Page 126 of Billionaire Temptations

“A what?” He cocked his head.

I took my phone from the counter, googled the word “douchebag,” and handed it to him.

He arched his brow as he read it aloud from the Urban Dictionary site. “‘Someone who has surpassed the levels of jerk and asshole; however, not yet reached fucker or motherfucker.’ Well, at least I’m not a fucker.”

“Not yet anyway, but you’re sure close.”

“Umm. You just received a text message from someone named Keith.”

I grabbed my phone from his hand and looked at it. Rolling my eyes, I set my phone down and poured myself a cup of coffee.

“Are you going to tell me who Keith is?”

“Actually, I’m not going to tell you. I’m sorry you saw that.” I took my phone and my coffee and strutted to my room, shutting the door behind me.

Alex

I watched as she walked her sexy ass, which was barely covered by her shirt, away from me. And who the hell was Keith? Why did a fire erupt inside me when I saw his name? It was none of my business, just like Bella was none of hers. I heard Emerson's voice as I left the kitchen and started walking up the stairs.

“You can’t shut me out, Parker. We’re friends, and friends talk. I told you things that I had never told anyone before.”

Standing on the steps, I turned and looked at her. “You expect me to believe that in all your worldly travels and of all the men you’ve fucked, you never spoke about your family or the accident?”

“Yes, I do expect you to believe it because it’s true. I’d never opened up like that to anyone.”

Narrowing my eyes, I slowly walked down the stairs until I stood before her.

“Why me, Emerson?”

“I don’t really know, Alex. Maybe because it’s being back here, and you were there.”

I placed my hand on her cheek and stared into her beautiful eyes.

“I appreciate you telling me, but I’m not talking to you about Bella. There are some things that are off limits.”

“Oh really?” She backed away. “Guess what? There are some things that are off-limits for me as well, and that includes sex. Bye, Felicia,” she spoke as she put up her hand and walked away.

“What? Who the fuck is Felicia?” I yelled.

I placed my hands on my head, went upstairs, slammed the door, and took a shower to cool off. I could feel my blood pressure rising because of one Miss Emerson James, and I would no longer stand for it.

Chapter Twenty

Emerson

“There are some things that are off limits, my ass,” I mumbled as I showered and got dressed. He was irritating the fuck out of me, and the best thing to do was to separate myself from him for a while. I was suffocating here anyway. I packed a small bag and climbed into Adam’s car. I was taking a road trip to Napa Valley, where my sister and I always said that when we were of drinking age, we’d go visit and get drunk off the amazing wine they had there. I never had the chance to go because I left California at eighteen. But now that I was back for a short period of time and Alex Parker was being nothing but a douchebag, I was off to explore the wineries. I saved one credit card for emergency purposes only, and this was an emergency situation. As I was making my seven-hour drive to Napa, my phone rang. It was Adam.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Em. I was just calling to see how you’re doing.”

“I’m good. I hope you don’t mind, but I’m taking your car to Napa Valley.”

“WHAT?! Why the hell are you going to Napa Valley?”

“I needed to get out of that house. I was suffocating, and Emily and I always wanted to go there. Adam, tomorrow is the anniversary of their death. This is something I need to do.”

“I know what tomorrow is, Em, and I wish I could be back in California with you. But I can’t.”

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