Billionaire's Bounty Cost Of Love And Revenge novel Chapter 82

Chapter 82

Chapter 82

Ivy’s POV

“Hello, I’m Ivy,” I said nervously, tucking my hair behind my ear. My eyes searched those chocolate brown eyes staring at me,

He smiled – a beautiful smile, showing pearly white teeth. Clearing his throat, he lowered his gaze. “Hi, I’m Dexter. Nice to make your acquaintance.” He extended a hand toward me.

I looked at him hesitantly before taking his hand. His handshake was firm. Glancing behind him at Janine, he said, “Your friend, well, she’s persuasive, isn’t she?”

I nodded and chuckled.

He burst into taughter, and I joined in. We laughed for a while. “Yes, she is.” Janine caught my eye and gave me a thumbs–up. I smiled at her, grateful for her. Grateful that I was far away from Asher – all because of her. I needed the break.

Dexter gave me a long, curious stare. “You look really familiar. Trust me, this isn’t one of those corny lines guys always use with the ladies. You actually have a familiar face, and I think I may have seen you somewhere…”

I let out an exasperated sigh. For once, it would be nice to be unknown, to exist and enjoy a place without worrying about someone recognizing me.

I exhaled. “Ivy Whitfield. Does that ring any bells?” I raised a brow. “Maybe it doesn’t, Asher Sterling’s wife?”

His eyes widened in recognition. “Oh, I know who you are!”

I smiled sadly. “Asher Sterling’s wife,” I muttered under my breath.

“You’re the hot model!” he exclaimed excitedly, drowning out my voice. “Your friend wasn’t kidding! You’re a model! I could have bet I’d seen that face

somewhere – the magazines-” His eyes searched my face for any reaction.

A hint of a smile appeared on my lips.

“I promise, I’m not a creeper,” he said, raising his hands in surrender. Then he gestured toward the camera slung over his shoulder. “I’m just a man who likes to take really good pictures and needs references–uh, something to work with. Strictly for photography.”

My smile grew wider, and I touched his hand to stop him. “I get you, Dexter,” I said. It was really great to be recognized outside of Asher. It meant so much to me right now, especially while I was confused and dealing with the pain of his betrayal.

He glanced over at Janine, then back at me. “Does she know? Does she know you’re married? I mean, she did just try to set us up.”

I chuckled and nodded. “Well, yes. She’s Janine Sterling…”

It didn’t take him long to put two and two together. “Wow! Okay. There’s definitely a story there somewhere.” His gaze lingered on me. “Am I walking into

a trap here?”

I flashed him a smile. “I don’t know, are you?”

He broke into a wide grin. “Ivy Whitfield, is this a trap?” His voice was barely above a whisper.

I felt myself being drawn to the man sitting across from me. I didn’t know what it was that pulled me to him. Was it his beautiful smile and charm? He looked like someone you’d want to open up to. Deep inside, I knew it was more than that. I was hurting.

Asher had hurt me, and I wanted to get back at him somehow, to make him feel a fraction of the pain I felt when I saw those pictures. I also wanted to feel desired again, even if it was by a random man I’d met on vacation. I could pretend this was more and that my life was perfect.

I sucked in a deep breath. “The only trap you’re walking into is the trap of sitting with a model on vacation. I don’t see how it gets better man that.”

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Chapter 82

He grinned. “It’s a sweet offer.

1 hummed in response.

“And I’m really tempted to take it – assuming there’s a clause somewhere that says I’m allowed to click pictures of you, you know, for reference purposes…”

I blushed hard, but even in that moment, I couldn’t help thinking about Asher and how he made me feel. Howered my gaze, trying to push thoughts d him aside. “We could see how it goes…” I said in the sultriest voice I could muster. If Asher didn’t bat an eyelid when he took Taylor, of all people to bed. then I shouldn’t either.

Dexter stared at me curiously. “What’s it like being married to Asher Sterling?”

The question came out of the blue, but I found myself opening up to him. “It’s really scary…” I chuckled dryly. “Being in a relationship with a man like that, a man with so much power, so much access…” I lowered my gaze. “What can you possibly do for a guy like that? I don’t think I could ever be enough for someone like Asher.”

“Bullshit,” he muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes. “I don’t know what your husband is like, and frankly, I barely know you, but every human being is enough. I’m staring right at you, and you’re more than enough.”

I cheesed so hard my face turned flushed, and I lowered my gaze.

“Damn any man who can’t see it, and I mean it,” he retorted.

I smiled. Yeah, damn Asher.

He glanced at my hand. “Can I get you a drink?” he asked. Before I could answer, he extended a hand to me. I slipped my fingers into his, and then we took a walk.

We got drinks and strolled down the beach, chatting about everything and nothing. Dexter was an avid listener, making me laugh a couple of times. Occasionally, he would take pictures of me as we walked – when I smiled or when I wandered deep in thought. I was staring at one of the pictures he’d taken earlier, where I’d burst into laughter with the wind in my hair.

“Wow!” I exclaimed.

He raised the corner of his lips in a smile. “Yes, that was my exact reaction.”

“I look so…”

“Happy,” we said in unison.

We stared at each other, everything else forgotten. It was just us – the waves lightly hitting our legs, the wind softly caressing our skin. I stared at the dark, handsome, muscly man in front of me. He looked nothing like Asher, yet I couldn’t stop thinking of him.

That unruly dark hair and the way he’d run his fingers through it. Those honey–brown eyes that used to look at me filled with so much lust and desire. Did he look at her the same way? Did he look at Taylor like she was his world and nothing else mattered? Tears welled up in my eyes, and I lowered my gaze.

Dexter slipped a finger under my chin, lifting my face so he could look at me. “Hey, Ivy, don’t, please…”

I bit down on my lower lip, blinking back tears.

“Don’t ruin this perfect image of you tonight. I don’t want to see you cry. He’s not worth it. You’ve seen all the pictures I’ve taken tonight – they’re all natural, unedited, and you look…” He scrolled through the images and glanced at me. “You are perfect, Ivy Whitfield. Forget all about him, even if only for the short time you’re here…” His voice was barely above a whisper.

He cupped my cheeks. “Tonight, we can forget about the husband and whatever he’s up to. Let’s focus on you.”

I licked my lips, and his eyes followed.

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Chapter 82

His gaze darkened, and he swallowed hard. “I want to kiss you, Ivy.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but before the words left, Dexter leaned forward and captured my lips in a soft kits. He was getter than r tender, like he was savoring the taste, I shut my eyes, and all I could see was Asher

The way his lips moved expertly against mine, like they were made just right for each other. His hands roaming my body, gripping my ass cheeks, the possessiveness in his touch- as if he wanted me to know I was his and his alone…..

I deepened the kiss with Dexter, and that was all the prompting he needed to match my pace. Dexter was no Asher, but it would suffice. I could play Asher’s games too.