The Billionaire Playboy's Regret (Lark and Max) novel Chapter 1

Descending the escalator in the airport towards the baggage carousel, her bright blue eyes scanned the horizon looking for the one familiar face in the crowd which always made her trips home more tolerable.

“Lark!”

Ollie’s voice rang through the crowd as she jumped up and down like a pre-teen girl at a boy band concert instead of the approaching thirty-year-old CEO she was.

Lark giggled at her friend as she walked through the security barrier and into the wide-open arms of her best friend since birth. “Oh my god, Ollie, I missed you.”

“I missed you too. I’m so happy you’re here. I can’t wait to hit a club or ten.”

“Yeah, last time we hit the clubs I bailed you out of jail.”

“Was it my fault the man didn’t appreciate his wife would rather be with me than her? I mean look at me, Lark?” she waved her arms in front of her svelte, perfectly attired frame. “She knew damn well I was going to be a far better roll in the sack than his lumpy ass was going to be.”

“You beat him into the ground.”

“He hit me first.”

“Thank God there was video surveillance to prove it. I swear you must have Dad on speed dial.”

“Nope but Dad does. The triplets are causing ruckuses on campus at the university every other week. I swear they’re making it easier for my baby sister because Mom and Dad are so busy dealing with the triplet drama, Margot could come home drunk, high, and naked, riding a bull and neither of them would notice.”

“They have six kids,” Lark shuddered as they walked arm and arm to the baggage carousel. “I’ll never figure out why your mother got pregnant again when the triplets were three.”

“My great-grandmother called it,” Ollie grinned. The Villeneuve Witch was eerie in her predictions.

“I’m glad I’m neither related nor on her radar.” Lark smirked tossing her dark hair over her shoulders.

“She is at least a hundred years old now,” Ollie smirked. “She came to dinner a few weeks back and told Max he was about to find himself at a crossroads and he would have to choose between continuing his crotch-rotting behavior or finding true love. She told him it would be steep climb for him to get the girl who hates him and since he’s a man-w***e, there is far more likelihood his d**k will fall off than him having someone love him despite his behaviors. Dad was pissed.”

“Your Dad was angry she called him a man-w***e?” she tried not to react to the name of the man who once was the sole focus of her every teenage fantasy before he destroyed it.

“No, he was mad at Max because Max said his c**k wasn’t going to fall off because he uses rubbers and double downed and commented he was certain he was safe because they were the ones, he designs so he knows they’re fool proof.”

“Only Man-w***e Max would build an empire on s*x toys and condoms.” She made a face. “Your mother must be so proud.”

“You know who isn’t proud? Grandpa Gael. Good thing I’m his favorite grandchild.”

“I can’t believe he let you out of the office mid morning on a Friday.”

“It’s my office. I can do what I want. He nearly stroked out when I relocated the offices from Houston to Dallas. It didn’t take him long to come along though once he knew I was staying where my parents are.”

“You’re such a daddy’s girl,” Lark teased her best friend, tugging on one of her long spirals of curls.

“I really am. I spent four years in Houston, and I swear we facetimed so much every single day, my data plan was useless.” She looked to Lark tellingly, “you know what I’m talking about. Don’t tell me you don’t chat with your dad every day.”

“My Dad and I chat every day, so what? I talk to Mom more. I mean, am I a daddy’s girl? Sure, but I’m also a mommy’s girl and a Nana’s girl. I miss them. Houston has been a wonderful place to start my career, but corporate law is really cutthroat. I can handle it, but I swear I need to scream into a pillow at least once a day.” She reached for her bag as it came around the carousel.

“Is that all you brought?” Ollie lifted an eyebrow.

“Yes, it’s all I brought.” She decided now was as good a time as any. “The moving truck is bringing the rest.” She started to walk away from Ollie pulling her suitcase behind her.

“Lark!” Ollie yanked her back, “moving truck? You’re moving back to Dallas?”