Page 171 of Billionaire Temptations

He hooked his arm around me and pulled me into him. Laying my head on his shoulder, I smiled.

“I’m happy you’re back, sis. I want our relationship back.”

“I will spend the next eight years making it up to you.”

“Only eight?” He laughed.

“Yeah. I was only gone for eight, so why would I take any more time than that?”

He sighed. “Sometimes I wonder how Alex puts up with you and that mouth.”

“Between you and me, he loves it when I give him attitude. It turns him on.”

“Okay. That’s enough. I don’t need to hear things like that about my friend and sister.”

I laughed as I lifted my head and looked at him. Kissing his cheek, I spoke, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For making me come back and stay with Alex. If it weren’t for you, we never would have met, and I wouldn’t have fallen in love with him.”

“You’re welcome. It’s still strange to me, though. Of all people, Alex Parker was the one I wasn’t worried about. In fact, the only thing that worried me was that he’d kick you out on your ass before I got back.”

“Thanks!” I laughed.

He shrugged. “It’s the truth.”

“It’s pretty here. Have you been keeping the grave sites up?”

“Yep. I come every Sunday and tend to things.”

I looked at the headstones once again and then got up and ran my finger along them.

“They’re always with us, you know,” I spoke.

“Yeah. I know. That night after our argument, I came home, opened a beer, and sat down on the couch. When I turned the TV on, it shut off, and the picture I had on the wall behind the couch fell down—scared the shit out of me. When I got up and picked it up, the room suddenly got really cold. I threw my hands up and said I was sorry for being such an asshole. The TV turned on by itself after that. I knew it was Emily or the parents yelling at me for how I talked to you.”

“Probably.” I walked over to him as he stood up and wrapped my arms around him. Suddenly, I felt raindrops hit my skin.

“They weren’t calling for rain today,” Adam spoke as he broke our embrace and held his hands up.

“No, they weren’t. But it can rain all it wants.” I smiled.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

SIX WEEKS LATER

Emerson

Life was wonderful. Alex and I were wonderful. In fact, we were perfect. Was that possible? Yes. With Alex and me, it was. I was running some errands, thinking about him, missing him, and craving his kisses. Looking at my watch, I decided to pick up lunch, bring it to his office, and surprise him. After picking up some salads, I headed to his building. As the elevator doors opened, I stepped out and headed to his office. Apparently, his secretary, Olivia, must have been at lunch because she wasn’t at her desk. When I reached his office, I noticed the door was slightly open. As I was about ready to knock lightly, I saw him through the crack of the open door. My eyes widened, and my stomach fell sick with what I saw. He was locked in an embrace with Bella. The two of them, alone in his office, hugging, and not a quick hug, but a long embrace. My heart started pounding out of my chest, and my breathing was hard. Like a mad woman, I went to the stairwell and flew down thirty flights of stairs. Making it to the lobby, I ran out the front doors of the building and down the street to where I had parked my car. Once I was inside, uncontrollable tears streamed down my face. When Ifinally calmed down as much as I could, I drove home. My mind was a train wreck, and I needed to get a grip on myself.

When I arrived home, Jenna was in the kitchen. She could tell something was wrong the minute she turned and looked at me.

“Are you okay? What happened?”

Did I tell her? We had become very close since I moved back, and she trusted me with things she had never told anyone. I needed to talk to someone, so I sat at the island.

“I went to Alex’s office to bring him lunch and I found him in there in a tight embrace with Bella.”

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