Page 83 of Billionaire Devil

“Lexi, this is my bestie, Lila Bailey. She ran off to New York for a while but I’m trying to convince her to move back home.”

“So nice to meet you, Lila,” Lexi says, hugging me. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

Now that I think of it, Jess did mention Lexi to me during one or more of our conversations, and how she’s married to some big shot who also happens to own the investment company Jacob works for. I was always so distracted and exhausted—or both—during our phone calls, I’d forgotten.

“Nice to meet you too, Lexi. Wow, artistic director of Downtown. That must be an amazing job.”

She smiles. “Well, my husband is technically my boss. So I was basically allowed to create the job of my dreams. I got very lucky. But, yes, it is amazing. I love working there.”

I like her immediately. She’s humble and soft-spoken but you can tell she’s not easily intimidated.

“You might have gotten hired because your husband is obsessed with you, Lexi,” Jess says, “but you’re alsoverygood at your job. I’ve seen you in action first-hand and Downtown is lucky to have you.”

Lexi laughs, smoothing one of Jess’s errant curls. “Thank you, Jess. I like to hope so.”

Jess’s mom, Sandy, rushes into the room in a flowing yellow gown. She’s basically my second mom and has been since Jess and I were tweens. Sandy’s face lights up when she sees me and she gives me a huge hug. “Welcome home, honey. We missed you so much.”

“I missed you too. And congrats, mother of the bride…and soon to be Grandma.”

“Can youbelieveit?” Sandy obviously approves of Jacob. She’s absolutely glowing with pride. “When are you going to find that special someone, honey?”

Jess answers for me before I get a chance to dodge the question. “Mom, her plus one isColton Maddox.”

“Who’s Colton Maddox?” Sandy asks. At leastsomeoneon the planet hasn’t heard of him.

“He’s the youngest of the Maddox brothers,” Jess explains, “the most eligiblebillionairebachelors in New York.”

“You’re dating Colton?” Lexi hands me my bouquet of pink roses. “He knows my brother-in-law, Max. Max runs Black Investments, so he and Colton have a lot of contacts in common. Max is here at the wedding with his wife, Peach. We met Colton at an event here in L.A., just a few months ago.”

“Oh.”No doubt with a different date. Or three of them.Lexi’s kind enough not to mention it.

And I’m relieved when Sandy changes the subject. “Let’s go, girls. Jacob and his brothers are waiting. Rafe’s ready for you downstairs, Jessie.”

“Rafe?”

“Rafe is Lexi’s husband,” Jessie explains. “Since I didn’t have anyone to give me away, he offered. It’s so nice of him, Lex.”

“He’s honored to do it,” Lexi says.

Of course I know the whole story of Jess’s parents’ bitter divorce, which happened a few years before we met. Jess hasn’t talked to her father in a long time and I’m not surprised he’s not invited.

Lexi hands Jess the biggest bouquet, of beautiful white roses.

“Let’s do this,” Jess says, like she’s psyching herself up for her brand new life.

I kiss her cheek. “Congrats, sweetie. You deserve every good thing and the happiest happily ever after.”

“You’ll get yours next,” she whispers back.

Swoop.

“There’s Rafe,” Sandy says breathlessly. The man she’s staring at is waiting for us at the bottom of the staircase, dressed in a tux and scrolling on his phone. When he sees us, he slides his phone into his pocket and watches us walk down the grand staircase.

Rafe Black is a stunning-looking man. He’s tall with black hair and a dark, powerful vibe, like he’s used to getting his way.

“You look beautiful, Jessie,” Rafe says, but he’s havingtrouble keeping his eyes off his wife. He can’t quite hide how besotted he is.

Jessie introduces us and Rafe shakes my hand.

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