Page 6 of Her Brother's Billionaire Best Friend

“Absolutely. If an alligatorinvites me back to his pond, we’ll definitely use a condom,” Isaid, giving him a salute.

Mom made a noise of disgustat the juvenile sense of humor I’d inherited from my dad, and Iclosed the door so I could change out of my sweat-sodden travelclothes. Though I’m no stranger to heat, the humidity was unreal.Walking outside was like being slapped in the face with a hot, wetwool blanket. I needed far fewer clothes on.

In my thinnest tank top and shortestjean cutoffs, I made my way across the grass and down the sidewalk,past the hedge. All I had to do was find wherever the staff tooktheir breaks, and I would find what I was looking for.

The path wound around apond and over a bridge, and that’s where I hit my first challenge.There was a guy standing there, alone. Like he waswaiting.

I wasn’t a scaredy-cat. ButI did watchDateline. I didn’t feel like being the star of an episode. I scannedthe area to gauge how close other people might be.

Then the guy noticed me there andlifted his hand to wave me over. “Wanna see analligator?”

I did, absolutely, want to see analligator. But I didn’t want to get murdered. I weighed my optionscarefully. Curiosity won out.

I moved onto the bridge, but not tooclose to the guy. I could see him better now, in the light of thefaux gas lamps. It only took me a second to place him. “You’reMatthew Ashe.”

We may never have metbefore, but I’d seen him in my brother’s photos on Facebook. Andthe pictures had not done Matthew Ashe justice. He was sogood-looking, I took personal offense. His chestnut-brown hair wasa tiny bit too long, curling under the edge of his Detroit Tigersbaseball cap. His broad shoulders filled out his T-shirt like itwas an expensive suit, and he had a serious case of Supermanjaw.

The water beneath the wooden bridgelashed. I jumped back with a yelp and Matthew reflexively grabbedmy arm. “It’s the gator,” he said with a deep, warmlaugh.

“Yeah, the gator.” I peeredover the edge of the bridge, partially because I was curious,partially because I needed a second to look away from thehandsomeness happening. He wasn’t just physically hot. His presencewas heart-stopping.

“And you are?” heasked.

It took me a second to remember thatI’d called him by name. “Oh. Charlotte. I’m Scott’ssister.”

Matthew’s eyes widened. “It’s so niceto finally meet you! Your brother talks about you all thetime.”

The gator hiding beneath the bridgehissed.

“I don’t think he’ll come uphere,” Matthew reassured me confidently. “What brings you out inthe middle of the night?”

Since it was Scott’s best friend, Ifigured I could be honest. Also, if he owned the place, he probablyknew where to find what I needed.

“In the interest oftransparency, I’m looking for weed,” I said with a shrug. “I washere to meet my plug.” I gestured to the gator.

Matthew grimaced and suckedin a breath. “This is awkward.” His slight pause worried me, untilhe added, “I called the alligator police on him.”

“I thought you were going totell me it was against resort policy.”

“It is, but I know theowner.”

“And he makes you babysitalligators?” I raised an eyebrow.

“He has a vested interest inguests not being eaten by alligators.” He leaned inconspiratorially. “But if you stick around until this situation isresolved, I know where you can get what you’re lookingfor.”

My earlier conversation with Sarrahflashed through my mind. From the way his gaze kept slipping down,I had zero doubt I could get exactly what I was looking for fromMatthew Ashe. But he was my brother’s best friend. Maybe there wassome kind of code of honor between dudes that makes little sistersoff-limits.

Whatever. I could still get high, sincehe’d invited me.

“Sure. I think I have somefree time this evening.” I peered over the bridge. “Are we actuallywaiting for someone to deal with the alligator, though?”

“Oh, yeah, absolutely,” heresponded, all seriousness. “There’s a nuisance alligator team onpremises to deal with them, but it’ll take them a minute. And thatbig party over there is about to get out—”

“And you don’t need drunkpeople and wild animals raising your liability insurance.” Iunderstood. And I was kind of impressed. “Somehow, I don’t seeother CEOs taking on this type of job.”

“It’s good to have ahands-on interest,” he quipped. The dimple in his cheek when hesmiled made me want to take a hands-on interest in him.

I hoped he’d take a hands-on interestin me too.

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