Bedding The Billionaire (Bedding the Bachelors Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

by the time he gently disengaged his fingers from her hair and pulled back.
    She opened her eyes and he was staring into hers with an intense smoldering look that made her want to take him right there on the desk. Instead, she forced herself to take a step back.
    “Bye, Luce. Take care of yourself, okay?”
    “You, too,” she said simply. Because what else was there to say?
    He turned then started walking away. She stared at the notes on her desk, the words a blur, when her cell phone rang.
     
    * * *
     
    Jamie automatically turned back as Lucy’s phone continued to ring.
    She was staring at the screen, frowning, clearly distressed.
    He hesitated. He hadn’t intended to kiss her and the fact he wanted to do it again told him he should get the hell out of there. But something about the strained look on her face…
    “Lucy,” he said. “What is it?”
    “It’s my father,” she whispered. “I—I haven’t talked to him in fifteen years.”
    “How does he have your cell phone number?”
    “I—I don’t know. Unless…” She looked up at him. “I called Gail once. Years ago. Left her a message with my number, hoping to…” She shook her head.
    Gail was her older sister and as far as Jamie knew, they hadn’t spoken in over a decade. When she didn’t continue, he placed a hand on her shoulder and she looked back at him.
    “Something must be wrong.”
    “Answer it, Luce. I’m right here with you.”
    Seeming comforted by his words, she lifted the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
    He heard a muffled voice. Could just make out the words “Gail” and “don’t think she’s going to make it,” before Lucy dropped the phone and her knees collapsed. Jamie barely caught her before she hit the ground.
    Swiftly, he swept her into his arms, cradling her in his lap as he sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk.
    She was pale with shock, her gaze desperate.
    When they were dating, Lucy hadn’t told him much about her family besides the fact that they were estranged. When he’d tried to dig further about why that was the case, why she’d walked away not only from her mother and father, but from her sister, too, she’d clammed up. But it was obvious the news about her sister had completely shaken her.
    “Hang on to me, sweet thing,” he said. “I’ve got you.”
    She took several deep breaths. When her color returned and her gaze met his, he shifted, gently placed her in the chair, and crouched beside her. He noted with more than a small amount of concern how she clutched at his shirt, as if she was afraid he was going to abandon her in her time of need.
    “I’m going to get your phone and call your father back. Do you understand?”
    She just stared at him.
    “Luce, let go of me. Just for a few seconds. I need to call your father back, okay?”
    After several seconds, she nodded and with great effort released her hold on his shirt. He took her hands in his, squeezed them, and kissed her forehead. “I’m here for you, Luce. I’m not leaving.”
    Jamie swiftly retrieved the phone before retuning to place a comforting hand on her leg. He called the last number that had come through on her phone.
    A hoarse male voice answered. “Yes?”
    “This is Jamie Whitcomb, a friend of Lucy’s. Lucy is extremely upset and I need to find out what’s going on so I can help her.”
    “Lucy’s sister Gail and her husband Mason were in a car accident. Mason died at the scene. Gail…it’s not looking good. If Lucy wants a chance to say goodbye, she needs to get to the hospital right away.”
    “How much time do we have?”
    “Hours. Maybe.”
    Shit.
    Jamie got the information he needed, hung up, and made more phone calls. The entire time, he remained next to Lucy, caressing her leg. After disconnecting from his latest call, he said, “I’m so sorry, Luce. Tell me what you know.”
    “Accident…Mason dead…Gail isn’t expected to live.”
    He nodded. “Your father said they were driving home to Palm