Billionaire’s Quarry: A Billionaire, Bad Boy, Romance (An Alpha Billionaire Romance Boxed Set) by Michelle Love Page B

thing downtown. I need a date. I know it’s short notice and I know you said you can’t do anything else tonight. If you can’t go with me, I’ll be forced to take Ariel. You wouldn’t subject me to that torture, would you?” I cross my fingers some type of jealousy will make her accept my invitation.
    “Hold on,” she says then I hear her mumbling and the other woman’s mumbles are added to hers then she’s back. “I can’t leave until after nine and I’ll need to be back before dawn. And I’ll take a cab there and back home.”
    “You sure have a lot of stipulations, Mercy. But I’ll take them. I’ll text you the address and leave here when you tell me you're calling the cab. I’ll meet you out in front of the hotel. Thank you.”
    She sighs a deep sigh. “No, thank you. I’m glad you asked me and gave me the chance to go instead of just taking that vile woman. I’ll leave here at nine, okay?”
    “Okay, I can’t wait to see you again. Get all dolled up. I can’t wait to see you like that. Dress sexy,” I end the call with a growl and put the phone down then step into the hot shower.
    I don’t know how I just managed that but I’m damned glad I did. Singing as I wash my hair, I’ve never felt more on top of the world. Then the bathroom door opens. Through the glass shower wall, I see Ariel. Her red hair is all up and seems to have been professionally done. Her green dress is sparkly and skin tight and she’s looking at me through narrowed eyes.
    “Where in the hell have you been all damn day, Jude Hurst?”
    “Do you mind, getting the fuck out of my bathroom, Ariel,” I ask her in a calm tone so as not to escalate her sour mood.
    “Yes, I do mind. You’ve had your fucking phone off all fucking day. I need you to hurry up. I’m starving and bored. Everyone else left over an hour ago and I was all alone here, waiting for you.”
    Oh hell!
    “Why is that?” I ask as I finish the shower and grab a towel and wrap it around my lower half that seems to keep catching her attention.
    “I’m going to the party with you. I didn’t want you to have to go alone,” she says as she starts fanning the room with the door to let the steam out.
    I know how to get her out of here now. “The steam is making your hair fall and your makeup run.”
    “No!” She hauls ass out of the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
    Now to figure out how the hell I can get her not to go to the party. And with a glance at my phone as a text shows up, I have it all figured out. I hope!
    Making sure my towel is secured, I walk out and find her snooping through the top drawer of my dresser. She picks up a row of condoms and wiggles them. “Think you might be wanting to take any of these with us tonight, stud?”
    Not for her, no.
    “I’m not going to the anniversary party. It’s a bore and I’ve already set something up with some friends of mine. They’ll be by here in ten minutes to get you. Since I’m running late, I’ll join you guys once I get dressed,” I tell her and watch her face droop.
    “Do I know any of these people you’re about to put me in a car with?” she asks.
    “You know Shelly, and I think you know Lyle too. They’re partiers like you are. And there’s food in the limo so you can eat.”
    “And you’ll come as soon as you get ready?” she asks with a little shine in her eyes. “Okay.”
    She’s all perked up and I’m free. “Okay, go wait for them at the front and I’ll see you in a little while,” I tell her and watch her walk away.
    As long as she has something to do, she’s fine. I hope she’ll stay the hell out of my way for the rest of the night. Tomorrow, I’m jetting her ass back to New York!

Chapter 3
    MERCY
    I can’t believe I’m going out after all. But when he said he would have to take someone else and that someone else would be that horrible woman, I simply had no choice.
    At least that’s what I’m telling myself!
    Becky is able to stay and I’ll put the