Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(65)

“Fucking idiots, both of them. Guess karma is coming to collect,” I say while shaking my head.

“I still haven’t gotten to the best bit.” Nate laughs. “Daddy Holdsworth isn’t happy, and the bank is selling assets quietly, and guess who happens to have the full list of properties they’re selling.” Nate grins as he points to his desk where a folder is currently sitting nice and neat. I walk over and open the folder, then scan my eyes down at all the places the bank is selling.

“This is three-quarters of their assets?” I look at my brother wide-eyed.

“Thought I’d let you have first choice, then Sam Rose and I will fight over the rest.” My brother grins widely.





24





IVY





Alex came back to his room with a large smile on his face. He picked me up and swung me around, then kissed me passionately. Not sure what happened with his catch-up with Nate, but it seems to be something worth celebrating.

“If I haven’t told you already, you look beautiful tonight.” His eyes sweep over my long-sleeved black wool wrap dress, which dips a little low giving him a great look at my cleavage. A pair of killer black heels and a lovely diamond necklace around my neck, then I finished it off with bright red lipstick because I knew it would drive Alex wild.

“You seem awfully happy.”

“Nate found a great opportunity I couldn’t say no to,” he says as a huge grin slides across his face, then he wraps me in his arms. “Don’t think your red lipstick hasn’t gone unnoticed either, Miss Starr. My dick is going to be hard at the dinner table all night as I imagine what your lips will look like wrapped around my cock,” he growls the words out.

“Consider it foreplay.” I grin.

Alex bursts out laughing. “Come on, you minx, let’s get downstairs before I say, ‘screw foreplay’ and take what I want right now.” And with that, he grabs my hand and pulls me out of his room, and we head downstairs to where his family is having dinner.

“Does Alex have a date?” I hear the deep, gravelly voice of Pierre as we take the last step off the grand staircase. When I look up and Pierre sees my face, he lets out a gasp. “Ivy?” he asks, not quite believing it’s me he is seeing in front of him.

“Pierre,” I call out his name. Letting go of Alex’s hand, I rush forward to the closest thing I’ve ever had to a father. He wraps his large arms around my body and pulls me into the biggest bear hug.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he asks, staring down at me.

“Alex invited me.”

Pierre steps out of the hug but wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his side. “Are you dating Alexander?” he whispers into my ear.

I look up and see Alex giving me a heated smile as he talks with his brother and father. “Yeah, I am,” I say on a sigh.

“Oh, my girl, this is marvelous. Alex is a wonderful boy. I don’t know why Judy and I never set you up before,” he says happily.

I look up at him and murmur, “I wasn’t ready before.”

“No, you weren’t, sweetheart,” he says, hugging me tightly. “Why haven’t you told me about this?” He turns and questions me, letting his hand slip away from my shoulders.

“I was going to before our plans were canceled and then life got in the way. Then I knew I was coming to Surrey, and I wanted to surprise you.”

“Cheeky thing! I’m happy for you … you seem lighter since I last saw you.” Pierre’s eyes narrow on me as if trying to remember before tonight. “How did you two meet?”

Of course, he’s going to ask me that question. Dammit! I hadn’t thought about what I’d say if anyone did. “In Paradise,” I reply, seeing if he flinches at the mention of the name.

He does, of course, and I crack up laughing.

“What?” he asks, looking genuinely confused by my sudden outburst.

“Camryn is organizing the grand opening of the resort and invited us there to check it out. I was losing my mind over the design and interiors until Nate told me it was all you.”

“That scallywag, he wasn’t supposed to let anyone know.” Pierre looks over at Nate standing there talking to his parents, but there’s no anger behind his glare.

“Blew my mind that it was you. Should have known because only you could create something as magical as that island. It’s spectacular,” I tell him.

His chest puffs out a little prouder over my comments. “I’ve known the Lewis’ all my life. Trevor is one of my best friends. They were at the wedding,” he adds.

“I know, Judy mentioned it.”

“Right, small world, huh? How is your mother doing?” he asks.

He always asks.

I don’t think he’s still in love with my mother, but I think he genuinely still cares about her.

“Not sure … we haven’t spoken in a while. You know her. When she has a new husband, Cam and I don’t exist.” I let out a frustrated sigh.

“I know your mother isn’t traditional, but she loves you,” he says the same thing every time I complain about my mother to him. “Anyway, back to Alex … so you met at Nate’s soft launch at the resort?” I nod as heat pools in my cheeks. “And that’s where you hit it off?” he questions me, but I can see the twinkle in his eyes—he’s loving embarrassing me.