No Promises: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance

by Michelle Love

  Sailor’s body was trembling all over as she stroked herself into an orgasm, picturing Bodhi’s beautiful face smiling down at her and whispering her name again and again.

  A few miles away, Bodhi lay naked on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, his own mind whirling with desire, doubt, temptation. Sailor was his responsibility now, and he could not, would not take advantage of her, no matter how much he couldn’t stop thinking about her smooth caramel skin, her dark eyes, that wave of soft hair almost to her waist. He could not compromise their working relationship; Sailor needed this job. It didn’t matter how much he pictured her slowly stripping her clothes off, her large firm breasts, the curve of her waist, the deep hollow of her navel and that place between her legs that he so much wanted to taste.

  No. There was a fragility to Sailor that he did not quite understand, and he would not be that guy anymore, the one who fucked around and didn’t think of the other person. No. Sailor was his employee and, more than that, his friend. Whatever damage she had, he would help her heal from, as much as she would let him. He got the impression that she hated to be told what to do. Maybe he had pushed it a little far with the car, tonight. But he had been thinking about ways to thank her all evening, and when he thought of the Thunderbird, it fitted her aesthetic so well, it seemed natural.

  Bodhi rolled over on his side and tried to fall asleep. Stop thinking about her…

  Stop.

  He didn’t fall asleep until it was nearly dawn – and he didn’t stop dreaming about Sailor.

  Sailor felt her heart in her mouth as she drove excitedly up the driveway in the Thunderbird. First day of work. She and Bodhi were going to figure out a schedule for the next six months and then she could finally get started on her new career.

  She pulled up to the door and got out. It was hot today and a fine sheen of sweat covered her as she left the air-conditioned car and knocked on the door.

  A few seconds later, the door swung open and Bodhi grinned at her. “I forgot to give you a key, didn’t I? Hey there, kiddo, first day.” He kissed her cheek, and she blushed, grinning back. “Come have some coffee before we start.”

  He led her into the kitchen and Sailor felt her heart sink as she saw there was someone else there. A beautiful woman, no, strike that, a Goddess, stood chatting with Tim and sipping a mug of tea. She looked up and smiled at Sailor as they entered the room. She had long chestnut hair, straight down past her shoulders, and big friendly hazel eyes, almond-shaped. Sailor half-smiled back, unsure of what to feel. Jealous. That’s what you are, admit it. She pushed the thought to the back of her mind.

  Bodhi introduced them. “Sailor, this is Soleil, now that’s not going to get confusing, is it?” He laughed. “Soleil is an old friend, my best friend, Claudio’s sister.”

  Soleil put down her mug and came to give Sailor a hug. Her smile was genuine, her manner relaxed. “Ciao, Bella Sailor,” she said in her broken English accent. “I’ve heard good things about you from these two. I’m very glad to meet you.”

  Sailor, warming to her, hugged her back. “And I, you. Hey, Tim,” she said over Soleil’s shoulder, and Tim waved his cereal spoon at her, his mouth full.

  Soleil released her, but stood with her arm around Sailor’s waist. “Now, before you start your job, let me warn you. Bodhi is an inveterate flirt. Don’t let him run rings around you.” She said it in a jokey tone, but Sailor knew she was telling her the truth and grinned at her boss. “I figured.”

  Soleil squeezed her. “Good girl. I’ll get you some coffee.”

  “Thanks.”

  Bodhi waved her towards a seat then glared at his old friend in mock-anger. “Don’t put her off me on her first day, Solly. Besides I don’t flirt with everyone.”

  Solly snorted as she handed Sailor a mug of coffee. “You even flirt with me, and I’m practically your sister.”

  “Never worked though, did it?”

  “I have taste. Besides, my heart belongs to another.”

  “Beyonce?”

  “That’s the one.”

  Sailor watched their playful banter, still a little envious of how easily they could joke with each other, but also seeing how platonic their relationship was. Tim was watching them too, even smiling at the teasing Soleil was giving his father.

  Soleil left soon after, giving Sailor another hug. “Despite everything I tease him about, he’s a good man,” she said to Sailor, “I’m sure you’ll love working for him. Sailor, do you know many people in L.A.? Bodhi said you’ve only been here for six months.”

  Sailor shook her head. “No-one. Unless you could call the clerk at the Seven Eleven a friend.”

  Soleil dug a pristine business card out from her purse. “Well, now you know someone new. Anytime you need some girl time, call me.”

  Sailor smiled shyly. “Thanks, I will.”

  Bodhi grinned at her. “She’s great, huh?”

  Sailor nodded. “Lovely, really lovely.”

  women of Florence with abandonment. Soleil herself didn’t have time for relationships. At thirty-one, she was one of the most successful art dealers in the world and traveled constantly. Bodhi had harbored a crush on his friend’s younger sister when he was younger, but Soleil, who had known about the attraction, had made it clear that it would never happen between them. Now they had cultivated a friendship, which was as important to Bodhi as his relationship with Claudio.

  He grinned at Sailor. “So, I just have to take Tim to school then we can get started. Why don’t you explore the house and grounds while we’re gone? I’ll be a half hour, tops.”

  “Okay.”

  Sailor wandered around the vast grounds of the mansion as she waited for Bodhi to return. The pool, which glittered blue in the morning sun, was huge and she wondered if Bodhi would mind if she, on occasion, did some laps in it on her lunch break. She felt her body was becoming untoned lately. She hated to go to the gym, but swimming was her thing, letting the water stream past her body. She loved it. She crouched down and dangled her fingers in the cool water. Bliss on a hot June morning in L.A. There was a small guesthouse across the other side of the pool, and she went over, trying the door and finding it unlocked, she went in. It was lite, open and airy inside, constructed to look like a beach house, all white painted wood, hurricane lamps and white furniture. A whole wall with solid bookcases and Sailor gave a silent ‘yay’ as she saw the books were a mix of fiction, non-fiction, and others. She picked out a Stephen King novel and scooched down on the couch to start reading. She missed this, having books on hand to bury herself in.

  She didn’t hear Bodhi come home so absorbed in the book. He stood, leaning at the doorway, watching her, a small smile playing around his mouth. God, she was adorable, all that dark hair shoved into a messy ponytail, her blue jeans flared over her Chuck Taylors, her pink t-shirt snug against her breasts and flat belly. Again, he reminded himself that she was his employee…

  “Hey, there.”

  Sailor looked up and grinned sheepishly. “Sorry. Bookshelves are like catnip to me.”

  “Hey, it’s all at your disposal, buddy, all of it. Even the guesthouse itself. You ever need to stay late; you can use this as your own. Hell, you could even move in, rent-free of course, if you want.”

  Sailor closed the book and replaced it back on the shelf. “There you go again, trying to give me stuff.” But she smiled as she said it. Bodhi shrugged.

  “I understand, but it’s just stuff, you know? I like to share.”

  Sailor nodded, smiling. “Shall we get to work?”

  It was maddening, Bodhi thought, to have her so close beside him, breathing in her clean scent of fresh linen and cotton, her hair escaping from the ponytail. But he wasn’t a kid anymore, wasn’t that man who would risk everything for a fuck. He liked Sailor as a person, regardless of his attraction to her, and throughout that day, he came to understand just how intelligent and efficient she was. He marveled at her ability to brainstorm ideas with him when, by her own admission, s
he knew nothing about the music business. Bodhi had setup a conference call with Emily Moore in San Francisco, and Sailor had handled it with confidence and grace, not afraid to ask questions when she needed. Emily, a sweet-natured woman, offered to represent Bodhi officially and Sailor setup a day to fly up and sign contracts the following week.

  “Come on a day when some of the honchos from Quartet are here, Bodhi. You can meet Dash and Roman, maybe Tomas too if he can drag himself away from Bay. You know the 9th and Pine are on tour and that Bay is seven months pregnant, right? Lunatic. So, Tom may be with her, but Roman and Dash will be here.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll let you and Sailor discuss dates if that’s okay.”

  “Wonderful. Speak soon, Sailor.”

  When Emily had ended the call, Sailor grinned at Bodhi. “Just between you and me, I will totally get star struck if I meet the 9th and Pine.”

  “And yet, not star struck at all with me,” Bodhi sighed, with mock-self-pity.

  “I’m just hiding it well,” Sailor shot back and Bodhi laughed. He stood up and stretched.

  “We got a lot done today, Sailor, I’m feeling reenergized. It’ll be good to get back to work, but not until I have this situation with Tim sorted out. I won’t neglect him for my work.”

  Sailor smiled at him. “See? I know you don’t think you’re a good dad, but you are.”

  Bodhi was quiet then, and Sailor bit her lip. “Sorry, was that inappropriate?”

  Bodhi shook his head. “No, it was a sweet thing to say, but I’m sorry, I don’t believe it. I can’t reach him, Sailor. When you’re not here, or when Solly or Claudio isn't around, he ignores me.”

  He sat down next to her. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Anything.”

  “Did you know what you were missing? Growing up without parents?”

  Sailor sighed. “It wasn’t like that really, we were all…taken care of. If that’s what you call caring for someone,” she added, almost to herself and Bodhi was intrigued.

  “Sailor…just what was this commune like? Are we talking Maharishi Yogi or Jim Jones?”

  Sailor chuckled uncomfortably. “Somewhere between the two…look, I really don’t want to talk about that. I’m sorry.”

  Bodhi nudged her with his shoulder. “It’s cool. Look, we need to get your passport arranged by Friday, so let’s get it done.”

  Bartholomew Foy stalked back to his office and slammed the door. Six months. Six months since his Sailor had run away and nothing. He’d spent millions trying to look for her, all across the country, but wherever she had hidden herself, she’d done an excellent job. As soon as Monica had returned from the store that day, fuming, and obviously scared of what Bart would do to her for losing Sailor, Bart had never known rage like that. For years, he had bided his time, waiting for Sailor to reach womanhood. He’d been tempted to take her before she reached twenty-five, dreaming endlessly of her caramel colored skin, her dark eyes. He remembered her mother, Devi, a single mother Indian immigrant, who he’d found on the streets of San Francisco and had fallen for. Devi, although grateful to him, had resisted his charms at first, then as he promised her that she would be taken care of, she had come to him, and to his bed.

  He’d murdered her just after Sailor was born. She’d been seeing another man, outside of the Children of Love. It was his first kill, but not the last, and now his bloodlust entirely for Sailor. This time, though, unlike with Tilly, he would do the deed himself, to punish her himself, to make her beg for her life before he took it. Ungrateful little whore.

  A knock at his study door interrupted his dark reverie. “What?”

  Salem, his slinky-hipped bodyguard, slipped into the room. “Something just pinged in California. One of our moles. She says she might, and I emphasize might, have spotted someone who resembles Sailor at a passport office in Los Angeles. The woman couldn’t be sure, but she alerted our Californian branch, and they’re following up.”

  Bart tapped his pen on his desk impatiently. “That’s it? That’s all they got?”

  Salem, the one person on his staff who wasn’t afraid of Bart, sat down in the chair opposite him. “It’s more than we’ve had since Sailor disappeared, Bart. And we have a contact at the passport office who is getting back to me later with anything he can find out.”

  “Good.” Bart put his pen down and nodded at his bodyguard. “Good. Salem, when I get my hands on her…”

  Salem beamed, showing a row of very even, very white teeth. “I can only imagine, Bart.”

  Bart’s eyes were dark, dangerous. “The only thing I’ll regret will be that I’ll only get to kill Sailor once.”

  Tim was chatting away happily to Sailor as they sat on Bodhi’s private plane on their way to the Caribbean late Friday night. After her first week as Bodhi’s assistant, Sailor was exhausted, but exhilarated. There was so much to do, to think about, but she loved that Bodhi instinctively trusted her to get the job done without interfering. Next week would be even more exciting when they flew up to San Francisco to meet Emily and the Quartet people.

  Sailor and Bodhi had discussed his move to the small, but more eclectic and inclusive label. “Look who they have on their roster,” Sailor enthused, “The 9th & Pine for one, but look at these others. They’ve phased out every reality star and TV station brat and the quality of their music shines through. You deserve this label, Bodhi, and they deserve you.”

  Bodhi grinned at her enthusiasm. “You cheering for them now? Sure it’s not to get an introduction to the band?”

  “Well, that too,” she quipped back, and they’d both laughed. “I have such a girl crush on Bay Tambe.”

  “You’re only human. But I think Tom Meir and their gazillion kids might object.”

  “How many now? I know she’s pregnant again.”

  “Three, including the belly-bound one.”

  Sailor studied him. “So, the ‘gazillion’ was a bit of an exaggeration, then?”

  He grinned. “A little.”

  There was a short pause. “Between us, did you want kids? I mean, you kind of got blindsided with Tim, didn’t you?”

  Bodhi sighed. “Now that isn’t an exaggeration. The truth is, no. It was never in me to have kids. But, Sailor, the second I knew Tim was mine, and look at us, I didn’t even need a DNA test to prove paternity, something shifted in me and I knew I would do anything for him.”

  Sailor felt tears spring into her eyes and she looked away.

  “Sailor King, are you crying?”

  She shook her head, but laughed as the tears escaped anyway. “It’s just the love in your voice just then. Tim is a lucky kid, no matter how he’s hurting now.”

  Bodhi half-smiled, but his eyes were troubled. “He’s hurting?”

  “He got left with a man he doesn’t know, shoved into a life that most kids only dream about. His mom calls him, what, twice a week? I know she’s going through some stuff but…” Sailor stopped herself, hearing the anger rising in her voice. This isn’t about you, Sailor.

  “Sorry,” she said to him, guiltily. “Not my business.”

  Bodhi rubbed her back. “You’re a part of this family, now, Sailor. You say what you feel whenever you feel like saying it.”

  Sailor took a deep breath in and shot him a grateful look. “I am sorry, though. But, Bodhi, I think Tim needs time to be resentful if he wants too…he’ll come around in his own time.”

  Tim was yawning now, and even though he was a whole ten years old and a big boy, he crawled onto Sailor’s lap, snuggled into her, and fell asleep. Sailor, who was barely bigger than Tim herself, locked her arms around the boy, shooting a glance over to Bodhi, hoping his feelings wouldn’t be hurt. Bodhi smiled at her, his eyes soft, and she saw no reproach in his look. Instead, their gazes locked for a long moment, before Tim murmured, fidgeting in his sleep, and broke the spell. Bodhi grinned, then got up to go to the bathroom. Sailor kissed the top of Tim’s dark head and fantasized that, yes, this was her family now.
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br />   It was the early hours of the morning before they reached the villa on the island and Bodhi carried his sleeping son to a bedroom off the main living area. Sailor went over to the huge glass sliding door on the opposite wall and slid it open. It led down to a small beach and Sailor could hear the ocean gracing the shoreline.

  “Beautiful.” She sighed, happily.

  “I agree,” she heard Bodhi and turned around, blushing when she realized he was looking at her, and not the ocean. He came to stand beside her, putting his hand on her back. “Are you tired?”

  She nodded. Bodhi stroked her hair back from her face. “The staff has made up all the beds, and there’s air conditioning, thank god. Do you want a drink before bed?”

  Sailor smiled. “Okay.”

  Bodhi grabbed a bottle of scotch and two glasses then nodded out of the door. “Let’s sit by the ocean; we can hear if Tim starts yelling.”

  The moon was full, so they had plenty of light as they sat side-by-side, drinking their scotch. Sailor made a face at first, but Bodhi just laughed. “Keep sipping, it’ll be your friend soon enough.”

  Sure Sure-enough, she began to enjoy the warm burn of the liquid in her throat. She chuckled a little.

  “What?” Bodhi was studying her, a smile on his face.

  Sailor shook her head. “If you only knew how much my life has changed in just one week, Bodhi. Hell, in six months.”

  “Then tell me,” he said gently. Sailor chewed on her lip for a while before answering.

  “You were nearer the mark with Jim Jones,” she began, not able to look at Bodhi. “The commune, hell, no, it’s a cult, I have to start calling it that. The leader is a man called Bartholomew Foy. Yeah,” she said, grinning at Bodhi’s face, “That’s his real name as far as I know. But then again, I don’t know if I believe anything about the man except one thing.”