Page 1 of Charm (Billionaire Buck Boys #7)

CHAPTER ONE

Greer

“Greer Laurel Irwin, are you seriously not going to tell me where you are?” Krista Bellard, one of my oldest and sometimes dearest friends, whines over the phone.

I smile at the sound of my full name. She only uses it when she really wants something from me. In this case, it’s information about my current whereabouts, but that’s top secret. Krista can’t stand being out of the loop, and right now, her curiosity is getting the better of her.

“You know you always have more fun when I’m with you,” she says.

I’d amend that statement with an almost right before the always because things haven’t been as rosy as they could be when we’ve been together over the past few months.

Krista’s upcoming wedding has taken its toll on her and our friendship.

I can’t blame her for any of it, though.

She’s trying to balance the requests of her mom and her future mother-in-law with her fiancé’s vision for the wedding.

Add the demands of our shared business to that, and Krista’s plate is full.

I feel a slight pang of guilt for keeping my destination a secret, but it vanishes as I step inside the house that will be my home for the next three days.

East Hampton is a dream this time of year. When I realized I had the opportunity to stay here for an entire weekend, I jumped at the chance. I was tempted to cartwheel at the chance, but I left those days behind when I gave up cheerleading after high school.

That was fourteen years ago. I shake my head at the thought of the girl I was on the day I graduated as a senior with an eye on the future.

My life hasn’t conformed to the script I thought it would, but I’m not complaining.

“I’m in a safe place,” I say to Krista as I drop my overnight bag and purse on the white tile floor in the entryway. “It’s very safe here.”

“That’s a shitty clue, Greer.” She laughs. The sound is so warm and comforting that I can’t help but smile. Krista’s laughs have always been the best.

“I prefer to remain clueless.” I sit with that for a second before I chuckle. “You know what I mean.”

“I know that you needed a break from Manhattan.” She sighs. “My big break is coming up, so how can I fault you for wanting one, too?”

She can’t.

She’s set to jet off to Hawaii in just a few months for her honeymoon. Since it’s her favorite place on earth, I’m over the moon happy for her.

East Hampton may not be Honolulu, but it’s the perfect place for me to relax. I have three days to do that, and I plan on taking advantage of every second.

“If you run into any issues with…”

“Stop,” Krista jumps in to interrupt me. “You’re off the clock in every way. I vow not to disturb you for any reason. In fact, I’ll forget your phone number until Monday at nine a.m. sharp.”

I don’t bother reminding her that I’ll be back in Manhattan by six p.m. sharp on Sunday night. “What is my phone number, Krista?”

Silence greets me before she laughs again. “Very funny. I admit I don’t know it off the top of my head, but I’ll ignore your name in my contact list until Monday morning. How’s that?”

I’m all in since it’s just past seven p.m. on Thursday. I have all day Friday, Saturday, and most of Sunday to lose myself in the fresh air and the breeze coming off the water since this gorgeous gem of a house is beachfront with a perfect ocean view.

“Deal,” I whisper, knowing I’ll be the first person she calls if there’s an emergency. I always am.

“I love you, Greer,” she says. “In case I don’t say it often enough.”

We promised years ago that we’d never end a conversation without those three words, so I repeat them, “I love you.”

“I hope this weekend gives you everything you need.” Her voice softens. “Get a little sun if possible, and some sex wouldn’t hurt you, although some of the best sex I’ve ever had hurt a little.”

I’m not about to open a discussion about my non-existent sex life, so I avoid it altogether. “Don’t stress about the wedding plans. You’ve got this.”

“I sure do,” she says, but doubt taints each word. “I’ll see you on Monday, Greer.”

Before I can tell her goodbye, she ends the call. I toss my phone on a table next to where I’m standing. The vase filled with wildflowers that is sitting on it is an added bonus. I make a mental note to thank the owner of the house for her hospitality with a card and a fresh fruit bouquet.

Like a moth to a flame, I’m drawn to the wall of windows that beckon from across the expansive space. I dart around the large, comfy-looking furniture and a tall lamp set up next to a chair. I’ll put that to good use later when I sit down to open a thriller novel for the first time in years.

I notice something isn’t right as soon as I reach the windows.

The ocean is visible in the distance, but that’s not the view that demands my attention.

I can’t take my eyes off what is in the pool…or, rather, who .

I’m not sharing this house with anyone this weekend, so the man standing in the waist-deep water with his back to me is trespassing.

This wasn’t how I thought my weekend getaway would kick off, but I’m an expert at solving problems, and that’s all this guy is.

It’s time for me to get rid of him.