AllFreeNovel
Share Us
28
Roxie was full-on. There was no other way to put it. The woman shimmered with confidence; every part of her was certain and straightforward. She teased and joked, yes, but she also listened and really cared about the people in her life.
After a stop at her apartment and a flight to New York, she was finding Roxie’s rhythm was just her kind of tempo.
“Thanks, Dennis,” Roxie said, kissing the cheek of the man who opened the plane door for them.
Roxie slipped on her shades as they descended toward red carpet on tarmac. A man over six feet tall stood by a spotless black town car. Whoever he was, he was broader and bulkier than the others she’d seen in Roxie’s life.
“Wow,” she said without thinking.
Roxie reached back from the bottom stair and linked their arms. “I know. He’s always the guy we see second.”
“Is he a billionaire too?”
“I don’t know, I never asked,” Roxie said, hopping down to the red carpet. “Ballard, are you a billionaire?”
“One not enough for you, Little Rox?” the guy asked, opening the back door of the car.
“Miss me?”
“Not quite,” he said, but caught Roxie when she launched up to hug him. “Can’t keep you away, huh?”
“We came to town to party,” Roxie said, leaping back to push her forward. “Ballard, this is Rainie Tait. Rainie, meet Sean Ballard. Zairn’s Head of Security and Logistics. And his de facto best friend… don’t tell Xander.”
“You’re Gauge’s latest?”
“Not his latest,” Roxie said, elbowing him. “She’s his forever.”
“What the hell have you started, Kyst?” Ballard drew a phone from his back pocket and pressed a button. “Here.”
Roxie stepped back to gesture her into the car as Ballard held the phone out. “Who’s this?”
“Your old man,” Ballard said as Roxie took the phone.
She slid into the backseat, surprised by the younger woman seated opposite her. Roxie got in and the door closed.
“Astrid, honey,” Roxie said, folding down a center armrest with a groove perfect for the cellphone. “I missed you!”
“Did you miss me?” from the phone a suave male voice stalled Roxie mid-almost-hug.
“Casanova,” Roxie chirped and slid back in her seat to address the device. “You know that pussy you were balls deep in first thing this morning? I have it with me!”
“I wondered where it went. No harm.”
“Easily replaced,” Roxie said.
“Unlike your cellphone. You’re testing my patience.”
“Keeping you on your toes, my darling.”
“As always. How was the flight?”
“Which one? I’ve flown clear across the country today. You better be looking after Jane.”
“Jane’s a sweetheart,” he said. “You should learn from her.”
“Aww, someone got fiancée envy? Too bad Knox got to her before you did.”
