Page 106 of Billionaire Bachelor
She responds instantly. I swear the woman has her phone surgically attached to her hand.
Avery: I can’t wait to hear this one.
A minute or so later, Logan returns with an ACE bandage, a bottle of water, and some Advil. After wrapping my wrist like a pro and ensuring I take the pills like a good little patient, he gives me one last kiss before slipping his jacket back on.
“I love you,” I tell him.
He freezes in the doorway and grins. “Damn, I’ll never get sick of hearing that.”
“Are you still planning on coming over after you’re done?” I bite my lip, not missing the way his gaze zooms in on the action. “I need to experience some of yourbedside manner, Dr. Edwards. Especially if you’ll be out of town for the whole next day and night. Besides, wecan’t have you getting on that plane all stressed out, can we? I hear orgasms are great for anxiety relief. We should at least try it, in the name of science. Don’t you think?”
“Oh, definitely. I’m a big fan of supporting scientific research.” His eyes darken as his knuckles whiten around the doorknob. “Fuck. I need to get out of here before I talk myself out of leaving.” He points to me. “Quit being so damn irresistible, woman.” He quickly steps over the threshold and closes the door as he adds, “Love you, Pip.”
“Looking forward to seeing you tonight! Sorry not sorry if I get started without you!” I shout through the door.
Pretty sure I hear him groan on the other side. Excellent.
I shift on the couch, squirming. Welp. That backfired spectacularly.
Now I’m way too worked up to focus. Guess I’ll have to take the edge off before I can even pretend to be productive. Good thing I only need one hand for a littleménage à moi. Logan’s too busy to be distracted today, but that doesn’t mean I can’t record a sexy little video for him to watch later.
I mean…it’s only fair. He keeps me fed, I supply him with spank bank material. We’ll call it mutual satisfaction. Or…perhaps foreplay with a side of DoorDash?
Who knew relationships could be so freaking awesome?
33
LOGAN
After months of prep,late-night test runs, and back-to-back strategy sessions, pitch day is finally here. As we soar above the Mojave on our short flight, in the comfort of a chartered jet, the weight of this deal settles firmly on my shoulders. If this meeting goes as planned, Olympus Resorts & Gaming will sign an exclusive five-year partnership with us. I’ve been calling this deal a game-changer, but honestly, that sells it short. Securing this contract could belegacy-defining.
Ryan sits across the table, flipping through the final version of our presentation deck on his laptop. Jared’s across the aisle, scrolling through notes, lips moving as he mentally runs through the demo for probably the hundredth time.
It took the whole team to get us here, but the three of us will be the ones in that room. Showing up with a full entourage might look more like posturing than a partnership, and we want to project confidence, not overwhelm them.
Ryan closes his laptop. “You nervous?”
I nod. “Of course I am. There’s so much on the line.”
“Well, lucky for you, I’m awesome under pressure,so the Olympus team will likely never even notice you have the jitters.” He grins.
Cocky little shit.
I scrub a hand down my face, not-so-accidentally flipping him off. “I’ll be fine. Just worry about your part.”
Ryan ‘scratches’ the bridge of his nose using his middle finger. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ve got it covered.”
My lips twitch, fighting a smile at the familiar ribbing. Ryan might not be ready to talk yet, but he keepsshowing me in subtle ways he’s not planning to throw our friendship away. I’m not sure if he realizes he’s doing it—and I’m sure as shit not going to point it out—but it’s reassuring nonetheless. I can breathe easier knowing I haven’t lost my best friend simply because I fell in love with his sister.
After less than an hour in the air, the tires squeal softly against the runway, and in the distance, the skyline shimmers in the late morning sun, glass towers flashing like polished mirrors. My pulse kicks up as it always does when I land in this city.
Day or night, Vegas never fails to hit different for me.
Every time I’m here, there’s extra energy buzzing beneath my skin. It’s the same feeling I had when I first decided to launch BetMasters, and it hasn’t faded no matter how often I’m in town. Our executive offices are in Los Angeles because that’ll always be home to me, but we’re incorporated in Nevada for the favorable tax laws and business regulations. Since California still hasn’t legalized sports betting or online casinos, it made sense to establish a satellite office in Vegas, as it’s one of the biggest gambling hubs in the world.
I’ve always believed knowledge is power, which is why Ryan and I fly out here regularly to keep tabs on what the major players in the casino business are up to. Like his cousin Sylvie, Ryan graduated from UNLV, so he’s got roots here—connections that occasionally work to our advantage.
After taxiing toward the private hangers, I sling my laptop bag over my shoulder just as the cabin door opens and the dry desert heat spills inside. Imani—Barry’s Vegas counterpart and the glue holdingour satellite office together—is already waiting on the tarmac, tablet in hand and a smile that could outshine the damn sun. Her braids are pulled into a sleek bun, diamond stud earrings glinting in the sunlight.
