The Millionaire Plan

by Karen King

  Finally, she found a white lacy bra with a matching, delicate pair of briefs. She’d never seen anything so beautiful in her life. They seemed generously cut too, so hopefully wouldn’t be too tight.

  The millionaire’s wife didn’t do sensible nightwear either. Amber selected a black nightie that was slightly less sheer than the others in the drawer, and a matching negligee. I’d better make sure I don’t go sleep-walking and bump into Jed in the night, she thought.

  She had a quick shower, towelled, and dressed in the clean underwear, cropped jeans, and top – which thankfully fit fine – placed her clothes in a plastic bag, then in a pink holdall along with another top and pair of knickers for the next day. Finally, she selected a couple of magazines from the pile on the bedside table and set off to find Jed.

  She found him in the kitchen, inspecting the fridge.

  ‘I’ve taken another top and clean underwear for tomorrow and a couple of magazines, and this holdall to put them in.’ She held out the bag. ‘Do you want to check so you can make sure I bring everything back?’

  ‘Of course not. I’ve told you, you can keep it all.’ He took a container of mushrooms and some eggs out of the fridge. ‘How do you fancy mushroom omelette?

  Jed must have a good relationship with his boss if he has a free hand to use anything on the boat, Amber thought. She could have put anything in this holdall! Well, she didn’t intend to keep it, it wouldn’t be right. She’d have it all cleaned and return it as soon as she got back home.

  ‘It sounds lovely,’ she replied. ‘Who’s cooking, me or you?’

  ‘I will,’ he said, his eyes twinkling. ‘You can do the washing up.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Don’t mention it.’ He was laughing at her. ‘Now, how about a dessert? Or are you the kind of girl that never eats dessert?’ He ran his eyes over her body. ‘You haven’t got the figure of a girl who eats dessert.’

  She flushed at the admiration she saw in his gaze. ‘Well, don’t be fooled by appearances I’m the sort of girl who definitely eats dessert,’ she replied. ‘As far as I’m concerned it’s the best part of the meal.’

  ‘Right, well how does chocolate mousse grab you?’

  She licked her lips at the thought. ‘Wonderful!’

  He grinned. ‘OK, that’s everything I need. Let’s head back to the island and I’ll cook the meal in Mike’s cottage.’

  Jed watched in amusement as Amber tucked into her chocolate mousse with relish, using her spoon to scrape out every last bit from the dish. ‘I see you weren’t joking about liking desserts.’

  ‘Nope.’

  She put her spoon in the dish and licked her lips. ‘That was absolutely delicious. Where did you learn to cook like that?’

  ‘I’m a man of hidden talents,’ he quipped. ‘You’d be amazed what I can do.’

  She cocked her head on one side and grinned impishly. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised at anything you can do.’

  Their gaze met and the world seemed to stand still as her gorgeous brown eyes held and bewitched his, stirring feelings in him that he preferred to lie dormant, igniting them, fanning them into a raging flame. Then her mobile phone rang and he felt an irrational flash of irritation as she went to answer it, leaving him burning with desire.

  ‘Randy!’ The surprise in her voice was evident. ‘How did you get my number?’

  Jed picked up the dishes and carried them into the kitchen, trying to stamp down the wave of jealousy that was welling up inside him.

  ‘I should be back by midday. We just have to wait for the relief warden to arrive,’ Amber said.

  It seemed like Randy was anxious to see her. Mind you, he couldn’t blame him. If a man had to marry someone in order to gain an inheritance then Amber was a good choice. She was beautiful, kind, and fun to be with. The kind of woman anyone would want to marry.

  Especially him.

  Hold it right there, Curtess! Marriage isn’t on your agenda. And Amber certainly won’t marry someone like you. Well, not unless you told her the truth …

  And there was no way he was going to do that. The less Amber Wynters knew about him the better.

  Chapter Six

  Rule number 6: Don’t get intimate too quickly, keep him waiting.

  ‘Hey, I’m supposed to be washing up – you cooked, remember?’ Amber walked in, her phone call evidently finished.

  ‘You can dry instead,’ Jed said. ‘It’s kinder to your nails. You’ll never attract a millionaire with washday hands.’

  She took the tea towel off the hook besides the sink, picked up a wet plate from the draining rack, and started to wipe it dry, biting her lip pensively.

  ‘What’s up? Is Randy annoyed because you’re staying over on the island with me?’ Jed placed a wet mug on the draining rack.

  ‘No, he’s fine about it.’ She wiped the mug and placed it in the cupboard. ‘In fact, he’s postponed the sail until Wednesday so I can go with him.’

  ‘You mean he’s not jealous?’

  ‘Of course not, why should he be?’

  Why indeed? He wasn’t any competition for a millionaire like Randy, was he?

  If only they knew that Randy was nowhere near his league.

  ‘So why the long face?’

  ‘Randy wants me to go to a party at one of the hotels – some friends of his are getting engaged.’

  ‘And you don’t fancy going?’

  ‘It’s not that …’

  He half-turned to her, his hands still in the bowl of soapy suds. ‘Are we playing a guessing game or are you going to tell me?’

  ‘Well, it’s a party so they’re all going to be dancing, aren’t they? And you know how rubbish I am at dancing.’ She flushed. ‘Randy could hardly bear to dance with me last time.’

  ‘Don’t let him make you feel awkward, you danced fine with me. Anyway, I told you I’d give some extra dancing lessons,’ Jed reminded her. ‘When we’ve finished this I’ll go and clear a space to dance in and find some suitable music.’

  The smile she gave him illuminated her face, sending shivers down his spine. Heck, this woman sure did play havoc with his hormones.

  Just a natural reaction to a beautiful woman, Jed. It’s no big deal.

  ‘Thanks, Jed. I really appreciate you helping me.’

  ‘No problem. Can’t have you showing yourself up at the party, can we?’ he teased.

  They finished the washing up in companionable silence. Then Amber checked on Tess and the pups while Jed went into the lounge, moved the sofa against the wall, then found a CD player and some CDs. He was kneeling on the floor flicking through them when Amber came in.

  ‘Anything particular you want to dance to?’ he asked, indicating the pile of CDs in front of him.

  ‘I don’t mind. You choose.’

  ‘OK, it’ll have to be slow and romantic. That’s what all the partner dances are like.’ He selected one. ‘This one will do.’

  He slipped the CD into the player, switched it on, then stood up and held out his arms to Amber. ‘Come on, and remember, follow my lead and you’ll be fine.’

  As soon as she stepped into his arms Jed knew it was a mistake.

  He tried to ignore the way she heightened all his senses. The lingering smell of the shower gel she’d used, the enticing feel of her soft body against his, the electrifying touch of her bare hand on his arm, the way she gnawed at her bottom lip as she concentrated on trying to follow his steps. And the desperate need he felt to hold her close and kiss those lovely lips until she begged him not to stop.

  It took all his willpower but he was keeping himself under control – just – then, as if sensing his, she raised her eyes to his. He saw her pupils dilate, heard her catch her breath, felt her body tense, and, unable to stop himself, bent his head and touched her forehead with his lips. Tracing feather kisses down her face, he found her lips and possessed them, softly at first then – fuelled by her ardent response – more urgently.

  His breathing quickened
. Her hands caressing the back of his neck. She ran her fingers through his hair, her body pressing against him, her lips melting into his. One hand tightly around her waist, he slid the other hand up her back, pulling her closer to him.

  ‘You’re beautiful!’ he murmured in her ear.

  ‘Wuff! Wuff!’

  Amber jerked her eyes open and looked around, still dazed.

  ‘Wuff!’

  Tess was standing beside her, barking at them.

  Saved by the dog again! Amber thought, coming to her senses. What had possessed her to get entangled in a heavy embrace with Jed? How embarrassing.

  As if sensing her change of heart, Jed released her and glanced over at the dog. ‘I think Tess is trying to attract our attention,’ he said lightly.

  ‘I expect she wants to go to the toilet.’ Amber tried to act cool and composed. ‘I ought to feed her too. We’ll have to put the dance on hold for a moment.’

  ‘Sure. You see to Tess and I’ll go and change the paper in her bed. It must be pretty messy by now.’

  Amber nodded. ‘Come on, Tess.’

  As soon as Amber opened the back door, the border collie trotted out, sniffing the ground and walking around in circles before going over to a far corner to relieve herself.

  Amber walked over to the bench and sat down, wrapping her arms around her shoulders, hugging herself tight to stop herself shaking. She could hardly believe she had responded so passionately to Jed’s kisses. Goodness knows just how carried away she’d have got if Tess hadn’t interrupted them. Again.

  Tess had finished her business now and came over to her, tail wagging.

  ‘You must be my guardian angel,’ she said, stroking the dog under her chin. ‘That’s twice you’ve saved me from making a complete fool of myself with Jed. I owe you big-time.’

  What was the matter with her? She didn’t normally get so heavy with a guy she barely knew. That might be Jed’s style but it certainly wasn’t hers.

  OK, she was attracted to him. She couldn’t deny it. And he was attracted to her too, she could tell that by the look in his eyes and the passion in the kiss they had shared, but nothing could come of it. She was going to marry a millionaire and get her parents out of the mess that slime-ball Rod had left them in. Having a torrid affair with Jed didn’t fit into her plan. In fact, it was the one thing that could scupper it completely. She had to keep her distance from him, because she obviously couldn’t trust herself around him. Which was extremely difficult now they were stuck on a remote island together for the whole night.

  She stopped outside for a while to give herself time to regain her composure. She didn’t want Jed to know just how much he disturbed her. Is the attraction as powerful for him? she wondered. Did he lose all control when she was around, as she did with him? Did her mere touch send his bones to quivering jelly as his did to her?

  She doubted it, judging by how quickly he’d pulled himself together when Tess had disturbed them. She was sure he wanted her, but not with the same uncontrollable passion. He hadn’t seemed flustered by the situation, as she had been. Was that because he was used to casual flings with women? He must meet many women – far more beautiful than she was – as he worked for a millionaire, perhaps she was just another notch on his bedpost.

  Especially if he could get her to forget her plan of marrying Randy and have an affair with him instead. Choose him over a millionaire.

  Her body stiffened. Is that what he was trying to do? After all, he’d made no bones about the fact that he thought she was being mercenary, yet he’d promised to help her. The two things didn’t tie up. Why should he help her when he disapproved of what she was doing? Was it so he could get her to trust him, to fall for him and forget her plan? That would give his ego a real boost, wouldn’t it?

  But Jed isn’t like that. He’s kind, caring, and uncomplicated, her mind whispered. Not scheming and devious.

  How do you know? You’ve only just met him. It could all be an act. Like Rod. Look how he fooled you.

  ‘Do you fancy some hot chocolate?’

  Jed was standing in the doorway.

  ‘No thanks,’ she replied.

  She didn’t want to sit drinking hot chocolate with him. It was too cosy and intimate. She needed to keep her distance, to avoid being alone with him. There was no way she wanted to get too close to him, to risk kissing him again. Next time she might not be saved from making a complete fool of herself.

  There wasn’t going to be a next time. She’d make certain of it.

  ‘Are you sure? I’ve got fresh cream.’

  Drat, he sure knew her weaknesses.

  ‘And marshmallows.’

  That did it. Fresh cream she could just about resist. Marshmallows were beyond her willpower.

  ‘Pink ones?’ she asked.

  ‘Naturally. Pink are the best.’

  ‘OK, I’ll have a cup. Thank you,’ she added.

  He chuckled. ‘It’ll be ready in five minutes.’

  You’re so weak-willed, Amber Wynters, she scolded herself as she walked inside.

  She’d just have to make sure she remained strong-willed as far as Jed was concerned.

  ‘I checked the sex of the puppies whilst you and Tess were outside.’ Jed handed her a mug of hot chocolate with a big pink marshmallow floating on the top. ‘Three girls and two boys.’

  ‘That’s fantastic.’ Amber stood in the doorway. She didn’t trust herself to get any closer. ‘Wait till Mike knows, he’ll be delighted. Do you think he’ll have come around from the operation? Can we tell him?’

  ‘Let’s leave it until tomorrow, eh? It’s a bit late now,’ Jed replied. ‘In fact, I’m just going into the study to finish a few notes then I’m turning in. I want to be up early tomorrow and take some more photos before we leave the island.’

  She glanced at her watch. It was almost ten o’clock. She hadn’t realised it was that late. Although she didn’t usually go to bed before midnight, she suddenly felt weary. It had been a long, eventful day.

  ‘Yeah, sure. I’ll just drink this and go to bed myself.’

  Amber checked on Tess, smiling at the sight of the little dog proudly feeding the tiny pups. Then she went back to the lounge and sat on the sofa, cupping her hot chocolate and mulling over the last few days’ events. She felt as if her life was spiralling out of her control since she’d met Jed. She had to get him out of her head and stick to her plan to marry Randy. Especially as Randy seemed so keen on her. He’d even altered his plans so she could come sailing with him. She could hear Collie’s voice in her head, ‘Just follow the Millionaire Plan and you’ll hook him’.

  And that’s exactly what she was going to do. Now, what was rule number six?

  She grabbed her bag, took out the sheet of paper she’d listed the ten rules on, and scanned it. She frowned when she spotted number five – ‘Never let him see you looking anything but your best.’ It’s a good job she wasn’t trying to hook Jed, she thought, she didn’t think he’d seen her look her best yet!

  Then she saw rule six and groaned as she read ‘Don’t get intimate too quickly. Keep him waiting’. Another rule she’d broken with Jed but she certainly wouldn’t with Randy.

  She’d make sure she looked her best for Randy tomorrow night. She pondered over the dresses Callie had loaned her and decided that she would either wear the long white dress or the backless red one. Both of them were sexy and stunning without being too revealing. Well, they looked that way on Callie anyway, whether they had the same effect on her was doubtful. She wore the same size clothes as Callie, but they didn’t hang on her the same way. Her hips were bigger for a start, and so was her bust. Callie was so slim with long, long legs anything would look good on her.

  Still, the dresses were both better than any she owned and, with a bit of luck, would detract Randy’s attention from the fact that she couldn’t dance. Because there was no way she was going to ask Jed for dancing lessons now – and judging by the way he’d quickly retired to the stud
y she gathered he wasn’t about to offer them.

  She finished her hot chocolate and went to check on Tess again before she went to bed. She was curled up, fast asleep with the pups. Amber took a newspaper off the pile in the corner and spread it on the floor in case Tess needed the loo in the night then went to say goodnight to Jed. The study door was half-open and peering through, she could see him bent over the desk, engrossed in his work. She hesitated, wondering whether to disturb him or just go straight to bed, but, as if sensing her presence, he turned to her.

  ‘I’m almost finished here,’ he told her. ‘Is everything OK?’

  ‘Yes, Tess and the pups are sleeping and I’m off to bed now.’

  His tawny eyes met hers, and she felt the familiar flutter in the pit of the stomach. ‘Goodnight then.’

  ‘Goodnight.’

  Sleep eluded her.

  She heard the bathroom door open and shut and, a few minutes later, the door to the bedroom next to hers – Mike’s bedroom – open then shut and knew that Jed had gone to bed too. The bedsprings creak in the next room as Jed got into bed, and she had to fight down the urge to go next door and join him, take up where they’d left off before Tess had interrupted them, to feel his lips on hers again …

  She groaned, burying her head in her hands, she had to take her mind off Jed before she went crazy. She switched on the bedroom lamp and looked around the room, hoping to find a book to read but there was no sign of one. She was just considering going downstairs to get a book from Mike’s study when she remembered the magazines she’d borrowed from Jed’s – or rather his boss’s – yacht. They would do. She reached for the holdall she’d left by the bed and took one of the magazines out of it.