Read One Night With the Billionaire: Book Three for Free Online Page A

that Chase had to cancel at the last minute in order to make an emergency trip to China to deal with some supply chain issues with his company. There will be time for them to meet later. Lots of time, Jason hopes.  
    Still, he was one of two people at this party Jason was looking most forward to introducing Kaia to.  
    The second person is walking toward them wearing an elegant gown, and a beatific smile on her face.  
    “Jason,” Elise says fondly, standing on her tiptoes in order to reach him for a hug. “How are you?”  
    “I’m well,” he replies.  
    “I can see that.” She smiles at Kaia. “I’m guessing it has a lot to do with this beautiful young lady right here.”  
    Jason slides his hand down to rest on the small of Kaia’s back in a show of support. “It does,” he replies, beaming down at her.  
    “Kaia, this is Elise Whittington. She was my mother’s best friend. She took me in and raised me after my parents died. Elise, this is my girlfriend, Kaia.”  
    Elise’s entire face softens at the mention of the world ‘girlfriend,’ and she looks up at Jason with the kind of affection and pride he hasn’t seen from her in a long time.  
    “Kaia,” Elise says softly. “It’s so nice to meet you.”  
    “It’s nice to meet you, too.”  
    “You’re just as lovely as Jason described you.”  
    With a blush, Kaia looks down at the ground, then gives Jason a quick glance. “Thank you,” she replies.  
    “I never thought I’d see the day,” Elise teases, slapping Jason lightly on the arm. “Tell me, Kaia, what is it that you do?”  
    “I own a small graphic design business,” she explains. “I work on corporate logos, things like that. Jason told me you’re a professor at Stanford.”  
    “That’s right! Macroeconomics. But I’m not going to elaborate on that, unless you’re looking for a good cure for insomnia,” Elise replies with a laugh. “Are you having a good time?”  
    Kaia nods enthusiastically. “I am. I’ve never been to something like this before.”  
    Elise steps forward, and slides her hand through the crook of Kaia’s elbow, then leads her toward the door. “They’re all the same,” she says. “Write a check, eat terrible food, then get bored to death by the lack of conversation.”
    Kaia lets out an unguarded laugh. “That’s kind of what I figured.”  
    “We’ve all made our donations,” she says. “There’s a darling cafe just around the block that’s a bit of a secret. Why don’t we all go get some coffee there? I’d love to get to know the woman who makes Jason smile like he’s looking at the sun.”  
    Kaia grins, and looks back at him, like she wants him to give her the okay. He’s more than happy to do that; when he decided to introduce Kaia to Elise, the two of them getting along like this was just about all he could’ve hoped for.  
    When they exit the building, Jason looks around, and notices that Paul isn’t far behind them. Elise is chattering away, and Kaia’s laughing at something she said. Jason’s lost in the sound of it, and that’s when a loud shot rings out through the crowd.  
    He acts on instinct, wrapping his arms around Kaia and Elise, shielding their bodies from view of the street, pressing their backs against the nearest building.  
    He’s got them covered from almost every angle. Whoever’s shooting at them will have to get through him first.  
    Jason is wild-eyed and frantic, his heart pounding out of his chest, breathing ragged. If he can just keep them protected long enough for Paul to find whoever’s shooting at them, everything will be okay…
    “Jason.”  
    “ Jason .”  
    He’s pulled out of his thoughts by Kaia’s gentle but insistent voice, and her hand cupping his cheek.  
    “What? What is it?”  
    “It was just a car backfiring,” she explains slowly, like he’s some kind of wild animal she doesn’t want to scare off. “It’s okay. We’re okay.”  
    “It