46 Will
CORI STUCK TO me like glue on the boat. A week ago, I had learned she was a drama student in high school and took some courses in college. It explained why she played the part of my fake mistress flawlessly.
“Jason, this was a brilliant idea,” Cori said, laying it on thick just as Jason liked. She’d been stroking his ego all damn day. I hated it, knowing how the bastard had betrayed me and was stealing from SJI.
“He always has great ideas,” Tabitha cooed, rubbing sunscreen on Jason’s shoulders.
He grinned proudly. “I’m glad you’re pleased, sweetheart. You two look cozy there.” His eyes darted toward Cori’s leg draped over mine. He totally bought into her act, but I was fucking uncomfortable with her hanging all over me. The fact that she was wearing a skimpy bathing suit didn’t help.
“Yeah we are. Right, Billy?”
I cringed. Calling meBillywas just another thing Cori did that unnerved me. “Right,” I grumbled.
“Dude, calm the fuck down. Miranda isn’t here. You can get crazy out here on the open sea.” He stood with his arms wide open, inhaling the ocean air.
“Go easy on him, Jason. Billy’s a nice guy. He cares about his girlfriend. Too bad she couldn’t keep him from straying.” Cori stroked my cheek. “I do things for him she could never do.”
Tabitha giggled, covering her mouth.
My stomach roiled. Freaking Cori, I knew what she was alluding to. When we first met, I had to tell her something about my relationship with Miranda that might help to convince Jason I was really having an affair. Miranda’s inability to give me a blow job came up. Not that it was an issue. I didn’t care. But now I was disgusted with myself for telling Cori, knowing how much it meant to Miranda.
“Yeah? And what might that be, sweetheart?” Jason leaned in, eager to hear what would make me cheat on Miranda. The dick.
“Well, let’s just say Miranda is vanilla, and Billy likes a little kink. Nobody’s perfect.”
Relief washed over me. The devilish grin on Jason’s face showed his sick satisfaction.
“That makes total sense. I mean, Miranda is gorgeous… sorry, Cori.”
Cori shrugged his comment off.
“Never let her go, buddy, but never let go of the woman who likes kink either.” He guffawed. “Keep ’em both!”
Tabithatee-heed. She never said much. Probably why Jason kept her around. He never liked intelligent, talkative women.
“That’s easier said than done. Our outings are wearing on Miranda. She nearly broke up with me last night.”
Jason furrowed his brow. “Seriously? You’re a billionaire.”
“Don’t be an idiot. Not every woman is money hungry. Miranda makes her own money. She doesn’t need mine, and she will dump my ass in a heartbeat. If that happens, I’m leaving SJI to travel with Henry. I’m tired of corporate life anyway.”
“Well, you can’t let her!” Panic flashed in his eyes.
I studied Jason’s reaction. I mentioned wanting to leave SJI to see what kind of effect it would have on him. That bit of information seemed to knock the air out of him.
“What do you care if he’s with her or not?” Cori asked, eyes narrowed. Her question took me by surprise. “If the girlfriend is out of the picture, then I can be his number one, and we can travel the world together.” She laid her hand on my thigh, leaning into me almost possessively, but this was all part of the act.
“No way. You won’t be coming with me. If I lose Miranda, I don’t want to be with anyone,” I snapped back. A bit of a knee-jerk reaction to Cori’s comment, but the thought of being with her was hilarious. It’d never happen in real life.
Jason raked his eyes over Cori, a disgusted expression on his face. “Honestly, and don’t take offense, but you’re not good enough for him.”
Cori gaped, hand on chest. If I didn’t know better, I’d say Jason had hurt her feelings for real. “That’s mean!”
“I apologize, but it’s the truth. Miranda is the perfect trophy wife. She’s the total package, and his family loves her. Plus, Will needs an heir to the SJI throne.” He guzzled his beer. His defense of Miranda was mind-boggling. “You can’t lose her or your job. You’re a St. James. You have a responsibility to your family. I’ll tell you what… I’ll let up a bit on the partying. Get things straight with Miranda. Make her happy.”
What in the hell was going on with Jason? He was flipping faster than I could keep up.
“I don’t know, Jason. It might be too late.” And that was only a half-lie. Miranda would hit her limit, and I would lose her.