Money (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 10) Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Episode 1

  Ariela: Sonoma County

  Riley: L.A.

  Ariela: Sonoma County

  Episode 2

  Dawson: Malibu

  Riley: L.A.

  Dawson: Malibu

  Ariela: Sonoma County

  Shelby: The Valley

  Episode 3

  Keatyn: Malibu

  Vanessa: Holmby Hills

  Riley: Santa Monica

  Ariela: Sonoma County

  Vanessa: Holmby Hills

  Riley: L.A.

  Ariela: Sonoma County

  Riley: L.A.

  Episode 4

  Riley: L.A.

  Dawson: Santa Monica

  Shelby: Sunset Boulevard

  Dawson: Santa Monica

  Vanessa: Holmby Hills

  Dawson: Holmby Hills

  Riley: L.A.

  Episode 5

  Dawson: Santa Monica

  Keatyn: Studio City

  Dawson: Santa Monica

  Shelby: Sunset Boulevard

  Keatyn: Malibu

  Shelby: Sunset Boulevard

  Riley: Sunset Boulevard

  Episode 6

  Riley: Santa Monica

  Dawson: Sonoma County

  Riley: Sonoma County

  Vanessa: Sonoma County

  Shelby: Sunset Boulevard

  Vanessa: Sonoma County

  Keatyn: Wedding

  Aiden: Wedding

  Keatyn: Wedding

  Shelby: Sunset Boulevard

  Knox: Wedding

  Keatyn: Wedding

  Riley: Wedding

  Copyright 2016 by Jillian Dodd

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, store in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the above author of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status or trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Jillian Dodd Inc.

  ISBN: 978-1-940652-47-4

  SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12th

  Asher Vineyards — Sonoma County

  ARIELA

  I’m lying across my bed talking to Riley on the phone like I used to do in high school.

  He’s in L.A. all week, and I’ll be at the vineyard getting everything set for Keatyn and Aiden’s wedding. We agreed to talk every night and decide at the wedding if we wanted to move forward with a relationship.

  I already know I do.

  I’m so glad we both ended up at Eastbrooke for homecoming. It’s hard to believe that neither of us had ever been back.

  Well, not that surprising for me but, I have to say, I was shocked he hadn’t gone either.

  For years, I’ve thought about—dreamed about—what I would say if I saw him there again, but the reality was better than I had imagined.

  I feel like we can move forward now. Not forget the past, but get past it—if that makes sense.

  And when Riley says, “I think that’s what this weekend did for me. When we said goodbye, I started focusing on what could be—what, hopefully, will be—and not on what should’ve been,” I feel even more hopeful, practically giddy.

  “That’s a big shift in mentality,” I say, then hear a shrill voice calling out Riley’s name.

  “Shelby, what are you doing here?” Riley says. “I told you I didn’t want to see you again.”

  I cringe when I hear the name Shelby. She’s the girl who was in his penthouse wearing practically nothing when Riley and I went there after dancing at the club.

  “I need to talk to you, Riley,” she says. “It’s important. Can I please come up?”

  Um, no! I don’t want her going anywhere with him! “Shelby, as in naked, leather-strap, threesome Shelby?” I ask, reminding Riley that I’m still on the phone.

  “Uh, hang on,” he says to me, doing something that muffles his conversation but still allows me to hear.

  “Whatever you need to say, you can say here,” Riley says to her.

  “God, you’re such an ass,” she hisses loudly. “I thought you might want to do this in private.”

  “I don’t want to do anything with you—in public or in private,” he says, causing my heart to swell. He loves me. I know deep down in my heart that he still loves me.

  And that’s all that matters.

  He told me he’s been with a lot of women but only been serious with one. Me.

  And I can handle it. I can be confident knowing that I was the only one to ever have his heart, regardless of what others may have done with his body.

  “Well, you’re going to have to now, Riley,” Shelby shrills. “Because I’m pr—”

  BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. The call drops.

  I quickly call back, but it goes straight to voicemail.

  I pick up one of the menus I was reviewing before Riley called and double check it for accuracy, but I can’t seem to concentrate because what I heard as the call ended keeps replaying in the back of my mind.

  I’m pr—

  I’m pr—

  I’m pr—

  Oh my God. Did she just tell him that she’s pregnant?

  Riley’s Penthouse - L.A.

  RILEY

  I’m wearing a huge smile as I get dropped off at my building and walk through the door, talking to Ariela on the phone.

  Having her come back into my life after so many years has been both excruciating and exhilarating. But this weekend changed things. We faced our past together and, in one week, we’re going to decide if we want to pursue a future together.

  As much as I want to be with her, honestly, I’m a little torn about it.

  Part of me wants nothing more than to pretend we never broke up. But the reality is that she’s married. And even though she filed for a divorce, I wonder if it’s too much too soon.

  In a very short time—on a whim—she came to California, was reunited with me, slept with me, filed for a divorce, got a new job, and faced her demons at Eastbrooke. I mean, how many more life changes can she throw at herself all at once?

  I loved her with everything I was in high school, and I was devastated when she left with nothing more than a goodbye.

  And since she’s come back, she’s wreaked more havoc in my life.

  Soon, I’ll have to decide if I want to risk another relationship with her. Even though she still looks like the girl I loved, she’s different—life, age, and time have that effect.

  “Riley!” A shrill voice stops me in my tracks, wiping the smile off my face.

  “Shelby, what are you doing here?” I ask, as she gets up from the couch in the lobby. “I told you I didn’t want to see you again.”

  “I need to talk to you, Riley. It’s important. Can I please come up?”

  I know girls like her. No way I’m letting her come up.

  Ever.

  “Shelby, as in naked, leather-strap, threesome Shelby?” Ariela ask
s in my ear.

  “Uh, hang on,” I say to her, putting the phone against my chest. Then I say discreetly, “Shelby, whatever you need to say, you can say here.”

  “God, you’re such an ass,” she hisses loudly. “I thought you might want to do this in private.”

  “I don’t want to do anything with you—in public or in private.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to now, Riley. Because I’m pregnant,” she says, uttering the words no man wants to hear from a three-night screw.

  “You’re what?”

  “Do you really want to do this here?” she asks, glancing toward my doorman.

  “Fine. Come up.” I drag her into the elevator. Once it closes, I say, “I don't know who you’ve been fucking, but if you’re pregnant, there’s no way that it’s mine.”

  “Yes, it is, Riley. I haven’t been with anyone since we broke up.”

  “We didn’t break up. You went to a few events with me. We fucked. And I used a condom every single time.”

  She shrugs. “I don’t know what to tell you. They aren’t one hundred percent effective. I’m sorry, Riley. I certainly didn’t plan on getting pregnant.”

  “Aren’t you on the pill?”

  “No, it made me fat.”

  I shake my head. I can’t fucking believe this. But I’m not stupid either. I go into my guest bathroom, grab a pregnancy test out of the cabinet, and then hand it to her. “Take this.”

  “Why do you have that?”

  “Honey, you’re not the first girl to tell me she’s pregnant.” I open it up and hand it to her. “Go pee on it, bring it out, and we’ll watch. See what happens.”

  She hesitates, just as they all do. “Um, I don’t know if it will work yet. I’m barely pregnant.”

  “So you didn’t do a test?”

  “Yes, I did a test, Riley. God, you’re being such an ass.”

  She’s right. I am. “I’m sorry. Please, for me, go take the test.”

  “I will, I’m just saying that they aren’t all as accurate as the one I took.” She lets out a dramatic sigh and goes into the bathroom, not bothering to shut the door. When she sees me watching her pee, she gives me a sexy smile.

  I turn around.

  Fuck.

  Of course, that’s what got me into this mess.

  Please, please, don’t let her be pregnant.

  I hear the toilet flush and turn around.

  “Here’s the stick, Riley. I’m going to sit down. Pregnancy is exhausting.”

  She flops down on my couch while I stare at the stick, willing the line not to change.

  But it does.

  I sit down on the couch next to her, holding my head. “I can’t fucking believe this.”

  She puts her hand on my thigh. “I know we weren’t together very long, but we had a lot of fun. And, if I’m being honest, I like you a lot. No, that’s a lie. I’m in love with you. If I had to get pregnant, I’m glad it’s your baby. I think we should just make the best of it.”

  I nod. If I am the father of her baby, I need to be a man. A father. “I agree. We’ll make the best of it.”

  She does a little bounce and smiles. “And we should get married right away. I don’t want to wait until I’m showing. I saw the sexiest dress, daddy.”

  “Don’t call me that.”

  “I’m sorry, but now you are one! So, it fits!” She wraps her arms around my neck. I used to like it. Now, I don’t. “And you should see this dress I found. It’s got a sexy, sheer bodice. You will love it.”

  “You’ve picked out a dress?” I ask incredulously. What. The. Ever. Loving. Fuck?

  “Yes. I had all weekend to think about things. I called, but you didn't answer. Where were you? And who are you on the phone with?”

  I look down and see that my phone is tightly pressed against my chest. “Oh, gosh. Ariela.”

  I examine my phone and see the call disconnected.

  Shit.

  Did she hang up on me? Did she hear what Shelby said? Does she hate me?

  How can this be happening now?

  “Ariela?” Shelby shrills. “Is she the girl who wouldn’t have a threesome?” She rolls her eyes. “Obviously, that won’t last long. You need someone like me, a lady on the red carpet and a freak in the bed. Speaking of that, when is the next premiere?”

  “I, uh—”

  “That’s okay, baby. We’ll worry about it later. We should talk about more pressing matters, like the wedding. I know they are hard to plan on short notice, but we should do it up right, don’t you think? And I found the name of the wedding planner who did Blake Lancaster’s wedding. They flew all their guests to Paris and had a whole week of parties. Wouldn’t that be so amazing?”

  I feel like I’m going to puke. “You can stop with the wedding talk, Shelby. We are not getting married.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. I'll take responsibility for the baby if it’s mine, and I will be part of its life—but that’s it.”

  Shelby’s lip puffs into a pout. She curls her shoulders to give me a clear shot of her cleavage as she gets teary. “You don’t have any idea what it’s like to grow up in a house without a father.”

  “No, I do not.”

  “I don’t want that for our baby, Riley. I want it to have a home. And speaking of that, I think I should move in with you. My place is shitty, and I don’t think Riley Johnson would want his baby growing up in such a place.”

  “I’ve never seen where you live. I really don’t know anything about you. Do you have a job?” How is it possible that I got a girl pregnant who I know nothing about? Especially when the only girl I ever wanted to get pregnant is finally back in my life.

  “Of course I have a job. I’m a cocktail waitress. That’s how we met.”

  “No, we met when you sat down next to me at a bar.”

  “It wasn’t very busy that night, so they let me off early. Melanie, who’s a bitch, was bragging that she was waiting on you and Knox Daniels and how she was gonna get a big tip. I told her big deal, that I was going home with you. And I did. To Paris. It was the most amazing first date ever.”

  While she’s rambling, I’m worrying about what Ariela may have heard. I’ve got to call her back.

  “So, let’s worry about the details later. I need to make a business call,” I lie, “and need some privacy. I’ll call you later this week after I’ve had some time to digest this.”

  And call my lawyer, I think to myself.

  “Oh, that’s okay. I won’t bother you. I brought my stuff. It’s all downstairs. While you make your call, I’ll get myself settled.”

  “Shelby, you are not moving in with me.”

  No fucking way.

  “If you saw my place, you wouldn’t say that.”

  “Then I’ll go see your place soon—after we have a paternity test.”

  “A paternity test? Seriously?”

  “Yes, seriously.”

  “You’re the only person I’ve slept with, I swear. I love you.”

  “Okay, time to go,” I say, ushering her to the elevator. She’s the last person I want to hear those three little words from.

  “But I don’t want to go,” she pouts. Honestly, I’m a little shocked at her pouting.

  “Shelby, I’m in shock over all this. Give me a few days to think about things, and I will get back to you.” I expect her to drop to her knees, like she usually does when she doesn’t get her way. In the past, she was very good at convincing me to do whatever she wanted when my dick was in her mouth. The fact that she doesn’t worries me. That’s how she managed to attend all three premieres rather than just the Paris one.

  She starts bawling.

  “I don’t want to be pregnant and alone. We used condoms, Riley. I didn’t want to get pregnant. It just happened. But now that I am, I’m so happy it’s your baby. We’ll have a beautiful life together. I’ve seen the pictures here of you with your family. Please don’t abandon me. Please don’t make me go throug
h this alone.”

  I sigh. “I won’t. I promise. And if your place is shitty, I’ll find you somewhere beautiful to live.”

  Her eyes brighten, and she throws her arms around me. “Really?”

  “Yes, just go home now, and we’ll get things figured out this week.”

  Apparently, this has appeased her for the time being, because she allows me to escort her downstairs and send her home with all of her belongings.

  I go back up the elevator, sit myself down on the sofa, and bury my face in my hands.

  Pregnant?

  What a fucking nightmare.

  I take my phone out of my pocket and stare at it, knowing I need to call Ariela back.

  But I can’t right now.

  I don’t know what the fuck to say.

  So I text her with a lame excuse.

  Asher Vineyards — Sonoma County

  ARIELA

  Riley: Hey, I have some business to deal with here and I’ll call you later.

  Business? I think.

  How can leather-strap, threesome Shelby be classified as business?

  Dawson’s beach house - Malibu

  VANESSA

  “It’s time for bed,” Dawson says to the girls, who are already dressed in pajamas and in their shared bedroom.

  “Thanks for letting me go to the pumpkin patch with you today,” I say, giving them each a hug.

  “But I’m not tired!” Harlow insists, even though her eyes tell a different story.

  “You have a big day tomorrow,” Dawson says. “You need to get a good night’s sleep.”

  “I’m excited to visit the school,” Ava says, looking up from her phone.

  “Who are you texting?” he asks.

  “Everyone.”

  “Like who?”

  “Mostly, I’m talking to Grandma and Fallon. Fallon is telling me all about the kids in her class. She likes a fifth grade boy named Keegan, but her friend likes him too. She says all the cute boys are in fifth grade.”