Without Warning: A Billionaire Romance (Playboys of New York Book 5) JA Low (e textbook reader .TXT) 📖

“I’m not leaving Ariana.”

“Take her with you,” he adds.

“I can’t uproot her life like that. Not after she’s just started her own business. I can’t do that to her,” I explain to my friend.

“I understand. I’m just worried about you, that’s all,” he confesses.

“Thanks, man. I need to trust Jackson.”

He nods his head. “But you promise me… first sign of shit going south, you get the hell out of New York.” His eyes narrow on me. “With or without Ariana.”

That thought makes my stomach turn. I’m not leaving Ariana behind, and I would never ask her to drop everything for me either.

“I’ll think about it,” I tell my best friend honestly.

33

Ariana

Chloe and Noah’s Wedding

I’ve headed to Connecticut a couple of days earlier for bridesmaid duties for Chloe’s wedding. Rhys is coming up today after work, and he’s staying with Anderson, where the other guys are also staying. I’m happy that the boys have accepted Rhys into the fold. Even if Logan is a little wary of the Stone Group’s biggest competitor now being in his inner circle. All my friends love Rhys, which is a blessing because there’s nothing worse than your girlfriends not getting along with your man.

The guys are coming over later to Chloe’s house for the wedding rehearsal tonight.

“You’re getting married tomorrow.” Stella walks in with a bottle of champagne in her hand and waves it in the air.

“I know.” Chloe squeals, rushing to her and pulling her into a hug. “We are going to be family soon.” It’s sad knowing that both Chloe and Noah don’t have any family coming tomorrow, each one of them having tragedy in their lives. That’s why our friendship is so tight. They each created their own family. Thankfully, this weekend is going to go a lot smoother than the last time we were all together before Chloe’s wedding.

“Least it’s better than the last one.” Emma chuckles.

Typical Emma saying exactly what we were all thinking but would never dare say. We all stop and glare at Emma.

“What? It is?” Emma looks genuinely confused at why we would be shooting daggers her way.

“Ems is right.” Chloe laughs, which puts us all at ease. “Last time I was preparing to get married, my fiancé was screwing my pregnant best friend.”

Then Chloe’s face falls, and she remembers that Tracey is no longer with us. Even though it was a horrible messed-up situation, I know Chloe loved Tracey and would have wished for things to have turned out differently.

“Good one.” I elbow Emma.

“Sorry.” Emma genuinely apologizes for bringing the mood down a notch.

“Please.” Chloe waves her words away. “I’ve had way too much therapy to let the past bring me down about this weekend.” She grins widely.

“Okay, let’s grab some drinks and hang out by the fire,” Lenna remarks, grabbing a second bottle of champagne. Looking out the large glass windows, the first flurries of snow begin to fall ever so gently. I hope the weather stays like this for Chloe and Noah’s winter wonderland-themed wedding tomorrow, and the Stormageddon that’s predicted next week does not come a couple of days early. I don’t think getting married in a blizzard is exactly what either of them had envisioned.

We all take a seat by the fire. Construction of the clear tents over the aisle has been completed as well as the fairy lights that have been strung up around it. Looking out through the windows, it’s beautiful. Magical. Romantic. There’s a second tent set up for the reception off to the side. It’s a small intimate affair this weekend, neither one of them wanting it to be a media circus. They simply want to celebrate with the people closest to them.

“How are you doing?” Stella asks, taking a seat beside me on the oversized cream sofa while the other girls are fussing about with drinks.

“Good.”

“Just good?” she pushes.

“I’m busy, too,” I add with a grin which makes Stella roll her eyes at me.

“How are things with Rhys?”

“They’re really good, but it’s hard to plan a future when there’s a heap of craziness hanging over our heads.” Letting out a long sigh, I continue, “Honestly, designing your home has helped me so much. Focused me on something else other than what’s troubling us both.”

Stella reaches her hand out and gives mine a squeeze. “You’ve created the most amazing house for us, Ari. I don’t know how we can ever repay you.”

“It was so much fun. I didn’t realize how much crap I was being given at my old job until I started letting my mind wander and tapped into my creative ideas.”

“Any more news about Rhys’ ex?” Stella asks.

I shake my head in answer. “Apparently, things are a little more complicated now that a hardcore criminal element is involved. Jackson needs to tread more gently because they don’t operate in the same arena as the government or law enforcement.”

“Things have to get better.” Stella tries to give me a pep talk. “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel at some point.” I know she’s right, but at this moment, I’m not sure if this nightmare will ever end.

It’s not long until the boys arrive with the food to change the mood. We are all a little buzzed from a couple of bottles of champagne and maybe a couple of shots we all drank.

“Hey, gorgeous.” Rhys bends down and kisses my cheek, surprising me, and making me jump.

“Hey, you made it.” Turning around on the sofa, I look at him.

“I did.” He grins at me. “I wouldn’t miss tonight for anything.”

My heart swells at his words. Then, he walks around the sofa and sits beside me, so I reach out and kiss him.

I’ve missed him. Urgh, I can’t believe I’m one of those girls who is like ‘I miss my man’ and you’re like ‘it’s not even twenty-four hours, Britney. God, chill.’ Well, unfortunately, that’s me right now.

“Your cheeks are all flushed. Have you had a little too much to drink?”