A Billionaire's Game (Ellsworth Brothers #2) (11 page)

“Ok. No more talk about this. From now on it’s all about
action. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“So, how are you feeling today?” Westin asked.

“Me? I couldn’t be any better. Now, the better question is
how are you?”

Westin smiled, and began to describe what he’d had for
breakfast.

“On today’s menu the feature entrée was oatmeal with a
side of raisins, brown sugar and milk. It was paired with the perfect selection
of juice, a 2015 vintage I think, and a side of scrambled eggs.”

The nurse entered the room grinning at Westin’s
description. She changed one of the bags on the IV pole next to his bed.

“Your new physical therapist will be here within the hour
and will start you on your new exercise regime. She’ll explain everything, but
thought I’d give you a heads up that she’ll be here soon. Her name is Kendra.
Let me know if you need anything before then.”

“Sounds like you’ve got your work cut out for you, little
brother.”

“Aw, I’m not worried, I can take it. I’m ready to get out
of this bed and back home. I’m tired of being a patient. Oh, I meant to ask
you, have you moved back in with Mom and Dad until you can get back on your
feet?”

“Funny you should ask. I was going to talk to you about
that today.”

“This sounds serious. Pull up a chair.”

The legs of the chair scraped loudly on the floor as Drake
repositioned it closer to the hospital bed. After a few moments, Drake began to
speak. “I haven’t had to move back in with Mom and Dad, thankfully. Actually,
I’m a pretty lucky son-of-a-bitch.”

Westin raised his eyebrows with curiosity.

“I’m living with someone. A woman. I’m living with Jill
West.”

“Jill? Isn’t that Thea’s friend? Wasn’t she in the wedding
party?”

“Yeah. She was the maid of honor,” confirmed Drake.

“Why do I think there’s more to this than just a nice
place to call home?”

Clearing his throat, Drake began again. “It is more than
just a place to hang my hat. Jill is amazing. That is, she’s an incredible
person. She’s smart, kind, strong, loving, funny, down-to-earth and sexy as
hell. You don’t need to agree with me on that point, by the way. She also helps
people.”

“Drake. This sounds serious. I have never, and I mean
never, heard you talk about any woman like this before. Your standard M.O. is
to not keep a woman around longer than a few weeks, if that.”

Grimacing Drake nodded. “Exactly.”

“So what’s different about Jill, other than all her
wonderful attributes?”

“She has dreams,” Drake replied without hesitation.

“Dreams?”

“Yeah. She’s got this crazy idea that she can help people,
parents, families who are in financial crises, by teaching them how to use
money wisely and effectively. Like how to make their money work for them
instead of the other way around. She’s even helping me. I’ve been thinking
about what I should be doing, and I know I need to pull my weight and help out
with the family business. I was actually thinking maybe I’d be good helping
with security.” At this, Drake looked into Westin’s eyes to see his reaction to
this piece of information. Westin was smiling.

“And, so I wondering if you could help me figure out
first, how to get to work; and second, how not to screw up things with Jill.”
Drake grinned sheepishly. “I really, really like her.”

“Well, big brother. You’ve come to the right place. I
think security is an ideal area of the company for you.”

“I don’t expect to start at the top of the food chain or
anything. I thought maybe I’d start like any other person would, with training
and night shifts or whatever.”

“Yes. You’re exactly right. You have to start at the
beginning. Drake… I’m really proud of you. I mean it would be very easy for you
to just ask for more money and continue living as you have, but you’re choosing
a different path. That’s not the easy way out, for sure.”

“I know, and that’s what I want to do. I know that now.
I’ve learned a lot over the last few weeks: everything that’s happened with
you, and also from living with Jill. Did you know I can make grilled cheese
sandwiches?”

Laughing, Westin replied, “No way. Impossible. Who are
you, and what have you done with my brother?”

“It’s true! I swear! And I can open a can of tomato soup
and heat it up to go with the grilled cheese.”

“You’re a man of many talents.”

“Fuck you,” Drake said in mock anger. “But seriously,
Westin this thing with Jill… it’s the real thing. I don’t want to be with any
other woman. And, this is also where my favor comes in.” Drake sighed audibly.
“I need to borrow some money. Actually, a lot of money.”

“Drake! What the fuck? We just finished talking about how
you’re turning over a new leaf, and you’re pulling this shit?”

“Wait. Just hear me out. The money isn’t for me. It’s for
Jill. I want to make her dream come true.”

Silence filled the small room.

“You want to give the money to Jill?”

“Yes. I mean, no. What I mean is that I want to buy one of
the old warehouses in Northeast Minneapolis and fix it up so Jill can have her
own foundation and help people. In fact, I was also thinking, depending on what
you, Dad and Landen think, we might also give her a sum of money she could use
to loan to the people she counsels.”

The smile came back to Westin’s face. “I like it. I’ll
admit I thought you were just reverting back to your old habits. But hearing
you talk about it, about her, I can see that you want to do something for
someone else. I can’t speak to any of the particulars, but I think we should
discuss the idea with Landen and Dad and get them on board as well. And, Mom!
Mom would probably love to have her hand in a project like this.”

“This is excellent, West. I’m really grateful for your
willingness to help me. God knows that I’m the last person in the world who
should be asking you for a favor. I don’t deserve it.”

“Oh come on. Enough with the mushy talk. But, I do have
one more question.”

“What’s that?”

“Do you need to borrow some money for a diamond ring?”

Drake’s face broke out in a huge smile.

Moments later, a knock sounded on the door and a feminine
voice called out. “Hi, Westin. Westin Ellsworth? I’m Kendra, your physical
therapist. If this isn’t a good time, I can come back later.”

The men looked up at the woman standing in the doorway.
She was tall, probably about 5’10” with dark brown, hair and luscious brown
skin. Westin was speechless.

“Drake Ellsworth,” interjected Drake, and he reached out
his hand to shake hers.

“Drake. You must be Westin’s brother?”

“I am. And, I was just about to head out so you two can do
your thing. West, I’ll check back in with you later today. And, thanks again.”
Drake gave a head nod and walked out of the room.

“So, I’m going to take a peek at your chart and get this
party started. Do you have any questions?” Kendra asked.

Westin glanced up into the woman’s eyes, and his face
broke out into his dazzling, panty-dropping smile. “Kendra. The pleasure is all
mine. I’m ready for whatever you’ve got. It’s about time I was back on my feet
again and able to walk out of this place.” Surreptitiously, Westin glanced at
the woman’s left hand and was pleased to see that she wore no wedding ring.

“All right then,” answered Kendra with a smile. “Let’s get
started.”

“So in walks this woman, and Westin is rendered
speechless. I swear I don’t think I’ve ever see him unable to form words
before,” Drake told an amused Jill.

“I’m so glad he’s getting better so quickly. His recovery
has been amazing.”

Drake walked to stand behind Jill who was busy at the
kitchen sink. He pulled her chestnut hair to one side and kissed behind her
ear. She leaned back into his body and sighed contentedly. “Do that again. That
feels good.”

Drake complied with her request. “You taste good, baby,”
and he began kissing down her neck to her shoulders. “You’re looking pretty
sexy tonight.”

Jill glanced over her shoulder at Drake. “Are you kidding
me? I’m in sweats and a tank top.”

“You’re sexy in anything, baby. And, you’re even sexier in
nothing.”

“I see where this is headed,” Jill said as she reached for
a dish towel to dry her hands. Drake pulled it from her grasp and tossed it
over his shoulder. He put his arm under her butt and around her shoulders and
scooped her into his arms.

“What are you doing?!” shrieked Jill.

“I’m taking you to bed, and I’m going to make love to
you.”

“Oh, well in that case let’s get moving, buddy. Time’s
a-wasting.”

Drake walked into the bedroom and threw Jill onto the bed.
She squealed as she landed and bounced. Drake crawled onto the bed like a
predator seeking its prey. He crawled over Jill’s body and began kissing her
everywhere.

He nuzzled under her tank top and kissed his way up to her
breasts. He nipped at the edges of those luscious mounds. Jill moaned.

Drake began licking her nipples and biting them with just
enough force to get a reaction. Jill’s hands covered his head under her shirt.

“I want to see you naked, sexy man.”

“Your wish is my command.” He stood and began to undress
while Jill did the same on the bed.

In seconds Drake stood before her, naked, virile and oh so
ready. Jill immediately took his dick in her hands. Glancing up to see his
reaction, she kissed the tip of his length. Her bottom lip caressed the ridge
of his cock. Then she sheathed him with her mouth.

This time, Drake moaned loudly and whispered, “Yes, baby.
That’s it. Oh, god. You feel so good.”

Jill kept at her ministrations, taking time to caress his
balls with her left hand. After a few minutes of heaven Drake pulled Jill to a
standing position and put his hands between her legs.

“Sucking me off turns you on, doesn’t it?” Drake wiggled
two fingers in her wet channel.

“You know it does.” With heavy lidded eyes, Jill ran her
hand over Drake’s muscled torso, outlining his six-pack with her fingertips.
Drake sucked in a breath.

“Drake, baby… I need you inside me,” crooned Jill. Without
a word Drake maneuvered her onto the bed, his body over hers. He didn’t
hesitate to push inside of her. “I will never get tired of the way you feel
when I first enter your pussy, baby.”

“Mmmmm…” was Jill’s only response.

Drake thrust in and out of her body over and over again;
sometimes hard, other times soft and lazy. Finally, Jill’s panting grew quick
and urgent and she came, her inner muscles clenching his dick. “Oh god, baby.
You feel amazing. When you do that I can’t help but come.” And with a jerk he
spurted into her body.

They curled into each other, both nearly asleep, then Drake
rearranged them so they were tucked under the covers, his body molded around
hers.

“Babe,” he whispered. “I’m falling in love with you.”

With a jerk Jill’s head came up off the pillow. “Oh give
me a break. You’re probably just coming down with the flu. Go to sleep. You’ll
feel normal in the morning.”

Drake chuckled. She could always make him laugh.

Two months later, with Drake on her left and Thea on her
right, Jill was guided forward and into a building.

“Where are we?”

Thea giggled.

“Come on! Can’t I take the blindfold off yet?”

“In a sec, babe. Relax.”

With time, Westin and the family had started to forgive
Drake. True to his word, Drake began work at Ellsworth Construction, working
the third shift on the security team. The position suited him to a tee. He
wasn’t stuck at a desk for eight hours straight nor did he have a supervisor
looking over his shoulder.

Drake took pride in his position and began earning an
honest salary. Sadly, he’d had to sell the Cayenne, and settled for a newer
model sedan. He’d also realized that the car didn’t make a man.

He and Benny kept in touch and met for a beer on occasion.

Jill was still the woman in his life—the only woman
and he was absolutely content with that turn of events. He was pretty sure he
was falling in love.

They shared her apartment downtown and Drake was learning
to cook. He was already a master at brewing coffee.

Jill taught him to sort his whites and darks and how to
operate a washer and dryer. He’d become the victim of the invisible sock thief
more than once. That being, he put matching pairs of socks into the dryer, but,
at times, when he took out his clothes, he was one sock short.

~

“Are we ready Drake?” asked Thea.

“Let’s turn her around so she gets the full view.” Feet
shuffling, they turned Jill 90 degrees.

“Now can I take off the blindfold?” Jill asked, irritation
obvious in her tone.

“Just wait a sec,” Thea said, teasingly.

Wanting to put Jill out of her misery, Drake shouted,
“Take it off!”

Jill pulled the blindfold down around her neck. As her
eyes adjusted to the light she took in her surroundings. “Where are we? A
warehouse? You took me to an empty warehouse as a surprise? It’s not even my
birthday.” Sarcasm was Jill’s specialty.

“It’s yours.” Drake said quietly.

“It’s mine? What’s mine?”

“The warehouse. This is the future home of your financial
counseling center.”

“My what?”

At that moment the door burst open, and Landen, William,
Caroline, Westin, and Jill’s co-worker Nate entered the warehouse.

“Was she surprised?” asked an excited Caroline.

Nate spoke up. “Oh, she was surprised, all right. Look at
her. She’s speechless. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen her without something to
say.”

Tears gathered in Jill’s eyes. She looked up into Drake’s
face. “What did you do?”

“Well, I can’t take all the credit, but it was my idea.”

“We’re all investors in your new financial counseling
center,” explained Westin, leaning on his crutches for support.

“And I’m on your board of trustees,” said Caroline, very
pleased with her announcement.

“You all did this for me?” Jill’s face tensed as she tried
to keep from outright weeping.

This time Thea answered. “We know how important this is to
you. Drake had the idea and we have the funds to make it happen. The rest is up
to you to provide your vision.”

“You’ll need to remodel the warehouse a bit to make it
usable for office space and such,” interjected Landen, coming to stand at his
wife’s side.

“I can’t believe this… ” Jill sucked in a breath, turned
and planted her face into Drake’s chest. Drake wrapped his arms around her body
tightly. He kissed the top of her head. Leaning down to whisper in her ear he
said softly, “I love you, sunshine.”

In mock disgust she raised her head and announced to the
group, “Oh stop it, Drake. You’re probably just coming down with swine flu or
something.”

Everyone laughed at the joke.

Jill reached up on her toes to whisper in Drake’s ear, “I
love you back.” Then she paused and looking directly into his piercing blue
eyes, asked solemnly, “This is real, right? No more games?”

Drake took hold of both of Jill’s hands and with a steady
voice Drake replied truthfully, “No more games, babe. No more games.”