Captivating You: How to Marry a Billionaire Two by Helen Hardt

Author:Helen Hardt [Hardt, Helen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hardt & Sons
Published: 2025-02-25T00:00:00+00:00

EPISODE 63

DIAMONDS ON BLACK VELVET

Sebastian

Brett returns to Alex and me after he and River have their words. He smells of woodsy cologne and cigarette smoke, with a hint of bourbon coming off his breath.

“Where’s Riv?” I ask.

“He went back inside the manse. I think I’m going to go down to the beach for a while.”

“It’s late, Brett,” Alex says.

“Yeah. But I could use some time alone.” He looks up to the sky and then back at us. “See you guys tomorrow. Goodnight.” He strides toward the path that leads to the beach.

Once he’s out of earshot, I turn to Alex. “I’ve never seen Brett quite so introspective. He’s usually all business or pleasure without doing a lot of soul-searching.”

Alex nods. “I wonder what River said to him.”

“I don’t have a clue. The two of them have always shared a special bond. They’ve known each other the longest.”

“True enough.” Alex sighs. “I suppose we should call it a night.”

“I’m not sure I could sleep.”

Alex lets out a scoffing chuckle. “Me neither. You want to walk for a while?”

“Sure, but let’s go out front and take the other path to the beach. I don’t want to horn in on Brett’s alone time.”

“Same,” Alex says.

We walk to the front of the mansion, around the manicured front lawn, and onto the concrete path leading toward the beach. The moon sits high in the sky, and the stars shine down on us. Sheer perfection. I could write a dozen songs about the beauty of this night...if it weren’t so fucked up.

We find a couple lounge chairs far enough from the ocean to not risk the tide washing into us and sit down.

We’re quiet for a while, just listening to the rhythmic rolling of waves. They crescendo as they gather strength and build into a gentle roar that climaxes as they break onto the shore. They retreat with a soft hiss.

The flap of a bird flying through the night sky punctuates the gentle sound occasionally, and the warm night breeze drifts around us. I inhale the salty sea air mingled with the earthy scent of sand with subtle floral notes.

Yet relaxation doesn’t come.

Alex’s voice finally breaks the silence. “Seb?”

I turn to look at my friend who’s staring out to sea. “Yeah?”

“Do you think this was a mistake? Trying to meet women this way? Trying to find love this way?”

“I don’t know. It seemed the best option at the time.”

“I’m wondering if it wasn’t doomed from the start,” he says. “I mean, if we hadn’t hired Evangeline and tasked her with finding eligible women, Misty never would have found us.”

I shake my head. “Oh, I think she would have found us. If she’s truly Jake’s half-sister, her curiosity would have gotten the best of her and she would have gone to Montana. If she made it to Montana, she would have found River first, and that would have led to the rest of us.”

“Would she have found River, though?” Alex asks. “If she only knew that her birth mother had another child who would have been our age.

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