Eat Your Heart Out: Virgin Cove Trillionaires (Single Brothers Book 4) Page 2

  Then he said, “Well, I don’t know all the details, but it seems simple, and you seem bright enough to handle it.”

  If he was on the level and everything was legit, I would be stupid to say no tonight. He drove onto a huge estate, and my heart beat wildly.

  I nodded. “Look, I’d take the job, but I don’t have a passport.”

  He parked at the front of the house, which had lights on inside. “Perfect. We’ll fix that.”

  I shivered as cold enveloped me.

  He acted like getting one was easy. I decided not to bring that up. “Where are you going for a year?”

  He turned off the car and gazed at me. My skin prickled as he said, “Around the world. Anywhere you want to see?”

  I let out a laugh. Most of my favorite actors were all from the same country, so I said, “I’ve always wanted to check out Sydney.”

  His lips curved higher, and his face shone. “It’s on the schedule.”

  I glanced out the window like that might shield me from him. “I hope going with you turns out… smart.”

  He stayed where he was, and his voice snuck through my skin and into my senses. “Why would that worry you?”

  I let out a dry laugh and stared up at the sky. “I don’t have the best track record for decision-making.”

  He glanced at the door behind me then back at me. “Do you have a place to go?”

  I lowered my head. He would honestly not understand my life at all. “No.”

  He opened his door and got out. “Then be prepared for people celebrating at my house tonight.”

  I opened my door only enough to ask, “They’ll let you bring home a stray?”

  He nodded. “Absolutely.” He walked backward to the door, waving for me to join him.

  I stepped out. No one would believe me if I said I was there. Not that I had anyone to tell. I took a step toward him, but it felt like I’d leaped over a huge ravine. I smiled and nodded. “Okay, I’ll go in.”

  On pins and needles, I heard men and women laughing and talking. I trembled, as that sound usually came from someone else being humiliated.

  A woman with dark graying hair all pulled up walked into the foyer. Her face was clean, and she reminded me a little of a younger version of my grandmother, whom I’d not seen in years.

  She hugged Gerard then held his arm as she gazed at me with a huge smile. “Gerard, who’s this?”

  I curled my hands around myself. “I’m Ali. Gerard just offered me the server position on his yacht.”

  She blinked and tilted her head. “Lovely. Well, let’s get you a change of clothes, then maybe you’ll join us for some appetizers and dessert.”

  My stomach churned at the idea of food. However, I glanced at both of them, and they did not look at all alike, so I asked, “You’re his mother?”

  She took my hand, and it was like her sweetness might be contagious. She came next to me to guide me to the stairs. “Yes. I love the red streak in your hair. It’s very eye-catching.”

  For all they knew, I was a thief they’d taken into their house. I glanced up at the blue abstract sculpture that reminded me of a wave. “It’s… your house is beautiful. Thank you for letting me stay.”

  She curled her hand on my shoulder. “My children’s guests are always welcome. Gerard will show you to some dry things.”

  Right. My clothes had left a trail of water behind me and a pool at my feet.

  Gerard waved for me to go with him up the stairs. “Come, the staff will have laid out clothes for you by now, as we’re both wet.”

  I rocked on my feet but then followed him up. If that was how they lured their victims, at least they were hospitable about crime. I had no idea how anyone might afford anything like their house otherwise.

  My mother was sweet, but she’d worked at the same burger joint for my entire life until she died. No one I knew had anything so grand.

  Gerard motioned toward a door when we made it upstairs, and I opened it. It smelled like vanilla, sweeter than the hotel rooms I’d cleaned. The closet was full of women’s clothes, and I saw fluffy-bottomed dresses.

  I shook my head. “I’m not the kind for fancy parties.”

  He shrugged but didn’t come inside. “Tonight is just family. Tomorrow is fancy.”

  I let out a small giggle. “Fancy” sounded odd coming from his lips. He must never speak about his life with that word. I returned to the door. “Your family looks fancy. How come you don’t look like your mom?”

  “I was adopted at birth.”

  “You lucked out,” I said quickly. I’d been terrified about being kidnapped, but never once had I imagined a place like this was possible. I blinked the thought away.

  He asked, “What about your parents?”

  “My mom died. My dad left us when I was a kid, so I’m pretty much on my own.” My stomach made a loud noise.

  He glanced down at it. “Did you eat today?”

  There was no point in lying, so I said, “Not really, just some popcorn.”

  “I’ll have the staff set up two plates.” He stepped backward.

  They trusted me in their fairyland. I called after him, “Sounds perfect.”

  He waved and left.

  In a movie I’d seen once, a wrongly imprisoned ex-convict had stolen his hosts’ silverware, but they hadn’t turned him in. Instead, they’d given him the silverware as a gift to better his life. Because of that, he’d decided to become a good guy and used the money to help others. I wouldn’t take the candelabra or any of the clothes or shoes, which I could probably turn a profit on.

  The Norouzis had kindness written all over them, and that was what they had in common with my mother. I mumbled to myself as I headed to the en suite bathroom. “Even if this ends badly, I’ll be dressed up for whatever happens next.”

  The bubble in my chest was close to hope. I wasn’t sure that was possible, though, as I shimmied out of my soaking-wet panties that weren’t sexy at all—then again, neither was I. I wasn’t able to trust anything, even if they were letting me borrow from them for the night. It would be nice, though, to not need to sleep with one eye open, always on the edge of disaster.

  3

  Gerard

  I circled downstairs, as Ali needed a few minutes to herself. She’d intrigued me, though I understood her hesitation. Picking someone up on the side of the road wasn’t my normal behavior, and I wasn’t sure how to help.

  My mother came over to me as I poured myself a tea. “You’re taking a server on your trip now?”

  My face heated. She’d caught me. Yesterday, I’d pronounced I hadn’t needed anyone. I put the teapot down and raised my eyebrow. “You raised me to be a prince.”

  She glanced up the stairs. “She has great bones, though she’s on the skinny side and not in a natural way. If you do end up falling in love, son, make sure she eats more, especially fruits and vegetables.”

  I gulped my tea piping hot. “I will let her know that for your approval, she needs to gain fifty pounds.”

  “Don’t you dare.” She laughed then went on to talk to Adrien about his college classes.

  I waved at Elon, who gave me a quizzical look, like he needed to speak to me.

  However, my breath dissipated as I glanced up and saw Ali with her hair up and wearing a white dress with red flowers and butterflies as trim. I couldn’t look away, and I went to the bottom of the steps as she joined us.

  My heart pounded. “You look great.”

  She shrugged, but her lips curved higher. “I took a shower. The soap smells nice.”

  I had butterflies in my stomach as I waved for her to join me. “Come, dinner is this way.”

  We walked through my family, all in conversation, and I brought her to the side table set up for two with dinner under some cloches.

  She placed her napkin on her lap, and her eyes widened as she removed the cover. “You really had them make me a plate?”

  I nodded. She sniffed the ghormeh sabzi.

&nbs
p; I just said, “It’s a stew.”

  She lowered her head a little toward the spoon then closed her eyes as she tasted her first bite.

  I stilled, as not everyone appreciated my parents’ cultural food we’d had for dinner that evening, though it was delicious.

  When she finished her bite, she sat straighter and nodded. “It tastes amazing.”

  I released a deep breath. We wouldn’t need to have the chef make any burgers. I picked up my spoon to have my second helping, as it was rude to let someone eat alone. “We’ll compliment the chef later.”

  We both ate for a few minutes in silence. She finished fast. The staff offered her more, and she took it. My skin prickled as I saw she was so hungry.

  Once she seemed satisfied and put her spoon down, she let out a sigh. “So, why did you help me tonight? Are you on a quota to do something nice for total strangers to keep your angel wings or something?”

  I laughed and shook my head. “I’m not qualified to be an angel.”

  She sat back in her chair, and her eyes seemed brighter. “So you’re the devil who drives a Porsche. That honestly makes more sense. Is this my last meal before my execution?”

  I leaned forward. “Are you on the run from the police or something?”

  She giggled then shook her head. “No. I didn’t do anything wrong. However, I tend to attract horrible men. I figure you’re successful about it but probably the worst of the lot.”

  I wanted to ask her what had happened to her. However, her statement begged for a response. I winked at her. “So you’re attracted to me?”

  She rolled her eyes. “No, I said you’re attracted to me.”

  I shrugged. For the first time in a while, I was enjoying flirting. “Well, now that I know you clean up well, it’s possible.”

  She waved her hands in the air. “You’ll admit it soon enough.”

  We stood, and I introduced her to my brothers- and sisters-in-law. She repeated their names but seemed lost. Once we finished, we found a corner, and she put her hand on her hip.

  “So, tonight is about you?”

  I glanced around the room, hoping no one had told her anything else. “I made a deal and sold my business for a profit. We’re really here for the engagement party tomorrow.”

  She crossed her arms and tilted her head up to look at me. “What kind of business did you run?”

  I motioned toward the wine then held out a glass. She nodded.

  I poured as I said, “Oil. I had my own company, but it was taking too much of my time. I realized this when my ex decided, since I was never home, she could just stay rent-free in my penthouse. I was away all the time, so Ashley got away with it for six months. I decided to sell and haven't looked back.”

  She took the glass and clinked it with mine. A tremble rushed through me, and we hadn’t even touched.

  Then she said, “Wow. When John, my ex as of twelve hours ago, changed the locks on me and tossed me in the dumpster, I didn’t ask for my tea bags.”

  I winced. “He left you in the trash?”

  She finished her sip. “He threw me in there and said it was where I belonged since I didn’t help him steal. I was raised to be respectful of other people’s property. And while I’ve had to take care of myself and made bad choices, there are lines I don’t cross.”

  My heart thundered with the need to keep her safe. “Well, no one should treat you like that.”

  She put the glass down and widened her stance. “I… look, niceness isn’t necessary with me. I’m still waiting for the curtain to draw back so I see what I’ve gotten myself into.”

  I stepped away from her to avoid provoking her. “You believe that I’d… hurt you?”

  She lowered her head then spoke more softly. “No. Not really. You’re clearly from a successful family. You’re nice to me. And the truth is I’m looking for holes in your story because you’re too good to be true.”

  Whatever had happened to her was in the past. Her sense of humor and how she asked direct questions showed she had a spark of something interesting.

  I stilled. “Well, I hope in time, I earn your trust.”

  “Why?”

  “Because maybe then we’ll both be saved.”

  She snapped her fingers. “I knew it.” Then she picked up her glass. “Why do you need saving?”

  “I’m a heartless, soulless business man who’s only cared about my bottom line for years now.”

  “So?”

  The simple question made me blink. Then I directed her to glance around the room. “I have a wonderful family who are all amazing people and happy, and I wish I could figure out a way to be more like them. Maybe then I could be content and appreciate more.”

  She picked up her glass and clinked it with mine again. “You’ve got to be who you are. If you’re a shark, be a shark.”

  I sipped with her. Having her next to me was nice. It was like I had someone who had my back, even for a second. “What if I’m a shark because I’m afraid to look in the mirror?”

  The corners of her eyes wrinkled. “Is that why we’re shipping off? You want to find yourself?” Then she snorted out her laugh.

  I blinked, and heat rose in my face. “Why are you laughing?”

  She dabbed her eyes. “I know I sound rude—I think it’s probably why I have no friends—but it sounds like a rich man’s life. Hit a rough patch and take off for a world tour.”

  “You don’t need to support it. Sailing is the only calming thing I know.”

  “Oh no, I’m in and happy you’re taking me with you. Taking a year off sounds fun. If you need me to pee in a cup for a drug test, just tell me where. I want the job.”

  Interesting. She accepted the policies of companies so easily. I finished my glass of wine. “So you’re not afraid of me anymore?”

  She finished hers, put it down, then stared at me. “I was never afraid.”

  My lips tingled with the desire to kiss her. She was so different than anyone I’d ever met, but I only nodded. “Now, that I believe.”

  We continued to look around the room, but then she yawned. She’d had a horrible day, so I would not keep her up. Soon enough, she would tell me her story, as long as I stayed patient.

  4

  Ali

  Last night, I’d roamed the room a few times and listened to the splashing waves.

  For eight years, I’d barely slept. John had been more a friend than a boyfriend and not even a good friend, if I was honest with myself.

  His offer to take care of me after my mother’s death had sounded nice at the time. He’d offered an escape from lawyers, reverse mortgages, and tears.

  At the time, he’d been exciting. After a while, he’d become exasperating. And finally, he stopped mattering. He was my past.

  I would never in a million years have guessed I would end up with a bedroom for a night in a mansion bigger than anything I’d seen in a movie or show. Eventually, I slept, and when I woke up, my body wasn’t tense.

  I showered then picked out a T-shirt and shorts that hopefully weren’t too expensive. I’d glanced at the Prada labels on some of the items and skipped right over anything rich.

  Birds chirped outside the window, and I slipped onto my personal balcony. I was alone. The sun was shining, and I gazed up, closing my eyes. Maybe happiness was possible.

  I had no idea, but I whispered to the wind and the sun, “Mom, I know you’re listening. I don’t know if you sent Gerard into my life or not. I’m not sure I trust anyone since you died. Going from one disaster to the next would never have happened to you, and I’m so sorry that I disappointed you as a daughter, in life then after.”

  A knock sounded at my door, and I jumped.

  Fuck. I hope no one heard me. I needed to learn to bite my lip, as bleeding physically was preferable to being vulnerable in the real world.

  Tensing, I expected to be ridiculed. I squared my shoulders then opened the door. However, when I gazed out to see who was here, my eyes widened as
Roxanne Norouzi smiled at me.

  “I thought you were up, my dear.”

  I’d not been anyone’s “dear” anything. I hugged my waist. “Yes, good morning, Mrs. Norouzi.”

  She motioned to be invited in. My heart raced, and I hoped she hadn’t expected me to make the bed. Next time, I absolutely would.

  As she closed the door, she said, “You look a lot like my friends and family back in the old country.“

  I shrugged. “My mother was blond and blue-eyed. But my dad’s genes were stronger. I was told he was from Iraq.”

  She smiled brighter. “That’s close enough. I’m happy you’re going with Gerard. I worry about him.”

  I rubbed the back of my head. “Why? He seems capable.”

  She opened the closet and studied the clothes she’d lent me. “He’s unhappy with his life.” She turned back and studied me. “He doesn’t tell me, but he’s my son. Last night, I saw you both laughing. I just wanted to let you know it would be nice if you stuck around. You’re much sweeter than the last girl he brought home.”

  My entire body tensed. If she hated someone, I needed to avoid her. I lifted my chin. “Ashley.”

  She smiled at me again. “This is my tailor. I hope you don’t mind.” She opened the door to wave a staff member in. “I’m glad he told you about her. She was always telling Gerard to buy her things. She was… predatory, but if that’s who he wanted, then it wasn’t my place to tell him otherwise.”

  I tensed at the thought of someone dressing me. No one needed to see my scars.

  The woman wrapped a tape measure around me.

  “Well, I do appreciate the clothes. I don’t have anything, but I hope the dress fully covers me.”

  Someone else came in and took my picture.

  “No worries.” Mrs. Norouzi waved her hand. “I’ll send you some dress options for tonight. We need you to steal his breath away.”

  My eyes misted. I refused to take what wasn’t mine. “Don’t stress about me. There are enough clothes here already.”