ask for it.
I thought I could break the chokehold William’s words had on my psyche, but I don’t think I can. It’s too late for me to change. Too late for me to be somebody else.
I’m going to have to end this thing with Eric and Hunter. Soon. Before I get my heart broken.
Too late for that, Dix.
I've resisted spending nights with them. No beds. No staying over. Nothing that could remotely be construed as a relationship. Just once, I want to throw all caution to the wind.
One night. The last night.
“Yes,” I whisper. “I'll stay.”
29
Eric
Something's wrong with Dixie, and I know what it is. Her demeanor changed the moment Fiona walked into the room.
Fiona and Dixie are friends. Dixie hasn’t told anyone about Hunter and me, and now one of her closest friends knows. The cat is out of the bag, and Dixie is freaking out.
And it hurts. It feels like someone’s repeatedly punching my heart.
Last week, I would have asked myself why I kept falling for women who didn’t want to be with me. Last week, I would have asked myself what the fuck is wrong with me.
But I’m past that point now. I’ve fallen in love with Dixie Ketcham.
I want more than casual sex. I want a relationship.
She might not feel the same way. Judging from her reaction, she most likely doesn’t. But I’m still going to tell her how I feel. She’s the most important person in my life, and I refuse to give up without a fight.
Hunter comes up to me. He nods in the direction of the backyard, where Fiona and Dixie are deep in conversation. “What do you think the two of them are talking about?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” I ask, a trace of bitterness seeping into my voice. “She’s getting ready to bolt.”
“And?” Hunter asks. “Would that bother you?”
“Yes, of course it would.” I give him a sidelong look. “It’s not casual for me. Not anymore.”
“Me neither,” he admits. He shuts his eyes for a moment, and then he nods decisively, as if he’s made up his mind about something. “I’m going to ask her to spend the night. You in?”
It’s a question about more than tonight. My answer comes without hesitation. “Yes.”
Hunter slips out to talk to Dixie. Xavier gets to his feet, slightly unsteady. Just as well he’s not driving. “You good there, buddy?”
“It’s not the Scotch,” he grumbles. “It’s the jetlag. My body doesn’t know if it’s coming or going.”
And it’s going to stay that way for the foreseeable future, as long as Layla lives in Thailand.
That reminds me. With everything going on, I’ve forgotten all about Kevin Hughes. “We have a lead,” I tell Xavier. “Dixie found it. Remember that charity auction you hosted in December? Zephyrus reimbursed Summit a hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the event space.”
“No, that can’t be right,” he says, immediately alert, a shark sensing blood. “It should have been comped.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Kevin Hughes called Summit’s accounting department and told them you’d approved the transaction.”
Xavier’s expression hardens. “And they took his word for it?”
“No. They checked with Pierre, who yelled at them for wasting his time.” Xavier looks stricken, and I pat his back. “If it makes you feel better, I really don’t think Valade was framing you. Hughes took advantage of his incompetence.”
“Not a lot, no. Hughes isn’t acting alone. Someone else is pulling the strings here.” His voice is grim. “I intend to find out who.” He glances at me. “Thank you, Eric.”
“It’s not me you should be thanking. It’s Dixie. I wouldn’t have got anywhere without her help. I know I’m biased here, but give her the damn job, Xavier. You’re not going to find a better Chief Operating Officer.”
“You might be biased?” There’s a trace of amusement in his voice. “Didn’t you tell me this was casual?”
He’s baiting me, and I refuse to bite. “Fuck off.”
He laughs shortly. “I’m assuming you’re busy tonight?” He doesn’t wait for me to reply. “I want to talk to Hughes tomorrow.”
“You’re driving to DC?”
“The chopper is faster.”
I shake my head wryly. Billionaires. They’re not like the rest of us mortals. I do okay—hell, I do a lot better than okay—but Xavier’s in a different league entirely. “Of course it is.”
“You know the specifics of what Kevin did,” he says. “I’d like you to come along. Meet me at the castle at ten?”
He’s being deliberately inscrutable. I’m ninety percent sure he’s going to make Dixie his new chief operating officer. No, higher