Free A Package Deal by Alexa Bond

Chapter 1
    “Just who are you expecting to walk through that door, our next investor?” Swallowing the last of his drink, Wes gazed quizzically at his friend.
    “Better.” Brad adjusted his tie. “Ella Jackson.”
    “You’re not seriously still interested in her?” Wes smirked. “What do you think, that there’s any chance in hell she’d go out with you again? How many times did you two break up, fifty?”
    “Twice. It was twice. And it wasn’t because we didn’t want to be together.”
    Looking back now, the reasons seemed ridiculous. The first time, he had ended it because he didn’t want to get too serious. It was high school, after all. He came to his senses later on but then school ended. Ella moved to New York not a week later, breaking it off with him just before she left.
    If he had a chance now, he wasn’t going to let her slip through his fingers again. Not this time. No way.
    “Yeah, I’m sure she’s been waiting the last ten years, just for another chance with you. This time, you’re going to have to get in line.”
    “What?” Brad’s whisky burned down his throat as he whipped his head around to stare at his friend. “What are you talking about? You pick now to decide you have a thing for her?”
    “I’m not picking now. You know damn well I always liked her too. I stepped aside back then, and I’m not doing it anymore. Not this time.”
    “I thought you only liked her as a friend. And you’re just mentioning this now?” An idea was already forming in Brad’s mind.
    “I sure didn’t think you would be interested in her after all this time.”
    “Hell yes, I am. She’s the one that got away.”
    They stared at each other. “There’s only one thing we can do,” Brad said.  
    “You’re thinking what I’m thinking?”  
    Brad nodded. This could work out perfectly. He didn’t have to say it out loud to Wes. Not that he would have anyway, standing in the middle of this crowd where they could easily be overheard.
    “We should have looked Ella up right after college.” Wes tapped on his empty glass. “You ready for another?”
    “Yup. Make it a double.”
    Thank Christ the bar was well-stocked. The constant flow of alcohol was the only way he could stand being at a high school reunion-. And, of course, the chance to see Ella again. To be honest, that was his entire reason for coming at all. Wes hadn’t been able to convince him it would be worth going to until he had mentioned her name when he was listing off the others who would be there.
    He smirked to himself as Wes headed off. They had been friends since childhood, sharing everything between them. But it wasn’t until they became roommates in college that they had learned about the joys of sharing women.
    Would Ella go for that? Both he and Wes had been talking lately about finding someone permanent for the two of them.  
    They were both on the same page but they had no luck so far, and Brad had to wonder if it was ever going to happen. It was getting discouraging, trying to find a woman who would be right there with them. They had yet to meet a woman who could get her head around the idea of being in a relationship with two guys at the same time.  
    Shifting around on his feet, Brad took a quick look around the room. Finding a seat would have been nice, but he was aiming to go unnoticed for as long as possible. Once his former classmates found out how successful he was, they wouldn’t leave him alone. Catching Ella before anyone else saw her was his number one priority and there was no time to waste listening to everyone else’s brilliant ideas about what he should do with his company.
    There was a couple he didn’t recognize walking into the room, and when they turned away, he saw her. Ella. Damn.
    Ella had always been pretty, but tonight, she was a knockout. Especially in her floor-length black dress. It was classy and sexy at the same time, all crossed straps and slightly shimmery material. Her ash blonde hair