Alpha Billionaire’s Bride, Part Three (BWWM Romance Serial) by Mia Caldwell

what I knew,
and she wants to find out who tried to screw over Sasha.”
    Jada would have pursued the subject further, but Mr. Forest
was ready to take them to the stables so she had to leave the conversation as
it was.
    Hours later, after their lovely ride exploring the grounds,
Jada and Marina returned to the main house for lunch. Ian and Sullivan remained
holed up in Ian’s office, a disappointment for Jada who had hoped Ian would
find some time in the afternoon for her.
    Late in the afternoon, Jada and Marina joined Sasha and Trey
at one of the docks. They dangled their feet in the chilly water and savored
the warmth of the sun on bare legs and shoulders.
    Sasha told Trey how Marina studied billionaires,
embarrassing Marina and instantly transforming Trey from flirty admirer to
distant ice man. Sasha found the situation hilarious and ribbed Marina
mercilessly, but Jada felt sorry for Marina, knowing Trey probably thought she
was a gold digger.
    In a way, Jada asked herself, wasn’t that what Marina was?
No, Jada wouldn’t believe it. She knew deep down that if it were necessary,
Marina would choose love over money every time.
    Her sympathy for Marina, however, was short-lived when
Sullivan came strolling onto the docks and spoke to Marina in an overly-casual
tone.
    “Hey, Marina, I’ve been meaning to tell you. I looked into
your friend’s little matter,” he said. “Tell her it’s fine. Nothing actionable.
She might want to keep it on the down-low, though, for now.”
    Marina didn’t hide her relief. “Thanks, Sullivan. I
appreciate it.”
    “No trouble. So what are you all doing down here?”
    Jada let Sasha answer his question and grabbed Marina’s arm,
pulling her close. She hissed in Marina’s ear. “What was that about?”
    “Shh. They’ll hear.”
    “Come on then.”
    She led Marina up the dock, away from the others. “What was
he talking about?”
    “I told him about my situation because I was worried I could
be in trouble with the law, that’s all.”
    “Your situation? You mean, you told him our little secret?”
    “Maybe. Yeah, okay. I did. But—”
    “That’s it. I’m done with this. You’ve now told everyone
except the one person who really should know what you did.”
    Marina snagged her by the elbow. “No, wait. It’s okay. I
gave Sullivan a dollar to hire him as my attorney, so he can’t tell anyone what
I said. Attorney/client privilege.”
    “That’s stupid, and only works on TV.”
    “I don’t think so. And you heard what he said about keeping
it on the down-low for now.”
    Jada had. She glared at Marina, who didn’t appear the least
intimidated by it. Marina re-joined the others at the end of the dock, leaving
Jada to chew over the situation by her lonesome.
     
     

Chapter Six
     
    JADA WAS THROUGH WITH KEEPING information from Ian, and by
the time she’d showered and dressed for dinner, she was almost positive she was
going to tell him everything. Almost.
    When she saw Ian standing at the head of the long table in
the large dining room, her stomach fluttered. He looked so handsome in his
dinner jacket and immaculately-pressed slacks. His eyes sparkled when his gaze
met hers and she wondered what he was thinking. Did he like the pretty lavender
dress she’d chosen for the night, with its swinging hem and snug bodice that
showed off some cleavage?
    He pulled out her chair, the one nearest to his, and when
his fingers brushed over her shoulders she knew from his touch that he liked
what he saw. It was hard to focus on the others’ dinner conversation with Ian
so near. More than once his foot brushed hers, and she contemplated slipping
off her shoe and running her toes up his strong calf for a little dinner time
footsie.
    She didn’t have to worry about keeping up with her fellow
diners. Everyone seemed content to make do without the pair at the end of the
table. Ian and Jada said little, and what they did say was inane, topics like
the weather and what the