The Billionaire Boys Club (Billionaire Romance Series Book 1) (8 page)

“If you think so, you’ll love Port Townsend,” Kelsey said.
 

“Hometown pride,” Jessica grinned, taking a last bite of her cupcake. “That was awesome. A worthwhile contribution to my waistline.” She stopped in front of a Chinese restaurant and looked ahead. “I think we’ve run out of stores, Kels.”

Kelsey looked as well. She could see lots of trees and houses ahead.
 

“Let’s cross the street,” she said. “There’s some stores over there.”
 

“Hang on, let me just get a menu. I love Chinese food.” Jessica walked into the Chinese restaurant as Kelsey finished her cupcake. When Jessica returned, a small ivory menu was in her hand.
 

“It smelled amazing. And yes, they deliver to campus.”
 

“Nice,” Kelsey said, tucking her napkin into her fleece. The girls looked carefully at the road, saw there was no traffic, and crossed the street.
 

“Look, another bakery!” Jessica said excitedly. “Let’s look.”
 

“I’m not sure I could eat another one,” Kelsey said doubtfully.
 

“They have to-go boxes, silly,” Jessica said, pulling her in. This bakery was more classic, with breads and cookies as well as a small selection of cupcakes.
 

“So, what are your mom’s cookies like?” Jessica asked, as they left the store empty-handed. “Dylan mentioned them at dinner last night, but clammed up as soon as I asked him about them.”

“They’re really good. She makes them with chocolate chips and cranberries. Dylan doesn’t want to share them, not even with me.”
 

“They must be good.”
 

“We’ll probably get some next week. She promised me a care package.”
 

“Well, don’t give them all to Dylan.”
 

“Don’t worry, I won’t,” Kelsey said. “Let’s stop by the grocery store.”
 

“Great idea. Oh, by the way, we do have a mini-fridge coming. It should be delivered this week. My aunt bought it for me.”
 

“Excellent,” Kelsey said as they walked through the automatic doors and into the grocery store.
 

They walked past the dairy aisle, where Kelsey checked the price of her favorite yogurt.
 

“Oh, not these guys,” she heard Jessica exclaim. The three of the Irritating Five that were in Kelsey’s small group were walking toward the counter, arms full of boxes and bottles. “Let’s keep looking,” Jessica said, pulling Kelsey’s arm.

“I’m looking forward to Dylan’s report,” Kelsey said, as they stopped in the cereal aisle.
 

“Isn’t he a sweetie,” Jessica said, looking at the granola bars.
 

“I can’t believe he’s stuck with one of them as a roommate.”
“Yeah, poor guy,” Jessica said, pulling down a box. “What do you think of these?” she asked. Kelsey looked at the box.
 

“I prefer the ones with oats,” she said, pointing to a box.

“These have chocolate chips,” Jessica said, taking the box back.
 

“But these are organic.”
 

Jessica looked at Kelsey like she was from Mars.
 

“And?”
 

“They’re healthier,” Kelsey said, handing Jessica the box.
 

Jessica put her own box back on the shelf and looked at the back of Kelsey’s. She sighed. “Do they have a chocolate version?” she asked.
 

Kelsey smiled. “I’ll look,” she said, looking around the shelves. She pulled a box off the shelf and handed it to Jessica in triumph.
 
Jessica looked at the box doubtfully.
 

“Ok. I’ll try them. But if they suck, you’re coming back for the other ones.”
 

“Deal.” Kelsey grinned. They left the cereal aisle and walked around slowly.
 

“They have a lot of interesting stuff here,” Jessica said. “I wouldn’t think most people would use saffron.”
 

“There’s a lot of fresh food in Washington State. And we like to cook it,” Kelsey shrugged.
 

They walked to the front, where Jessica paid for her granola bars, and they left the store.
 

“I’m slowly getting used to this no bag thing,” Jessica said, tucking the bars in her purse.
 

The girls kept wandering down the street, past clothing stores, a tiny one-screen movie theater, and a pharmacy. Instead of heading back to campus down 42nd, they kept going to see the rest of the block. They stopped at a third bakery, but it was almost sold out of treats. As they were just about to get to 43rd, they paused to look in the window of a jewelry store.

“It’s interesting how there are always jewelry stores near universities,” Jessica said, staring at a large emerald-cut diamond ring.

“Yeah, a lot of people meet The One in school,” Kelsey said, glancing at a small engagement ring that caught her eye.
 

Jessica looked at her. “Wouldn’t that be cool? To leave law school with a degree and a fiance?” she said.
 

Kelsey laughed. “I just want to get through first semester,” she replied.
 

Jessica smiled and brushed her curly brown hair back with her hand. “Yeah, there is that. Ready to head back?”
 

“I am,” Kelsey said. They walked past the jewelry shop and turned at a corner with a
 
brew pub to head back toward school.

“That really was a great cupcake,” Jessica said. “I have a feeling I’ll be eating a lot of them this year.”

When the girls arrived back on campus, the preparations for the cookout were in full swing. They walked up to their room. Dylan had slipped a note underneath the door.

Kels, the idiot says he’ll be up by 6 p.m. on Friday, but you know how that goes. He’s staying until Sunday afternoon and my roommate is already complaining.
 
You and Jess think about what you want to do this weekend and whether you want Ian to bring anything up from Portland. Don’t forget we promised to take Ashley to La Vaca sometime. Considering the schedule, we might want to do it this weekend.
 
Love, Dylan.

“Love?” Jessica said with meaning, reading over Kelsey’s shoulder.
 

“No,” Kelsey said, putting the note on her desk. “Friends only. So where do you want to go?”
 

“Definitely the market,” Jessica said. “I was reading about it on my iPad when Dean Wilson was boring all of us to death today. How about you?”

“Actually,” Kelsey grinned, “I need to go to Target. I need underwear.”

“Underwear? Target? What about Victoria’s Secret?”
 

“For working out. Who’s going to see it?” Kelsey asked.
 

“You never know,” Jessica said, as there was a knock on the door. Jessica opened it to Ashley.
 

“Hi, girls!” Ashley said brightly. She walked in wearing a bright yellow gingham dress.
 

“Aren’t you freezing to death?” Jessica asked her.

“Mama said that you have to suffer for fashion,” Ashley replied. “Are you girls heading to the cookout?”
 

“Of course,” Jessica said. “I’m not going to miss a minute of fun before classes start.”

“What are you doing this weekend?” Kelsey asked Ashley. “Dylan suggested that we get Mexican food downtown.”
 

“That sounds great!” Ashley enthused. “Can we go on Saturday? I have a hair appointment on Sunday.”
 

“Already?” Jessica said.
 

“Once a week,” Ashley replied. “Never miss it.”
 

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Jessica asked as she looked at Ashley’s perfect hair. “What time is it now?”

“5:25,” Ashley replied.
 

“We were gone that long? Madison Street is only a few blocks long,” Jessica said in surprise.

“You went to Madison Street?” Ashley asked.
 

“Jessica required a cupcake,” Kelsey grinned.

“Did you find a good place?”
 

“Chocolate caramel at Cupcake Heaven. To die for,” Jessica said.

“I’ll have to remember that,” Ashley said.
 

“I just need to freshen up,” Jessica said, sitting at her desk and pulling out a mirror.
 

“No hurry,” Ashley said. “We want to be fashionably late.”
 

“We do?” Kelsey asked.
 

“Of course. We don’t want the boys thinking that we don’t have anything better to do.”
 

“I’m starting to think that you came here for something other than your law degree,” Jessica said.
 

Ashley laughed. “I like to think of it as killing two birds with one stone,” she replied. “Why not leave married to a handsome lawyer?”
 

“Why not indeed?” Jessica replied, brushing on lip gloss.

A little later, at a time that Ashley deemed late enough to make their entrance, the three girls walked onto the quad. Kelsey and Jessica wore their fleece jackets, while Ashley wore a soft yellow cardigan over her shoulders.
 

There were about 50 students lining up at the grills, drinking out of plastic cups or just milling around. As usual, the Irritating Five were together, talking. Ashley took note of them, while Jessica and Kelsey looked away.
 

“Where’s Dylan?” Jessica said. “I want the scoop.”

“Let’s go get food, girls,” Ashley said abruptly. Kelsey knew immediately why. The five boys had started in the direction of the plates.
 

“In a minute,” Jessica said. “You go without us.”
 
Ashley smiled and sauntered over.

“She’s going to have a ring in no time,” Jessica said, as they watched Ashley position herself directly behind the five boys.
 

“Who?” asked Dylan, walking up to them.

“Ashley,” Kelsey said. “She wanted to know if Saturday was okay with you?”
 

“It’s fine. Do you want Ian to bring anything up?”
 

“I can’t think of anything,” Kelsey said.
 

“You know she’s in love with your roommate,” Jessica mused.

“Kelsey?” Dylan asked in shock.

“Ashley,” Kelsey corrected him.
 

“That moron? If this wasn’t Darrow, I would have guessed that his Daddy paid his way in.”
 

“So tell us. What’s up with those five?”
 

“Come on,” Dylan said, pointing to an empty bench. “It’s sort of an interesting story.”
 

After the trio had settled themselves on the bench, Dylan began to tell them the story.
 

“They all grew up together in Medina,” he began.

“Where’s that?” Jessica asked.
 

“Just look across the lake. Posh and exclusive. Lots of million-dollar homes. Bill Gates lives there.”

“The Bill Gates? Billionaire?” Jessica said.

“Yep,” Dylan replied.
 

“So the story begins with Tyler, the tall guy in the black sweater, and Ryan Perkins, who’s wearing the dark green fleece.”

“The one with the nice smile,” Jessica added unnecessarily.

“I guess,” Dylan said. “Anyway, Tyler’s mom and Ryan’s dad founded an internet company together.”

“His mom?” Kelsey asked.

“Yes, his mom. I think you might have heard of the company.” Dylan paused for effect. “Tactec.”
 

“No way! He’s Lisa Olsen’s son? She’s worth, like a billion dollars,” Jessica said.

“Actually, her share of the company is worth more than eight billion,” Dylan replied.
 

“Incredible,” Jessica said.
 

Kelsey looked at the two boys. Tyler had an athletic build. His chestnut-brown hair was cut in a slightly conservative style, which matched his upright posture. His soft chocolate-brown eyes hinted at the intelligence Kelsey suspected he had. Despite seeming a bit intimidating,Tyler Olsen was undeniably attractive.
 

So was Ryan Perkins. Where Tyler was sexy New York corporate, Ryan was sun-bleached California beach boy.

Ryan was more slightly built than Tyler, and unlike Tyler’s fair skin, his was tan and slightly freckled from the sun. The face of an angel, with a devilish look in his aqua-blue eyes.

“So that’s how Ryan and Tyler know each other. Zachary, the Asian guy in the red fleece, his parents are angel investors. They were early investors in Tactec. Brandon, the one in the khakis, is the son of one of the name partners at Kinnon Martins, one of the biggest law firms in Seattle. Kinnon Martins is Tactec’s main law firm.”

“And Matthew, your jerk of a roommate?” Jessica asked.

“His mom sold Tyler’s mom her house.”
 

“Unbelievable,” Jessica said. “This is what playdates look like for the rich.”
 

Dylan shrugged. “I guess so.”

“Thanks for getting the information for us, Dylan,” Kelsey said.

“Yeah, I hope it wasn’t too much of a hassle to find out about the Billionaire Boys Club,” Jessica added.

“Are you kidding? Matthew was happy to try to lord everyone’s wealth over me,” Dylan said.
 

“Well, that was a big fail,” Kelsey said. Dylan smiled and Jessica looked puzzled.
 

“Come on. Let’s go eat,” Dylan said, standing. Kelsey followed him, but Jessica grabbed her arm.

“What did you mean, it was a fail?” Jessica asked.
 

“Dylan’s family owns a chain of restaurants on the West Coast. Trust me, he’s not hurting for money either.”
 

“Surrounded by money and counting our pennies,” Jessica sighed.

“At least dinner is paid for,” Kelsey grinned.
 

Later, as Dylan was sitting, chatting with Ashley about Saturday and Jessica had wandered off to find a Diet Coke, Kelsey ate the last bite of her burger.