The Billionaire Renegade

by Catherine Mann

  Now, the event was in full swing, the keynote speaker behind the microphone and dessert under way. Grateful she didn’t have to make small talk with the strangers at her table any longer, she felt able to breathe for the first time since Conrad had left her office.

  Her sorbet sat untouched in front of her, berries beginning to float in the melting treat. She’d made a last-minute change to the seating arrangements, ensuring she didn’t sit with any of the Steele or Mikkelson family. She just couldn’t make small talk with them, not even with her friend Tally. The last thing they needed was more tension, given how stressed they all had to be about Brea Steele’s surprise request to be present tonight.

  Felicity’s gaze trekked to Brea’s table, where the woman sat with Conrad and her lawyer. The rest of the table was filled with Steele and Mikkelson siblings since Jack and Jeannie had to sit at the table of honor with the new CEO, Ward Benally.

  All had their attention focused on the podium.

  The voice of the keynote speaker floated through the room. Thomas Branch, the lead actor from the hit wildlife show Alaska Uncharted, leaned on the podium. His voice as rich and gravelly as the outdoor landscapes he showcased to scores of viewers. The rugged, dark-haired actor had first made his name in action movies, but he’d left the big screen for television after the death of his wife, to be more available for their newborn son. Conrad had secured the speaker, just as he had the vocalist.

  Unable to resist, Felicity stole a look at Conrad since no one would notice with their attention focused on the dynamic speaker. Conrad took her breath away. He appeared every bit as comfortable in the tuxedo as he did in jeans and a Stetson. He was a brilliant, magnetic—and compassionate—man.

  When she’d taken her new job, she’d thought her world was on track. How could Conrad have worked his way into her life so completely in such a short time until her days felt empty without him?

  She thought back to what he’d said about her only wanting him for his large family. And she couldn’t deny how much she’d enjoyed getting to know them. But she knew in her soul there had been more to her relationship with Conrad than that. It had been real and powerful, despite her efforts to keep her emotions in check.

  Blinking away tears, she forced herself to focus on the speaker as a distraction before she embarrassed herself by losing it altogether.

  “I’m honored to be here tonight for the renaming of the children’s oncology ward, a testimony of hope for the future. This project is a beautiful tribute to the Steele family and their strength. Like Jack and Jeannie, I lost my spouse. She died too young, and I know how hard it is to get over that. Yet, Jack and Jeannie have found a way to honor that love while embracing the future with a new happiness...”

  Felicity pressed a shaky hand to her mouth. She’d chosen the wrong time to pay attention to the speaker. Her heart was in her throat. She couldn’t keep her gaze off Conrad any more than she could hide from the truth of why she’d pushed him away. She’d been terrified. Not of loving him, because she had already fallen for him, deeply, irrevocably so.

  She’d been afraid of what would happen if he loved her back.

  If that happened, there would be no hiding from taking a chance on a future with him.

  The speaker’s words rolled around in her mind, chastising her for not having the courage to risk her heart a second time.

  Her gaze lingered on Jack and Jeannie, seeing the love between them against all odds. More than anything, Felicity wanted to be the kind of person who continued to grow and love, instead of the kind of person who let a bad experience keep her in a shell of self-doubt forever.

  * * *

  Brea sat in the darkened corner of the greenhouse party, preferring to watch unobserved, with her back to the wall. So far her identity had been kept a secret from everyone except the family—and Ward Benally, since he was taking over the company and they all thought she was some kind of corporate spy.

  Three bold piano notes resounded in the enclosure, and an eruption of applause animated the air with palpable energy. Ada Joy Powers slunk onstage in a swanky, vintage floor-length violet gown. Her hair cascading over one shoulder, pink lips outlined in a sensual Cupid’s bow. Looking like a princess from another world as the spotlight accented her curves.

  Ada Joy smiled brightly, thanking the audience. “Count me in, will ya?” she called to the piano man. He flashed a toothy grin of his own, responding with a “three, two, one” before loosening his fingers on the keys. His hands played a lively tune across the ivories. Soon, a violin joined the fold.

  “Give me...” Ada Joy belted. “Give me the moon and shadows. I’ll keep you...”

  Brea twisted her napkin in her lap to occupy her twitchy hands under the cover of the table, resisting the urge to bolt. She was through running.

  No. She would stay. Learn to stay, at any rate.

  So much of her life felt punctuated by movement. Shifts that still left her reeling.

  What might happen if she stayed put for a change? If she let herself unwind in this space, near the people she’d once called family? She could simply trace the contours of her old life. See how it felt.

  Except the problem was Brea had no idea what might happen. But her heart urged her to find out. To favor stillness.

  She’d come to this event against the advice of her attorney. And she still wasn’t certain what had compelled her to ask to be present. Part of her had been sure her request would be denied since they wouldn’t be able to control her here. She could definitely make a scene and ruin their event if she chose. However, if that had been her goal, she could have accomplished it long ago.

  Returning to Alaska last year and then coming back now had been about something else altogether. A search for more than safety.

  Because safety would have been best achieved by staying away.

  She was in search of peace.

  The sense of being watched made her jump with nerves. She turned quickly to find... Ward Benally.

  She searched for her attorney, but he was nowhere in sight, and the rest of her table’s occupants had taken to the dance floor. How could she have been so preoccupied? So careless? And if her family had been keeping their distance because of her lawyer, then why hadn’t they come over once he left? The fact that they were giving her space instead of pushing like they had after the first meeting surprised her. She wondered what had caused the change.

  Ward dropped into an empty chair beside her. “Thank God your lawyer finally had to use the restroom. I was starting to think I would never find you alone.”

  Well, that explained where the lawyer went. “Unless there’s a line at the men’s room, which there never is, he’ll be back soon. You should go.”

  Brea kept her eyes fixed forward on Ada Joy, whose arms raised as she delivered an elongated high note.

  Ward didn’t budge. “I’m curious why you’re still around. I thought for sure you would disappear into another country, this time one without extradition.”

  “You’re rude,” she snapped, turning away from the stage to look at him hard.

  He seemed so relaxed in his custom-fit tuxedo. He flexed his jaw. Arrogantly. “Just curious why you’re sticking around if you intend to hold everyone at arm’s length.”

  That was actually a good question, not that she intended to give this arrogant man a compliment. “We all need answers and this seems the best place to get them.”

  Her gaze drifted to the table where Naomi, her twin, sat with her head turned toward the stage. Naomi’s hand reached for Royce. An embrace of love, one Brea could recognize from across the room.

  So many years had separated her from her twin. And yet...

  She felt a pull toward her sister. A tether that connected them beyond typical familial lines. A deeper connection, a deeper version of love.

  Yes. That is what she felt when she looked at N
aomi. The kind of love that only existed between sisters, intensified by their twinship.

  That alone made Brea’s presence here worth it. She’d known returning was the only option the day she snuck into Naomi’s room to see her nieces.

  “Why now?” Ward leaned forward, his voice a whisper against Ada Joy’s powerful vocals.

  None of his business. If she wasn’t telling her family, she sure wouldn’t tell him. “I understand that you’re looking out for the company, but don’t you think this is between my father and me?”

  Ward crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back in his chair, his gaze too perceptive. “That’s the first time I’ve heard you refer to him as your dad.”

  His observation stole the wind from her lungs. Except she couldn’t deny he was right.

  She sipped her champagne. Swallowed, bubbles tickling her nose. Took a second to gain her composure.

  “Facts are facts. He is my father,” she said with more nonchalance than she felt. “And the facts are going to show I have done nothing to harm the company.”

  “You didn’t leak secrets to cause chaos during the consolidation of the Mikkelson and Steele companies?”

  She gave herself a moment with another strategic sip of her champagne. “I may have spoken to the press and stirred the pot. And I may have shared more than I should, but I didn’t do anything near what I’ve been accused of.”

  “Okay.” His dark eyes focused on her lips. A faint blush threatened to stain her cheeks.

  “You believe me?” She nearly buckled under this moment of unexpected softness.

  His sarcastic laughter cut through her.

  So much for that. Brea felt heat and anger rise in her throat.

  “I believe you’re not going to tell me anything more.” He scraped back his chair. “I see your watchdog is back, so I’ll go now.”

  His fingers lingered on the back of her chair as he moved past, just grazing her bare shoulders. The scent of musk and spice hung in the air, staying with her in ways that simultaneously intrigued and infuriated her.

  What had he hoped to accomplish with this chat other than to get under her skin? If so, he had succeeded.

  She’d said far more than she’d intended, and he’d gotten her to question her own motives with only a few words. She could understand why he’d been chosen to head the company.

  But she wouldn’t make the mistake of letting her guard down around him again. Important to know, since she’d made a decision tonight.

  She wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

  * * *

  Conrad wondered how much longer this dinner party could continue.

  He’d been waiting for the right moment to approach Felicity. He wanted to stack all the odds in his favor. But even if his plan to win her back was a bust, he wasn’t giving up. He intended to prove he could be trusted with her heart.

  As if drawn by a magnet, Conrad’s eyes found Felicity in the buzzing crowd. Her black, floor-length dress stopped his breath. Flowing material gathered in a suggestive arch on her left shoulder, plummeting into a deep V that accented her breasts. Her other shoulder was bare, the asymmetrical cut further deepened by a deep slit in the hem that revealed her well-toned legs.

  Try as he might, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. His mouth dried, heart pumping overtime. A helluva woman.

  Her gaze met his across the room, holding, the air between them crackling with awareness. She didn’t look away. Instead she took a step forward. All the encouragement he needed. He strode toward her, shouldering through the crowd until he reached her. Or rather, she met him halfway in the middle of the dance floor.

  He hadn’t planned that part, but then he hadn’t expected to see the relief and wary joy in her eyes either. He held out his arms in an invitation to dance.

  Again, she surprised him by stepping into his arms without hesitation. He gathered her against his chest, the feel of her familiar and so very welcome. He rested his head against the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her shampoo and losing himself in the slow music with her.

  His hand roved up and down her back in time with the jazz tune. “The party’s almost over, but I don’t want what we’ve shared to end.”

  There.

  He’d begun to lay his thoughts bare. Knew he needed to fight for this intelligent, sexy woman.

  “I don’t want to keep having an affair,” she said, her breath warm against his chest.

  But her words chilled him. “You’re still breaking things off with me?”

  His heart sunk. Was he too late? He knew his words the other day had found their mark. Dealt her pain. Conrad wanted to take them back. Spend his days proving that moment wrong.

  “No, not at all.” She looked up at him, her heart in her eyes. “I’m saying I want more than an affair. I want us to have a future.”

  Her admission filled him with so much relief, he refused to let the opportunity pass. He would do his best to reassure her. “I’m happy to hear that, because...” He drew in a bracing breath, about to utter the most important admission of his life. “I’ve fallen in love with you. And I want the opportunity to prove you can trust my love will last.”

  Her arms slid up around his neck and she stepped closer into his embrace, swaying. “That’s so wonderful to hear, because I’ve fallen in love with you, too.”

  Of everything he’d imagined she would say back to him, this hadn’t been on the list. But he didn’t intend to complain.

  “You’re making this too easy for me. I owe you an apology for the way I spoke to you. I was speaking to you from my own fears, and that wasn’t fair to you.”

  “I said some hurtful things to you, as well.”

  “Wait. I need to say this. You were right about so many things.” He swallowed hard but refused to give her anything less than his best. “It rattled me seeing Trystan and Isabeau, and realizing that without a doubt I’d buried my own wish for kids in my relationship with my nieces and nephews. But I don’t want to hide from my own future anymore.”

  Her eyes showed no condemnation, no I told you so. Just quiet acceptance and love. Best of all, love.

  He held her closer, her body a perfect fit to his. “I deserve a happy future, and more importantly—to me—so do you. Starting now.”

  “Right now? I’m intrigued.” She smiled up at him, her hazel eyes warm as a Texas summer. She whispered in his ear, her breathy words sending shivers down his spine. “You can still romance me. I won’t complain.”

  He knew she appreciated his gifts, but this time together meant more to her. As he mulled that over, it made sense. She’d received precious little attention from the people in her life, instead always giving hers to them.

  He intended to make up for that, spoiling her in every way possible.

  “Just what I wanted to hear.” His heart fuller than he’d even dared hope, he guided her off the dance floor, exchanging a look with his brother. Jack had agreed to take care of the party wrap-up if Conrad persuaded Felicity to leave early. Which he had. “Come this way, my love.”

  He snagged their coats on the way out, their path down the corridor lined with potted trees covered in small white lights. He couldn’t wait to get her alone. The sliding doors opened to the outside.

  Where his horse—Jackson—waited in the parking lot.

  Felicity gasped in pleased surprise. Damn straight, he still intended to romance her. Conrad took the reins from the groom and swung into the creaking saddle. The smile in her eyes rivaled the glistening stars.

  He reached a gloved hand down for Felicity, and she clasped it without hesitation. He drew her up in front of him, then took a blanket from the groom and draped it over her legs. He set the horse into motion, the clop, clop of the hooves echoing his heart hammering against his rib cage at having her close again.

  Tucking her head under hi
s chin, she hugged the blanket tighter. “You weren’t kidding when you said you planned to keep romancing me.”

  “I’ve been thinking we should pick out your next gift together. Something along the lines of a ring with a diamond so big it rivals the northern lights.”

  She stilled against him, tipping her face up to look at him. “Are you...?”

  “Proposing?” While he hadn’t planned that part, it felt right. “Yes, yes, I am. I want you to marry me, to be the mother of those incredible older kids we’re going to adopt. To be my wife, my partner for life.”

  “Of course I will.” She sealed her answer with a kiss, before whispering against his lips, “You are the love of my life. You are my future. And I look forward to making our dreams come true together.”

  A sigh of relief and happiness racked through him. He’d hoped this would be her answer, but had intended to be patient if she’d said no. Now, knowing that she was his and he was hers...his dreams had already come true, thanks to her.

  She slid her arms around his waist. “I’ve been thinking.”

  The gesture felt right. Natural.

  “About what?” Conrad squeezed his calves slightly. Jackson perked up, his ears attentive as they maneuvered toward the deserted side road. The clop of Jackson’s hooves softened, cushioned by the fresh powder of snow.

  They moved farther down the road. Snow clung to the pine branches that flanked the road. A giant moose moved through the shadows of the trees. Illuminated only by the silver moonlight.

  She leaned closer. Settled into him, deepened her seat in the saddle. A whisper leaped from her lips. “Let’s elope.”

  Had he misheard? “As in get married now?”

  She laughed softly, her breath puffing into the cold night air. “That’s generally what elope means.”

  The more he thought about it, the more her proposal felt right. “You’re sure?”

  “I’m sure that I love you,” she said, staring up into his eyes with all that love shining through, “and that I don’t want to wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”