Page 32 of Dr. Stone (Billionaires’ Club #9)
TWENTY-EIGHT
Andie
Titus’s jet landed close to seven in the evening on Monday night after one last long and delightful day at his resort. The morning after his grand opening began with brunch on Titus’s private terrace with the same friends who shared a table with us at the opening ceremony the night before.
It was all lovely and dreamy, but I struggled to stay present with the people around me.
I was just ready to be home. As much as I looked forward to seeing Jace and whatever might come next, I really couldn’t wait to see my son.
By the third day away, it always hit me—how much I missed picking him up, seeing his bright eyes light up when he smiled, and hearing those happy little shrieks of his.
That moment was finally coming.
“Thank you again,” I smiled at Titus, who shared the backseat of his car with me.
“Whatever will I do without these extravagant weekend getaways, the personal drivers,” I glanced at his driver Edmond, who was on chauffeur duty tonight, and turned back to Titus, “and of course, your handsome self, ensuring I’m treated like a queen? ”
“I have no idea,” he smiled, his amber eyes illuminating brightly, “but if Jace can’t figure out how to treat you right, you know I’ll be waiting in the shadows to snatch you up at the first sign I get.”
“You’re too funny,” I said, smiling. “Seriously, Titus, thank you for everything. This has all been a lot of fun and a very dreamy experience.”
He took my hand in his—his signature romantic gesture—and brought the back of it to his lips, “It’s my wish that you and Jace have a relationship that poets envy and fairytales strive to bring to life, love.”
I shook my head and smiled, “You are a man of very beautiful words, you know that?”
He nodded, his humor displayed in the subtle curve of his closed lips, “Of course I know. How else would I be the man I am today?”
“This is all very true,” I turned to step out of the car after Edmond opened my door, “Titus?” I said before I got out of the vehicle.
“Yes, love?” he answered, pulling his head up from where he glanced down at his phone while I stepped out of the car.
“I know you’ll make some remarkable woman very happy one day.”
“I know I will as well. Thank you for joining me on our adventures, and again, all the best to you and Jace.”
Maybe it was cheesy for me to tell him that, but it was the only thing that came to mind, hoping he’d eventually put his words into action with the right woman.
The more I thought about Titus and me, the clearer it became that beneath all the superficial bullshit, we were never really each other’s type.
It was eight thirty by the time I’d arrived at Jake and Ash’s place, only to find a bunch of sleek motorcycles parked and tucked into each other on the driveway.
“What the hell?” I said to myself as I pulled into Ash’s driveway and froze. Three blood-red and sleek Ducati motorcycles were parked diagonally near the garage like they were guarding the place.
Not exactly your average babysitter crowd, I thought as I inched past the bikes, careful not to brush against their gleaming chrome. I parked just beyond the bikes where Jake and Ash’s usual clean line of cars sat behind one of the doors.
Confused yet humored by what guests Jake and Ash had over, I walked up the steps to the private entrance of their Malibu beachfront mansion. Ash had the door unlocked since I arrived at their private gate and entered my code, which always alerted Ash through text that I was here.
God, I loved this house—glass walls open to the ocean, wood beams, Ash’s paintings splashing warmth against the concrete, rugs softening the edges. Modern, but lived in. A place with a soul.
Then I saw them. Four men outside on the terrace around the fire pit—and my breath stalled on one. Jace. Windswept hair. Black T-shirt clinging to every muscle. That grin—boyish, cocky, familiar. Beer dangling from his hand. He looked sexier than I remembered. And I remembered plenty.
“Andie,” I heard Ash say quietly. “The kids are all asleep.”
“Good,” I whispered back, covering my gawking. “Because I’ve apparently stumbled into your Sons of Anarchy phase.”
Ash smirked. “Please. They’re all more like the Sons of Bitches.”
I burst out laughing, hugging her. “I’ll just sneak Brandon and Duke out of your hair. Thank you again—were they okay?”
“Jake loves Duke,” she said with far too much humor. “I’m shocked he hasn’t run in here to beg you to leave him with us.”
“Was Duke a little shit?” I questioned with a laugh, knowing that Ash was being sarcastic.
“Here,” she said, eyes probing out to her terrace while taking my arm to guide me toward the living room sofas.
“Let’s just say that if Jace is trying to get close to you, he’ll regret giving you Duke.
But if it’s Titus who’s trying, and Duke’s there to block it?
Jace will be grateful he gave you the dog. ”
“Oh, shit,” I covered my mouth. “He’s possessive?”
“You could say that,” she chuckled as we sat on the sofa.
“Well, Titus and I realized we’re never going to be more than fun and games. I’ve been excited to see where Jace and I could go,” I chuckled when Ash’s eyes widened, “but after what you just told me about my dog, I think I’m up for a whole different challenge.”
“We’ll just babysit on the nights he comes over to be with you,” Ash said.
I laughed, “Ah, so, every time I have Jace over, you’re going to take my dog?”
“Shit,” she sighed. “Oh, who cares? You two can work this out of him. He was probably just being possessive because he was hungry, and Jake was taking my attention away from him,” she answered. “Now, tell me everything before the guys walk in. Or do you want to talk to Jace? He’s right outside.”
“Jace and I will talk soon. I’m not going to interrupt him when he’s with the guys. I need to get Brandon and Duke home anyway so I can be ready for work in the morning.” I stood up and smiled, “I’ll fill you in on everything at work tomorrow if Avery doesn’t beat me to it.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she smiled, stood up, and turned to follow me down to the room where Brandon stayed when he was here so he wouldn’t disturb their kids, Kaley and John, with his early bedtime.
“Well, well, well,” Jake hung onto that last well a little too long.
I turned and tried to remain focused solely on Jake’s humored expression and not the damn glistening blue eyes and sexy grin coming from Jace. I knew one of the two other men pretty well—Elena’s husband, Collin Brooks—but I couldn’t remember the other man’s name.
“Hey, Jake,” I glanced at Jace, unable to resist. “Hey, Jace,” I said, like a schoolgirl talking to her crush for the first time, completely forgetting the two others standing behind them.
“Andie, of course, you remember Jace,” Jake said with a knowing grin. “And Collin as well. This is Dr. John Aster; you’ve met his brother Sebastian a few times.”
“Very nice to meet you,” I said, not really wanting to do introductions.
I much preferred a moment alone with Jace to get past this weirdness I was feeling.
“You all are bikers now, I see?” My smile and eyes fell only on Jace because, quite honestly, he was the only one in the world I cared about right now.
Jace grinned, but the shy, more reserved side of him I’d become accustomed to wasn’t present tonight. He seemed sexier and fueled by desire, and it was forcing my body into some adrenaline response.
“We sort of got our asses all kicked at work this past week, so we decided to take it out on the bikes,” he licked his lips, my eyes following like a hungry animal. “You look stunning. Did you have an enjoyable trip?”
“I did,” I answered.
"We’re all going to just step aside," I heard Jake say… at least, I think it was Jake.
“Yeah, don’t let us interrupt anything,” another said.
“You should go get the dog, just for kicks, man,” another said.
“How are you?” Jace asked, the only voice that mattered.
“I’ve missed you,” I said bluntly and honestly.
His eyes grew more serious while one of his strong hands gently caressed my cheek, “I’ve missed you more, gorgeous.”
Something was crackling in the thick, heavy air surrounding us, and I couldn’t explain anything except that it was all I wanted.
I smiled into his probing eyes, “I told Titus that I couldn’t keep going out with him if I was going to be with you. I hope that works for you?”
“Holy fuck,” he answered, eyes widening. “You want to date only me?”
I chuckled and brought my hands up along both of his biceps. “The exact reaction I was praying for,” I said before hugging him and feeling hot energy surge between us, wrapping us tightly together as if this were happily ever after.
“I promise you, gorgeous,” he said against my neck after he kissed it. “I will not let you regret that call.” He stepped back. “I’d invite you, Brandon, and Duke to stay over tonight, but I feel that is a knee-jerk reaction and moving possibly a bit too fast.”
“How about you meet me for lunch tomorrow?” I asked. “I need to get Brandon home, and I’m just learning that Duke might be your biggest obstacle when it comes to dating me.”
“I heard the same,” Jace chuckled. “Perhaps we’ll just give him to Hawk as compensation for playing along?”
“Be nice,” I arched an eyebrow at him. “It was how he played along that pushed me in your direction.” I stepped back before we could give the group in the other room anything more to talk about for the night, “I’m sorry I can’t stay and meet your friends, but I do look forward to seeing you tomorrow. ”
“Ah, no,” he stepped toward me, and then I was in his arms, “I’m not letting you drop this unexpected announcement on me and then just disappear into the night before I can do this.”
Jace’s powerful kiss made my body instantly react, and every single memory of our night together flooded back with a surge of energy that’d been held back for too damn long.
This was crazy. This didn’t feel real, but it sure as fuck felt right.
I melted into the man’s fiery kiss, tasting the flavors of him that I remembered well from that night, his warm, masculine scent flooding my senses.
I had no idea why it took me so long to realize he was the only one I wanted.
Playing games and wasting time was so senseless. The only good thing about it was that I was certain I wanted him more than anyone else.