Page 10 of From West, With Regret (NYC Billionaires #2)

“For ruining her birthday party a while back.”

“Oh.” Asher points at Holt, his face lighting up with recognition. “When you invited your family’s enemy? What was his name again? Rome?”

“Yeah, him,” Holt mutters, giving Asher a side glance as he lifts his drink to his mouth. Once he swallows the pastel liquid, he adds, “I’d rather not talk about it. The important thing now is she can’t hang it over my head.”

Asher laughs, tipping his head back. “Oh, she’ll never let it go, but at least you’re trying.”

“I figured she would never completely let it go. Have you met my sister?” Holt mutters, his blue eyes scanning the crowd. “Where are the girls, anyway?”

“I’m not sure,” Asher says. “Last Charleigh told me, she and Selene were gathering up a few of the bouquets they were donating for the auctions.”

“Auctions?” I ask.

“Yeah.” He points toward the other side of the roof to my right. “There’s a silent auction over there. You should check them out.”

“I will.” I nod, taking another sip of my beer. Even if there isn’t anything that piques my interest for the auction, I’ll probably end up donating to Julianna’s charity anyway.

I keep the secret of my understanding the recipients of Julianna’s charity to myself and grab a fresh beer before leaving my friends to go check out the auction.

I weave through the crowds, not recognizing a single person.

Bouquets of black and white flowers are set in the center of each table, and I catch a glimpse of Selene, as well as Asher’s fiancée Charleigh, adjusting a few flowers on top of one of the larger tables.

I recognize both of them from Julianna’s party months ago.

The one Holt said he owed his sister for ruining .

Though I remember that night for a different reason.

It was the first night I’d seen London in years. Raven hair, gold rings on each finger, the heart-shaped birthmark stamped on her hand. I was still getting over my shock of seeing her again when I recognized the man who’d wrapped his arms around her.

My brother Heath.

I swallow the memory of that night down with a swig of my beer, already on my third since I got here.

Walking toward the auction table, I read the clipboards laid out.

Yachts and private jets are among a few of the prizes.

I scoff under my breath, not understanding why rich assholes only feel the need to donate to charity unless they get something in return.

Maybe it makes them feel righteous in their gluttony.

I shake my head at some of the bids already written down, when I catch a glimpse of black and blue coming from the lower portion of the roof.

Behind the table is a metal and wired balcony overlooking the lower portion of Heath’s rooftop property.

Stairs to my left lead down to the large swimming pool.

It’s strange seeing a pool this size on top of a building in the center of Brooklyn, but considering its Holt, it doesn’t surprise me.

What sends the blood shooting down from my brain to my feet, though, is the woman floating in the middle.

Her black hair is splayed out around her, floating on the surface.

Her long arms are spread out beside her, and her feet are slowly kicking below the surface, keeping her in place.

Her eyes are closed, mouth closed too, her ears beneath the surface.

I set my beer on the table and immediately make my way down the stairs, telling myself to move slowly, to take my time. She’s here, and I don’t want to startle her. She’s clearly deep in thought, in her own world.

But like a moth drawn to a flame, I’m drawn to her faster than my feet can carry me.

When I reach the bottom of the stairs, my pace slows, but my heart doesn’t, and I swallow the nerves inside me.

Shoving my hands inside the pockets of my slacks, I curl my fingers tightly around her drawing, clinging to it like a life raft.

London’s long, dark blue dress clings to her skin while the backside floats freely in the water under her.

The wet fabric highlights every full curve of her body.

Heat expands in my lower belly noticing her perked nipples pointing directly at the starless New York sky.

London’s eyes crack open, and she keeps her gaze on the dark blanket above us, not noticing me standing just a few feet away from her.

Her mouth pulls into a ghost of a smile, and I doubt anyone farther than where I’m standing can see it. But I don’t miss it. I can’t. Not when the two dimples appear in her cheeks. Dimples impossible to forget.

I remember the sound of her laughter at thirteen, when I’d pointed them out to her at the kitchen table. When I’d reached out and touched her for the first time. She’d giggled, wrapped her hand around mine, and refused to let go for the rest of dinner.

I clear my throat and inhale a deep breath, glancing back up at the party, forcing the memory down.

No one seems to notice London here alone, floating in the pool.

No one except me. She’s all I notice.

“Find one yet?”

London doesn’t react to me interrupting her star gazing the way I expect her to.

Her chest stills, but she doesn’t move from her position in the water, keeping her arms spread out and her legs like an angel’s. She’s fucking breathtaking, and I study her profile, forcing myself to breathe.

After rolling her head to the side, it takes her precisely three seconds to recognize me .

That’s when she finally moves. She sits up as her feet sink beneath the clear blue water, and she pushes her hair away from her face, nervously glancing toward the party on the upper level. Her gray eyes swing back to me as a drop of water falls from her bottom lip. “Find what?”

I smile. I can’t help it. I can’t believe she’s in front of me again. She’s here, and not because we’re both putting on a show for others like we were at my brother’s funeral.

We’re two ordinary people now.

“A star,” I say.

Flicking her eyes upwards, she laughs under her breath. “No, I didn’t.”

“Impossible here in the city,” I tell her, inching closer to the edge of the pool.

“Not much different from Boston, really.”

“Right.” I nod, swallowing my nerves. Over the years, I’ve thought of what I would say to her, but now I’m coming up empty. Just looking at her is enough, but I don’t want to let this moment slip away.

“Do you come to these often?” I ask, nodding toward the party upstairs.

“No.” She scoffs, shaking her head. She looks down at her hands skimming over the surface of the water. My gaze falls on her birthmark. “My sister and her friend’s helped organize it. I just came along for the ride.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “Sister?”

The corners of her mouth curl. I can tell this is a bright spot in her life, and the feeling it gives me seeing it on her face lights a part of me that’s been lying dormant since I was fifteen.

“Selene Walker is my sister. She’s friends with Julianna Capuleti, the one running the auction.”

“You know Julianna?” I ask.

Wow. This truly is a small fucking world .

London nods, leaning back slightly in the water. Her face glows from the under lighting. “So,” she says with a teasing glint to her eye. “Do you come to these often?”

I frown and shake my head. “No. I just came along for the ride.” My mouth pulls to a grin, and my stomach flutters. “I’m friends with her brother.”

She giggles lightly, but her smile falls fast. “Oh.” She drags her bottom lip under her teeth.

God. Why am I imagining kissing her and sinking my fingers into her hair? Into the curves of her full, round ass and those perfect tits?

I walk along the edge of the pool, only a few feet away, staying close but eyeing her suspiciously, ignoring the twitch in my dick. “Oh, what?”

“Nothing.” She smiles, shaking her head.

“No.” I chuckle. “There was clearly something else beneath that oh .”

Her gray eyes can’t stay still, looking everywhere but at me. I keep my hands in my pockets, my fingers wrapped around her napkin. I bend at the hip, forcing her to look at me.

Begrudgingly, she finally matches her eyes with mine. She sighs and leans back in the water, kicking back farther toward the center of the pool. “I just don’t believe you.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“No, I don’t believe you just come to these to appease others.” She continues to dance her fingers along the surface of the water. “You’re a Hall. You were raised on coming to events like these.”

“Was I?” I ignore the punch to the gut. She’s reminding me of who she thinks I am.

“Yeah. Heath always loved these types of events. Gave him an opportunity to show off.”

“And you didn’t enjoy going with him?”

“Nope. I don’t think it’s in my veins.”

“Hence why you escaped to the pool?”

“I love the looks others give me.” She tips her head to the upper level. “They look at me like I’m an alien from another planet.”

The attendees gathered near the auction table eye us with suspicion before no doubt writing down their six figure bids. At least their money is going to a good cause.

“Sometimes I feel the same,” I confess.

London scoffs as she rolls her eyes. “Yeah, okay.”

“Ouch.” I remove my hand from my pocket and place it against my chest. “I’m actually kind of hurt you don’t believe me.”

She frowns, and her eyes soften. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just…”

“No, it’s fine. I understand.” I remove my phone from my pocket, making sure I pull the napkin out with it.

After tucking it neatly underneath my phone, I place it on one of the lounge chairs behind me and walk to the edge of the pool to, where I bend down, swing my feet out from under me, and sink into the surprisingly warm water.

London pushes away from me as soon as I’m chest deep.

Keeping my gaze locked on hers, I swim closer to her. Once I’m within two feet of her, I dip my head under the water. As soon as I emerge, I push my hair back and wipe my hands down the front of my face, clearing my vision.

London’s gorgeous face is frozen with surprise.

The closer I get to her, the more I find myself taking note of everything about her that reminds me of before.

The angle of her nose, the way the gray in her eyes has a hint of blue from the reflection of the glowing water, and those goddamn dimples in her soft cheeks.

I want to count her lashes and take inventory of everything I’ve missed over the years.

Instead, I push down my thoughts and decide on another bit of honesty.

“You didn’t offend me,” I tell her. We move closer together. Her hands have disappeared beneath the water, and I fight the urge to search for them with my own. “Can I tell you a truth?”

Her black-lined eyes search my face. “All I ever want is the truth.”

I anchor myself to the bottom of the pool, and my heart hammers like a beating drum in my chest. “I’m not a Hall. I never have been.”