“I am, but I’ve accepted it. Everyone always asks me how it feels to have such a talented sister,” Rylie said. “Talk about being jealous!”
“Well, I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and one of them was Jarrett. And who knew, back when he was a geeky grad student, he’d turn out to be a billionaire?”
“You’re kidding me, right?” Rylie took another sip of water. “Jarrett told me today he works for Phantom Enterprises. They pay well, but I don’t think he’s a billionaire.”
Carlie’s mouth gaped open. “Jarrett doesn’t work there, Rylie. He owns it!”
Rylie sucked in air, pulling a mouthful of water with it. After about two minutes of violent coughing, she could finally speak. “Are you sure Jarrett’s the owner? Because I thought that cowboy guy owned it.”
“You mean Cole Miller? He’s the one most people know. But there’re four guys in the corporation, and all of them are equal partners. Finn Anderson is one of them. You’ve probably heard of him. I forget the other guy’s name, but he was Anton’s favorite. Anton was a huge gamer, and he was obsessed with Phantom Enterprises. I purposefully never told him I’d dated Jarrett.”
Rylie’s stomach churned as she tried to remember their conversation that morning. No wonder Jarrett had looked like he was about to bust out laughing.
Jarrett’s a billionaire. And I’m an idiot.
“In that case, you’ll be happy to know he’s having some friends over for dinner tonight, and you’re invited.”
Carlie’s eyes went as wide as her smile. “I am? Do you think that means he’s forgiven me?”
“I guess there’s only one way to find out.”
Carlie nodded, her lips downturned. “What should I say to him?”
“Be honest. Tell him exactly what you told me about leaving for Nashville because you wanted to put your career first. And tell him you’re in limbo, waiting to get called to Hollywood to be in that movie.”
“It’s not a big role,” Carlie said. “I’ll probably only be filming for three or four weeks.”
“You still have to tell him.” Rylie grabbed her sister’s shoulders and looked her square in the face. “Promise me, if you guys start dating again, you won’t lead him on.”
“I’ll be lucky if he even listens to me, much less dates me.”
Rylie stood and started toward her room. “Well, you’ve got all day to practice your apology. I’m going for a hike, if you want to come along.”
“You don’t have time for a hike.” Carlie followed on her heels. “We have to start getting you ready for tonight.”
“Me? No, I’m not going.”
“Why not? Weren’t you invited?”
“I was, but I can’t show my face to Jarrett.” Rylie picked up speed, headed down the hallway for the safety of her room. “Not since I found out what a fool I made of myself, today. Can you believe I congratulated him for getting a job at Phantom Enterprises? My sister, who has zero knowledge of computers, knew he was the co-owner, and I didn’t. Jarrett probably thinks I live under a rock.”
“Because you practically do,” said Carlie.
“Not helpful,” Rylie growled through tight lips.
As she reached the door to her room, she felt a tap on her right shoulder and turned to look. At the same moment, something brushed past on her left.
“Ha!” Carlie cried as she sailed into the room and took a flying leap, landing on Rylie’s freshly-made bed just like she used to do when they were teens. She flopped around to face Rylie, her smile unfazed by Rylie’s glare. “You have to go tonight, because I need you there.”
“No. I’m too embarrassed.”
Carlie tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. “Why do you care so much what Jarrett thinks anyway?”
Oops! I forgot the cardinal rule—hide my feelings.
She scrambled for an explanation. “Anyone would be mortified, but it’s especially embarrassing because he talked about me applying for a job at Phantom.”
“What? He offered you a job?”
“Well, no. He said he’d put in a good word for me.”
Carlie bounced to her feet, shaking her finger in Rylie’s face. “That’s it! I won’t let you throw away a chance like this because of your pride. I’m taking you to this party if I have to drag you by your hair. And you’re going to look amazing.”
“I’m thinking the bleeding drag-marks on my legs might be distracting.”
“Rylie, stop kidding around. This is important. Who knows… your future husband might be at that party tonight!”
If only that were true.
CHAPTER 3
“I need your advice,” Jarrett told Cole as they wandered into the kitchen to give Cole’s wife, Brooke, some privacy to nurse their five-month-old, Nicole. “It’s personal.”
The first to arrive, the pair had flown in from Houston.
“You’re asking me for advice? I guess you finally realize how wise I am, after I’ve been telling you so for years.”
