Crave (Billionaire Bachelors Club #1)(46)

Lucky her, she doesn’t have to deal with her pissed-off brother.

“Yeah, but I saw some cozy picture of the two of you together. It looks like you’re about to kiss her.” Gage is literally yelling at me. “What the hell, man?”

“What picture are you talking about?” Oh. Shit. Who took a photo of us? And where? Do I have the paparazzi trailing my ass?

Of course I do. How easy I forget.

“I don’t know. You guys are outside somewhere. You’re standing real close and she’s leaning into you. It seriously looks like the two of you are about to kiss or were just kissing.” Gage pauses, takes an audible deep breath. “If you’re with her, you better not break her heart. I’ll f**king kill you, Archer, and you know it.”

“I’m not with her,” I automatically say, wincing the moment the words fall from my lips. I’ve turned into a liar.

Easy as that.

“So what’s up with the picture? Oh yeah, and did I mention your arm is around her?”

Damn, did Gage withhold that bit of information on purpose?

“I have no idea. I’ll admit, we’ve become closer. We spend a lot of time together working. And we’re actually getting along. Can you believe it?” Nothing but silence on Gage’s end, which of course makes me want to squirm. “There’s nothing to worry about, Gage. I swear,” I say as I walk around my office and gather up miscellaneous papers and whatever else is lying around, cleaning it up for the end of the night. I’m full of nervous energy, and I need to keep myself occupied before I bust out a Fine-you-caught-me-I-think-I’m-falling-in-love-with-your-sister-tell-me-what-to-do confession.

“Tell me you’re not sleeping with her.”

Well hell. Leave it up to Gage to get right to the point.

“I’m not sleeping with her,” I automatically say because I’m not—not really. When I get Ivy in my bed, there’s rarely any sleeping involved.

“Don’t forget the bet,” he reminds me, like I ever could. That bet is burned into my brain, making me feel like shit because if she ever finds out, especially now, she’ll probably hang me by my balls and let Gage have his way with me. Not that I could blame her. I feel like a liar. Like I’m hiding the bet, hiding our relationship as if I’m ashamed to be seen with her. And that’s definitely not the case. “And don’t forget she’s my goddamn sister.”

“I’m not involved with Ivy,” I mutter, falling into my desk chair with a thump. Shit. I do not need this sort of lecture tonight. This is going to kill my mood for sure if I let it. And I’m already letting it. “She doesn’t count, remember? You and Matt both said that.”

I hate even saying it, let alone thinking it. She counts far more than I could ever imagine.

“Yeah, I know what we said, but she’s still pretty and sweet and hell, for all I know you’ve wanted her for years. I have no clue.” Damn, Gage’s too close to the truth for comfort. He sounds worried and that makes me feel like hell.

Does he really think I’d be a ruthless jerk, going after his sister with no thought and callously hurting her? “She’s a friend. She does her job well. You already knew this was going to happen when I called you a few weeks ago, remember?” How easy Gage forgets. I swear he’s in his own little world. “Why the panic now?”

“I didn’t think you’d actually ask her to work for you.” He pauses. “And I’ve been . . . distracted. Not around much. I had no idea she wasn’t even in town.”

“Well, I did hire her and she’s staying here with me. At the resort.” Lies again, but damn, I don’t want him knowing she’s staying at my house. In my bed. “And she’s doing a fantastic job.” I lean back in my chair, glancing up at the ceiling. “Don’t worry. Your sister is safe with me.”

“She’d better be. Normally I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you, but this is Ivy we’re talking about. You hurt her, I hurt you.”

I know without a doubt, Gage will make good on his promise.

Chapter Fourteen

Archer

Opening night.

“SO WHAT DO you think?”

I turn to find Ivy standing in front of me, wearing a dress that should be outlawed, she looks so damn good in it. Too damn good. “Uh . . .” I can’t find my tongue, and I nearly swallow it when she does a little twirl, the skirt flaring out to reveal her pretty knees, her slender thighs.

“I love it, but I don’t know,” she says when she’s facing me once again, a giant smile on her face. Her hair is up, her elegant neck exposed, little tendrils of dark brown hair curling against her cheeks and neck. She’s so beautiful it hurts to look at her. “Say something, Archer, before I think you hate it.”

The dress is white lace and sleeveless, the neckline dipping into a deep V that exposes all that smooth, kissable skin. A simple gold satin ribbon winds around her, just below her br**sts, tied in a pretty bow at her back, and I’m tempted to slowly pull it undone. Unzip the dress, peel it off her, and kiss her everywhere.

But we have an opening party to go to for Crave. That we’re already running late to.

“I think you look amazing.” I go to her and drop a gentle kiss to her lips. She looks nervous and I grab her hands, giving them a squeeze. “What’s wrong, baby?”