Hollywood Heir (Westerly Billionaire #4)
Ruth Cardello
Westerly
Family Tree
(D): stays with Dereck after the divorce
(S): stays with Stephanie after the divorce
A note to my readers: What is a water bear?
Water bear bugs (a.k.a. tardigrades) are eight-legged creatures that live in water and are said to be able to survive even an extinction-level event. They would not only survive without water for thirty years but also in the vacuum of space. They are popular enough in some circles that people sell plush-toy replicas of them.
I may have to give one to my children, just to see their expressions when I do. Water bears—so ugly they’re cute.
Chapter One
“Sorry it took me so long to get here—traffic was a pain. What’s the emergency?”
Sage Revere motioned for her best friend, Bella, to sit across from her at a small table in a busy London coffee shop. She pushed a cup of black coffee across to her. “He’s not here yet, but he will be. He comes every day just about this time.”
Bella took a seat and lifted the paper cup to her lips, blowing on the hot liquid. “I should have known this wasn’t urgent. We need some kind of code in case you actually need me one day.”
“It is urgent. I need you to look at him and tell me why I can’t get him out of my head. Today. Before this goes further.”
“Is he a potential client?”
“I don’t think so. He haunts me, though. Does that make sense?”
“No, but I’m used to this side of you,” Bella suggested with a knowing smile. “You’re cursed with a gift. Instead of seeing dead people, you see unhappy rich ones. What’s his issue? Did he just win the lottery and lose all his friends? Is he retiring from a lucrative, cutthroat career and discovering he’s alone? Don’t worry, whatever it is, you’ll find a way to bring him around. You always do.” Her voice was thick with but I love you anyway sarcasm.
“I don’t think he has money.”
Bella sipped her coffee. “He must. Your radar doesn’t work for unhappy poor people.”
Ouch. Sitting back in her chair, Sage crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re in a mood today.”
“Sorry.” Bella leaned forward and placed a hand on Sage’s arm. “I have a lot going on at the office. And I know I sound like a jerk sometimes, but someone has to keep you grounded. You’re not psychic.”
“I never said I was.”
“The people you help usually deserve to be alone.”
“That’s a horrible thing to say. To love and be loved—isn’t that what life is all about? What could be more important? And you know as well as I do that money doesn’t make anyone as happy as they think it will. You were miserable before you met me.”
Bella sighed. “I was ten.”
“I helped guide you. Admit it, you’re a thousand times happier working in law than you would have been running your mother’s cosmetics company.”
“Why are you making a case for yourself? Are you about to do something that I’ll have to defend you for in court? You’re not stalking this guy, are you?”
“Of course not. Well, not technically. Does coming every day when I know he’ll be here constitute stalking?”
“It could—depends on whether he becomes one of your clients or takes out a restraining order against you.”
Sage’s attention was drawn to the door. “That’s him.”
By the time Bella turned in his direction, he was faced away, ordering a coffee. “Nice ass. Nice back. I’m going to go out on a limb on this one and say that your fascination has less to do with how he feels and more with what you’d like to feel—those quads. At twenty-six, it could even be your biological clock. Either way, damn, that man sure knows how to fill out a pair of jeans.”
“Wait,” Sage said.
He turned, as if he could sense them looking at him. His temple and cheek were darkened with a thick layer of cover-up that didn’t fully conceal a scar that ran down both. Whatever had happened to him had disfigured one side of his face, leaving it rounder and painful looking. A somber gaze met Sage’s briefly before he turned away again.
Bella said, “What happened to him?”
“I wish I knew. He looks so lost, doesn’t he? He sits alone, finishes his coffee, then leaves without talking to anyone.”
Bella waved a warning finger. “Be careful—you don’t know how he got that scar. For all you know, he earned it.”
“Or maybe not. I want to go over there and hug him.”
The man looked up from the table he’d chosen and met their attention with a glare.
“I wouldn’t advise that. That’s a man who prefers to be alone.”
“No one does. Not really.”
Bella touched her arm again, pulling Sage’s gaze back to her. “I know you have a good track record for leaving people better than you found them, but you were right to ask me about this one. Don’t get involved. My gut tells me his scar isn’t his biggest problem. On the other hand, I have a neighbor who recently bought a fourth Maltese. Why don’t you visit her and see if you can find out what emotional hole she’s trying to fill with canines? That’s more your style, not this guy.”