BILLIONAIRE ANGEL (Point St. Claire, where true love finds a way) by Robyn Grady Page A

perfume in front of our home.” She flipped over the decades old snap. “There’s a message on the back from Mom.”
    “What’s it say?”
    Something so simple and strong. “Something she always used to tell us...” A tear slipped down Billy’s cheek as she met his gaze and smiled. “ Don’t forget...live your dream .”
     
    The closer they got to Point St. Claire, the thicker the tension grew. By the time Jax pulled up in front of Billy’s house, he’d come up with two dozen different ways to keep from saying goodbye. Beside him, still clutching that envelope, Billy looked just as torn.
    Parked with the engine idling, he studied her profile, while she pressed her lips together, and then finally looked across. Her eyes were wide—like she wanted to invite him in but also didn’t want to prolong the inevitable.
    “Did I mention the club’s anniversary evening?” he asked, trying to sound casual. We’re extending invitations to partners.”
    “Wow. That’s a turn up.”
    “So, I was thinking, if you’re still in town...”
    Her eyes were glistening. “I’d like to. Even if Judge Garfield might not be so keen to see me there—”
    “He’ll be fine with it now.”
    “—but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
    Because it was better to end it here and now?
    Billy expelled a shaky breath. “So...”
    Jax sat straighter. “So, keep in touch,” he said.
    Her smile was achingly beautiful. “Yeah,” she said. “You, too.”
    When she leaned across and pressed her lips against his cheek, Jax forced a groan of longing back down.
    But then she reached to hold his jaw and coax the angle of his jaw until her lips found his. The contact was like a downpour filling a dam. And as the kiss lingered, the level only got higher. Grew deeper.
    His hand covered hers as every muscle in his body hardened.
    “Billy? What are you saying?”
    “I’m saying goodbye...the way you and I should.”
    “With a kiss.”
    Her hand trailed down over his shirt. “We deserve more than a kiss.”
     
    She and Jax stood in her bedroom facing one another as he searched her eyes. Other than his forehead resting on hers as she gazed up, they weren’t touching and yet she’d never felt closer to any person in her life.
    What was she willing to give up if she stayed?
    What would she gain if she left?
    His hands trailed down either side of her throat at the same time his chest rumbled with a sound Billy took for need. She wanted him too. Her breasts were tingling, begging to be touched. Her core felt on fire, needing to be filled.
    As his palms trailed over her shoulders, Billy let her head rock back. She took in a lungful of his scent while he squeezed her upper arms, winging them forward, and nuzzled her temple…her ear...her throat.
    His jaw was rough with a day-old shadow. Billy shivered as that sandpaper feel trailed down and his grip brought her achingly near.
    Parted lips feathered over hers before the tip of his tongue tasted one corner of her mouth. She felt him swell, harden, and focus even more. Then he nipped her lower lip and tugged just enough to make standing without his help pretty much impossible.
    “Are you okay?” he asked and then nipped and tugged again.
    She smiled and leaned in. “I get it. You’re making this last.”
    Toasting her slowly and thoroughly from the inside out.
    His palms slid across and then down her back. While he weighed the globes of her behind in each palm, his mouth worked pure magic on the sweep of her collarbone. Then his hands scooped between the back of her thighs and lifted her up. Curving into him, she wound her legs around his hips.
    One arm held her in place while he took his time unbuttoning her shirt. He used his teeth to open one side. What he did next shot rockets through her veins. The roughness of his chin, the teasing and twirling of his tongue… And when he drew that sensitive part of her back into his mouth and lightly sucked―
    Losing her breath, she wound his