The Romance Challenge, Complete Series Box Set: BBW Hot Alpha Billionaire Romance (16 page)

Her shoulders dropped again, and she
looked down at her lap. I reached out to touch her, but she jerked her head up,
a flash of anger in her eyes.

"We didn't live the good life. Six
months later, Mom kicked him out. She got tired of his drinking and suspected
he cheated on her. Turns out she was probably right. He married again soon
after he left us, a young, blond woman he met at work. Traded Mom for a newer,
shinier model. He sent us money, but Mom went back to work full time. We did
okay. I finished college on grant money, bought clothes at the thrift store and
learned a million ways to cook hamburger. I got a decent job, and Michelle and
I moved to a small house together."

She poked her burger with a French fry.
"Mom met a guy, married him, and moved to Wisconsin. Michelle got
attacked, we moved away from that house to an apartment, together. That didn't
work out, so now she lives by herself and so do I. I got the job at Cameron
Industries and really want to keep it. Anything else you need to know?"

The last line she delivered in a bitter
tone.

"I didn't mean to pry, and I don't
want to dredge up bad memories. No clue to what your dad was talking about?
What it might have to do with that statue, or why anyone would want to take it,
and then track you down?"

"None. My mom just told me, Dad said
the statue was Michelle's guardian angel. That she should keep it close and
never get rid of it. I have no idea what he meant."

Her eyes held enough pain for one day.

"Relax, until this evening. We're only
scheduled for two hours tonight. Take some time off. Enjoy the pool,
paddleboard, watch the sunset again. You've been working hard."

She nodded and gave me a weak smile. Dark
smudges showed under her eyes that hadn't been there before. I would find a way
to put a full smile back on her face, to bring the light back to her soul.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

What could Dad have put in that statue?
I sat at my little patio table and watched the
sky, imagining animals, monsters, and all kinds of other creatures in the
clouds. Dad never got into games much, so if he hid an object, it had to be
valuable, not just fun. And remembering his excitement when he brought the
angel home and danced around with mom, he had a reason for giving it to
Michelle.

I stood and stretched. Enough. My brain
was turning to mush. I decided to follow Nathan's advice and take a break. From
everything. I didn't want to think about the job, about the statue, or about
Nathan. And I sure didn't want to think that I'd put my family or myself in
danger, by tracking down that angel.

So I went down by the dock, to the area
that had the water toys, and found a helpful woman to show me how to use a
paddleboard. Way easier than I imagined. I only went out a little way into the
bay, far enough to see plenty of the ocean's floor. I could skim along the
shallow water and look down at the sea grass, the fish, and pieces of coral.
Then I sat on the dock and let my feet dangle until they shriveled up like
prunes.

After that, my mind and body relaxed
enough so I could take a short nap. When I woke up, I felt way better than I
had all day. I puttered around until sunset, working on my freelance editing
job, pushing all other concerns away. Mostly. Wanting more time alone, I
enjoyed the sun's evening show from my little hideaway outside my door. Cloudy,
but still blasting out colors like a crazy gumball machine. I would sure miss
this ritual.

Then, since I couldn't blank my thoughts
any longer, I sat on the couch with a toasted bagel in one hand and the angel
on my lap, and concentrated. What would our father have done so we could
"live the good life?" I knew he wasn't perfect, and that stuff went
on at his job he didn't tell us about. Bad stuff. But I couldn't see him
stealing, or committing any kind of crime, even to provide for his family. Dad
was honest, at his core.

"Tell, me, little angel, what is your
secret?" I held her up to the light, turned her all around, even rubbed
her like a magic lamp. She remained silent.

I showered, dressed, and was about to head
out early when a knock sounded at my door. I looked out the window and saw
Chris holding a bag in one hand and waving at me with the other.

"Come on in. Whatcha you got there?
It looks heavy."

"Ice cream. It makes everything
better. Should we sample some now? While you tell me all about Robert?"

I laughed, and got two bowls and spoons
from the kitchen, and we sat at the dining table. "Word gets around fast.
What did you hear?"

"Just that he showed up drunk and
started trouble with you and Nathan. Then Nathan wrestled him to the ground and
stopped him from punching you."

"Something like that. Not so
dramatic. He came at me and Nathan grabbed him, but I don't believe he would have
punched me. He was pretty messed up and sad. Do you know Robert?"

"Kind of. We've been out with other
people and had drinks. He wasn't expecting his mom to die so soon, I guess.
Tough on him. Is he in big trouble?"

"Nathan says no. I don't think his
supervisor will come down too hard on him."

"Glad to hear. Poor guy doesn't need
any more shit. But on to the juicy stuff. Like you and Nathan." She raised
her eyebrows.

"There is no me and Nathan, I told
you."

"Oh, come on. He leaps to defend you
from a crazed attacker and you still don't want him?"

"Didn't we already have this
conversation? About guys like Nathan and girls like me?"

Chris put down her spoon and pulled out
her phone. "Let me show you something. I don't share this with too many
people, but I like you, and I'm pretty sure you can keep your mouth shut. This
is the last picture of my husband and me two years ago. We're in Paris."

"You were married?"

"Briefly."

I took the phone. "Wow, Paris. Is
that a Lamborghini next to you?"

"Yep. Alexander liked cars."

"Liked? You're divorced, I take
it?"

"No, I'm a young widow. He
died."

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. We had a great three years
together." She flipped through a few more pictures. "Here we are,
skiing in Switzerland. He loved sports and anything outdoors."

"Looks like he loved you too." I
studied the picture more closely. "Good Lord, I hope you got a room shortly
after this shot. He's all over you."

"He did love me, and I adored
him."

"What happened?"

"Massive heart attack. We never saw
it coming. Look at this one. We're posing like the Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Aren't we cute?"

"Adorable. So what's your
point?"

"My point is, Alexander is super-hot,
wouldn't you agree?"

"For sure."

"This super-hot, super-rich guy chose
me, to marry. He would come in the restaurant where I was a hostess, with these
gorgeous women, who spent a huge amount of time in the bathroom fussing with
their faces and hair. And putting his money up their noses. They'd be all
laughing and playing around, but I could see he wasn't really having a good
time."

She flipped through her phone again,
staring fondly. "So one day, he came in alone and I started talking to
him. Really talking, about everyday stuff. And listening to what he said. He
began coming in alone more often, at the end of my shift, and insisting I have
dinner or a drink with him. We'd go out, somewhere quiet where no one knew who
he was. Little diners, places like that. I asked him about his life, when he
was a kid, and told him stories about me. We would sit and laugh, have a good
time with each other."

Her voice caught slightly, and I put my hand
on hers. "We ended up in bed together and after that, well, Cupid shot his
arrow good and hard, right into my big butt. I fell for him, but thought the
same thing you do. He'd never want a hostess for a girlfriend. I was so far out
of his class. But I enjoyed his company and kept seeing him. After we started
doing the naughty, he stopped coming to the restaurant. I figured he didn't
want me to watch him with his other women. Turns out, he quit screwing around
with anyone but me, and old Cupid got him too. He took me to New York one
weekend, got down on his knee, and proposed to me at the top of the Statue of
Liberty. Close to the stars, he said."

"Awww." My eyes teared up.
"That's so romantic. Um, I don't want to get all personal, but if you were
married to this wealthy guy…"

"Why am I working at a resort?"
She sighed. "Turns out Alexander had issues with the IRS. Big issues. When
I realized there was a problem with the money and the will, I sold a bunch of
my jewelry, ran away from home, came to Key Largo, drank and partied myself
into oblivion for two months. Then I took Prozac and cried for Alexander for
another month. After I decided to get my head out of my ass, I looked around
and realized how beautiful this place is. I went home, took care of details,
moved down here and got a job."

She grabbed the carton and scooped another
spoonful of ice cream into her bowl. "Don't worry, I don't have any nasty
germs. The sugar in this stuff kills them anyway."

"Sure it does." I followed her
example.

"So, the lesson here is, Alexander
liked me for me. My curves, my personality, the whole package. I never dreamed
I'd be married to a guy like that. He wanted something I had; not money, not
movie-star looks. Like Nathan does with you. Don't shake your head at me. You
want him; I hear it in your voice, and I'm pretty sure he's got a thing for
you. Guys get tired of that silly-girl chatter at some point and want a woman
with substance. In the body and mind." She raised her fist. "If you
want him, you go get him, girl."

"Wow, remind me to feed you ice cream
the next time I need a revolution planned. Thanks for the pep talk. I've got to
get going. More employees to meet and greet."

"Think about what I said."

"I will."

"And be nice to me. One day, if a
miracle occurs and the IRS and my lawyers get their shit together, I might end
up with big bucks."

I put our bowls in the sink, hugged Chris
goodbye, and headed over to the main building. When I approached the Reef room,
Nathan was already there. I stopped at the entrance and caught my breath. He
sat, illuminated be a few flickering candles, staring at his laptop intently,
and twirling one of those expensive pens.

Lord, he looked good. Memories of our time
together in bed flowed over me. The way he gazed so deep into my eyes, like he
saw my soul. The feel of his lips on mine, his hands caressing my skin. The way
he took his time, making sure I was satisfied before he indulged himself. Was I
being an idiot, pushing him aside?

He noticed me and raised his head, then
smiled, melting my insides. I took a quick postcard picture. No one had ever
looked at me that way before, with such passion and longing, mixed with
tenderness. Heat spread through my body, starting at my core, making me wet.
The fire moved up, and I knew he'd see it in my face, knew my cheeks would be
pink as a bougainvillea any minute.

Don't blush. Think about spreadsheets,
taxes, root canals
. Nathan was perceptive. He'd figure out
exactly what naughty little thoughts filled my mind. Like how much I wanted to
cross the room, straddle his lap, and bury my tongue in his mouth.
Litter
boxes, traffic tickets, ice storms.

I squared my shoulders and went to him.
Not too close. "I thought we'd go over a few more of my notes, while we
wait for employees to show up."

"I've got a better idea. How about a
game of cards?" He tapped a deck sitting on the table.

Cards?

"What kind of game?"

"Any chance I could interest you in
strip poker?" That cocky smile. He knew what I'd been thinking.

I turned and hung my purse on the back of
a chair. Had to hide my face for another minute till the color disappeared. "Not
the slightest."

"Then we'll play gin. Do you know how?"

"I haven't in a long time." I
sat down. "Deal them out. I'm sure it will come back to me."

It did, and we had fun, taking turns
winning games. I managed to lasso my libido and just enjoy his company, like
before we got naked with each other. How nice it would be, to have a guy at
home, to hang out in the evening doing lots of nothing. One whose rhythm
matched my own. A guy like Nathan. What did he do in his spare time? As much as
he worked, maybe he didn't have any. Maybe he was enjoying this slight
interlude from life as much as I was.

The stereo picked up a radio station
playing smooth jazz music, and we nibbled on the sandwiches and chips. A
pleasant, easy-going evening. Until my damn curiosity got the best of me. I
blame Chris's story, the mellow music, and the relaxing vibes in the room for
making me open my big mouth.

"Why didn't you grow up with your
sibling?" I wanted to pull the words back in as soon as they were out, but
it was too late.

Nathan jerked his head up from studying
his cards and stared at me, his brows drawn together. "It's a long
story."

"I told you about my sister, tell me about
yours. Or do you have a brother?"

"Sister." He went back to
looking at his cards.

I should leave it alone, but I couldn't. I
wanted to learn more about Nathan. "Come on, you know about my family.
Tell me your story."

He tapped a finger on the table and drew
another card. I figured he planned to ignore me but then he looked up. "I already
told you, both my parents are dead now. My mom took off when we were kids and
my dad raised me, most of my life. Karen, my sister, went to live with other
relatives. She had health problems and Dad couldn't handle her. He barely
managed me. So, I didn't grow up with a sister."

"But you see her now?"

"Yes."

He wanted to say more. I sensed he
struggled between revealing too much of himself, and the overwhelming need to
share. "It must have been hard, having your sister leave you when you were
a kid."

He looked at me, and those beautiful eyes
shone with pain. "I didn't understand what was happening. I only knew that
Mom was gone, Dad was angry, and Karen wasn't there to read me a story at
night."

I wanted to reach out and touch him, to
take away the sorrow. But I didn't. He needed to talk at his own pace.

"Until Tanya came along, I never
wanted to take a chance on being hurt like that again. I had no serious
relationships, all those years growing up. After her, after I let myself fall
in love and fall over the edge, I swore it wouldn't happen again. Until
you."

My turn to drop my gaze to the cards in my
hand. Shit. My heart started racing. I guess I asked for this. Why didn't I just
play it safe, inquire if he had a dog or something? Because I wanted to know
Nathan, wanted to learn more about this guy I desired.