Page 67 of The Billionaire Hercules Valentine and I: Serendipity

A small smile flashes across her lips, and she leans across the table. “You’re welcome, but I reacted so crazy this morning because the last time Mason traveled with a woman, I heard he slept with her.”

I jolt my head back. “Mason slept with a woman during a business trip?”

Lake presses a finger against her lips. “Shush.” She looks at the tables across from us and behind her. “A girl name Abagail Neal said they did something.”

I shake my head adamantly. “I don’t know about that.”

Her eyes widen curiously. “Do you know Abagail?”

“No, but I know Mason’s type. He’s professional all the time. I can’t see him sleeping with someone during a business trip.”

“That’s what I thought, but…” She slumps her shoulders as she sighs. “I don’t know anymore.”

The agony on her face touches me deeply. I want to help her figure out her situation with Mason so that she could at least have more clarity and move on. “Well, is Abagail his girlfriend?”

The sides of her mouth pull down into a frown. “No. I don’t think so.”

“Have you ever told him how…” I’m paralyzed as I just catch sight of someone out of the corner of my eye. Then I turn my head to see him. It’s Hercules Valentine. He’s wearing a crisp white shirt, no tie, and slacks that showcase his sexy thighs and long manly legs. He stands like an aristocrat with perfect posture. I’m sure everybody knows he’s the most important person in the room and the sexiest. And he’s in New York City. Max was wrong, and Max is rarely wrong.

What should I do?

I couldn’t look away from him even if I wanted to. I’ve seen the woman he’s with. She has a short haircut and is as light and graceful as a ballerina. She was the person in the hallway yesterday. She wore a red coat. My heart sinks when Hercules easily puts his hand against the small of her back. The way he touches her seems so intimate, so possessive.I’m too late. He belongs to her.

“Oh, Hercules Valentine,” Lake says. “And Lilith Cope.”

I’m staring. Shit. I didn’t want to do that.I force my eyes, which are fake smiling, back to my lunch companion.

“Oh.” That comes out strained.

Lake’s eyes sparkle as she grins at me. “You’ll get over it.”

I frown. “Get over what?”

“The first time you see Hercules, you fall head over heels in lust. Then you get to know him, and he’s perfect in every way imaginable. But he’s such an enigma. I don’t think he dates. So you just get over him and move on to someone who’s catchable.” She rolls her eyes. “Although Mason is far from catchable. What’s his deal, anyway?”

I’m done trying to solve her problem. Sticking around was a bad idea. I turn to find the exits. Maybe if I get out now, he won’t see me.

I grab my purse, ready to leave my salad behind, taking one more glance before I tell Lake I have to go, and that’s when it happens. Hercules looks off as he says something, and just as it was in high school, I’m trapped by his gaze.

“Oh my God, he’s looking at us,” Lake says breathlessly. She starts combing a hand through her thick locks.

I can’t speak or look away from him. And then Mason walks up beside him and puts his hand on Hercules’s shoulder. They’re about the same height. Mason speaks to him. Now, they’re both looking at our table. When Mason smiles and points to me, I know for certain there’s no escaping. One month too soon, Hercules Valentine and I are about to come face-to-face.