Without Warning: A Billionaire Romance (Playboys of New York Book 5) by JA Low (the best novels to read .TXT) 📕

complicated, and you were launching your new business, and I didn’t want to take anything away from that. All your focus needed to be on you and not my fucked-up situation.” I’m not trying to be a martyr here, but it’s the truth.

“Will I ever see you again? Or is this it?” Ariana asks.

And that right there is the million-dollar question, isn’t it?

“I don’t know if someone is following or watching me,” I try to explain. “I’m worried that once they know the way I feel about you, they’re going to try and do something to hurt you to get to me.” Hoping she understands, I lay it on the line.

“You know what…” Ariana’s voice raises. “I’ve heard every excuse in the book with regards to letting someone down after you’ve had your fun with them, but honestly, Rhys, this one takes the cake.”

Wait. No. I’m not letting her down. It’s the total opposite. I’m trying to keep her safe because I want her. I want her so very fucking much.

“Ariana, no.” My voice raises when I continue, “That’s not what I’m trying to do. At all. I miss the hell out of you.”

“You have a funny way of showing it,” she adds.

“I know. I’ve fucked-up. But I’m telling you the truth… things are messed up.”

I hear her groan down the phone. “You know what… I’m done. Thank you so much for the flowers, Rhys. They really are beautiful. I’ll leave you with your divorce drama, and good luck with everything,” she tells me angrily.

“No. Wait,” I call down the phone, but it’s no use because she’s hung up on me. I stare down at my phone, wondering what the hell just happened. I try to call her back, but her phone rings out.

Shit.

How the hell am I going to fix this?

“You don’t look so good,” Audrey remarks as she comes over for Sunday brunch. I’ve spent all weekend thinking about Ariana. I’ve tried so many times to call her, but she’s just not picking up. “You okay?” my sister asks with concern.

“Things between Ariana and I haven’t gone so well.”

Audrey’s blue eyes widen at my confession. I don’t normally spill what’s going on inside of me, but I’m at a loss over everything that’s gone down over the last few weeks.

“Sounds like you need to start at the beginning…” She grins.

We take a seat in the living room, and I unload everything that’s happened between Ariana and me. Audrey continually nods her head until I’m finished.

“That was a whirlwind.” My sister grins. “But you really are a jerk face.”

“What did you say?”

“You ghosted her! Then you send her flowers and call, telling her that you miss her, yet you can’t be with her.”

“You know why?”

“I know how much damage Madison and all her chaos has done to you, but Ariana doesn’t. And if I were her, I would think you were blowing me off, or you just wanted a booty call,” Audrey explains.

“How do I fix it?” I ask. I can’t believe I’m getting relationship advice from my sister, but I’m desperate.

“I’ve been invited to Emma and Anderson’s housewarming party next weekend. I’m going to assume Ariana is going to be there.” My sister smiles.

Yes. This is a great idea.

“And… you need a chaperone?”

“No.” Audrey gives me an angry look. “This isn’t 1850, Rhys. I don’t need my brother to cross the Hudson.” Her blue eyes flare then narrow in on me. “You can come with me as a guest.”

“Do you think ambushing her at their party is the right idea?”

“You said she’s not talking to you. How else will you get to see her? Other than being a creeper and waiting at her door. Girls don’t like that shit,” Audrey advises me.

“I’ll do anything to talk to her. To explain everything.”

“You really like her?” my sister asks.

“I do. But everything has imploded before we’ve ever had a chance.”

Audrey reaches out and taps my hand on my knee. “You deserve happiness, Rhys. After everything,” she tells me. “And I like Ariana. Most women bow down to you, but she doesn’t. It’s refreshing to see you as the rejected party.” Audrey chuckles.

“Well, it doesn’t feel nice.”

“No shit.” Audrey grins. “Welcome to the real world, Rhys.”

19

Ariana

My head hurts, so I roll over onto my side with a groan. Then last night comes back to me, and my head begins to pound even harder than before. I remember my conversation with Rhys and how it went pretty much sideways. It felt like he was blowing me off.

I roll back again onto my back and stare up at the ceiling.

“Hey, bitch.” Camila jumps onto the bed, surprising me.

I let out a squeal, and we burst out laughing.

“Well, don’t you look like shit,” she tells me.

Gee, thanks. Not all of us look like a supermodel when they wake like her.

She jumps under the covers and joins me in bed. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I think so. I spoke to Rhys last night,” I confess.

She raises a brow. “And?”

“It didn’t end so well.” Letting out a sigh, my shoulders relax.

“What happened?” she questions me.

“He apologized for ghosting me. Said something about trying to protect me because shit’s gone down with his divorce. Like his ex was paid to marry him or something. Someone is after his company. I don’t really know what else because I had too much to drink and wasn’t really listening in the end,” I explain to Camila.

“He was trying to protect you?”

“Yeah. Something like corporate espionage, he said. Like… does this guy think he’s James Bond or something?” I chuckle, but Camila frowns. “It’s a bit of an over-the-top story to tell when he could have just said he’s not interested.”

“But he sent you those flowers,” Camila adds.

“So?” Looking over at her, her eyebrows are squeezed tightly together.

“If he wasn’t interested, then why would he send you flowers congratulating you on your new business?” Camila questions.

“I don’t know.” Shrugging my shoulders, I proceed with, “Maybe he wanted to get