Distracting the Billionaire's Son Read Online Free PDF Page B

to stop me. He stood close, too close, and
my breathing betrayed me.
    “Look,” he said and I couldn’t help but notice his eyes
linger on my slightly parted lips. “You can’t tell my sister about last night.
She would be very upset that I took advantage of you.”
    “Advantage of…” My jaw dropped and I was all at once angrier
than I should be. “Were we on the same beach last night? I am quite sure there
was no advantage taking on my side of things.”
    “Be quiet!” He eyes flashed, anger making him bristle. “Could
you be less discreet?”
    This hurt, and I looked down at the floor between us. Of
course, I was sure he lived in a world where he expected complete discretion
and my part in all of this was a minor one. It was about his reputation and I
was sure his father would have less than kind things to say about his behavior
with me last night. I shrugged.
    “My lips are sealed. You have nothing to worry about from
me.”
    It’s what he wanted to hear, so I gave it to him. Funny, it
was more exciting to give him what he wanted when I thought he might give me
something in return. This felt like something else and I was ready for him to move
on and forget it had happened, too. I moved so that he had to take a step back
from my space.
    He hesitated, but I didn’t look at him. After a moment of
consideration he leaned in, touched the small of my back with his palm. His
touch sent a jolt through me. I tried to pull away, but not for the same reason
I usually do, but he kept himself close. He leaned his mouth close to my ear,
whispered so that I could feel his breath on my skin. My heart quickened, my
body responded the way he wanted it to.
    “It’s only a closet.”
    “What?” I jerked back from him but he’d already turned away
and was heading for the stairs. I turned the door knob and sure enough, it was
only a closet.
     
    ***
    Breakfast consisted of a poached egg and some kind of sweet
sauce over a bed of fluffy shaved potatoes, kind of like hash browns but
smoother, less crunchy, paired with fruit and yogurt with little bits of
granola on top. I paid close attention to my food, keeping my eyes from
traveling to Jonah’s who inconveniently was stuck sitting across from me again
because he was the last one to show up. On the breeze I could smell his shampoo
and damp hair. He’d changed into jeans and a t-shirt, tighter than the one he’d
run it, and I hated that I had to catch a glimpse of his body through the
fabric. It was nice, from what I could tell. Once, I caught myself wishing I’d
touched his chest last night, discovered the shape of him for myself.
    Bad, Jessica. Terrible thoughts.
    “When do you leave for the airport, Eric?” Mrs. Silver
asked. She ate like a bird, like Melissa, making Shannon and I look gluttonous.
We horded the hot bread as soon as it was brought out. I could have eaten the
whole thing with the cinnamon honey butter they served with it. This put our
microwave macaroni and popcorn breakfasts to shame.
    “After I’m done eating. I’ll be picking up Nelson and Aunt
Steph and Amber at the same time.”
    “Too bad we couldn’t have planned the others to come in then.
Do you think it is unseemly to send a car for them instead of going myself?”
Mrs. Silver looked to her husband who shook his head.
    “If it weren’t my brother and his kids, I’d go, but they
won’t care.”
    “Everyone will start trickling in throughout the day. We’ll
stick around to greet them, but tonight we’ll have a big bonfire on the beach
and with grilled ribs and burgers. Mmm, so good. There will be a bartender and
music and everything. We like to kick off the retreat in style.” Shannon gave a
little squeal and clap. Her laughter was infectious and I couldn’t help but
smile.
    Mr. Silver gave me one of his hard looks. “Are you
twenty-one, Jessica?”
    “Yes, my birthday was just before exams.”
    “How lovely! Did your parents come up to see you?” Mrs.
Silver asked. She and