The Billionaire's New Year Gift. Emma Darcy

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      She nodded, and he wondered what she was thinking.

      “You don’t have a drink,” Terrence said, saving him from further questions. “C’mon, I’ll show you where the bar is.”

      “I can do that, Daddy,” Julie said.

      “Now, sweetheart, you have other guests to attend to,” Terrence said. “I’ll take care of Alex.”

      Alex realized Terrence wanted to talk to him, so he gave Julie a smile and said, “I’ll be right back.”

      Terrence put his arm around Alex’s shoulder. “We set up the bar in the cabana.”

      Once they were out of earshot of Julie and Lucinda, Terrence said, “I’m going to have to make a trip to Singapore next week, Alex. Be gone about ten days.”

      Terrence was in the import/export business and frequently traveled abroad, especially to the Orient.

      “I was hoping you’d keep an eye on the girls for me.”

      “Oh?” This was a first. “Something I should know?”

      “It’s not a big deal, just…” His voice trailed off.

      By now they’d reached the bar and Alex ordered a vodka and tonic. Terrence waited until he’d got his drink and they’d moved away before saying anything else.

      “Look,” he said, leading Alex toward the back of the cabana where it was relatively quiet and no one else could hear their conversation. “Julie’s been acting funny the past couple of weeks. I’m worried that maybe she’s messing with drugs.”

      Jesus, Alex thought. “Have you said anything to her?”

      Terrence shook his head. “I don’t want to accuse her of something that might not be true.”

      “I’m not afraid to. I’ll talk to her.”

      “It’s not that I’m afraid to,” Terrence protested. “I just…I trust my little girl.”

      Then why the hell are you asking me to keep an eye on her? Alex wondered if Terrence had any idea how contradictory he sounded. “Even sensible people can be led astray by the wrong kinds of friends.”

      “Her friends all come from the best families,” Terrence blustered.

      Alex raised his eyebrows.

      Terrence had the grace to look sheepish. “I know, I know. That doesn’t mean they can’t get into trouble.”

      “No, it doesn’t.” Alex sipped at his drink thoughtfully. It would be hard to keep an eye on Julie now that he was working in Jansen, which wasn’t exactly close to the Queen Anne area where Julie lived with her parents. “I’m in the middle of a big project right now that’s keeping me out of town most of the time, but one way or another, I’ll keep tabs on Julie.”

      Terrence huffed a breath. “Thanks, Alex. I really appreciate that.”

      “I love Julie, too,” Alex pointed out. “And I don’t want her to get into trouble…or hurt herself.”

      “I know.”

      Alex made himself a promise as he and Terrence moved to rejoin the others. He would not only keep tabs on his sister, he would sit her down and talk to her.

      In fact, he’d start tonight.

      P.J. couldn’t believe how disappointed she was that Alex hadn’t shown up at Jake’s. She wished she could ask Rick why, but of course, she couldn’t.

      She wondered if he was seeing someone. If maybe he had a date tonight. The thought bothered her a lot more than it should have.

      It’s just your ego that’s smarting. You were sure he was interested in you, and obviously, since he hasn’t made a move to ask you out, he’s not.

      You should be glad. You’ve dodged a bullet. This is the best thing that could have happened…or not happened. Considering you’ve decided there was nowhere for a relationship with Alex to go, anyway.

      Yet no matter how many times she told herself all of this, she couldn’t stop wondering where he was tonight.

      And with whom.

      It was nearly eleven before Julie opened her gifts, and by then Alex knew it was going to be impossible to talk to her that night. Resigned, he watched her indulgently as she squealed and exclaimed over each offering. He’d say one thing for her. She might be spoiled and pampered, but she wasn’t jaded. He smiled wryly, remembering the Lotus. Well, maybe not totally.

      “Oh, Alex, they’re gorgeous!” she said upon seeing the tourmaline-set silver bracelet and earrings he’d given her. Coming over to where he stood, she kissed him. “Thank you,” she said softly. “You always know what I’ll love.”

      Love for her warmed him. Funny how she had so easily crept into his heart whereas he had always felt an off-putting distance with his brothers. Not for the first time, he wondered why that should be so. Perhaps it was being raised by a succession of nannies and the impersonal atmosphere of Harry’s mansion. Or maybe it was simply Harry himself, so absorbed in his business and his money that he couldn’t give much face time to his sons.

      After Julie finished opening her gifts, Alex pulled her aside.

      “I’m beat,” he said. “I’m going to head out.”

      “You’re such a party-pooper,” she said, pouting. “We’re all going to Twist, and Phoebe’s going to be so disappointed if you don’t go with us.”

      “You know how I feel about the club scene.”

      Julie just shook her head. “Twist isn’t a club. It’s fun. You’d like it.”

      Alex smiled. “I’ve been there. I’ll pass.”

      “Honestly, you’d think you were ninety instead of just thirty-six. You keep saying you’re not stodgy, but I’m having a hard time believing it.”

      Alex shrugged. “Actually, I was hoping we could get together for a while tomorrow. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

      Julie frowned. “You sound serious. What’s up?”

      “I’d rather not get into it tonight. How about having lunch with me tomorrow?”

      “Just as long as it’s not too early. I’m not like you. I don’t turn into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight.”

      “Some of us do work for a living,” he said mildly.

      “Tomorrow’s Sunday.”

      “You know what I meant.”

      They made arrangements to meet at a small seafood СКАЧАТЬ