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

tells me. “My bud, Jackson Connolly, who’s out in LA, he’s the best going around. He deals in security, private investigating and other stuff, and he has all my business.”

“That’s who I was talking about,” Ariana adds while tugging on my hand.

“I’d love any help I can get,” I tell him.

“Great. Wanna go to LA in a couple of days, then?” Anderson asks.

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Yay, road trip.” Emma claps. “Oh, hang on… no, jet trip,” she corrects herself before bursting out laughing.

“See, I told you it would all work out.” Ariana looks up at me with those chocolate eyes, and that one look makes everything that little bit better.

Leaning over, I kiss her.

Ariana’s friends erupt in hoots and hollers, but she simply flips them all off like there is no one else in the room but us.

24

Ariana

We are on our way to LA. It’s been a couple of days since Rhys surprised me at Emma and Anderson’s housewarming party, and we’ve been inseparable since. I’ve stayed over at his house every night since then too. Having one hundred percent of Rhys’ time, which generally leads to a heap of orgasms, leaves me with no room to complain. The man is good.

It’s been nice coming home from work, stumbling into his apartment, and cooking dinner together. Extremely domesticated but also feels incredibly right. I know we’ve had serious conversations about us at Emma and Anderson’s, and even though it’s a little too soon to feel the way we do, it feels right. We both agreed we would stop worrying about what everyone else might think about how fast our relationship is moving and go with what’s right. And in this moment, Rhys feels right.

“I can’t thank you enough for doing this.” Moving to the seat beside Emma on the plane, Anderson and Rhys are locked in a serious conversation about his divorce.

“It’s for selfish reasons.” She chuckles. “I get to go to LA.”

“I know. But thank you, anyway.”

Emma reaches out and grabs my hand. “Babe, you’re family. And now you’ve decided Rhys is the one, then he’s part of our family too.” Let’s not get too carried away, saying Rhys is the one. I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. “You look really happy. I can totally understand why. Rhys is hot.” Emma grins. “And the way he looks at you as if he can’t quite believe you’re his, it gives me all the feels.”

I had no idea he looked at me like that.

“He’s a great guy,” I add.

“We need to get all this ex-wife drama sorted. Then you two can live happily ever after.” How much champagne has she had to drink?

“I agree on the ex-drama.” Laying my head back against the plush leather seat, I try and explain it to Ems. “It feels like so much more.”

“It’s very cloak and dagger.” She grins.

“Mysterious and dangerous,” I add.

“I’m a little worried for you,” Emma confesses, which does surprise me a little.

“Why, babe?”

Emma lets out a heavy sigh. “Someone is going to great lengths to try and take Rhys down. Like these people are playing the long game, and what happens if they turn their attention to you?”

“I’m going to assume you will raise hell if they do.” I give her a reassuring smile.

“Damn right, I will.” She chuckles. “I can still worry, though.”

I stand and join Emma. She wraps her arm around me as I rest my head on her shoulder.

“I’m worried, too,” I confess.

I’ve never said anything to Rhys because he doesn’t need the added stress, but I agree with everything Emma’s said. What happens if these people do go after me? I don’t have any skeletons in the closet that I know of, but I do have a new business, so they may try and ruin that reputation.

“Jackson will hunt these fuckers down and make them pay,” Emma states through gritted teeth. “Then you and Rhys can live happily ever after.”

That’s what I hope will happen, but I have an inkling it’s not going to go down quite that easily. “Worse case, in a couple of months, I’m going to have a pretty awesome boathouse, so you could always come and live with us if everything goes to shit.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I reply with a giggle.

Hours later, we’re touching down in LA and head toward our accommodations. Emma and Anderson insisted that we stay at their Hollywood Hills home instead of a hotel. We have a meeting with Connolly & Co. tomorrow, which I’m a little nervous about. I really hope they’re able to help Rhys find out who the hell is messing with him. I know Jackson’s done some amazing things before when he found Chloe, I just hope this is an easier job for him.

“Oh, wow, Ems. This house is amazing.” Stepping out onto the deck that juts out over the canyon, the lights of LA are twinkling in the distance. Palm trees sway as a breeze rolls through the area.

“Thanks. It’s great having somewhere to crash when I’m here for work,” she calls out from the kitchen where she and Anderson are shuffling around preparing drinks.

“The weather’s nice,” Rhys comments as he walks up behind me and places his hands on either side of the banister from behind. The weather back in New York has turned, and there’s a frigid chill to the days now. His lips meet my neck, which send shivers down my spine. “I promise to get to the bottom of all this, Ariana,” Rhys states.

I turn in his arms, so I’m facing him. “I’ll be right beside you every step of the way.”

“I know this is a lot to take on right at the beginning of a relationship.” Rhys gives me a weak smile. “I honestly don’t know what I have done to deserve you.” He leans forward and kisses me passionately. I wrap my arms around his neck and let him. Wolf whistles echo from behind us, and we separate.

“Cut it out, you two.” Emma