The Barefoot Groom: Bachelor Billionaire Romance (A Last Play Companion) (2 page)

This had London taking pause.

Marcia didn’t bat an eye. “Plus, a forty thousand dollar bonus, to cover your student loans.”

This got London’s attention. “What?”

“Think about it.” Marcia turned back to London, holding a folder out. “I’ve already had the contract drawn up. If you do this article to my satisfaction, you get the bonus, and I’ll make you my VP and give you the raise.” She hesitated. “You could afford to travel.” She lifted her shoulder. “If you think about it, I’m not asking you to do anything you’re not trained to do. I’ve read your portfolio. You’re good at sniffing out the truth. The real story. I saw those articles you wrote for your college paper exposing the corruption in athletics. That’s all I’m asking you to do now. This guy is a fraud, and I want you to use your skills to prove it to the world.” She pulled open the folder and put it down flat on the desk, scrawling something else on it. Then she picked it back up and shoved it at Marcia. “You leave for the retreat in two days.”

London winced. “I’m supposed to go to Nebraska next week. My brother’s on military leave for a month, and I told him I’d be there.”

Marcia flashed a smile. “Don’t disappoint me, London. If you do, you can go to Nebraska and don’t bother coming back.”

“
W
hat do
you mean you’re not up for this week?” Sterling Pennington, movie star extraordinaire and local art gallery owner, sat next to Cooper as Hunter James’ wedding wound down.

Hunter and Summer had just left on their honeymoon. People from all over Jackson blew bubbles and watched them drive off in their limo to some exotic location Hunter had refused to tell anyone about. Even his best friends.

Cooper had worn the tuxedo and done the media smile for all the pictures. It’d been a pleasure to use his facility to host the wedding and reception. But now, as he sat with Sterling on the rooftop of his home, watched the help clean up, and listened to the last, faint sounds of the dance music, his heart ached. “I’m disenchanted, my friend.”

Sterling was not one for pity parties, and definitely not for one for the Junto boy he felt the closest to. He especially didn’t want to hear it now that Hunter James had just dropped out of the Bachelor Billionaires Club. “You think
you’re
disenchanted?”

Cooper shrugged, sipping his drink. “Been thinking I might go away for awhile. Find myself.”

“You just built this place,” Sterling said.

Cooper thought about the beautiful convention center and house. “Wanna buy it? You could host movie people or something.”

Sterling scrunched up his face. “Ah, no.”

They both sat in silence for a few moments.

Sterling turned to him. “Your retreats are the perfect place for you to meet attractive, single women. You’re the most enlightened man I know. You should find someone. Have fun.”

Cooper snorted back. “Yeah, I’m the relationship expert. I’m not going to hook up with any of the participants.”

“Why?”

He scoffed. “Not very professional.”

Sterling remained quiet. Then he sighed. “Look, I know she died. It was tragic. I get that.”

“Shut up.” He never talked about Nadia.

Sterling was lounging on the chair next to him, his tie halfway off and his eyes closed. “Dude, I gotta get home and go to bed. That party was outrageous.”

Letting himself relax and doing a refocusing exercise, he thought of the karaoke style song the guys had done for Hunter. “Just Montana and Cam up there would have been good, but I think you and I just made us all sound like a pack of howling wolves.”

Laughing, Sterling ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, you don’t get many chances to have Hunter pretty much let you mock him in every way without repercussions. Anyway, I think Hunter’s gonna be on cloud nine for a while. That’s why you should read your own darn book and take your own advice, or take Hunter’s advice, and get back on the horse and try again. You could be the next groom.”

The center of Cooper softened. He took a swig of his water bottle. “Ah, no.”

“Why? It’s what your whole life is about—people getting together and being happy.”

Cooper hedged, unsure of how to explain himself. “I used to believe people could be happy together. I still do. Just not me.”

Sterling didn’t speak for a second, giving him a once over. “Dude, you’re kinda messed up.”

Cooper didn’t respond.

Sterling shook his head. “You’re going to get through this, buddy. Just do what I do.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, if I’m having a hard time, I look for another movie to throw myself into. Be somebody else. Focus on other things besides my life.”

Cooper sighed. “But you have to come back to your own life. After. Right?”

“Shut up.”

Cooper sighed. “Pretending to be someone else is never the answer.”

“I do it for a living, it’s different.”

“Is it?” Cooper challenged, not wanting to confront Sterling about the fact whenever it got personal, he always changed the topic. He looked away.

“What?” Sterling asked. “Your head looks busy.”

Cooper rubbed his chin. “The reason I do what I do is to help people become fulfilled.”

“What are you even talking about?”

“Fulfilled.”

“Ah, the illusive ‘You complete me’ mantra?”

Cooper shook his head. “No, the ‘I complete myself’ mantra. On Maslow’s hierarchy of needs the bottom two principles cover food, health, safety, and money. That middle rung, though, always hangs me up. With Nadia, I thought I had the upper levels of esteem and self-actualization, but I didn’t.” He sighed. “I guess that’s what keeps me in business.”

Sterling stood. “You’re making no sense.”

Cooper tried not to get frustrated. “Come to a class, and maybe you’d find out what I’m talking about.”

Sterling scoffed. “Right, you mean I could be as happy and content as you are.”

The dig stung a bit. He flashed a mock smile. “Wow, and you wonder why women don’t open up to you.” Yes, he had just used Sterling’s insecurities against him.

Sterling let out a long breath. “I told you she said that in
confidence
.”

“Sorry.” Cooper rolled his eyes. “Man, we sound like a couple of women.”

Sterling laughed and stood up. He put a hand on Cooper’s shoulder. “Dude, just find a girl and go for it.” Sterling patted his shoulder and then walked toward the stairs that led to the dance floor. “Get out of your head and live a little.”

“Have a good night.” Cooper gave him a wave.

Sterling’s words, even though they were meant to help, brought back all the reluctance Cooper had felt earlier.

Sterling said, “I’ll be around this week. You coming to the gallery on Wednesday for Summer’s feature?”

“Yeah.”

“See you then.”

As Cooper watched his friend head to the parking lot, all the melancholy rushed back into him.

Another week. Helping people figure out what they wanted in their own lives.

And not having any clue about what he wanted in his own.

A
fter a six-hour
plane ride from New York to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, London checked into the massive convention center, went up to her hotel room, and threw herself on the bed. The first meet-and-greet wasn’t for another hour, and she wanted to simply close her eyes for a few seconds and try to forget she was here undercover. Try to forget she was here at all.

Rolling onto her back, she reached for the book Marcia had shoved into her hands. Tying to catch up on her other work, London hadn’t even opened it on the plane. She stared at the title
Trap that Man
. Oh brother.

She thumbed through it.

One page had a chapter called “No sex before marriage.”

She was slightly impressed. Was he really teaching that?

Another section said,
“
Hold to your standards. Be who you are, but work on yourself every day to become better. Kinder. More giving. And you’ll attract others like you.”

Dillon’s biggest flaw was a complete lack in the kindness department, and he had hated the fact that she had wanted to wait until they were married to have sex.

Obviously, he hadn’t waited. A dull ache filled the center of her chest, but she sucked in a breath and sat up.

No, she wouldn’t focus on Dillon. He’d taken up way too much of her life.

Cringing for a second, her mind flashed to an image of Dillon and her ex-roommate. The roommate she had thought was her bosom friend. Her Diana Berry from
Anne of Green Gables.
She had once thought she’d lucked into sharing an apartment with her.

Needless to say, the past six months had been rough. Getting the money for a new apartment, no roommate this time, had been tough.

It had felt like the energy she’d first loved about New York was dulled by the pain of rejection overnight. She’d lost weight. Hadn’t been interested in much except work. She’d thrown herself into trying to raise funds for her nonprofit website, but she had no clue how to do that. So she’d spent hours researching what others were doing and more hours pouring over news coverage of what was happening in the world that no one seemed to be talking about. One topic always stuck out because of the seriousness of the issue and lack of media coverage—women and children being taken and never heard from again.

There was this niggling feeling she should just quit her job and focus on her nonprofit. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the money to do that.

Her phone buzzed, and she sat up and reached for her purse.

Her older brother’s face and his military garb flashed across her phone.

Hating that she’d resorted to a cowardly text to let him know she wasn’t coming home, she reluctantly pressed accept.

“Hey!” She forced enthusiasm into her voice.

“Hey whatever. Why aren’t you home? Do you know who’s on KP the whole time? And don’t even get me started on mucking out stalls.” Her brother’s teasing voice greeted her.

Adjusting the phone, pulling it back, and pressing speaker, she laid down, hating the feeling of failing him. “I—”

“Where are you?” He demanded. “Mom said you had to go somewhere for work? What work keeps you from your favorite brother who you only get to see every couple of months?”

Closing her eyes, she let out a low whine. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“Where are you?” He demanded again.

“I’m at a work thing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.”

“Wyoming? For your magazine?”

“It’s an undercover thing. Long story.”

“Sounds pathetic.”

She grinned and sat up. She and her brother had different ways they thought the world should be saved, but both of them were passionate people. Tom wanted to serve his country, and he was definitely the type to do God, family, country. All in. “Shut up.”

He laughed. “Seriously, I want to see you!”

A million reasons she couldn’t go home went through her mind. Then she had an idea. “I’ll talk to my boss and see if I can come next week. You don’t leave until Thursday, right?”

He sighed. “I just got orders. We ship out this Friday.”

“What?” Her heart plunged.

“I know.”

Tears of frustration filled her eyes. “Tom, I’m … so sorry.”

He didn’t speak for a second, and she could hear him sigh. “It’s okay, sis.”

The worst part was she knew when Tom was really upset he acted like he wasn’t.

“Tom …” Her mind whirled, trying to find a way she could see him.

“Sis, it’s okay. I guess you’ll just have to make a trip to the Middle East.”

Blinking, she was grateful he was trying to crack a joke. “Right.”

He snorted. “Are you doing okay?”

She hadn’t seen him since Hawaii. He’d gone straight back to Afghanistan.

“I’m fine.” She answered quickly.

“Right.”

“What?”

“You always answer too fast when you’re lying.”

“No, I don’t,” she said quickly again.

He laughed. “I miss you. Should I drive up to Wyoming?”

“No. I mean, I miss you, but enjoy Mom and Dad. I’ll see you next time. I promise.”

He let out a slow breath. “See, baby sister, you’re sounding awful skittish. Next time, you better come home or I’ll go to the big city and track you down.”

She laughed, remembering how he looked dressed in military gear. “Only if you put the black paint under your eyes.”

“Don’t think I won’t.” He broke off into a laugh. “I’ll find you in the middle of the night and scare you half to death.”

“Tom, I am sorry.” It felt like everything had gotten in her way to see him this trip home.

He sighed into the phone. “What’s the scoop on jerk face?”

She smiled. Her brother’s sense of loyalty was much appreciated. She sighed. “I see he’s still going out with my loser ex-best friend.”

“Listen, don’t worry. I always thought Victoria was too loud and chatty like a Chihuahua. Dillon deserves her.”

She smiled wider then she should at the image. “Thanks.”

“Are you okay?”

Suddenly, she couldn’t answer, could barely breathe.

“London?”

She blinked and sniffed.

He made a frustrated sound. “So, tell me again why you are on this assignment?”

She sucked in a deep breath. “I’m de-bunking a relationship guru.”

“What?”

“Exposing him.”

“Why?”

“Because …” Her mind went blank. She realized she still wasn’t sure why either. “I just am.”

He snorted. “And the public criticizes American soldiers when they say they're simply taking orders.”

Taken aback, she sniffed “Are
you
okay?”

He hesitated. “Yep.”

“Is all the top secret stuff getting to you?” He’d been on some missions he couldn’t tell them about. He couldn’t even tell them where exactly he’d been. Not being able to talk about it made her worry about him.

“It always gets to me,” he said in a more than usual serious tone.

All London wanted to do was be there. At home. Sitting at their long, wooden table with a piece of her mother’s apple pie in front of them. She wanted to talk to him. Really talk to him. Find out what the catch in his voice was about. All she could do now was repeat the question. “
Are
you okay?”

After a brief pause, he answered. “Good, fine. Perfect. So I’ll see you next time? Christmas?”

Wishing it were different, she thought of how disappointed she felt. “I’m marking Christmas on my calendar.”

“Promise?” he asked.

“Promise.”

“I’m holding you to it.”

London hung up and flopped back onto the mattress. Lately she felt like she was disappointing herself and everyone else in her life. Closing her eyes, she thought of what a bad sister she was.

Her phone buzzed again.

Reluctantly, she picked it up.

“Hello.”

“So you’re there, and you’ve already scooped it.”

Marcia.

Anger wove through her gut, and she got up and off the bed. “Marcia, I will write a fair article. I’m not just hunting for bad things.”

Marcia made a noise between a growl and a grunt.

“I’ll find the truth.”

Another sigh. “Fine, just make sure the truth is interesting.”

“Okay.” London checked the time, realizing she’d missed the opening kick off to the retreat. “I have to go.”

“Bye.” Marcia hung up.

London stared at the phone and shook her head. That was so Marcia.

London picked up the itinerary for the weekend.

She kind of wanted to go down to get some food since they’d told her there would be an awesome buffet. Even more than that though, she wanted some time in the hot tub. She dug her swimsuit out of the suitcase. London didn’t care about missing the opening kick off, and right now, thinking about defying her boss made skipping even more appealing.

How would Marcia know anyway? Plus, what good would it do to mingle with singles? She needed to wait until tomorrow, read his stupid book, and be prepared for the workshops and her one-on-one with him. Somehow she was lucky enough to have one of the first slots to meet with him.

After changing, she grabbed a towel and flip-flops and the book then rushed out of her room and down the stairs. She would research in the hot tub. This would be the perfect time and place for solitude. She could focus on the book. Then, she would treat herself and order room service.

When she got to the lobby, she noticed the guests were mostly heading to the buffet dining room.

Trying not to make eye contact with anyone, she rushed through, sliding her key into the pool area.

To her utter dismay, the pool was packed, and the hot tub was overflowing. “I guess everyone wanted alone time.”

After a minute, she realized that wasn’t exactly the case. As she walked around the edges, she couldn’t help but notice the darting eyes of both men and women. Right, this was a singles retreat. Ugh. Everyone here was just dying to interact in some way.

Precipitously, her eyes met the eyes of a man getting out of the hot tub. A gorgeous man, Italian looking, slender, but muscled. His brown eyes looked determined. He moved to her side, putting out his hand.

Reluctantly and awkwardly, she put hers out.

“I am Dante. Yes, Dante, but unlike the seven circles of hell, I could provide you with seven circles of love.”

Tugging back her hand, she gave him a small smile and looked behind him at the other men in the pool, who appeared to be enjoying the little scenario. She suspected it was some type of bet.

She leaned into him. “Oh, Dante.”

Apparently he liked that reaction. He put a hand around her waist and whispered, “Yes.”

“If you talk to me, look at me, or even make eye contact with me again, I’ll kick you in places that will surely remind you of the seven circles of
anguish
. Got it?”

Like a crocodile snapping his mouth shut, Dante pulled back, acting like he’d been burnt.

She glared at him and walked to the exit sign that led to the outdoor area. A bit nervous and angry, she threw a glare to the other men in the pool and pretended she was Superman and could laser beam them. All she could think about was standing on the beach in Hawaii. Her parents, brother, and relatives were all there. All ready to see her get married. And Dillon was nowhere to be found.

She circled the whole area back to the other entrance, and then went out the door. Hating being here. Hating the singles scene. Hating … her job. Why had she let Marcia talk her into this? She was definitely not the right person for this article.

Heaving in a long sigh, she let the stupid energy of male ego roll off of her and took a cleansing breath. Thinking of what her brother would have said to them made her smile. He’d always been very protective of her, and he probably would have threatened to use his big knife in some way to skin some part of them or other. It’d been annoying to her in high school because all the guys had been afraid of him. Terrified. After she’d gone to college and he’d gone into the military, it’d been funny. More recently, Tom had offered to hunt Dillon down and put him through different forms of torture if she wanted him to.

Now, after all the times he’d watched out for her, she couldn’t make it to Nebraska when he’d come halfway around the world to see everyone. What a disappointment. Stupid tears budded in her eyes.

As she left the pool area, she entered a huge cobblestone area. Tiki torches surrounded what appeared to be a dance floor complete with a stage for a band. Walking through, she relaxed, happy to be getting away from the crowd of people in the pool area. Looking up, she saw a huge mansion just across a wide expanse of lawn. The house was surrounded by tall, white iron gates. Truly, the house looked like a southern plantation with its wrap-around porch, large pillars and black shutters around the windows.

Hesitating, London stared up at it for a few seconds. She noticed steps on the side of the house that led up to the roof and was perplexed by it. The steps seemed odd and out of place. Turning, she looked at the hotel grounds behind the conference center. There were lush areas with newly planted smaller trees and what looked like the start of an English looking maze.

She began heading toward the grounds that were obviously for the guests. Then she paused.

She needed a hot tub.

She saw one right there over the white, wrought iron fence.

Could it be his house? Cooper’s?

No. Would he have his house right next to his convention center? No way.

Before she could pull herself away, she noticed a gap. She moved to the crack and pushed the gate completely open.

The sun was setting, filling the sky with colors that reflected off the water.

London didn’t know what was happening, but her feet were being pulled to the hot tub. The one on the property. Maybe it
was
part of the retreat facilities, she rationalized.

Somehow, she knew it wasn’t, but like Goldilocks in the three little bears’ home, she couldn’t prevent herself from rushing toward the beautiful hot tub. It had a waterfall behind it and was lit up. It was bubbling and gloriously unoccupied.

A pang of naughtiness went through her. Yes, she would probably get kicked out. She was probably being watched by some camera. Or maybe not. The thought thrilled her.