Cocky Billionaires: A Contemporary Romance Box Set

by J. P. Comeau

  “Yeah, well. Zane and Clint aren’t exactly letting me off the hook either.”

  She giggled softly, and the sound warmed me from my toes to my nose.

  “Kelly, this really doesn’t have to be a miserable month. We have the ability to make the best of it. If you want, you can look at it as a vacation. And you’re not far from your own place, so you can always go see Roxy.”

  “Can she come here?”

  I looked over at her. “Of course, she can. She’s just as welcome as you are.”

  Her face hardened. “Thank you.”

  I sighed. “What did I do now?”

  “I just don’t know how in the world I ever trusted you to do something like this. I keep kicking myself, thinking, ‘this is exactly how Brenden’s plans always turn out.’ I hear the stories all the time. I’m just not sure why I convinced myself this time would be different.”

  “Well, sorry to disappoint. But this isn’t all on me. Just like you said at the cookout. We both hold responsibility in this. So, I’d appreciate it if you acted like it.”

  She stood. “It’s not my fault you screwed up.”

  I stood. “No, the man who owns that chapel screwed up. Remember? You admitted to that, too. Don’t turn this on me because you’re frustrated and want someone to blame. I don’t play that game with anyone.”

  Her eyes filled with fire. “You know what? I think I’m just going to spend the rest of this month in my room. Just to make it easy on you.”

  “If you want to make that decision on your own, that’s fine. You know, since you’re such an independent woman.”

  She stomped toward her room. “You’re such an asshole. I don’t know why in the world I ever wanted to do this with you in the first place.”

  “Takes one to know one!”

  And the only sound that greeted me was the sound of my guest door being slammed.

  Yep. I’m in the deepest shit I’ve ever been in, in my entire life.

  13

  _____

  KELLY

  I wiped at the tears coating my cheeks and drew in a deep breath. I had to stop crying. I had to stop being a weak little woman who grew frustrated at the drop of a hat. I leaned my back against the door and closed my eyes, forcing my heart rate to slow down. Forcing the tears to stop.

  Forcing myself to grow a damn backbone.

  “Come on. He’s trying. Let the man try,” I whispered.

  I opened my eyes and gazed around the room. The navy walls contrasted the white crown molding and the white baseboards. The sprawling king-size bed had a beautiful white fabric headboard with silver rivets trailing along the outer edges. And the desk that sat right in front of the window overlooking Vegas was sleek. It sat on wheels so I could roll it anywhere, and the height looked to be adjustable with a small crank on the underside of the top itself. But, nothing could have prepared me for how luxurious the bathroom was.

  I gasped as I walked inside.

  “Holy mackerel,” I whispered.

  The white marble countertops shimmered with a soft silver texture. The jetted bathtub looked like it had been hand-carved from a beautiful white stone. And that stone matched the materials used to create a walk-in shower without a door. It led me down a very small corridor before dumping into a rotunda that had a waterfall shower head and little holes with black protrusions that dropped my jaw to the floor.

  “The shower is a mist sauna, too?” I murmured.

  For a moment, I found myself taken with the room I’d occupy for the next month. But, the idea of it being for the next four weeks stirred my frustration all over again. I cared about Brenden. I really did. He simply didn’t make sure things were locked tight with the plan, though. And it’s because of that last-minute recklessness that I’m married and living with him for the next month.

  I sighed as I walked out of the shower.

  Part of me wanted to soak in the tub until I turned into a prune. Part of me wanted to try out the sauna in the shower. But, part of me wanted to flop onto the bed and sleep the next few days away. I heard footsteps pattering above my head, and I went back out into the bedroom. I saw my suitcases and boxes stacked neatly in the corner near the door, and I figured I could start unpacking. No use in living out of boxes and bags for that amount of time.

  Then, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

  “I can’t believe this condo has a second story,” I murmured.

  ‘Condo’ was a toned-down word for what the place really was. Which was a miniature mansion suspended in mid-air with a gorgeous view of the town.

  I held my breath as his footsteps came down the hallway. I heard him pause just outside my door, and I looked down to see his shadow filtering through the small crack at the bottom of the door. I placed my hand on the doorknob. Now that I was a bit calmer, maybe we could talk.

  But, once his footsteps started walking away, my hand fell away from the knob.

  So much for that idea.

  His footsteps didn’t stop until I heard his front door open and close. Then, I found myself alone in that gargantuan place. Did I go outside and explore? Did I walk upstairs to see what the second level was like? Did I get some food? Did I stay in here?

  I didn’t want to do either of those things.

  Right now, I needed my Daddy.

  “Hey there, sweet pea.”

  I sat on the edge of the bed with my cell phone against my ear.

  “Hey there,” I said.

  “Uh, oh. What’s wrong?”

  I snickered. “What makes you think something’s wrong?”

  “I know this tone of voice. I only hear it whenever something is bothering you, too. What’s on your mind?”

  I sighed. “If I tell you, you promise not to get angry?”

  “Oh, boy.”

  “What?”

  “Only your sister prefaces stuff she’s done like that. Something big is wrong, isn’t it?”

  I paused. “Let me start from the beginning, okay?”

  “Why don’t you start with the punch line, and I’ll ask questions?”

  I swallowed hard. “All right. You ready?”

  “Hit me with it, sweet pea.”

  Please don’t see through my lie. “A bunch of us were joking around the night before with drinks and such. And it ended up with Brenden and me in a little wedding chapel doing a fake marriage ceremony.”

  I heard shuffling on the other end of the line before my father’s voice grew gruff.

  “Name of the chapel,” he said.

  “Pristine Angel, or something like that?”

  “Have you already been to the courthouse to try and get it annulled?”

  “Yes. We saw a Judge Johnson.”

  “What was his verdict?”

  I pinched the bridge of my nose. “He wants Brenden and I to stay married for a month. To think about whether or not an annulment is what you really want.”

  “Anything else?”

  I paused. “We had to move in together, and we have to submit summaries of how things are going every week to his clerk to look over before we appear in a month.”

  I heard him typing away. “I know Judge Johnson myself. The two of us don’t really get along, but I know his weak spots. I’ve already shot a message off to my attorney. They’ll make sure to get things handled. Did your name get changed on the paperwork?”

  “I--I think so?”

  “What’s this man’s last name?”

  “Hearthstone.”

  “Right. That’s right. Okay, sweet pea. Is there anything else I should know?”

  Other than the fact that this all started with sex? “No, sir. That’s it.”

  “I’m glad you called, sweetie. I know that’s hard sometimes, especially with how independent you’ve always been. But, I want you to know I’ll have it handled by the end of the week. Okay?”

  I sniffled. “Thank you so much, Daddy. I don’t know why the judge is making us do this.”

  “Some judges feel e
ntitled like they can improve someone’s life by doling out unique punishments that open their eyes, or some such nonsense. You leave this to me, though. If the judge doesn’t want to negotiate, they’ll find something to use. Which will be easy, since you two were under the influence, right?”

  Oh, boy. “I mean, not enough to hinder the idea. I knew what was happening. We just thought we had stressed to the owner of the chapel that this was fake. A dare that was being fulfilled with some friends getting together and blowing off steam. But, the chapel owner must not have heard us, or something like that.”

  “Don’t you worry. I’m placing a call there, too. I’ll keep you updated, sweet pea.”

  “Thanks, Daddy.”

  “Anytime. I gotta go, though. The lawyer is calling. Talk soon.”

  “Talk soon. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  I hung up the phone feeling more nervous than ever before. So, I decided to throw myself into work. Hopefully, my father didn’t dig deep enough to figure out the real reason why it all took place. Because I’m pretty sure he’d kill me himself if he ever found out. You know, before killing Brenden.

  “Damn it,” I murmured.

  I opened up my laptop, and there were a plethora of issues I had to deal with on the business end of my life. I set myself up at the desk and worked until the sun set, then eventually crawled into bed. I wasn’t hungry. I was much too anxious to think about food. But, I wasn’t sure if Brenden had gotten back or anything. I knew he was home come morning, though.

  The smell of coffee lifted me from my dream state and ushered me into the kitchen.

  “Wow,” I whispered.

  The white granite countertops were speckles with flakes of silver and black. The stainless steel appliances looked like they’d never been touched in all their years of existence. The breakfast nook sat in a little triangular alcove with a window that gazed out over Vegas, and the sun rising streamed through those windows perfectly. I took another giant whiff of the intoxicating scent of dark brew coffee. Then I meandered over to the pot and rummaged around for a mug. And after fixing myself a strong cup, I turned to face the kitchen island.

  Only to find freshly-baked croissants on a silver tray. Still warm from the oven.

  “My God,” I groaned.

  I walked over and plucked one from the stack only for a note to fall at my feet. So, I set the croissant down and picked up the small piece of paper with my name on it.

  Kelly,

  I’m genuinely sorry for everything. Including the fighting, we’ve been doing. The things I’m saying out of anger and frustration are things no one ever deserves to have said to them. Or about them, for that matter. I want to make this next month as easy on you as possible, so let me know what I can do if anything.

  In the meantime, I’m having dinner brought to the condo for us tonight. We can eat together, crack jokes, and find our way back to being friends. Like we were before this all began.

  I’ll see you after work,

  Brenden

  A smile drifted across my face before I laid the note down on top of the island. I snatched my croissant up again and went to go sit at the breakfast nook, allowing myself to gaze out over sun-drenched Las Vegas. I took my time sipping my coffee, and I devoured four of those damn croissants before I stopped myself. I couldn't start tacking on weight now. I had to still model my own fashions for the website, which meant I had to fit into those clothes that had already been tailored to me.

  “I’ll have more of you tonight after dinner,” I murmured.

  Then, I topped off my coffee and decided to meander around the condo.

  The hallway from the living room to the kitchen sported two bedrooms, each with their own bathroom. The living room was massive. Easily the size of my entire apartment I shared with Roxy. The floor-to-ceiling tinted windows reminded me of the penthouse Brenden booked for us back when the plan was still a good one. And as I walked toward the thick glass, I let myself drink in the picturesque landscape that stretched on for miles.

  Then, I set my sights for the stairs.

  Slowly, I padded up the black steps. Matte black, to be exact. It contrasted all of the sleek white the condo was adorned with, and it made the staircase a feature design in the entire place. On the far side of the living room, opposite the kitchen, it slowly walked up to a lofted portion of the condo. As I walked down the only upper hallway afforded to me, my jaw hit the floor.

  “Holy shit,” I whispered.

  I only took five or so steps down the hallway before it completely opened up. And it opened up into a massive room that was severed into sections. Glass wrapped around the entire top portion, making the room entirely exposed to Vegas. Not that anyone could see up here anyway, due to its tint. But, still, the view was breathtaking. In the middle of the room sat a massive four-poster bed. I didn’t know how big the damn thing was, but it was much, much bigger than my bed downstairs. Over in the corner sat an ornate, black matte desk. Decked out with a desktop, a computer tower, a printer, a scanner, and all the things a working man could ever need. And directly to my left as I walked into the room was a glass wall completely tinted out in black.

  However, walking around it exposed the massive chunk of the room that had been set aside for the bathroom. And somehow, it was even more exquisite than the one downstairs.

  “What in the world?” I asked.

  The countertops of the double vanity matched mine downstairs. But, that was the only thing that matched. The claw-footed tub sat against the windows, so someone could bathe and stare out over Vegas at the same time. There was a raised portion of flooring at the foot of the tub that carved out a square three people could easily stand inside with elbow room. And above? Another waterfall shower head.

  “This is insane,” I whispered.

  I didn’t know what would come for Brenden and myself. I didn’t know if we’d ever be able to get back to being ‘just friends.’ What I did know, however, was this:

  I was definitely going to enjoy my stay in his luxurious condo.

  14

  _____

  BRENDEN

  Zane wheezed, he laughed so hard. “I still can’t believe you fucked up this royally.”

  I slid down in my office chair. “I hate you.”

  “I mean--holy shit--dude, come on. It just…”

  I rolled my eyes. “You can stop laughing now.”

  He held his stomach. “I’m trying. I really am. Oh, man. I haven’t laughed this hard in a while. Thank you. Holy fuck, I needed that.”

  My voice fell flat. “Glad I could help. And by the way, I don’t find this funny at all.”

  Zane was too busy catching his breath to answer. I was glad he didn’t, either. Because the last thing I needed to admit to anyone was the fact that I’d be living with that smoking hot girl for an entire month that I couldn't even put my hands on.

  But, my brother had always been intuitive. And he called me out anyway.

  “Okay, okay, okay. No long faces. I saw you two at the barbecue at my place. And if you guys’ interactions are any indication of how this month will go? The two of you will still fulfill the actual purpose of all of this. Ten times over.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure.”

  “No. Seriously, Brenden. The two of you were in sync at that party. You just have to get back to that point.”

  I shrugged. “What if I don’t want to get back to that point?”

  “You’ve always been a shit liar, Brenden. Don’t start now.”

  “Whatever.”

  “You have feelings for her, don’t you?”

  I really do. “How are you and Karina?”

  “Diverting the topic? Really? Like it wasn’t obvious?”

  I shrugged. “Don’t care what it is. I’m done talking. How are you and Karina? How’s the pregnancy going?”

  He leaned back against the chair in front of my desk. “It’s… amazing. Really. The way her body morphs and shifts and grows
this--this life. I mean, I can’t do that. My body can’t grow things. It can’t grow a damn human, Brenden. And that’s what she’s doing. While still working in H.R.”

  “And keeping up with you.”

  He held his hand out. “Exactly. I mean, there’s nothing about this woman I don’t love. Even if she likes to put up way too much pink in our place.”

  “Awww, you said ‘our.’”

  “I mean, it is our place. We’re going to raise our family there. We’re going to live out our lives there. I’m going to have a life I never thought possible for myself after what happened in that car accident with my first love, and it’s all because of her. It’s all because she didn’t give up on me when I’d given up on myself.”

  “If I didn’t love you so much, I’d barf.”

  He chuckled. “Don’t worry. Because if looks could tell anything, you and Kelly will find your own happy ending.”

  I shook my head. “I need to get back to work.”

  “Never thought I’d hear those words from your mouth.”

  “You know, believe it or not, I actually do work around here. Just because I don’t stay until midnight like you do doesn’t mean--.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey. It was a joke.”

  I glared at him. “Well, it’s not funny anymore. Apparently, everyone thinks I’m a fucking screw-up that can’t do anything right.”

  He paused. “Did Kelly tell you that?”

  I picked up my pen. “Not in so many words, but yes.”

  “Brenden, I’m so--.”

  “Out.”

  I was glad when Zane stood because I was about to toss him out a window. I was more jealous of him than I’d ever been, and I didn’t have the guts to tell him outright. I was jealous of what he had with Karina. The love they shared. The vulnerability and the passion that was now evident in the way her body kept changing. I wanted that. I wanted a family. I wanted a woman I could work alongside and come home to and curl up with at night. The club nights were tiresome. I’d fucked so many women coming in and out of Vegas for bachelorette parties and birthdays that I didn’t even bother with their names any longer if I ever knew them.