Free The Billionaire's Jackpot: Betting on You Series: Book Four by Jeannette Winters Page A

she remembered leaving her cell phone on the coffee table when they first arrived. Thank God, because I stink at sitting still. Eagerly, she hopped off the couch and walked over to where she remembered leaving it. How had I missed seeing it before? She started to scroll for Drew’s number when she heard a familiar sound coming from the far side of the room. Looking around she saw nothing. I may be distracted enough to miss my phone, but not Blossom. Listening intently, she was disappointed as all she could hear was car horns from the street below. A clock on the mantle chimed. Two a.m.? Where could they be?
    With her phone in hand, she headed back to the couch when she heard it again, louder, more defined. This time it was an unmistakably deep, playful bark. Looking around again, she noticed a door slightly ajar that appeared to lead outside. KJ wasn’t one who ever considered herself easily scared, however the ride up to the sixtieth floor in a glass elevator had made her legs tremble, though she’d covered it well by playing off her shoes were killing her. Not a total lie. The thought of now being outside of the penthouse that high up wasn’t something she was sure she was ready for. I think I watched too many action movies where someone falls or is pushed to their death . With a soft, nervous laugh she wondered if it was too much to ask that they stay inside the entire time. Probably. Hearing Blossom’s playful bark again, KJ closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and summoned all her courage. Please let it be enclosed. Opening her eyes again, she headed to the open door.
    The rooftop looked entirely different from what she had envisioned and absolutely opposite of what the inside of the penthouse had looked like. An elaborate lush garden surrounded a softly lit stone waterfall. She would have been tempted to sit on one of the many chairs and enjoy the serenity of the moment, but once again Blossom’s bark called to her. Following the wooden plank pathway, she found her way to an open area. There was a sight worth waking for. Drew, standing with his back to her, wearing only swimming trunks. She was about to call out to him when she watched him throw a football in the opposite direction. Off to the side, she saw Blossom take a running leap into the air and catch the football before plunging into the pool.
    Walking over to stand behind Drew, she said, “I was worried that I’d left you two to fend for yourselves, and you might be bored.” KJ laughed as Blossom exited the pool and came right over to sit in front of Drew, dropping the ball at his feet. “Guess I called that one wrong.”
    Drew ignored Blossom, turned to KJ, and wrapped an arm around her waist. “You were sleeping so soundly I didn’t want to wake you.”
    That she had been. If only I could always sleep like that. “Thanks. Guess I had a touch of jet lag.” Picking up the football, she tossed it for Blossom. Never being good at sports, the football didn’t have the pretty spiral effect and land in the pool like it did for Drew. Instead it went far to the left, bounced off a potted plant, causing it to come crashing to the ground before it found its final resting place, a bed of assorted flowers near the wall.
    Deep laughter filled the air. “Good throw.”
    Way to go. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe it did that.” Stepping away from him, she tried to head to clean the mess she had just made.
    Drew reached and took hold of her hand, pulling her back to him. “Leave it. I’ll take care of it in the morning.”
    KJ wasn’t used to anyone taking care of her, not for big or small things. She and her sister had been on their own for most of their adult lives. Usually, it had been the way they’d liked it, each choosing their own path—she, the Marines, and her sister, an exotic dancer. “You have a high-risk profession, and someone could grab you off the street getting out of those clubs so late at night,” KJ had told her. Never had she