Beauty and the Billionaire Bachelors Read online

  He knocked back the first swallow. If he chose Abby’s design, she would be free. He took another sip.

  It was the last thing he or Cole wanted. Two weeks with her had changed him. He didn’t know how to admit it, or face it, but it was the fucking truth.

  She had a smile that could bring him to his knees. She had a smart mouth that he wanted to kiss every morning and every night. Her voice. Her laugh. She had invaded every part of him when he wasn’t looking. The thought of letting her go was ludicrous.

  But he had made a deal and he wasn’t going to break his word, even if it cost him the one thing he wanted more than anything.

  The elevator in his office dinged. The doors retracted and Cole stepped inside.

  “Have you made a decision yet?” he asked.

  Deacon shook his head. “No. I haven’t even opened them.” He nodded at the presentations on his desk.

  “You know Abby is a nervous wreck waiting on your answer.”

  Deacon frowned. His brows almost touched with the scowl.

  “I know. There’s a lot riding on this.”

  “Which part? The foundation? Or Abby?”

  Deacon exhaled. “Both. I don’t want to fuck up either.”

  “It’s going to crush her if you don’t choose her design, man.”

  “You don’t think I know that?” He shot a look at his best friend. “I want hers to be the one, just as much as I don’t.” He took a seat behind his desk. “This is the one time I wish I didn’t know a damn thing about art.”

  “I could go through them if you like,” Cole offered.

  “No.” He shook his head. “This is my fucking responsibility. She’s counting on me to get it right.”

  “By right, do you mean granting her freedom?”

  Deacon felt his scowl deepen. He clenched his fist. “Yeah. I guess so.”

  “I don’t want her to leave.”

  “Neither do I.” Deacon glanced at the travel package on the corner of his desk. “Vegas is tomorrow. We’re unveiling the foundation. Soar needs me to do the right thing. And so does Abby. But I’ve been thinking about Vegas.”

  “Yeah? What are your thoughts?” Cole shoved his hands in his pockets.

  “I think it’s important that whoever our designer is, attends the event.” He smiled.

  Cole grinned. “I think that’s part of the agreement with our artists, isn’t it?”

  Deacon nodded. “Standard. Even if it means we take the smelly French guy with us.”

  Cole laughed. “Son of a bitch. One more weekend with her.”

  Deacon felt the burden lift. It wasn’t much, but if he did choose Abby’s design she would have to debut it at the conference. If he didn’t, she was required to be their travel companion. It was a win-win.

  “Get out of here and let me study these proposals. I’ll let you know the finalist.”

  Cole nodded. “I’ll wait for you call.” He stepped in the elevator and disappeared.

  Deacon opened the flap to the first design. He sat back in his chair and studied the lines. This might be one of the biggest decisions he made, but at least he knew he had one more weekend to spend with Abby. One more weekend to convince her to become theirs. One last chance to make her realize she was where she needed to be.

  11

  Abby

  She paced back and forth in front of the large windows in her office. This was agonizing. She had delivered her design over three hours ago. How long was it going to take Deacon to make a decision? What if he already had and she wasn’t the choice? He had gone with someone else and she had two more weeks with the bachelors.

  She closed her eyes, exhaling a long breath. The past two weeks had changed her. She hadn’t had any contact with Cal. She had a new kind of freedom, even though it was under the constraints Deacon and Cole set.

  She felt free from the Mantelli world. No more doing Cal’s bidding. No more schemes to make money. She didn’t like to think about the ways she had helped him over the years. Something about her two weeks with Deacon and Cole had taught her the past could really be the past.

  She had moved into a new home. Was given a new office. Had a new career, using her passion for art. And every night she dined with the sexiest most eligible bachelors in Chicago. As much as she had hated how it came to be, she had started to wake up with a smile on her face.

  She went to bed feeling safe. She awoke feeling as if she had a purpose. Deacon and Cole had given that to her.

  What happened if she did win the bet? Would Deacon throw her out of the office? She won and her freedom was instantaneous? She shook with nerves, rubbing her arms. Was that really what she wanted? Did she want to leave them and not look back?

  Abby jumped when her phone buzzed.

  “Abby, Deacon would like you to meet him in his office.” Abby rushed to press the button on her intercom.

  “All right. Please tell him I’ll be there in a minute.”

  “He asked that you use his private elevator. Do you know where that entrance is?” Annette, her assistant asked.

  Abby nodded. “I do.” The butterflies attacked her stomach. She didn’t know if she could walk. This was it. The moment of truth was about to hit her.

  It was a different experience riding in the elevator without being slung over someone’s shoulder. She watched as the numbers rose higher about the doors. The carriage finally arrived at the top floor and the doors retracted.

  Deacon leaned against the front of his desk, his arms crossed. She almost lost her breath. He shouldn’t look so edible.

  She cleared her throat and took her first step into his office.

  “I heard you’ve made a decision.”

  He nodded. “I have.”

  She didn’t know how much longer she could wait. She bit her lip. “Well?”

  Deacon’s broad chest rose. “It’s you, Abby. Only you.”

  Her eyes widened. “Me? I won?”

  He bowed her head in her direction. “Your design was impressive. Unique. Inspired. It was the only one I even considered.”

  Her palm flattened over her heart. She tried to stop it from beating out of control. “I-I don’t know what to say.”

  Deacon broke his stance and walked toward her. “Why don’t you take a seat? We have to discuss your obligations to the project at this point.”

  “Obligations?” She sat on the leather sofa across from him. There was a coffee table in between them.

  “You have heard Cole and I discuss the Vegas trip this weekend. Launching the foundation is the pinnacle of our careers. It has to be flawless. The creator of the brand needs to be at the announcement. You are the vision, Abby. You can’t miss being on an international stage with something so critical for the foundation.”

  “We agreed if I won, I could go.”

  “Yes. We did. You won. You can go. I’m asking you to do this for the foundation. I’m asking you as the artist who created something beautiful, to see your vison shared the way it is supposed to be.”

  Her chest prickled. Her blood rushed with heat. “You’re asking me to stay on?”

  “I’m asking you to travel with Cole and me. Represent your art.”

  “You’re going back on your deal, Deacon,” she fired.

  He shook his head. “No. I’m not. You can get up and walk out of here if you want. I won’t stop you. I swear.”

  She looked at the set of double doors over her should and the elevator to her side.

  “But, now that you’re free, I’d like you to stay because you want to see the project finished. At least through the weekend, Abby.” He smiled devilishly. “I promise Cole and I can make Vegas fun.”

  She felt more heat rush through her. It spread between her legs and rushed to her nipples. Shit. What kind of effect did this man have on her? Was this even legal what he could do to her body without even touching her?

  “Vegas for the weekend?” she whispered.

  He raked his teeth against his lip and she thought
she might melt off the couch. Was it crazy she wanted to go? She could see it. Having drinks with Cole and Deacon. Dinner at a five-star restaurant.

  “You won’t regret it,” he urged. “We do everything first-class. It will be a trip of a lifetime. By the time we leave everyone will want you to design for them. You can’t get exposure like this any other way, Abby. Think about your career.”

  She laughed. “My career or you and Cole?”

  He leaned forward. “Can’t it be both? Can’t you have it all?”

  The flutter soared in her belly. She nodded. She could have it all. She deserved it all.

  “I-I guess I could go.”

  She didn’t have the willpower to tell him no. Not with those eyes and lips. Not with large hands that could hold her close. Her lips practically parted, begging for him to kiss them. She knew she had officially lost her sanity.

  He was pulling her in with that look. She knew it, but there was no lifeline to drag her back to reality.

  “I promise you’ll never forget Vegas, sweetheart.”

  Deacon rose from the couch to escort her to the door. He pressed his hand into the small of her back. It was as if he seared her skin through her blouse.

  “Congratulations,” he leaned to whisper in her ear before opening the door.

  She looked up at him. She didn’t know whether to stay or to run. To say thank you, or screw you. She was filled with hope and regret. Confusion was pouring in from all sides.

  The door closed behind her and Abby was in the foyer to Deacon’s office. She was free.

  12

  Cole

  Abby was hunched over a drawing board in the corner of her office when he walked in the room.

  “Hi.” It looked as if she wanted to smile.

  “Hi,” he answered. “I hear congratulations are in order.”

  “I still can’t believe it.” She looked up from her drawing. “I won.”

  He nodded. “You sure did. And I hear you are going to Vegas with us for the weekend.”

  He saw the blush on her cheeks. He wondered how that conversation transpired between her and Deacon.

  “I am. It seems like the right thing to do to keep the integrity of the project.”

  He grinned. “Of course.”

  She leaned over the desk again.

  He wanted to walk behind her and push the skirt to her hips. He wanted to sink his fingertips into her flesh while he explored every part of her from behind. His mouth went dry. What was this girl doing to him?

  “That’s good to hear. Are you ready for the trip? I wanted to let you know we leave in the morning.”

  He walked beside her, curious to see what she had drawn. She quickly scurried in front of him, bumping against his side. Her ass rubbing into this thigh as she covered her artwork.

  Her heard the gasp from her lips when his hands rested on her waist to steady her. It was a spontaneous reaction, but he didn’t want her to fall. His fingers lingered, pressing gently into her hipbones. Abby leaned into him for a second. Long enough he could feel the heat of her body pressed against his chest before she abruptly wiggled free.

  He grinned, but she was turned away from him. Everything in him told him to pull her back toward him. She would take a little more. Give a little more. But she stepped toward her computer, putting something solid between them.

  “I’ll have Douglas pack your things.”

  “I can pack for myself.” Her green eyes fired.

  “There are several events, including dinners, cocktail receptions, and the official launch presentation. Douglas will pack for you.”

  “I’m free now. You and Deacon don’t have to do things like that anymore.”

  He sighed. “That’s not why we do it. Listen. For the past two weeks you’ve done nothing but work. If you would just take a second to get to know us, I don’t think you’d be in such a hurry to leave.”

  “Maybe you two haven’t taken the time to get to know me. I’m not impressed by the money. I don’t need money to be happy.” He saw the sudden look of vulnerability in her expression.

  “I’m not talking about money.” He walked around to her side of the desk.

  She stiffened when his hand covered hers. He could hear her breath quicken. He leaned against her, pressing her body.

  “I’m talking about everything else in life, Abby. Pleasure. Happiness. Deacon and I know how to give you that.” He moved away, giving her space as the cool air rushed between them.

  “I said no sex,” she whispered.

  “That’s not sex.” He took a step back. “There are levels of intimacy we could show you. I don’t even think sex is how you describe it.” He winked.

  Her cheeks turned a bright crimson red.

  Suddenly, he thought he knew what her weakness was. It wasn’t that she wasn’t attracted to them. It wasn’t that she wasn’t interested. It wasn’t that she was ready to move out.

  She didn’t want to be vulnerable to them. She didn’t want to let down her walls. She was like Deacon that way. She wanted to stand on her own.

  “I’m going to Vegas because it’s the right thing to do for the foundation.”

  “I understand. We couldn’t be happier you’re going.” He inhaled. “You’re a free woman now. Don’t let what happened in the past keeping you from being happy now.”

  “It’s not that simple, Cole.”

  “But it could be. It could be as simple as the three of us sharing something amazing.”

  “I don’t get it.” She shook her head.

  “We want to give you something. I swear Deac’s a good guy. Gambles too much. Looks for thrills maybe where he shouldn’t, but Abby he would keep you safe and protect you until he died. Just like I would.”

  “You’re just saying that.”

  Cole shook his head. “No. I’d never lie to you. Not about my best friend.”

  “I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what you want.”

  He smiled. “Why don’t we take this weekend to figure it out?”

  He saw her eyes sparkle.

  “I’ll let you get back to work.”

  He strolled to the door.

  Walking back to the executive offices was one of the hardest things he had done. All he wanted was to take her in his arms and kiss her. Carry her to Deacon where they could love her together. Show her how they could worship her beautiful body. Take her to places in paradise she’d never dreamed of. But the only way to get to Abby, was to let her make the decision for herself.

  13

  Abby

  When she got home from HiTech Global there were two bouquets of flowers on her bed. There was a note tucked inside the first one.

  You’re beautiful when you work. Congratulations—knew you could do it.

  Xo,

  Cole

  She folded it and put it back in the envelope. She noticed under the second set of flowers was another card. She picked it up and read it.

  Your art is sexier than your body. Congrats, sweetheart.

  -D

  Holy shit.

  They were dropping all barriers. They were letting her know exactly what they felt. She was a free woman. She didn’t have to spend another night under their roof. And they were treating her like a queen.

  She sat on the bed with the two bouquets of flowers. One red. One white. She didn’t know which color represented which man. In her two weeks working and living with them, she had noticed they complimented each other. Cole seemed more serious and sensitive, while Deacon was fun-loving and challenging.

  Something electric twinged in her core. Dear God, did she have a crush on them? And what was that stunt that Cole pulled today in her office? His hard body had felt warm and protective pressed into hers. She wanted him to stay there a little longer, but it didn’t make any sense. She should hate him.

  She looked up when she heard the knock on her door.

  “Come in.”

  She expected to see Douglas, but it was Deacon.

>   “Oh.”

  “How was the rest of work today, sweetheart?” He laughed.

  “It was a pretty amazing day. Thank you for the flowers.” She twisted her lips together. She didn’t know how to respond to the gifts.

  “You’re welcome. Cole and I wanted you to know we care. He told me about your conversation today. He told me you’re hesitant about the trip. That you’re hesitant about us even after you and I talked.”

  “He did?” She was surprised they had talked about it.

  Deacon nodded. “We share everything, Abby.”

  “Everything?” she questioned.

  He took a step toward her. Her body responded with electricity at his nearness. She reminded herself she was here because she chose it. Deacon couldn’t keep her anymore.

  “Everything.”

  His fingers lingered along her cheek.

  They had referenced it so many times, but she was afraid to ask. Afraid she would sound like an idiot or a sexual novice. Did they share women like this? Was he implying they slept with the same women? She didn’t have the guts to ask him.

  Instead, she held still while his fingertips trailed along her neck to the front of her throat.

  “So damn beautiful,” he murmured before backing away.

  Her eyes lifted to his. The touch had felt sensual. Something so small and innocent had her panties wet. She wanted another touch. Something more this time.

  “Dinner is at six. Did Douglas bring you a gown?” he asked, changing the mood and the topic.

  She nodded. “It’s in my closet.”

  “I’ll see you downstairs soon.” He walked to the door.

  She tried to think of how to stall him, but she knew it was wrong. Every impulse in her body was going against her heart and her mind. She should be throwing Deacon Evans out of her bedroom with everything she had, instead she was concocting ways to keep him here.