Breaker's Point Bad Boy Billionaires Boxset (20 page)

“
S
o who won
?”

Riley fought the urge to roll his eyes at his brother’s question. Turning to Stuart he smiled and it was anything but friendly.

“That doesn’t matter. The story is that I took a tumble down the stairs.”

Stuart’s eyes flashed with amusement and Riley watched as he struggled to smother his laughter behind his hand.

“That’s the best you could come up with? Nobody’s going to believe that, they’ll smell a rat straight away.”

“So? Have you forgotten what it’s like to move in our social circle? They’ll pretend to believe whatever I tell them. Even if I told them the truth the gossip-mongers would soon come up with a far juicier story to explain the bruises.”

“They’re not my social circles, never have been. This sort of thing,” Stuart said, gesturing to the growing groups of expensively dressed guests, “has always been your scene.”

“Hi, Riley!” Ellie’s bright voice piped up and Riley shot her a wide smile. “You’re hurt, what happened?” she said, concern colouring her tone.

“Ellie, I’m so glad you could convince him to come. You look absolutely stunning. And I’m fine, just a small tumble down the stairs,” Riley said, reaching out to take her hand in his and lifting it softly to his lips.

He watched as she blushed, the rosy colour spreading up her neck and across her face into her dark hairline.

“Yeah, yeah, that’s enough Casanova. Get your own date,” Stuart grumbled, moving between them until Riley was forced to release Ellie’s hand from his.

“Stuart, you’re being rude. Your brother was just saying hello,” Ellie hissed, the anger in her voice instantly reminding Riley of Holly and her notorious temper.

“I wasn’t rude, it’s just he doesn’t need to say hello by
slobbering
all over you.”

Laughter bubbled up the back of Riley’s throat but he covered it with a cough. He needed Stuart here. If Marcus made any sort of move against him, having Stu’s backup would even the playing field and laughing at him now wouldn’t exactly put Stuart in a helpful mood.

“He was being a gentleman, Stuart Reynolds, which is more than I can say for you,” Ellie’s said, keeping her voice low but no less angry as she poked one finger into the centre of Stuart’s chest.

Her words seemed to have the desired effect and Stuart instantly softened. He reached out to her, his finger wrapping around one of the dark curls that had escaped from the complicated knot she had swept her hair up into.

“It’s just you look so gorgeous and I’m such an idiot, I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you fall in love with me.”

“Well, I certainly didn’t fall in love with you because you’re a jealous oaf,” she said, but a small smile curled her lips and Riley could tell her anger was slowly dissipating towards his brother.

Stuart had always had the type of disarming charm that allowed him to get away with murder and Riley hadn’t ever been able to wrap his head around the ability.

Riley watched the lovers interact and a small kernel of jealousy took root in his chest. He’d brought all of this on himself.

He’d been brought up to believe that all mistakes could be fixed, that nothing was final unless it was a fatal mistake. His arrogance had led him to believe that he could win Holly back at any time.

Until now…

“I’m going to nip to the ladies room,” Ellie said, drawing Riley back to the conversation going on around him.

“So what’s really going on? I don’t believe you invited us here to enjoy the party. I’m guessing it’s got something to do with your ‘tumble down the stairs’.”

Stuart’s use of finger quotes irritated Riley but he bit back a smart reply.

“I got into an altercation with Marcus Stark.” Riley tipped his head in Stark’s direction. “I wanted you here as a sort of wingman.”

Stuart shot a quick glance over his shoulder to where Marcus stood, surrounded by his guards.

“You got into a fight with that thing? What the hell were you thinking? Did he get the drop on you, because I’ve seen you fight and you’re good, almost as good as I am.”

Riley smiled, since, coming from Stuart, that was high praise.

“I let him beat me.”

Stuart’s look said it all. A mixture of shock and surprise chased across his face like children in the playground.

“I don’t think I’m hearing you correctly, Riley. Did you just say you let him beat you?”

Riley nodded, his eyes scanning the crowds of people who had gathered—Breaker’s Point’s wealthiest all gathered in one place for the evening. But no matter where he looked, he still hadn’t set eyes on Holly and as far as he was concerned she was the important one.

“Is this a joke? Have you lost your mind completely? You know how dangerous it is to do something like that. He could have killed you, Riley. You’re supposed to be the intelligent brother, the responsible one.”

“Look, I know you don’t understand but look at it this way. How far would you go to protect Ellie? What would you do to keep her safe?”

“I’d do whatever it took but I don’t see how lying down and letting someone beat the crap out of me would ever help.”

“I needed information and I had a feeling the only way I’d get it was by letting Marcus gain the upper hand. Anyway, I had to do something, he had Holly and if he didn’t take his frustration out on me I was worried she’d be the target…”

“What did you do to make her a target?”

Riley dropped his gaze to the floor. He didn’t regret the kiss, tasting her lips was one of the best things in the world. But he did regret letting Marcus find out about the kiss, and if he could change that he would.

“I kissed her.”

The three words hung in the air between them until Stuart finally broke the silence.

“You’re an idiot.”

Riley shrugged, there was nothing he could say. Stuart was right but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t do it all over again if he could. One kiss from Holly was worth a thousand bruises.

“So what do you expect me to do?” Stuart said, as the voice of the hostess droned over the microphone on the stage.

“I just want you to keep an eye on Marcus while I track down Holly and have a word with her.”

“And I’m supposed to do what, exactly, if Marcus decides to do the same thing?”

“I don’t know, Stu— stall him, maybe? I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

“And our first gorgeous lady tonight is Holly McCombe. We’ll open the bidding at twenty-five thousand.”

The mention of her name was enough to drown out everything else in the room. He turned, his gaze raking over the stage and those who stood on it.

He found her, his eyes drinking her in as his heart started to pound in his chest. She was complete and utter perfection and his body reacted as he remembered the press of her soft curves against his chest.

“Twenty-five thousand from Marcus Stark. Anybody else?”

“Don’t be a fool, Riley,” Stuart said, his voice an urgent whisper.

But it was already too late and Riley was lost in her wide and frightened eyes.

H
olly shifted uncomfortably
on the stage as Paris made the announcement for the beginning of the auction. Being the first on the chopping block was both a blessing and a curse. At least it would be over quickly.

She could feel the heat in her cheeks and she could already imagine the flaming colour they must be.

“And our first gorgeous lady tonight is Holly McCombe. We’ll open the bidding at twenty-five thousand,” Paris said.

Holly swallowed hard as silence flooded in around Paris’ announcement. She could barely make out the audience below, since the lights that covered the stage made it practically impossible to see anything beyond the edge of the steps that led onto the platform.

“Twenty-five thousand.” Marcus’ bored and irritated voice flooded up from the back of the room and Holly’s heart sank.

“Twenty-five thousand from Marcus Stark. Anybody else?” Paris said, a bright smile painted across her red lips.

It was an impossible situation but part of her couldn’t help but wonder if the humiliation of nobody bidding for her would be better than Marcus winning the auction.

“Fifty.”

Another voice called out and Holly found herself struggling to breathe. He wouldn’t be so reckless, would he? After everything that had happened, after the beating he’d taken from Marcus’, the last person she’d expected to attend was Riley, never mind that he might actually make a bid.

She started to shake her head and then caught herself. There was nothing she could do. They were in public and if she let it slip even for a moment about her deal with Marcus, it would all be over.

Holly bit down on her tongue hard enough to get the metallic taste of blood in her mouth.

“Sixty,” Marcus called out. His voice had lost the bored tone from earlier.

“Seventy,” Riley answered instantly, not once hesitating.

Holly gasped, shock stealing all real thought from her mind.

“Eighty.”

“Ninety.”

“One hundred thousand,” Marcus said triumphantly and Holly felt her heart drop.

Had she lost her mind? Of course Marcus had to win. She was, after all, engaged to him. But still a small part of her, a part she had refused to even acknowledge until Riley had called out his first bid, wished it could be Riley’s hand that took hers as she left the stage.

“Well, one hundred thousand is an extraordinary amount to raise for the charity…” Paris began to babble, the excitement in her voice causing her to rush the words together.

“Five hundred thousand.” Riley’s words sent a collective gasp racing around the room.

Holly’s head spun and she fought to stay on her feet. Riley had just bid half a million so he could have a dance with her and take her to dinner… It was insanity.

Silence followed and Holly’s breath froze in her throat.

“That has to be some kind of record…” Paris stammered, her voice filled with amazement. “But if there’re no other bids…” She trailed off and still the silence continued.

Holly could only imagine the look on Marcus’ face, the rage in his eyes.

“Going once, going twice… Sold to Riley Reynolds…” Paris said, shock evident on her face at the turn of events and she wasn’t the only one.

Holly stood in the centre of the stage, her body refusing to cooperate with her commands to walk to the steps.

As though he could somehow read her thoughts, Riley appeared at the top of the steps and crossed the stage towards her. Her heart started to thump in her chest as he approached. Each step that brought him closer had her heart beating a little harder until finally she was sure it would crash right out of her ribcage.

“Riley, what did you do?”

“I did what I had to…” he said, a smile curving his cut lip.

Without thinking, Holly reached up to him, the urge to brush her fingers against his bruised face overwhelming. But he caught her hand in his and instead pressed it to his lips.

It was enough to jolt her from the dreamlike state she’d fallen into and colour flooded into her face as she realised she was standing on the stage in front of the entirety of Breaker’s Point.

The situation was already dire but she was making it worse by showing such intimacy towards Riley… She could only imagine what Marcus would do to her if she made an even bigger fool out of him.

“Riley Reynolds and Holly McCombe, everybody!” Paris seemed to recover, her voice filled with exaggerated happiness as she announced their names. But it was enough to bring everybody else back to their senses as the crowd began to clap.

Riley led her off the stage and down the steps into the main body of the crowd. The attention spans of those around quickly waned as Paris found her stride once more.

“What the hell were you thinking, Riley? Are you mad?” Holly said, keeping her voice hushed but he ignored her until they reached the back of the room.

“I needed to speak to you.”

“So you blew half a million just so you could talk to me? Marcus must have really rattled your brain last night.”

“I thought you’d be happier if I won the auction… Or was I mistaken in what I heard last night?”

Holly narrowed her eyes. What the hell was he talking about? She watched as he pulled a cheque book from his pocket and quickly scrawled a figure across the front.

“I don’t know what you think you heard last night but…”

He shut her down with a wave of his hand.

“Stop lying, Holly, I know you’re in trouble and I know you think you can handle it all yourself but you’re wrong.”

“How dare you! I’ve always known you to be arrogant and pig-headed, Riley, but I never expected this.”

She turned to leave and caught sight of Marcus staring at her from across the room. She jumped as Riley’s hand closed around her arm. He spun her back around to face him, the look in his eyes softer, gentler, and not at all the man she remembered him to be.

Holly looked away, swallowing past the lump in her throat.

So many regrets, so many mistakes and no way to change the past.

“He’s already pissed, so you walking away now isn’t going to make it any better,” Riley said, sliding his hand beneath her chin until he could tilt her face up to his. “And I did just spend half a million for a dance…”

“And dinner,” she said, trying desperately to keep the wobble out of her voice.

Riley smiled. “I didn’t think you’d want to risk it.”

“I want to… I don’t think I can. Riley, I’m afraid of what he’ll do to the people I care about, I’m afraid of what he’ll do to you for this.”

“You don’t need to worry about me, I can take care of myself. But I guess we could start with a dance and you can tell me everything.”

“I want to, but I don’t think you’re listening to me. Marcus is not someone to be messed with, the people he works with—they’re dangerous.”

“Tell me how you became caught up in all of this?”

“My father gambled away everything and Marcus bought the debt…”

Riley did his best to keep his expression neutral but Holly could see the anger bubbling just beneath the surface.

“It’s not his fault, he has a problem and Marcus is just making it worse…”

“But if Marcus bought the debt I still don’t understand how you got involved, no less engaged to him.”

“He threatened to kill my father if I didn’t, said he needed the McCombe name for his business…”

Holly’s words froze on her lips as Riley wrapped his arms around her and drew her out onto the floor.

She’d been so wrapped up in the situation, worrying about what Marcus would do, and what Riley’s proximity to her would do to her mind that she hadn’t even noticed that the auction had ended.

“You really don’t have to do this,” she said, the feel of his hands on her waist making her light-headed.

“I don’t have to, I want to,” Riley said, drawing her in against him as the music drifted over them. He dipped his head until his lips were mere inches from her ear.

“Do you remember our first dance?” he said, his breath tickling along her skin.

“Yes…” she said, her voice a breathy whisper.

Of course she remembered it. That night would be forever ingrained in her memory. A Christmas party thrown by one of the families on Cliff Road. She’d sat on the side of the dance floor watching the happy couples spin around.

It wasn’t that she hated dancing but a fall from a horse had left her with a sprained ankle and it simply hadn’t been feasible. Until Riley asked her. His sincere insistence that he could hold her had been enough for her to give it a go. And so they’d stood at the side, swaying back and forth to the music.

The memory washed over her like it had happened only moments ago and Holly let the happiness she’d felt back then settle on her.

Riley’s grip tightened on her waist and Holly stared up into his dark eyes.

“You’re as beautiful now as when I first set eyes on you that night.”

“Riley, don’t, please.”

Hearing him talk to her as though there could still be a future between them cut to the bone and all she wanted was to indulge herself a little longer in the lie they were spinning.

The music continued to swirl around them and it felt as though they were the only ones in the room. Deep down Holly knew that wasn’t true but it didn’t stop her from wishing it was. The evening would soon be over and once it was, she’d be back to square one with Marcus again. And this would be nothing more than a dream to hold onto late at night.

“Why don’t you want me to help you?”

“Because I can’t. I told you, Marcus has threatened the lives of those I care about, I won’t risk them, Riley. I can’t.”

“This is your father’s mistake, so why should you pay the price for it? Surely he doesn’t support what you’re doing. He must want the best for you?”

“The only thing my father wants anymore is complete and utter oblivion in the bottom of a bottle. Marcus lets him have that and so nothing else matters…”

“Holly, I’m so sorry…” Riley trailed off, allowing the silence to stretch between them once more.

The reminder of her reality left Holly with a sick feeling in her stomach. There was a time when things might have been different, but not anymore.

“Riley, what happened between us?”

He looked down at her, his eyes filled with surprise as though he hadn’t honestly expected her to ever ask that question. But really, how did he expect her to simply let it go? He broke her heart. How could he think that she wouldn’t ever question his reasons for doing it?

“I was immature and I made a mistake.”

“You said that already. I’m asking why, why did you make the mistake? I thought we were happy together. I thought…” Holly’s words cut off and she stared down at the space between them.

She’d thought he was going to ask her to marry him but she couldn’t say that out loud. If she did, he’d think she was a fool. He’d given no hint or inclination that he was going to propose, but there’d still been something about their relationship that’d put the idea in her head.

“You thought what?” Riley’s voice had gone hard.

“It doesn’t matter, not anymore.”

He sighed, frustration furrowing his brow. The music came to an end and Holly stepped back out of his grip. There was no point in delaying the inevitable; spending more time with him would only lead to more heartache for something she could never have.

Realisation hit her then. None of it mattered. Even if Marcus wasn’t in her life, even if his threat wasn’t hanging over her head, she still wouldn’t be with Riley.

He’d ended the relationship between them and until Marcus had appeared on the scene, he’d shown no real interest in her. There was no future between them, in this reality or any other.

“What’s wrong?” he said, reaching out to her once more.

“I have to go, Riley. I’m sorry,” Holly said, stepping out of his reach once more.

Turning on her heel, she fled for the exit, the sound of Riley’s footsteps following driving her onwards.

P
ushing
out through the main doors, Holly sucked in a deep breath as soon as the cold night air rushed over her skin.

“Holly, wait!” Riley called after her.

Bunching the skirt of her evening gown up in her fists, she fled down the steps and out into the parking lot.

Of course it was completely pointless. Running from Riley would never be a good idea, his longer stride making it easy for him to catch up. His hand closed on her arm, jerking Holly to a complete stop as he spun her around to face him once more.

“Are you that eager to go running back to him?” he said, his voice filled with the anger reflected in his eyes.

The tears Holly had managed to keep in check finally started to fall, covering her cheeks and stinging her eyes as her makeup began to smudge.

“Is that what you really think?”

“What am I supposed to think, Holly? I pull you away from him only for you to go running back to him as soon as you can get away. If I didn’t know any better I’d say you wanted to marry him.”

Anger bubbled in Holly’s veins, anger and pain. His words cut at her, stripping away all the pretence she had managed to build over the years.

Her hand whipped out, her palm connecting with his face with a resounding crack that stung along her skin.

“I’m doing what I need to do to protect the people I love. All you’re doing, Riley, is playing at being the hero. Well, it’s too late for that. I don’t want or need your help, and I’ve told you that from the beginning.”

“You might not have asked for my help but you need it.”

“And that’s where you’re wrong. There was a time when maybe I needed your help, a time when I’d have given anything to have you reach out to me. But not now. You waited until now, until I was engaged, to tell me how you made a mistake all those years ago. Why is that, Riley?”

He took a step back and Holly let him go, the tears still coursing down her cheeks. She’d thought she had no more tears left for Riley Reynolds but she’d been wrong.

“I didn’t know what to say… I didn’t know how I was supposed to make it better.”

Holly shook her head sadly, the anger she’d felt moments before slowly draining out of her.