Page 27 of Dr. Stone (Billionaires’ Club #9)

TWENTY-THREE

Andie

Titus escorted me to my private villa like the perfect, exotically wealthy man he was.

His constant flattery was interesting, but it felt hollow after talking to the other women tonight.

Thinking back on our time together, beyond the gorgeous man spoiling me with riches beyond what any normal woman could dream of, I realized Titus was all surface.

He seemed genuinely attracted to me, but now it all felt like empty words.

I couldn’t tell if he was waiting for me to make the first move or holding out for some grand moment to push past the dreamy romance and material things.

Don’t get me wrong, Titus was a lovely man and a blast to be around.

He had an intoxicating kind of energy. Being with him meant living in the moment—no pressure, no expectations, and absolutely no risk of heartbreak.

That’s what made him easy. He was luxury in motion, the kind of man who made every hour feel like a celebration.

But Jace was something else entirely. He wasn’t offering the escape.

He was offering the home . He was slowly and steadily winning my heart, speaking to the part of me that had been aching for something real ever since my son’s father walked out.

Titus couldn’t touch that depth, but God, he was fun to fall into for a while.

I smiled as I leaned into his arm, which I held as he led me through tall palms and flowering vines. The air was thick with the scent of night-blooming jasmine and the warm, salty breeze from the ocean I heard crashing below, where the resort clung to the cliffside.

“Damn, Titus,” I said as the villa came into view.

“Do you love it?” he asked, pride curling around every word the way it always did when he spoke of his accomplishments. He lifted my hand and brushed a kiss across my knuckles. “Your approval means more than anyone else’s, love. I do hope you know that.”

“I’m sure that’s not true, but I appreciate the compliment,” I said. “This place feels like some hidden secret…something out of a dream.”

“Ah,” he said, voice smooth, warm, daringly friendly. “Then you’ve noticed the quality I demanded in these private villas. A reflection of myself, actually.”

“The fact that you’re a mysterious secret who only exists in dreams?” I teased.

“Something like that.” His grin was slow, dark, and far too dangerous.

“Go enjoy your privacy,” he said at last. “The staff and butlers will see to anything you desire until tomorrow, love.”

And then he turned away. Shoulders squared, stride deliberate, he disappeared into the night like a storm pulling back to sea—beautiful, consuming, and far too easy to drown in.

I stood there, breath caught, shaking my head with a half smile.

Goddamn, that was a near miss. Falling for him would’ve been effortless.

That man was a dangerous temptation, the kind you chased even knowing the ground would give way beneath you.

And I could already imagine the crash when he decided to take his light with him.

That kind of low would’ve gutted me. Relief settled in, sharp and steady, as I realized I wouldn’t have to survive it.

I walked up the limestone steps, past the flickering lanterns, opened the curved door, and stepped into heaven. This villa looked like it had been pulled from the pages of a luxury design magazine, but it was warmer and felt more personal.

The moment I stepped inside, I was welcomed with tranquility and wrapped in indulgence. Every inch of this place dripped with old-world romance, highlighted with sleek, modern lines. The floors were smooth, cool limestone laid in a herringbone pattern.

Tall arched windows were framed by creamy plaster walls that were softened with framed coastal artwork that appeared to be from a local artist. I looked to my left and saw a curved ivory sofa positioned perfectly in front of the stone fireplace, with a quiet flame flickering to add to the ambiance of the room.

All the unnecessary walls had been replaced with windows, designed to frame what I knew would be a mind-blowing view of the Pacific once the sun rose.

Just beyond the living area, an expansive terrace stretched out.

I stepped onto it, the sound of the ocean immediately wrapping around me.

The coastline ran along the entire front of the villa.

A heated infinity pool shimmered under the deep blue lighting, surrounded by teak furniture and clusters of palms. Everything glowed in soft amber, perfectly complementing the moody blue color of the pool.

It reminded me of Jace’s place, though, at that moment, I couldn’t help but think his was sexier, even nicer.

Objectively, it wasn’t, but apparently, my heart had made its choice. I was clearly biased at this point.

I walked into my room, and as expected, it was nothing less than breathtaking.

A grand canopy bed dominated the space, draped in flowing white linen and piled with cream and slate-blue plush pillows.

The headboard was carved from reclaimed wood, giving it a rustic vibe to contrast the white bedding.

The bathroom looked like a spa with stone sinks and a free-standing stone tub to offset the creamy marble floors. This place was above and beyond and very much what I would classify as all Titus .

I walked over to the enormous soaking tub and trailed my fingers over the tray beside it, admiring the neatly arranged salts, oils, and the single white orchid in its slender glass vase, when my phone rang—shattering the quiet moment.

“Hey, Avery,” I said. “Everything cool?”

“It’s great. I meant to tell you that while the gents are doing their business mingling tomorrow, we gals are meeting at the spa for breakfast to get our Zen on before we’re forced into the company of all those crazy characters tomorrow night.”

“Sounds great. Titus apologized earlier for leaving me until the Grand Opening celebration but promised to make it up to me.”

Avery chuckled, “Oh, you better make sure he does. What would you have done if Nat and I weren’t here? Wander the damn place alone?”

“Pretty much,” I laughed. “Trust me, I’m easily entertained, especially in this villa.”

“Yeah, I told Jim he did well to invest with someone like Titus. That man has a gift from the gods when it comes to bringing luxury to life.”

“I know what you’re talking about,” I laughed. “Okay, I think I might take an evening swim. Then I’ll call you in the morning to set up a time and figure out where the spa is.”

“Perfect. Oh, and you should really turn that swim into a skinny dip. Everything is hidden and secluded, and no one will see anything. Jim and I just finished the night that way, and now my man will be in the best of moods when he’s forced to mingle with those weirdos tomorrow night.”

I laughed, “I might have to try that.”

“It’s rewarding. Trust me, you won’t regret it.”

The night still felt young, and the idea of skinny-dipping in the pool was undeniably tempting.

Knowing this would be my last weekend with Titus—that I was ready to close this chapter and see if something real might grow with the man I couldn’t stop thinking about—I figured I should savor this lavish lifestyle while I still had the chance.

The next morning, I was on my way to meet the girls at the spa.

They’d decided on a late start at around two after spending time alone with their men, enjoying breakfast and lunch catered to their rooms. I had done the same, though the man I wanted to share my villa with was back in the States, and the one who had been wining and dining me was nowhere to be found.

I figured that would be the case all day, and I wouldn’t see Titus until dinner. Still, the quiet was nice. I’d had a delicious breakfast overlooking the endless, sparkling ocean my villa gave me a spectacular view of, so I had no complaints.

On my way to meet the girls, I couldn’t resist admiring the otherworldly charm of this serene cliffside resort.

I took my sandals off to feel the warmth of the natural stone pathways that led to the spa.

The soft sounds of the breeze blowing through the palms overhead and the sunlight casting its brilliant rays through the jungle surrounded me, creating a kind of magic that hung in the atmosphere.

The scents of plumeria and lemongrass drifted through the air, adding to the tranquil beauty of the water seeping down the faces of the stone rocks that extended throughout the side of the cliff.

Everything about this resort seemed intentional, as if Titus hadn’t just built luxury—he had curated it.

I passed through a vine-covered terrace and was greeted by the spa attendant. She smiled, nodded, and gestured for me to follow her deeper into the cave-like structure, where, at the back, Nat and Avery were already indulging themselves in the steam-filled pool.

“Finally,” Avery chirped. “What held you up? Did Titus join you for lunch?”

Nat smirked. “It would be an interesting plot twist if he had,” she winked. “Step in, gorgeous. This water is singing your name.”

I chuckled at Nat’s dramatics. “No, I didn’t have lunch with Titus,” I said, getting in and taking the glass of rosé Avery handed me once I sat in the sunken stone pool.

“I probably won’t see him until tonight.

” I took a sip, “The guy is opening his resort to all these people, so I’m sure he’s busy. ”

“To that point, thank God you didn’t fall for the guy.

He’s great and everything, but damn. He puts all his energy into work, like he’s trying to prove something with every project.

It’s like everything else comes in second, and whatever he’s building always gets the best of him,” Nat said.

“I mean, all these rich men are busy, self-absorbed dicks, but some actually make time for other people’s emotional needs. Titus doesn’t seem to be the latter.”

“He’ll learn one day,” Avery grinned. “Jim was the same way before we met. Who knows, you could be the one who brings his head out of his ass?”

“I’m not in the business of fixing men or helping them figure out how to be present in a relationship.

Besides, something’s off with him. Everyone says he’s a player, has his ladies for a night, and then moves on—kind of the way Ash says that Jace was before me—but the only sexual advance Titus has made is to kiss the back of my hand. ”

Nat practically spit her drink back into her glass, “And you haven’t kicked his dry ass to the curb over that yet? I’m telling you, honey, a man who won’t fuck you to prove he’s got a dick bigger than his ego has got to kick rocks.”

“I know,” I agreed. “It doesn’t bother me or anything, and I think that’s because I’m not really interested in fucking him anyway.

It just seems odd, the things he says to me as if I’m the only woman he has ever adored and will ever adore.

He spoils me with bespoke gowns for our dates but nothing more.

His words always seem dangerously daring, but homeboy ain’t got the actions to back that shit up,” I chuckled.

Both women stared at me blankly before Avery spoke.

“This is very interesting,” she said, “because you’re right, Titus will fuck any woman he wants whenever he wants. In fact, if the rumors are true, he’s enjoyed the billionaire playboy life with more than one or two ladies at once, so he’s living his dream,” she arched an eyebrow.

“Well, that’s nowhere near the man I’ve come to know,” I answered.

“I think he’s terrified,” Nat said bluntly.

“He’s scared of your hot ass hurting him.

If he fucks you, he’ll grow even more attached than he already is and truly not be able to let you go.

” She sat up straighter, “And get a load of this shit…Spence told me last night that he already knew you’ve got Jace on the sidelines, waiting for when Titus frees up your time.

Got to love that my husband knew about this shit this entire time while I was in the fucking dark until last night. The treachery!”

“That’s just because Spence knows exactly how you’d be about it,” Avery chuckled.

“What? By calling shit exactly as I see it?” Nat shot back.

Then she turned to me, wagging a finger.

“Doesn’t matter. Bottom line? Titus is being a chicken shit—robbing you of endless orgasms and glorious pleasure.

Which means, naturally, your mind drifts back to Jace, who already delivered.

And now? Voilà! You’ve realized you’re wasting time with Titus when you could be thoroughly fucked by that hot snack of a doctor waiting for you back home. ”

I grinned, “Well, I don’t want Titus to get hurt. That’s not something I want for either man.”

“Someone’s going to get hurt. Shit like that always happens when you’re dating and one person falls first. It’s fine.” Avery shrugged, sipping her wine. “Titus will cry into his cashmere handkerchief, then hop on the next flight to Madrid to buy another boy-toy jet from Jace’s baby brother.”

“I’m sorry, what?” I said, still surprised that Jace’s family was like Titus’s.

“Yeah, it’s the gem of the family business,” Nat said. “Everyone who’s anyone overseas will purchase their luxury yachts and jets from Dorian Stone.”

“And you’ll probably meet him tonight, too,” Avery said. “All of the Stones plan to be here to celebrate Titus’s tribute to his late mother and their friend.”

“This will be very interesting,” I said, a ripple of nerves tightening in my chest at the thought that I might meet Jace’s family before he ever got the chance to introduce me himself.

“Unfortunately, Jace knows Titus brought you here for this,” Avery said.

“He’d planned on joining the family for the event, most likely so he would have the chance to introduce you to his family instead of Titus getting to do the honors.

Sadly, the hospital is understaffed this week, and he couldn’t break away. ”

“Wow,” I said.

What the hell had I gotten myself into? This was supposed to be a fun, carefree weekend, not a crash course in how tangled things were between Titus, Jace, and their families.

Now, I was suddenly on the verge of meeting Jace’s family, without Jace, at an event hosted by Titus, and it was all starting to feel way too complicated. Suddenly, this weekend felt less like an escape and more like a collision course.

I just had to hope I could get through it with as little drama as possible, but considering I was basically living in The Billionaire Bachelorette , I was starting to doubt that was even an option.