Chapter Four
“I can’t,” Jay said.
“What? Sure you can. You’ve been sleeping with women all this time. You’re not in love with me. We’re best friends. We did that, and you said it made everything too awkward.” Temperance looked at Richard, but he was too busy staring across at her friend. The way he was looking at Jay made her nervous.
What was Richard thinking?
She didn’t have the first clue, and that scared her.
“I know what I’ve done, and I know what I feel.”
“No, this can’t be happening.” She tucked her legs up underneath her and stared at her friend, not really seeing him. “This night is just getting crazier by the second.”
“I love you, Tempe,” Jay said.
She shook her head. “I’ve just seen a woman leave. A woman you call your Friday, or Red, because you can’t remember her name.”
“I didn’t sleep with her.”
“Don’t try to pretend you’ve not had sex with every single woman that you’ve been with.”
“No, I have slept with her, but I’ve not slept with each woman in a long time. It has been a few months. I’ve been cutting things off with them. You wouldn’t have noticed as you’ve been working all the time.”
“I can’t believe this right now. You’re telling me that you’re in love with me?” She was aware of Richard watching the whole thing between her and Jay.
“Yes.”
“No. I can’t do this now. Not with everything.” She got to her feet, and turned to look at Richard. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I just—I’ve got to go to bed.”
She left the room, not looking back, and slammed her door closed.
None of this could be happening. She didn’t for a second think it was possible. Jay didn’t love her, and Richard coming to her at her apartment, was just crazy.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she stared down at the floor, trying to make sense of everything, and once again, she drew a blank.
There was no way to make sense of what the hell was going on with those two.
****
“Why did you have to do that?” Jay asked.
“Why did you have to keep it a secret?” Richard was intrigued by the man. He didn’t feel jealous as he saw an opportunity here to live out part of his desires. Jay had been in her life for a lot longer than he had. From just listening to them, he knew Jay had been Temperance’s first, and they shared an apartment. There was a chance they could share, and he was more than willing to give that a shot.
“You don’t just advertise that shit.” Jay stood and started to pace.
“You’re supposed to be best friends.”
“We are best friends.”
“And yet you can’t even tell her how you feel.” Richard rested his head on his hand, curious about the man pacing before him.
“You know what, leave.”
“Why?”
“This is my apartment, and if you don’t leave, I’m going to beat the shit out of you.” Jay moved to stand in front of him. “I don’t give a shit if you’re some kind of biker.”
Richard always loved it when men stood over him. It was what made standing up so exciting.
Getting to his feet, Richard stared down at her friend. “Just so you know, I won’t be backing down. Tempe is mine.”
“Do you really think she’s going to go for a guy like you?”
“I had her on my desk this very evening. I’ve got a better shot than you. I’ll see her soon.” Richard made his way to the door, glancing back at Jay. “It was nice to meet you, and I have a feeling this isn’t going to be the last time.”
He always liked to get ahead of the competition.
Leaving Temperance’s apartment, Richard climbed into his car and made his way to the luxury clubhouse that he shared with nine other billionaires. They were the closest thing he had to a family, and to a brotherhood. He’d never grown attached to anyone else. The billionaire bikers had become his family, and without them, his main focus would be on his business.
Richard loved the club, and he also loved helping others.
The women they had saved, that was what the meaning of the club stood for him. The BBMC, protected the vulnerable, and saved those in need on a personal level. It wasn’t just about signing a check, which he could easily do. Anyone could sign a check, but only a few could get their hands dirty.
Driving toward the club, it gave him time to think about his little PA. Temperance was proving to be different from how he imagined her. He truly believed she was a prim and proper woman, who believed promiscuity was what was wrong with the world. Of course, he’d gotten it wrong on every single count.