Page 50 of Dr. Stone
“Ladies,” I heard Natalia announce herself, “what have I missed besides arrival sex in the villa, and how many of those,” the striking woman eyed our champagne glasses, “do I need to throw down so I can catch up?”
“Nat, I’m shocked,” Avery said, hugging her friend. “You’re late, behind us on drinks, and you didn’t have arrival-in-the-villa sex? The earth must’ve gotten knocked off its axis.”
“Tell me about it, love,” Nat laughed.
Avery looked at me, “You remember Andie, don’t you?”
“Of course I do,” she smiled, then took a champagne glass from a passing waiter. “Our little love goddess of the night with Dr. Jace Stone.” She sipped slowly, eyes twinkling. “Are you here with him?”
The question hit harder than it should have. For a moment, I thought of Jace. Of how much I’d rather be on his arm than anyone else’s. The ache of that truth pressed sharp and real in my chest. I lifted my glass, hiding behind a sip of champagne and a practiced laugh, forcing the thought away before it could show on my face.
“No,” I said, surprised the gossip hadn’t reached Nat’s ears by now. Then again, my life wasn’t exactly important enough for anyone in these circles to care about. “I was invited by Titus.”
“Titus fucking Hawk, you say?” Nat nearly spit her champagne back into her glass. “Honey, that man is smooth as silk and sweeter than tea at an Alabama summer barbecue. Howthe hell did you manage to capture the attention of a man who never brings a woman to his own events?” Her grin was wicked, playful.
I’d forgotten how disarmingly blunt she was. The night I wandered off the yacht and into Jace’s orbit, she’d cracked me up with her lively, overly sensual commentary.
“I’m as clueless as you are,” I admitted honestly.
“You give yourself much too little credit,” she said, and Avery nodded in agreement.
“She does,” Avery added. “And what I’m about to say is really going to get your attention.”
“Go on,” Nat smirked at me, then turned back to Avery as she drained her glass with glamorous ease. “From the look on your face, Av, I’m going to need another drink.”
“Well,” Avery began, eyes glinting, “our goddess here caught Titus’s attention when she sold him a piece from Ash’s gallery.”
“As I said, you’re a pro when it comes to selling art, but now it seems you’ve managed to upsell yourself on a man whose ego has its own zip code. That’s just my style, honey,” she beamed.
“Well, she sold Titus in the gallery, and you and I haven’t spoken much since, but you remember she also sold Jaceall nighton Jake’s yacht, too?”
“Hell yes,” Nat said, snatching another glass of champagne. “Goddamn, why would any of you leave me out ofthis?” She looked from me to Avery, “Avery, you know very well that we’ve not had any juicy shit like this since Darcy sat Sebastian Aster on his ass and taught him how to sayplease,” she chuckled, then looked at me again. “And you, sister. Damn. You haveno ideahow many vicious bitches would dream to be in your shoes.”
“That’s the thing,” I cringed, “I didn’t really plan this.”
“Well, if you didn’t and it all found you, then you’re just brilliant. Jacemother fuckingStone and Titusholy fuckHawk?” she smiled. “Baby, what a pleasurable experience you’ve embarked on with those two deliciously gorgeous delights.”
“Again, I’m just sort of seeing them. Titus and I haven’t even…” I paused, wondering if this was really the conversation for tonight.
“Don’t youdarestart with modesty because we’re surrounded by people who’ve committed worse scandals than you could ever dream,” Nat said. “Go on.”
“Well, we haven’t been intimate yet, and since that night on the yacht, neither have Jace and I.”
Nat’s eyes narrowed at me. “You seem to be apprehensive about this,” she said. “But why wouldn’t you want to fuck around and soak up all the glorious joy? You’re single, babe. Single with two hot men who seem to be competing for you.”
“Jace is in it to win it, for sure,” Avery said when I had no response. “Titus, well, we’re waiting to see what the hell that man’s up to.”
“We?” Nat arched a brow. “We, as in who all knows about this shit?”
“It’s not exactly public—for Andie’s sake,” Avery said smoothly. “But Jim and I know more than we should thanks to Ash and Jake. And before your blunt mouth barged in,” she added with a teasing smile, “I was about to get the inside scoop on how these two are stacking up while they compete for our sexy mama here.”
Nat grinned like Christmas came early. “Sounds like I’m caught up. Except we still haven’t settled whether the rumors are true and Jace Stone is as hot in bed as a five-alarm fire. We’ll circle back. Right now, I need details. How do these two compare in this delicious little love triangle I apparently missed the memo on?”
“I have no idea,” I lied, lifting my glass to cover the hitch in my chest.
Shit. Just hearing Jace’s name kept tripping my pulse, butterflies colliding in my stomach. God, I didn’t need this shit right now—not when I was already battling my own damn thoughts.
“Oh, you have an idea,” Nat chimed, wagging her glass. “So, how long has this circus been running?”
