Catching Fire: New Rules (Billionaire Romance Series Book 2) Read online

  “Why yes, they certainly were sis, and I personally arranged it!” His laughter resumed. “And you? You paid for it all!” He was laughing so hard he couldn’t seem to catch his breath.

  Ava looked concerned and started to move toward him. “Tino please, try to—“

  “No!” he shouted.

  Her face became white with his shout and she halted.

  “None of you get it!” He looked over at Mimi. “I know why you did this sis, and really I deserved worse!”

  Mimi shook her head at him. “No, I—?”

  “Shh.” He sighed and looked around at their faces, his gaze stopping at Rex. ”You’re the one I will ask.”

  Rex squared his shoulders.

  “When Mimi came to you, did you know who she was?”

  Rex shook his head. “No.”

  Tino nodded. “Did you know that Ava would be on this boat?”

  “No.”

  “If you had known that she was, would you have come anyway?”

  Rex looked him in the eyes. “Yes.”

  Tino slapped his thigh. “See?”He chuckled. “He cannot lie.”

  Rex put his hands into his pockets. “I’d rather not.”

  Tino walked over and sat down. He did look winded. “Years ago, I married a beautiful, wonderful girl.” He looked over at his wife. “And I messed up from day one.” He shook his head and looked at Rex again. “Do you know how I messed up?”

  Rex shrugged his shoulders “You lied.”

  “See?” Tino smiled. “He is exactly right!”

  Mimi looked like she was going to scream, her red face was mottled and twisted. “Tino!”

  He gazed over at her. “I killed him, you know?” Tino spoke softly “I did it all myself.”

  Mimi swallowed heavily and her hands shook.

  “I also ruined any chance I had at having the love I so desperately wanted.” He looked over at Ava. “I killed it that the same night.” He shook his head. “I had called you both in here tonight, because I was given a death sentence earlier this year by the doctors.”

  Mimi gasped.

  Looking upset, Ava walked over and sat down at the table.

  “For the last two years, I have been ill and my wife took care of me. I hired nurses and she sent them away and did it all herself.”

  Ava started to cry.

  “Before that, I was a jackass. No, I was worse.” He released a heavy sigh. “I deserved the death sentence.”

  “No, Tino!”

  “Yes!” he shouted. “I have ruined lives! I was a selfish, sick bastard, who only thought of myself.”

  Rex took a step toward the door.

  “Where are you going, Mister Harris?” he asked.

  “This is your personal—“

  “You are in love with my wife, is that correct?”

  He nodded. “Yes, it is.”

  “Well, then this involves you as well, please sit down.”

  Walking over to the table, he sat across from Ava at the table.

  “Now, Mimi. You brought him here to show me that Ava was what?” He tilted his head at her. “Unfaithful, deceitful?”

  Mimi looked enraged. “Yes!”

  Tino shook his head at her. “She has kept all of her vows to me, all these years, sis. When she was with Mister Harris before, it was because I nearly forced her to do it.”

  “So, what are you saying, Tino? That you are just going to allow this?” She pointed over at the couple. “That it’s okay?”

  Tino shook his head at her.

  Mimi’s familiar smug look finally began to show on her face.

  “When the doctor’s told me I was certainly going to die. I was angry at first.”

  Mimi started to cry.

  “Oh shut up, Mimi and sit the hell down!” he yelled.

  Jumping back, she sat on the bed.

  “Then, I prayed.” He looked around at their faces. “But I thought that if there was a God, why would he listen to a bastard like me? Look at how I made my fortune? Look at all the people I’ve killed or had ordered killed!”

  Rex watched the man closely, wondering where this was going.

  “No, he wouldn’t answer my prayer, why the hell would he? I also learned that money can’t save your life.”

  Mimi was weeping now.

  “Please stop it, Mimi!”

  She sniffled and swiped at her tears.

  Ava cried silently as she stared at her husband.

  Rex watched her closely and saw that her entire body shook. He felt strange about it all, like disconnected from it. It involved Ava though and that did involve him.

  “Mister Harris?” Tino called to him.

  His eyes swung up.

  “If you could and were free to go right now, would you?”

  Rex was puzzled by the question. “You mean leave this enjoyable fun cruise?”

  Tino look startled, and then he laughed. “Yes.”

  “Not without Ava, “he answered.

  Tino looked serious for a moment, and then he glanced over at Ava. “Same question for you, Ava.”

  Her brow wrinkled up. “I don’t understand.”

  Tino sighed and stood up. “If you could leave with Mister Harris right this minute, free as a bird with no repercussions…would you?”

  Ava was shaking her head at him. “I don’t—?”

  “Would you do it?” he shouted.

  “No!” she shouted back. “Not if you are sick and needed me!” She stood up. “I loved you once.”

  Mimi stared at her with disbelief on her face. “So, you’re going to stay with Tino?” she asked.

  Ava lowered her head. “Yes.”

  “Well, that proves nothing, if he’s dying you’ll just wait—-“

  “Mimi!” her brother cut her off.

  Rex stood up, he knew that he’d heard enough and he was full of different emotions, he just wanted to get away from this right now.

  “Yes, Mister Harris?” Tino smiled at him.

  “If you could arrange for me to get off the boat right away, I would appreciate it.” He didn’t look at Ava, but he heard her crying. “This doesn’t involve me anymore.”

  “You still have money coming,” Mimi piped in with a sneer in her voice.

  Rex turned and looked at her. “Don’t ever speak to me again.” His voice was low and cold. He nodded politely at Tino and left the cabin.

  NEW TRICKS FOR AN OLD DOG

  Rex returned to LA and wondered what to do with his life now. He spent a lot of time just lying around. He thought about getting drunk, and then he knew it probably wouldn’t help. Yeah, he was broken hearted. It happened to him all over again. Dammit, why hadn’t he known better? He understood what Ava had done, but it didn’t make it hurt any less.

  He knew now how brokenhearted people felt. He had sat around eating ice-cream and watching sad movies until he thought he might puke. He considered going out and picking up a hooker. Yeah that was a weak moment. He’d never felt this bad before, like he was going to die. He wished he could really just have a good man cry, but it never came. He was still too proud to sink to that level.

  He almost hopped in the car yesterday to drive himself over to Rodeo and shop till he dropped, but he couldn’t face being on that street just yet.

  There had been so many women he done in his life and he knew now that there was only one for him in the whole world. He was pretty pathetic by the end of the week, and he noticed a slight pudgy bit of skin at his lower belly, so he started to make himself leave the couch and work out a few times.

  He wondered if he could start all over again and build a client list, but he rejected the idea. He was a changed man and ole sexy Rexxy may not appear for a while.

  One afternoon, he was feeling really restless and he called an old friend who ran an Escort service, not to work there, but maybe to work in the organization somewhere. Maybe he could train men on how to really please a woman. He laughed, those who can’t?

  Actually, i
t was more like a standing bet than a real gig. Aggy said her stable had some pretty rebellious smart ass, young studs and they would probably laugh Rex right out of the room.

  He had lain around the house and the beach feeling sorry for himself all week. It wasn’t going to change anything and he needed to get out and do something.

  So, here he was at Velour Services and he was about to start the class. Yes, a class on what women really want.

  About twenty, various good-looking men sat around the tables in the private conference room at the Sunset Inn. They all looked up at him as he strode in through the door. “Hello,” he stated to the all male student body.

  They called ‘hello’ back at him in unison.

  He looked around at the guys. Most were younger than he was and some looked bored while others looked curious. Rex decided to just jump right in. “Can anyone tell me what women think about?”

  The bored looks disappeared and curious expressions filled almost every face in the room.

  “Don’t answer,” he ordered as one or two raised their hands. “Because you would be wrong.”

  They lowered their arms.

  “You don’t and you won’t and you never fucking will.” He smiled at them. “Think you’ve got one pegged? You figured her out?” He looked around as some shrugged and others nodded. “No! Forget it. Whatever it was, you will guess wrong.”

  The entire group laughed.

  “Just settle for the fact that you could figure her out in some other way.”

  Some of the men sat forward and showed true interest now.

  Rex raised his fingers to his eyes. “Rule one?” He looked all around. “Eye contact. Make it with her, keep it with her and watch the emotions flow across her pupils, like a feed to another world.”

  The men all murmured.

  “Next, watch the way she moves.”

  There were various snickers around the room.

  Rex chuckled “Yes, I too, enjoy that particular past time. But it can be used to gauge her.”

  They were all wearing apt expressions now.

  “Does she walk with purpose? Or does she allow her hips to roll as she moves?” Rex pictured Ava walking along the deck in her red bikini. He shook his head to clear the sensual image.

  More snickering resounded.

  “Yes, I was just remembering a walk.”

  Laughter erupted.

  “The walk will tell you what will please her.”

  There were more confused murmurs.

  Rex grinned at them, showing his best smile.

  They all sat very still.

  He pointed at his mouth. “Give your best one of these as you take her hand and keep looking into her eyes all the while.” He gave them his dazzling smile.

  One man raised his hand.

  Rex nodded at him.

  “What about the sex part?”

  Several of them chuckled slyly.

  “What about it?” Rex asked him. “It will be the least of your worries, if you do not gauge her right.”

  “And you do that by how she walks?” Another skeptic cut in.

  Rex smiled at him. “You have a job to do and you want to be remembered as the best she ever had. That should be your aim. Not to just halfway satisfy her and earn your dime.”

  They all stilled again.

  “You need to find out within the first ten minutes…just what she may want.” He looked around at the studs in the room. “To use your dicks is not enough; you got to use your brains first.”

  Laughter again broke out among the ranks.

  “If she walks with a powerful stride and sits with her legs crossed. What does this tell you?”

  They all looked puzzled.

  “It tells you she is in charge and she wants you to win that pussy.”

  Some gasps echoed through the room.

  “You do it by any means you think will work, a soft touch, a good licking or even get down on your knees and let her fuck your face if that’s what it takes.”

  There were gasps and chuckles in the background.

  “If she’s shy and seems hesitant and insecure…?” he asked and looked around the room.

  The skeptic of before raised his hand. “She wants you to overpower her?”

  Rex shook his head. “No! You moron.”

  Some in the class shifted in their seats while others laughed.

  “She wants to be the boss. You will be her slave and beg for that sweet pussy.”

  Surprised gasps resounded now.

  “Remember, you cannot know what is really inside her mind. You will not know.” He tilted his dark head at them. “Let’s say you guessed and you are ready to proceed?”

  They all kept silent.

  “Well, use everything you have to get her mindlessly hot first. Fingering and sucking both clit and tit, before you think you’re really a stud and try to cock fuck her.” He walked around the tables and looked at every young face. “Make her want that cock more than life itself, and then when you do give it?” He stopped and went along another row. “Hold your climax.”

  There were some guffaws.

  He flipped around and looked at a small group in the corner of the room. “Fuck her hard and don’t come, never come until after she does. Think about gardening or how many socks you have in your drawer at home. Think of anything until she gets off.”

  They all sat in their seats looking stunned.

  “When you’re done? Kiss her feet and be grateful.”

  Some gasped at his statement.

  “Because to be lucky enough to experience one woman or one hundred is more than you bastards deserve!” He laughed at their astonished expressions. “We’re demons and we were put on earth to fuck it over. Women are the angels and they are—our only salvation. Our only way to a real heaven.”

  The students had various gaping expressions or their jaws were dropped open.

  He walked over to the front again “Oh, and dress to the fucking nines, like she was the visiting Queen of England there to knight your sorry ass.”

  Astounded expressions covered almost every handsome face as the male escorts all looked at each other and then back up at him. Then one by one, they stood and began to applaud. Soon, the room was booming with their clapping.

  Rex gave him them a dazzling smile and left the conference room.

  He paused to look at Aggy, who owned the service as she peered into the room full of applause. Her expression looked puzzled as she listened to the rowdy ovation.

  “They’re ready.” He got on the elevator and grinned. “Next class on Tuesday?”

  Silent, she handed over the thousand they agreed on as she nodded her head at him.

  Rex looked at the wad of bills and rolled them up. “Not as fun as fucking but it was interesting.” At her dazed expression, he chuckled and the elevator doors closed.

  * * * *

  Rex was at a loss again the next day, and he really contemplated getting good and drunk, maybe calling up Susi and getting a sympathy massage. For the first time today, he smiled a little. He was going to miss Saturdays for a long while. His doorbell rang and he wandered to the door.

  Jack Wagner stood there. “Hey ya, Rex!” He grinned and pushed his way in.

  “Well, just come the fuck on,” Rex joked as he stepped aside.

  “I bet you say that a lot in your work,” Jack teased and made his way to the bar.

  Rex shrugged and followed him over while wondering what this little visit was all about.

  “Got any beer?” Jack asked as he looked around.

  “Yeah, in the fridge under the bar.”

  “You sure live good. This is impressive.” Jack knelt down behind the bar.

  “Fucking for cash has many perks,” he answered drily.

  Jack’s laughter was loud. “Yeah, I’ll just bet!”

  “Can I ask what this is all about?”

  “Sure.” Jack set his beer on the bar, walked around and sat a second bottle on the bar. “Have a
sit.”

  Amused, he shook his head at how his friend was making himself at home. “Why, thank you.” He sat on the stool.

  “I see you got a fine tan while on your cruise,” Jack noted.

  Rex popped the top off his beer. “Really Jack, you didn’t come over here to admire my tan.”

  “Good stuff,” Jack took a healthy swig of the beer and smacked his lips while looking down at the bottle of beer. He glanced over at Rex who was watching him intently. “Well, you dropped that call almost two weeks ago and I was worried.”

  Rex shook his head. “It turned out all, right. Sorry, I never called you back.”

  “You didn’t call me back, but someone else did.”

  He took a sip of his beer. “What?”

  “Yeah, someone got your cell phone and was calling me.”

  Rex slammed the bottle down. “That fucking bitch!”

  Jack’s brows rose up. “She didn’t sound like a bitch.”

  Disgusted, he fumed. “I hope she gets what she deserves in the end.”

  “You mean Ava Pavorelli?”

  Rex swung his gaze over. “No.”

  “Well, that was the lady who called me.”

  “What?”

  “Yep, she said she was worried and wanted to know if I knew you very well.”

  “And you said?”

  Jack studied the label on the beer bottle. “I said I knew you well enough.”

  “So, what did she want?”

  “I told her I was a private detective and was working for you.”

  Rex sat the bottle down. “Is there a point you’re getting at, Jack?”

  “You gained a tan and lost your sense of humor, I see.”

  “It’s been hell week.”

  “Oh? You didn’t have any onboard romances?”

  Rex glared over at him. “What is this all about?”

  “Nothing, really.” He shrugged. “But the phone call did make me want to come over and check on you.”

  ”I’m fine.” He drank the rest of his beer and was considering on drinking the whole case now.

  “I was wondering if you would like to do some work for me, actually.”

  Rex stared at him. “How could I help? Is there some lonely woman who needs my services?”

  Jack laughed outright. “No, no. It’s nothing like that.” He looked up at Rex. “Well, it might be something like that?”