women scare me.” Colin sits back down next to Daria.

Daria gives Colin’s arm a pat. But that smirk of hers is anything but comforting.

“He didn’t hurt me. Well, not the way you’re thinking. There was no rich boyfriend. My brother practically owns a whole city.”

How could her brother be rich enough to own a city and not buy his sister a pair of shoes? Maybe we should have a conversation with this brother of hers.

The hotel room door cracks open.

Piper.

We all turn towards the door, even Colin.

“Have breakfast with me tomorrow?” Valen asks.

Ohhh.

“I can’t… The convention starts tomorrow.”

Piper clearly wants to go.

“Name the time and I’ll make arrangements.”

Valen doesn’t take no for an answer.

“It’s going to be a really busy day.”

“There’s a rooftop restaurant. We could have breakfast and watch the sunrise.”

Go, Valen. That was a good one.

“Okay.”

The breathy whisper can barely be heard back where I’m sitting.

“I’ll be right here at six am to pick you up.”

“Okay.”

Did I sound that nervous and timid when I first met Vex? Probably.

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