Page 23 of Her Brother's Billionaire Best Friend

“It’s just,” said Lucien, “neither of us was really prepared for that.”

“Right,” I said weakly.

“But we both wanted it. And it was good, right?”

“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “It was good.”

“So let’s talk about it. But not here?”

“Then, where?”

“I know a place.”

*

‘The place’ in question was a mountain. Lucien and I took off at about 9.30 am. By 10, we were above the Cascades, and Lucien called Ronnie.

“This is the spot. Picked it out a few months ago on a solo flight.”

“You can fly this thing?” I asked him.

“Sure,” he said. “I don’t get into something unless I know how to fly it. Over there, Ronnie. I marked the coordinates in.”

The landing spot was a flat piece of ground. Even on a hot Summer’s day, it was cold up here, a little chilly. As we set down onto the ground, Lucien and I stepped out and were confronted with a view of the Cascades unreachable on foot. You could only fly here.

“How did you find this place?”

“You know,” said Lucien, as we walked among the snow-capped peaks in our sneakers, “no matter how much money you have, there’s one thing that never changes.”

“It’s hard to be alone?” I said.

He looked at me curiously. “Yeah, how’d you know?”

“I guess it’s just the impression you give,” I said. “You seem like you enjoy your privacy.” The wind cut off the last part of my word and sent it rushing down into a steep gorge.

“I guess,” said Lucien. “Though it’s a shame if you can’t share it.”

We’d walked for a little way, around the rocks and away from Ronnie, who was with the helicopter. Gradually we settled on a sunny rock, and sat together for a while.

“You know,” said Lucien, “there’s no reason this can’t be a good thing.”

“It is good,” I laughed. And I meant it. It had been over a decade since I’d found the time to be with someone, anyone, like this. As a friend, but more.

Lucien looked thoughtful for a moment. “I guess what I’m saying is, there’s no reason this has to end just because we’re going home.”

“Yeah?” I said.

“Yeah. I mean, we need to think about it, but…”

“…But?” I said. I was beginning to grow worried.

“I just want you to know a little bit more about me,” he said.

“So tell me,” I said. I wanted to know—Lucien fascinated me, and only more so now we’d had an incredible one-night stand together. The way our bodies fit together astonished me, the way his physique and his power heightened the tension and the experience…

I was nervous. I knew that soon I’d be back in Caluga Falls with David and Kyle. Where could we draw the line? I wasn’t sure, and it was making me have all kinds of doubts. But for now I didn’t worry.

See, the thing is that I finally felt calm with Lucien. Even if I was concerned, I didn’t have that queasy feeling in my stomach, the aching knots that had come with my first days working for him. I felt comfortable. And with the comfort came a wonderful kind of peace, that was exciting all the same.