Page 62 of Billionaire Devil

“Fuck, you people are nosy,” Colton grumbles.

“Only because we care.” Noah says it almost jokingly but the sentiment there is clearly real.

“I can find business-related things to do in L.A., Noah.”Okay, so he didn’t have business in L.A.?“And yes, I’m traveling with someone, if you must know.”

“Five days with one chick? On abus? That’s an all-time record for you, by at least four days.”

“We flew from Nashville. And so what. I’ll spend five days on the road with whoever I fucking choose to, bro. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“Who’s the girl?”

Colton doesn’t answer right away. “She’s an up-and-coming designer.” It’s…a nice way to be described.Up-and-coming.

“Are youdatingher?” Like this possibility is beyond shocking.

“I’m spending a few days on the road with her, as I’ve already explained. We’re going to a wedding this weekend.”

“Whose wedding?”

“Jesus Christ, Noah. Her friend’s.”

“When are you coming back to New York?”

Colton sighs. “After the wedding, obviously.”

Obviously.

Of course he is. Actually, we haven’t agreed yet on whether he’s coming to the wedding or not. It would clearly be a terrible idea. And an even worse idea if—not if,whenandbecause—he’s heading back to New York, possibly as soon as Saturday night.

Never to be seen again.

It’s the reminder I need.

I’m not in love with him. I can’t be, a) because my heart is safely locked away, and b) because this was alwaysonlyabout having an adventure and taking him up on his offer to educate and enlighten me. Which he has absolutely—and very thoroughly—done.

With no strings attached.

That was our deal. Ourpact.

My phone vibrates. It’s almost like Sloane has a radar. Or maybe she’s with Noah right now.

Might as well get this over with. I close the bedroom door. “Hey, Sloane.” I put her on speaker and lay back on the massive bed. The bedroom has the same spectacular view of the mountains as the living room.

“Finally, she answers her phone.” Sloane pauses, likeshe’s bracing herself, before she asks me the question. “So…how’s it going? Are you okay? Where are you?”

“Aspen.”

“Aspen. Wow. Are you still traveling with Colton?”

There’s no reason to lie. She already knows. “Yes. Just until we get to L.A.”

“How did this even happen? When did you two decide to suddenly hit the road together? And why didn’t youtellme?”

“I’m really not even sure how it happened. It just…happened.”

“Break it to me gently. You’re not…” She can’t bring herself to say it.

ButIcan. Fuck it. I’m a sophisticated, independentnon-virginal, up-and-coming…person. So what if I had sex with a hot billionaire. I’m allowed to. “Yes. We are. We did. And now I understand what all the fuss is about. But I’m not stupid enough to expect anything more from this, so don’t worry about me getting heart-broken, okay? It’s all good. We agreed. It’s just sex.”

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