Hollywood Heir (Westerly Billionaire #4)(58)

A short time later, Bella pulled her car up to the back gate of a large walled property. It opened for them, then closed as soon as they pulled past it. “This is a new suit. If I piss myself, you’re paying to have it cleaned.”

“There’s nothing scary about an automated gate.”

They drove down a long gravel driveway toward the barn Eric had described in his text. “Right there. Eric said drive toward the bushes.”

“It would be nice if he met us out here. I don’t like this.” Bella parked several feet from the bushes. “So, what now?”

Sage texted: I’m here.

Eric: Drive into the bushes.

Sage: I’m parked right next to them.

Eric: Then just keep pulling forward.

Aloud, Sage said, “He said we should keep pulling up to the bushes.”

“I’m not scratching the front of this car,” Bella protested.

Sage: Where are you?

Eric: Pull into the bushes and you’ll see me.

Sage: No. I don’t want to scratch my car.

Eric: Trust me?

It was a loaded question and one without a simple answer. I used to.

Eric: I won’t let you down again. Pull forward.

Sage read the message to Bella, who swore and pulled forward. The bushes lifted and moved to the side, revealing an entrance that led beneath the barn. Sage sat forward. It was the coolest thing she’d ever seen.

Bella turned the engine off.

Eric appeared in the opening and walked toward the car. When he saw Bella, he walked over to her side and held out his hand. “Eric Westerly.”

She looked from his outstretched hand to Sage, then reluctantly accepted his grip. “I’m being polite, but know I really want to punch you in the face.”

His eyebrows rose and lowered, but he smiled politely at her before heading over to Sage’s side of the car. “I’m glad you came.”

There was so much she wanted to say, but she held it back and merely nodded.

His eyes were dark with emotion. “I don’t blame you for bringing someone with you. I haven’t given you much reason to trust me.”

“What did you bring me here to see?”

He motioned down the dark tunnel. “It’s in there.”

“No way in hell,” Bella said. “Not going to happen.”

Eric took her refusal in stride. “Would you feel better about coming into the main house first?”

“You call that a house? I’ve seen palaces that were smaller,” Bella said.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing the inside of your home,” Sage said to Eric, and gave Bella a pleading look.

“Mind if I get in the back, then?” he asked.

Sage got out of the car, and Eric folded his large frame into the tiny back seat. Sage almost smiled at the gymnastics involved. She glanced at Bella and remembered all the reasons why she shouldn’t. Eric might be charming now, but that didn’t excuse how he’d behaved the day before. Would anything he said mend her trust in him? Sage climbed back in, and the three drove over to the main house without speaking.

They parked in front of a large stone staircase and got out. The sprawling, stately home was ostentatious at best. That he lived here was a negative in her book. What kind of man would own such a home? Not one she could imagine herself with. Her heart sank a little. The staff lined up at the door simply reinforced her guess that she’d have her answers by the end of her visit, but they wouldn’t be ones that changed her mind.

A casually dressed, tall, thin man with dark hair appeared at the door. “Eric, the kids are home today. They’re at the pool, and Axton wants to show you his new dive. Do you want to bring your friends back there? Alice wants to meet Sage, too.”

Taking a guess, Sage asked, “Is that Reggie?”

“It is,” Eric said with a smile. He put his hand lightly on the small of Sage’s back. Desire shot through her, but she fought it. She stiffened and frowned at him. He dropped his hand. “Would you like to meet his family?”

“Who is Reggie?” Bella asked.

“My electrician,” Eric said, “but lately I like to call him my butler. Mostly because it annoys him.”

“Ooooo-kay,” Bella said.

Sage stepped away from both of them to meet Eric’s friend. Part of her was relieved that he was real. It meant not everything Eric had said had been a lie. She held out her hand to Reggie. “Sage Revere.”

Reggie smiled. “Nice to finally make your acquaintance. I’ve heard a lot about you.” He shook her hand.

Sage’s cheeks warmed. “All good, I hope.”

He shrugged. “Enough to know how much it means to him that you’re here.”

She looked around at the grounds and the frontage of the house that seemed to go on forever in either direction. It was everything she didn’t value about her old life, and so much more. Eric had gilded the old English estate beyond how any royal would. If this was who he was, she truly didn’t know him. “I should probably leave now. I’m not sure I need to know more than this.”

Reggie leaned down and with a twinkle in his eye said, “I’ll let you in on a little secret. Eric hates the house, too. I’ve been busting his chops for years, making it more and more tacky. If it glitters and shines, that shit is my sense of humor.”