The Billionaire’s Pursuit
The Tycoons Series Book 13
Clean Billionaire Romance
By Marie Higgins
Edited by: Teresa Pearson, and Veronica Mesia
Copyright © 2020 by Marie Higgins
Edition License Notes
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
The Billionaire's Hideaway (The Tycoons, #13)
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
The Tycoons Series
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Author’s Bio
Erin West is after one thing when she checks into the Fiji resort owned by the recluse billionaire – interview the owner for her article in the award-winning women’s magazine she works for in hopes of getting a well-deserved promotion. But when she meets her charmingly irresistible assigned staff assistant, Cole is more than just a distraction for her. He holds the key that will help her write the magazine article, and his secretive nature intrigues her more. Is it the tropical sun that has made her forget that she can’t trust men – or is it because she’s there under a disguise?
When billionaire, Cole Hunt, spots the newest guest, he knows his week will be filled with more than just paperwork to discover why he’s losing money on his resort. The blue-eyed beauty has branded him in a way he’s never experienced. Is it wrong for him to hope Erin can love him for himself and not because of his money?
ONE
A tropical island resort would be the perfect place to fall in love – if she believed in that.
But Erin West didn’t believe in true love, or even lasting love. All wealthy men were liars, and it was her assignment as a journalist for New York City’s five-star magazine, What Women Want, to prove that theory. Hideaway in Paradise was where she’d collect her research.
Erin gazed in awe at the clear blue water as the Fiji Islands’ charter boat made its way toward the resort. She couldn’t wait to go snorkeling, or just to play on the beach. Although this vacation involved working on her article, she planned to have a little leisure time, too.
As the boat slowed, she adjusted her sunglasses and hooked the Gucci handbag over her shoulder. She’d fit in perfectly with the group of people at the resort as long as she appeared wealthy, which of course, was far from her status in life. She’d actually taken out a loan for this trip. The magazine offered to reimburse her for half as long as her article brought in the readers. She was confident she’d pull in millions of women readers who had the same mindset as Erin.
There was no way she could let the owner of this place know that she was a journalist who’d be sneaking around and interviewing the guests. Her assignment was hush-hush, and she planned to get everything she needed to prove herself as a world-class writer.
The charter boat chugged along, taking the twenty passengers from the airport to the small resort island. It didn’t take long for the boat to dock. She stood and shuffled quickly toward the front. Soon, the passengers were able to leave the boat and step onto the sandy beaches. The clear blue sky allowed the sun’s heat to beat down on her, and she wished she’d brought her beach hat to shade her face. The half hour ride on the boat would be the blame for her sunburn, not the resort’s summer weather.
Most of the passengers separated once they reached the hotel, and Erin followed the six other guests toward the check-in desk. She reached the front door, but glanced over her shoulder at the boat before entering. Hopefully, they were unloading the passenger’s luggage cautiously. She couldn’t be stranded on an island resort wearing only tan shorts and a white, silk blouse and white sandals.
As the small group waited for someone to check them in, Erin reached into her handbag and pulled out her pencil and spiral notebook to jot down a few notes.
The main desk stood in the middle of the room while large potted plants and arrangements of flowers decorated the shelves. Tastefully framed pictures of outdoor scenes lined the light blue wallpapered walls. Plush color-coordinated chairs sat along the wall near the receptionist desk.
It looked like a normal lobby to her. But what had she expected? Gold-plated trays with free caviar and champagne for every guest? Then again, a very wealthy man owned this resort – and many others just like this one – so it was difficult not to think that everything should look like diamonds and rubies.
A burst of laughter from outside drew her attention to the open window. Tiptoeing over to get a closer look, she peered outside. Two couples were returning from the beach – two men and their girlfriends or wives. All four were wet and dripping as their skimpy bikinis and swim trunks clung to their cellulite-free bodies.
From what she had noticed of the guests so far since her journey from the boat to the hotel, all the guests had toned bodies. Perhaps the overweight and less than beautiful people out there in the world didn’t think they were good enough for a place like this.
Erin shook her head and frowned. She’d have to dig deeper on this subject. Readers needed to know if this resort only catered to the glamorous.
As she studied the layout of the resort, back farther from the hotel’s main building, a row of hut-style cabins lined the wooded area, giving a fair amount of privacy. Directly across the yard, a tennis court stood deserted in the heat of the day. She tapped the pencil eraser on her chin. Perhaps most people just came to Hideaway in Paradise to enjoy the beautiful blue ocean and nothing else.
Squaring her shoulders, she took a deep breath. So much to see, so much to write about. And so little time. One week would be over sooner than she’d wanted, so she mustn’t waste any time.
It was her job to find a single man – or two or three – and get to know them. She’d pretend to be attracted to them, of course, only so they would let her see the real men behind their deceitful façade.
She also wanted to meet the resort’s owner. Mr. Jonathan Hunt was a successful billionaire with several flourishing five-star resorts. He led a stealthy life by making people believe that they were only as good as their bank account. Erin looked forward to bringing that man down a notch or two.
Behind her, the squeak from an opening door captured her attention. From down the hallway, footsteps echoed on the tiled floor, growing louder as they neared. She stuffed the notebook and pencil into her purse and moved away from the window. Time to step into character.
A man wearing the resort’s gray and white T-shirt approached the desk. He lifted his gaze to hers and a smile grew on his face. The cotton material stretched tight across his solid chest just like the other employees she’d noticed lingering outside. He was older than what she’d expected for being an employee, by at least five years, anyway. The nearly thirty-something-year-old man was definitely a fine piece of art if she had to say so herself.
The three couples were ahead of her, so he assisted them with getting registered and gave them their key-cards. He pressed a buzzer behind the counter, and two other employees hurried into the lobby and helped the couples take their luggage to their bungalows.
His gaze met hers and he s
miled. “How can I help you?”
She gave him an energetic grin. “I’m Erin DeWitt and I’d like to check in. I won a trip here from a radio station.”
His dark eyebrows lifted. “I’d heard about that. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. I’ve never won anything in my life, so this was quite a shock.” She picked up a brochure from the counter and waved it in her face, hoping to circulate the hot air. This was the lobby of the resort’s hotel, so why wasn’t it air-conditioned?
As he clicked his fingers on the computer, he kept a smile on his face. His green eyes would shift back toward her a few times, but he didn’t say anything for several unnerving seconds. It was hard not to ogle him. He was really one fine looking man. His dark brown hair had touches of light streaks in it, but it didn’t look like he had it professionally done. He was just blessed to have the blend between the two shades.
“Ah, here you are, Miss DeWitt.” Mr. Handsome clicked the mouse. He straightened and picked up the key-card for her room. “You are assigned one of the bungalow huts.”
Excitement shot through her. She’d definitely be living it up this week. “That’s wonderful.”
He clicked a few more places on the computer before leaving his post and moving around the desk. “I’ll take you there. Your luggage is already waiting outside.”
“Thank you so much. You don’t know how much I appreciate your help.”
He nodded and grinned, making his eyes twinkle. “It’ll be my pleasure. I’m Cole, and I’m assigned to you. Anything you need, I’ll get for you.”
She arched an eyebrow. Anything? As her personal staff assistant, what would his duties include? Was he part of the package she paid for – that was in the disguise of winning the trip on the radio?
As they walked outside, another shout of laughter came from a group of people sitting at the nearby open café under a bamboo roof. Each one drank from a coconut, sipping out of a straw.
“This is a really nice resort, Cole, but I’m surprised there aren’t more people here.”
“We have more guests on the weekend.” He stopped at her luggage – one wheelie suitcase and one case with a strap. “Since your stay is a full week, you’ll see the difference by Friday.”
“From what I’ve noticed, everyone is enjoying themselves.” She followed him toward the back of the hotel.
“It’s our goal to please everyone who comes.” He glanced over his shoulder at her, giving her a playful smile. “Everything you’ll see here is for your enjoyment this week.”
He didn’t say anymore as he led her in an alcove of trees. The vegetation was so lush and green on the island. Never had she seen anything like this before.
The boarded path he took directed them back out toward the water. As they came to a clearing, she gasped as the awesome sight. Eight bungalow huts were scattered around the wooden pathway, leading out in the water.
She stopped, not believing her eyes.
“Miss DeWitt? Is something wrong?” Cole asked.
“I... I’ve never seen anything like this.” She shook her head. “Are the huts floating in the water?”
He laughed. “It appears that way, doesn’t it?” He motioned with his head. “Don’t be afraid. Let me show you inside.” He resumed leading the way. “You see, this portion of the beach is shallow, so although there is water that nearly surrounds the huts, they won’t float away, and you won’t have to worry about the water getting inside, either.”
Here, by the water was slightly cooler, but it was still very humid. She ran her hand down the side of her Chanel blouse and scolded herself for wearing such a garment when the temperature threatened to iron it to her skin. And talk about dry... an oven couldn’t be any worse. She’d run out of body moisture within a couple of hours.
What did she expect? This was a tropical island, after all.
She swiped a stray lock of hair off her forehead and tucked it behind her ear, removing a bead of moisture along with it. Perhaps changing into her bikini and playing in the water wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
Her hunky staff assistant opened the door to her bungalow and swept his arm aside for her to enter first. As she walked past him, a hint of his musk cologne touched her senses, making her want to close her eyes, press her nose to his neck and inhale his scent. She’d always been attracted to great-smelling men.
The coolness from the air conditioner touched her hot skin. If only she could unbutton her shirt and have the cooler air touch her neck and chest, she might not feel like a baking cookie right now. Gradually, the coolness in the room surrounded her and she sighed with delight.
Delight? What was she thinking? Her mind must be warped for sure. Then again, being in this environment was going to be difficult no matter what she tried to do. She had to act her part, which meant doing what the other guests were doing.
She walked to the queen-sized bed and dropped her handbag on the mattress as Cole set her luggage down.
“How is your room, Miss DeWitt?”
She looked at him over her shoulder and grinned. He pushed his fingers through his wavy hair, lifting it off his forehead. Although she wouldn’t admit it aloud, his incredible good looks and dreamy green eyes were more on her mind than the room.
Blaming the humidity for her wayward thoughts, she blinked and focused on conversing with him. “Everything is perfect, thanks.”
He held out the key-card to the bungalow. She opened her hand and he dropped it in her palm.
“Is there anything you’d like me to help you with?” A grin pulled his lips wider and a cute dimple appeared in the middle of his chin. Adorable.
She wasn’t sure if this was his way of flirting or not. “Anything?”
He nodded. “As part of the staff, I’m here to make sure your stay is as memorable as possible.”
She’d make certain she enjoyed herself around him... as much as she collected information on her article. After she left the island, she’d never see him again.
“Well, I can’t think of anything I need at this moment, but I’ll keep you in mind when I do.”
His smile stretched wider. “I hope you do.”
As he turned and left her bungalow, her mind swirled with ideas on how she could take advantage of her staff assistant. Then again, what she really needed to do was meet some wealthy men. After all, they were the very subject of her article.
She peeked out the window and toward the water. One way or another, she’d turn out an award-winning story, and prove her point that all wealthy men lie.
TWO
It surprised Cole Hunt how many classy women came to this resort by themselves – and most came either to have a hot affair, or to find a wealthy husband. From his experiences, rich women only wanted to mate with men who had money. His ex-wife was the perfect example. During the two years they were together, he was never good enough for her because he didn’t make enough money.
He headed back toward the hotel, nodding at the guests as they passed. Borey, the island’s charter boat captain, took quick steps toward Cole. The thin man carried a piece of luggage the same color as Erin DeWitt’s.
Cole stepped in front of the man who kept his eyes on the ground. Borey’s gaze popped up and he looked at Cole. “Where are you going, Borey?”
The man in his late thirties with thick curly black hair, pointed toward the bungalows. “This was left on the boat. It belongs to Miss DeWitt.”
“She’s under my care,” Cole quickly explained. “I’ll take it to her.” Borey handed him the small case before spinning back around and hurrying toward the boat.
Grinning, Cole slowly retraced his steps toward Erin’s bungalow. He’d been on the job for less than a week, and none of the other employees recognized him. Of course, they had never met Jonathan Hunt, the billionaire who owned several resorts and five-star hotels around the world. Over the years, Cole had made sure he wasn’t photographed. He absolutely hated the paparazzi.
Because he owned several f
amous resorts, it was only natural when he noticed one of them not making money as it had been doing since he took over Hideaway in Paradise five years ago. After going over the books many times, and even hiring a professional bookkeeper to find the problem, there was still no reason the resort continued to lose money.
It wasn’t until he heard about a television program about bosses going undercover to get to know their employees, when Cole realized this was the only way to discover what was really going on. He set himself up to look like the new supervisor in order to make the staff believe he was one of them. Unfortunately, most of staff was tight-lipped and not very sociable.
Cole promised himself he wouldn’t reveal his true identity until he found his answers. Working as an employee brought back memories of when he was in high school at his first job. Except now the girls were more mature and definitely more beautiful.
Like Erin DeWitt.
She was fashionably beautiful, and she had a graceful way about her. But there was something about her he immediately liked sparkling in her blue eyes when he first looked at her. Of course, it didn’t help that he caught her checking him out several times with a grinning approval.
He’d known pretty women from all over the world, but there was something about Miss DeWitt that made him curious. She looked at him as though she had a secret... a secret he would find as soon as he got her to open up to him and become his friend.
Cole knocked on Erin’s door.
“Who is it?” she called from inside.
“Cole. I have another piece of luggage that was left on the boat.”
“Come in.”
Once he stepped inside, he heard humming coming from the bathroom. The door stood ajar while light spilled through the crack. A hint of jasmine drifted through the air, and he breathed deeper, taking in the lovely fragrance.
He cleared his throat. “Where would you like me to put this?”
“You can put it on the bed. And if you don’t mind, I realized I do need your help.”
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