Crushing on the Billionaire: A Clean and Wholesome Romance (Billionaires with Heart Book 3)

by Liwen Ho

  “What? No, please!” Kylie’s eyes burned hot with tears. “I need this job. I can’t pay for my mom’s rent without it.”

  Without a care, the older woman continued her spiel, “Please pack up your belongings immediately. You will need to find your own way home.”

  Mrs. Jones might as well have punched her in the stomach. Kylie doubled over, clutching at her chest in desperation. “I have no money to fly back to California. At least let me finish up this assignment, Mrs. Jones. Please.”

  “I can’t in good conscience pay you for a job you are not fulfilling.” With a flick of her wrist, she checked her diamond and gold watch. “I’m afraid you’re on your own.” With a firm nod, she rounded up her daughters, who had finally calmed down enough to stand in one place, and left the room.

  A sob escaped Kylie’s lips, but she quickly covered her mouth. She would not give into her tears. Not now. She’d done enough crying last night after her and Devon’s date. Right now, she had to think and act quickly.

  She swiped at her eyes and took a deep breath. First things first, she had to find a way from the clubhouse to the resort where she was staying. She needed to pack up her bags before Mrs. Jones threw out the few possessions she owned. Maybe with Tabby’s help, she could scrounge up some money to buy a plane ticket. Short of swimming home, she’d find a way back. She had no choice but to try.

  With this plan in mind, she picked up her feet and rushed out into the hall, toward the lobby. She moved with purpose and desperation, her jaw clenched tight, not realizing a man stood between her and the front doors of the clubhouse. Before she could stop herself, she walked smack into his firm chest. She lost her footing and would have fallen over were it not for the strong, muscular arms that caught her and pulled her close.

  A familiar musky scent filled her senses, making her head spin. Devon! She glanced up and saw his hazel eyes trained on her, trying to look into her soul. She should’ve known she wouldn’t be able to keep a secret from him for long. He’d always had a way of seeing past the smile she faked.

  For a second, her resolve crumbled. She considered what it would be like to lean on him again, to trust him. But shame cut through her thoughts, forcing her to step back and out of his embrace. Devon had fallen for her when she was wealthy and popular. He’d never want her like this. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.”

  “Kylie, what’s going on? Talk to me.” Devon reached for her hand and held it tight. “Why are you working as a nanny?”

  The concern in his voice tipped her over the edge. Her words poured out faster than spilled milk. “My dad gambled all our money away. This job is my only means of keeping a roof over my mom’s head and food on the table. Or it was,” she sighed deeply, “until I got fired.”

  “Fired? Katrina Jones fired you? Was it over the incident with her daughter? I told her I didn’t mind what happened. Let me go talk—”

  “Dev, it’s okay,” she cut in. Several heads had turned their way when Devon began raising his voice. “It’s probably better this way. I’m not cut out to be a nanny. I’d be better off doing office work or anything that doesn’t require interacting with people half my size. The only way I could ever get them to listen was by bribing them with sweets. But all the sugar had them bouncing off the walls, which is what happened earlier.” Kylie groaned and shook her head. Why was she blabbing like a fool to him? He couldn’t care less about her troubles. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to hold you up. I’m sure you have somewhere important you have to be.”

  Devon grew quiet, his expression sober. Small creases formed between his brows as he pinned her in place with an intense look. His eyes never left her face as he spoke in a husky voice. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here. In case you didn’t notice, I’m the one holding on to your hand.” He paused and released a heavy breath. “I know we were just kids when we were together, but when I fell for you, I fell hard. Seeing you after all these years, it’s like nothing’s changed. I still feel the same way about you that I did then.”

  Kylie’s breath hitched. Devon was gently caressing her hand with the pad of his thumb, spreading warmth along her skin and sending tingles up her arm. Her body seemed to believe his words, but her mind warred within her. Didn’t he realize who she’d become? She had no choice but to voice her concerns out loud. “Look at me. I’m one paycheck away from being homeless. I have nothing to my name. Not only that, I treated you horribly in the past. I don’t deserve a second of your time.” She tried to pull her hand from his, but her attempt only served to make him hold on tighter. “You deserve better, Devon.”

  He brought her hand to his mouth and placed a soft kiss on her palm. “I am looking at you, and all I see is the girl I had a crush on who grew up to be the woman I’ve been longing for. I see you, Kylie, and I like who I see. You’re strong and sacrificial. You’re doing your all to take care of your mom. You’re brave and persistent, taking on these responsibilities and making the best of your circumstances. You’re so beautiful, inside and out.” He ran a finger along the side of her jaw until he reached her chin. Tilting her head up, he looked straight into her eyes. “I hardly think I deserve you. But I’m going to do my best to measure up. If you’ll allow me to.”

  Kylie swallowed hard. She heard the earnestness in his last words, along with a hint of hesitation. If only Devon could feel the pounding of her heart, he would know he needn’t worry. He more than met her expectations.

  The thought of Devon accepting her for who she was—despite her current state—meant more to her than she could express. Her emotions overwhelmed her to the point of tears. There was no way she could get a word out, so she did the next best thing: she let her lips do the talking.

  Standing on her tiptoes, Kylie stretched up to bring herself closer to Devon. She was sure he could read her mind, or maybe he’d been thinking the same thing, because he leaned down at the same time. In the next instant, their mouths met, melding together in a fantastic explosion of heat and desire. She let out a soft gasp. The familiar feel and taste of him filled her heart’s longing.

  Along with the old sensations, she made some new discoveries. Devon had grown into a man with more confidence and, if possible, an even more tender heart. His lips were gentle yet insistent. He kissed her with abandon, fully giving of himself with every touch and caress. His large hands held her in place, flush against his body, helping her weak knees to stay upright. Kylie leaned into him, feeling her heart beat in time with his. The intensity of the moment made her head spin. She had a feeling he wasn’t letting go of her so easily this time. To be honest, she didn’t want him to. She was content to stay in his arms like this forever.

  For the first time in a long time, she was comfortable in her own skin. And she had the most wonderful man to thank for that.

  Chapter Nine

  Devon

  Devon would have been content to hold Kylie and kiss her for as long as she’d let him, but he was keenly aware of eyes watching them. A loud whistle from the front entryway, along with a woman’s gasp, broke through their intimate moment. He reluctantly pulled back from the kiss and lifted his head. Sure enough, Laurene and Noah were cheering and clapping their support.

  “Wow, you don’t waste any time, Dev!” Laurene stepped forward with a smirk on her pink lips. “I see you managed to convince Kylie to give you a second chance.”

  “Hey, guys,” Kylie greeted them with a smile. “Actually, he’s the one who gave me another chance.” She squeezed Devon’s hand and looked up with tenderness in her eyes. “Thank you for that.”

  “No,” he insisted with a shake of his head, “thank you. I’ve never been happier.”

  “Whatever the case may be,” Laurene stated, “Noah and I are both thankful we don’t play golf. How anyone can get a ball into such a small hole is beyond me. I say it’s time to wrap things up here and get moving. There’s so much more of the island that we haven’t explored.”

  “You mean so many shops you haven’t gone
to yet,” Noah joked with adoring eyes. He turned to Devon and Kylie and asked, “How about it, guys? Gabe and Sera just called to let us know they’re coming for the weekend. They’ll be landing in an hour. Do you want to join us, or do you need some alone time together?”

  Devon chuckled as Noah wiggled his eyebrows. He wrapped an arm around Kylie’s shoulders and drew her to his side. “What would you like to do?”

  She leaned into him and sighed. “I’d love to hang out, but I have to deal with real life. I need to find a way to fly back home then look for a new job. You go ahead, Dev. You should enjoy the rest of your vacation.”

  He frowned. “There’s no way I could enjoy any of it without you. Leave your worries to me. I happen to know someone who owns a growing company. I’m sure he’ll be able to find a job suitable for you.”

  “Dev, that’s nepotism.” Kylie shook her head adamantly. “You can’t make up a position just for me.”

  “Don’t think he won’t try,” Laurene piped up. “Hey, Kylie, I’m not sure what your situation is like, but maybe we can help each other out? I’m in need of someone with an artistic eye who can help design a logo and other promotional material for my new nonprofit organization. I remember you did an amazing job with our school yearbook. What do you say?”

  “Are you serious?” Kylie’s eyes widened. “I don’t want you to offer me the job out of pity.”

  Laurene scoffed. “Pity? No way. The only thing I’d pity you for is having to deal with my little brother. He may look like a grown man, but he’s a big kid at heart. Anyways, it makes me happy to see him happy. I have you to thank for that.”

  Kylie laughed as she gave Devon’s chest a playful pat. “I do love his heart. I think I’ll take my chances with him. I’d love to take your job offer, too,” she added with a bright smile.

  “Great! We’ll talk details when we go shopping later.” Laurene grabbed Noah’s hand and pulled him toward the door. As they stepped outside, she called over her shoulder, “We’ll meet you guys back at the villa.”

  Devon waved to Laurene and Noah then gave Kylie a kiss on the top of her head. “Look at that, your problems are solved.”

  Kylie smiled gratefully. “One of them, at least. I still don’t know how I’m going to pay for my plane ticket home.”

  Devon stared at her, not sure if she was serious or not. Didn’t she know he had the means to provide for that and more? “Kylie, I can fly you home on my private jet. We could even take the yacht we went out on last night, although it would take a couple of days. Whatever your heart desires, I can make it happen.”

  She wrinkled her pert nose. “I can’t ask you to fix all my problems, Dev. They’re mine to deal with.” She hesitated and turned to face him. “I don’t want you to think I only want to be with you for your money. That’s not the case at all. You know that, right?”

  He lifted a finger to caress her cheek. “I know. You took a chance on me before I had any riches. But now that I do, I want to provide for you. All the money in the world means nothing if I don’t have someone to share it with. I want to share mine—and my life—with you.”

  “Oh, Dev.” Kylie’s bottom lip trembled with emotion. She gave him the most tender smile, her eyes welling with tears. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you. Your heart is worth more than gold. I promise to be careful with it this time.”

  That’s all Devon needed to hear. “I know you will.”

  His bank account might have been full, but more importantly, his life was now complete as well. He had what money could never buy, the heart of the woman he loved. He truly was a wealthy—and happy—billionaire.

  Afterword

  Can you believe the Billionaires with Heart series has come to an end? Thank you so much for reading this story, as well as books 1 and 2. I love happy endings and am so pleased I could provide them for all three of the Brooks siblings. I hope you enjoyed each couple’s unique dynamics and challenges as much as I did writing them. Kylie and Devon’s story was especially fun and easier to write since I already knew the characters well. I truly believe in second chances and the power of love and forgiveness, which this story highlighted.

  I’d love to hear what you thought of this book, so please leave a review and let me know! If you haven’t read the rest of this series, go check them out on Amazon.com today!

  Book 1: At Odds with the Billionaire

  Book 2: Best Friends with the Billionaire

  For more sweet escapes, be sure to check out my Seasons of Love series of four short romances, now available on Amazon.com.

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to thank the following people who blessed me in the making of this book:

  My Early Bird Launch Team for helping me out in so many ways behind the scenes. Thank you also for giving your suggestions for Kylie’s name.

  My editor, Heather Hayden, for being so easy to work with.

  Kristen Iten and Jocelyn Fitch, who are the best critique partners and friends an author could ask for.

  My dear hubby and munchkins for cheering me on during the writing process and celebrating with me when I finally finish.

  All the indie authors of clean billionaire books who went before me. Thanks for paving the way!

  More Books by Liwen Y. Ho

  The Spark Brothers Series

  A Single Spark

  A Sudden Spark

  Taking Chances on Love Series

  Taking a Chance on the Heartbreaker

  Taking a Chance on Mr. Wrong

  Taking a Chance on the Enemy

  Seasons of Love Series

  The More the Merrier

  A Spoonful of Spice

  Of Buds and Blossoms

  On Waves of Wanderlust

  Tropical Kiss Series

  Tropical Kiss or Miss

  Tropical Kiss and Tell

  Welcome to Romance Series

  Chasing Romance

  Romantically Ever After

  Holding Onto Love in Romance

  Non-Series Books

  Puppy Dog Tales

  The Love Clause

  Love’s Choice

  The Time Rift (co-authored with David H. Ho)

  Contact Information

  Liwen Y. Ho can be found at:

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/liwenho

  Blog: http://www.2square2behip.com/

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2square2behip

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.liwenho/

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/2square2behip

  About the Author

  Liwen Y. Ho works as a chauffeur and referee by day (AKA being a stay-at-home mom) and an author by night. She writes sweet and inspirational contemporary romance infused with heart, humor, and a taste of home (her Asian roots).

  In her pre-author life, she received a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary, and she loves makeovers of all kinds, especially those of the heart and mind.

  She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her techie husband and their two children, and she blogs about her adventures as a recovering perfectionist at http://www.2square2behip.com/.

  Sign up for Liwen’s newsletter to receive an exclusive free book, news about her upcoming releases, giveaways, sneak peeks, and more at: http://eepurl.com/bt2nEL.