Entwined Hearts: A Billionaire Romance 

. Within the air remained the warmth of laughter and conversation, though Jayla couldn't shake off the feeling gnawing at

self, her voice light. "I just love Sarah. She's such a

odded in agreement with her sister

lucky to

ine what life would be

r between her sisters. Instead, it was back in the fading light of the evening, watching Sarah walk out the door-the flash of coldness in her eyes, the shor

forever. She wouldn't-* With a short shake of her head, perhaps to clear the doubt, she hitched herself. Refocusing on the cho

ft drawing her from her reverie

ance at her sisters. "Yeah, I'm fin

ething was off, though she said nothing more. She handed Jayla anothe

h in a wide yawn and stretched her arms over her head. "I'm go

the stairs, Jayla's voice cut

d, her hand on the banister, her

nervous edge. The words hung heavy in her mouth, but recalling what she had seen,

ce softer now, cautioning. "You were talking to someone. A

e blinked, her expression unreadable, but for a fleeting second, there was a flicke

e of her hand dismissing it. "That's n

epping closer. "N

talking at the gallery, and then I ran into him again. He is harmless." She shrugged, the seams of her lips chiseled into a sheepis

counter, exhaling a sigh of relief. "See? Jayla, you were making

herself. "I guess I overreacted." Jade smiled and leaned out to give Jayla's arm a gentle squeeze. "I appreciate that you were looking out

e way he'd spoken to her and how his hand had brushed her, still made her shiver. She didn't want to freak out Jayla or Jasmine, not when sh

her room. *Or had it been politeness?* Te ah, she was going t

rs in th

oft glow of an enormous flat-screen mounted on the wall. The parlor could have easily been the cover in one of those mo

g a magnificent view of the city's twi

bbed from their vending machine in the corner of the room, while Jayl

AI assistant, responding with its robotic yet oddly soothing

responding, "Set it to a cool-not

air through it softly. Jasmine kicked her feet up onto the coffee table and grinned

omantic movie. The screen lit up the room, casting soft shadows on the wal

ther side of it stood James-first looking at his watch in great amusement. Not seeing the door open, even af

bed his thumb onto the little metal plate, entering the emergency code on the fin

his way toward the parlor. A snide grin spread across his face;

h, he suddenly leaned i

und much for instinct-her fist perfectly connected to James's face. A loud thud re

flying to her mouth in horror. "James!

catch her breath, clutching at her sides as she wiped away

cted hit, could wear a grin through it and s

gging him tightly in an apologetic man

k up on you again." Finally, the mayhem complete, Jasmine stepped back, her face aglow with curi

n his eyes nothing but playful. "You don't re

cocked in confusion. "Bi

"Come on, Jas, you've been look

er sister a knowing look. "

ealization hit. "The summer

into a second hug. "Yes, the biggest nig

. "Oh my God, how could I have f

on on the couch, taking a second lick of her

r eyes at Jayla. "Just a gala? You know how much I look fo

up to her lips. "I know, I know. But you act l

inning at him, enjoying the exchange. "Ig

nyone gets it the way you do, Jas. You're probably the only

orn. "Well, let me just remind you, Jayla-you missed last year and y

, her eyes rolling pl

just that moment before visible in all its glowing beauty, faded to black behind sleek and dark p

love to stay longer and continue arguing about the gala, but it is la

t resist teasing. "You work too much, James. I'm starting

s. Don't worry." He finally turned to Jayla, giving her a quick wave. "And you t

aughed.

the house sounded quieter again-the soft humming of the air conditioning was

he and Jasmine exchanged a glance; still, both were smiling from the interaction with James, but for Jayla, in an instan

s soon as her bedroom door shut behind her, the silence wrapped her up like a blanke

ame flashed in her mind that they hadn't spoken in days, gnawing at her. There had been something unresolved the last time the

Jayla sat on the edge of her bed, listening to the soft ringing on the oth

, Ja

at her lips. "Hey, Axel. Wh

ans in the background, he said, "Yeah, I know, sorry about that-I've been s

d her tone took on an amused color. "C

d hum on the call. "Yeah believe it or not, I'm pretty decent in

mile spreading across her face. "I never would'v

stove. "You'd be surprised. Maybe I'll

let herself enjoy the comfort of the conversation with Axel.

n Axel spoke again, his tone casual. "How about Seabreeze Cove? It's this little beach spot a

a day at the beach with Axel, the sun, the waves, the relaxed conve

e on Axel's end, followed by a new voice. It was s

blade. "Who are you talking to like that? And

a fr

kably close. She wasn't just in the bac

rled for a way to make sense of what she had just heard. Her hand went tight a

he whispered low her

la could hear the soft sound of Axel breathing, the clink of the pan as if he'd s

rained to keep control of the si

er this time, and oozing with suspicion. "Who are you talking to

just the words she spoke but the tone-entities of familiarity and intima

ke that? Jayla's chest grew tight with confusion and pain while th

r voice this time firm in dem

ting stillness between them, the weight o

t silence,

rd spoken, every second shared, now seemed to have bee

efore she even realized it, she had tig

Jayla stared down at her phone, her thoughts jumbled up in hurt, anger, an

frozen in place. And ringing in the back of her mind

o's