Page 32 of Undercover Billionaire

Another laugh threatened to strangulate mid-throat. ‘His name is Ari. He’s Greek but he actually sounds very English. He was educated there and lived in London for a decade. He’s an accountant and has an inner cabin on deck seven. And yes.’ Kelsey paused for dramatic effect. ‘The man eats pussy like a freaking ninja.’

Tiffany laughed and hugged her. ‘Go you! You’re practically glowing. How did it start?’

Kelsey gave the abridged version considering she had to get ready for work. About Andy and the wallet and the stolen money. ‘It’s been crazy, Tiff. And the sex…’

Kelsey didn’t know if there was a word in the entire Englishor Greeklanguage adequate enough to describe the sex, so she didn’t bother.

‘And he’s interesting and kind.’ The fact he got so riled up about Sameel treating passengers differently spoke volumes about Ari’s character. ‘And he’s so… tactile. Playing with my hair or stroking my skin.’

Kelsey had been surprised to find she liked being petted. It was crazy to think in a few days she’d let a guy she barely knew closer than any man had been in years.

‘Well, good for you.’ Tiffany squeezed Kelsey’s hand.

‘We’re not doing it again. It’s too risky.’ How anyone risked it, Kelsey had no idea. She was not cut out for this kind of subterfuge.

‘I don’t care,’ Tiffany said. ‘I’m still stalking his ass. You’re going to have to point him out to me. How old is he?’

‘I… don’t know.’ Kelsey laughed, slightly mortified that she had no clue. It wasn’t like they hadn’t talked about deeply personal stuff. ‘He’d have to be early thirties I suppose. He went to uni and lived in London for a decade. He and his wife were in a car crash three years ago and she was thirty at the time so…’

‘His wife? Divorced?’

Kelsey shook her head. ‘Widower.’

‘Oh God.’ Tiffany’s expressive eyebrows knitted close, her palm flattened over her chest. ‘That’s awful.’

‘Yes.’ Kelsey had been ten when her dad had died and that had taken a piece of her heart she’d never get back. ‘I’m the first one, Tiff. The first woman he’s been with since his wife.’

The frown on her best friend’s face deepened. ‘You’re hisfirst? Since his wife died?’

Kelsey’s scalp prickled at the thread of alarm in her friend’s voice. ‘Yes.’

‘Oh no.’ Tiffany shook her head. ‘No, no, no, Kels.’ She stood and started pacing the cabin. ‘That’s abadidea.’

‘Yeah. I alreadyknowthat. Against the rules, remember. That’s why we’re not doing it again.’

‘No, I mean—’ Tiffany stopped pacing and faced Kelsey. ‘You’re transition woman.’

Kelsey’s frown deepened. ‘What?’

‘Men don’t fall for transition woman, Kels.’ Tiffany folded her arms impatiently. ‘You’re… practice.’

‘Tiff… you’re not listening. It’s just sex. And it’s not happening again.’

Her eyebrows almost hit her hairline this time. ‘Bullshit it’s just sex. You’reglowing, babe. You’re talking about how kind and interesting andtouchyhe is when usually you’re counting down the minutes until you can leave. Face it, babe, you’re… smitten.’

Kelsey almost choked. ‘Smitten?’ That was preposterous. ‘Did I fall down a rabbit hole and land in the nineteenth century?’

Tiffany pursed her lips. ‘It’s the perfect word.’

‘I’m not.’ Kelsey shook her head vigorously. ‘It’s sex. Great sex, admittedly, but that’s it. And we’re done.’

‘Oh God.’ Tiffany gave her a hard hug. ‘You’re going to get your heart squashed.’

Kelsey laughed at the drama. ‘I’m not falling in love with him. We had sex, now it’s over. I’m going to be fine.’

She would be fine, damn it.

Breaking out of her friend’s boa constrictor-like embrace, Kelsey said, ‘I need a shower, and you’ – she poked Tiff’s chest – ‘you need a sleep. You’re clearly overtired.’

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