Billionaire Romance Series: Dreams Fulfilled (1-3)

by Scarlett King

  As I make my way down the hall, I hear the conversation going on and my heart sinks.

  “This isn’t a family meeting,” Julia insists. “This is a hostage situation. You’re not wanted here. The only reason we have to sit here is because if we don’t, you’re gonna beat the hell out of both of us. You said it yourself.”

  “That’s right,” Daniel laughs. “I did. See, Reverend, my poor, stupid brother is gonna leave with me tonight, and we’re going down to New Orleans where the fucking Snow Queen isn’t on a cocaine binge and working overtime. If he doesn’t, I’ll make his life a living Hell. Starting with rearranging his little slut girlfriend’s face.”

  “How dare you talk about my daughter this way!” The Reverend sounds ready to fall over in fear, but he’s still standing up for Julia. I admit I’m a little proud of him.

  Outside, the wind is starting to really howl. It worries me, but nowhere near as much as the idea of my brother and Julia in the same room together.

  I do a quick check around the door frame and see Daniel sitting with his back to me, idly holding Julia by the hair. His coat is off, in a pile on the floor. He doesn’t have a gun.

  He does have his hands on my sweetheart, though.

  “You tell your daddy what you’ve been doing, you little whore. Don’t make a liar out of me, or I’m gonna start knocking your teeth out.”

  “Let go of me, you creep! Dad already knows I’m in love with Aaron—”

  Daniel lets out a laugh as her sharp cry of shock—or maybe pain—cuts off her words. “But does he know you’re sneaking around behind his back fucking Aaron?”

  Oh fuck, I think, wincing.

  Everyone’s voice erupts at once; exclamations, arguing, total chaos. I see my chance, and bolt into the room.

  Julia turns and sees me coming. Her face lights up, and she immediately elbows Daniel in the side and pulls away from him when his grip loosens. I crash into him from behind a second later.

  Daniel yells in shock as I lift him entirely off his feet, “What the fuck!?”

  “Sorry I’m late,” I tell the Reverend and Julia as my brother kicks and wiggles in my grip. “I was having trouble fitting both the generators in my sidecar.”

  “How the Hell did you get inside the house?” Daniel is still struggling like a kid, but he’s getting nowhere.

  “I’ve worked on the place for years,” I reply coolly. I look over at the Reverend. “I’m also sorry for any trouble this jackass has caused. He’s on his way out the door.”

  The Reverend gets over his shock quickly and heaves a sigh of relief. “Yes, please get him out of my house.”

  “Wait, wait, wait! Come on, now! Do you really want to take this guy’s side? He’s a felon! We’re in the same club!” Daniel probably weighs a ton as he twists around, struggling, but I’m so angry I can’t feel it. Instead, I’m fighting the urge to break his damn back.

  “We were in the same club,” I growl. “I gave up my freedom to save yours, and now I’m done with you and that life.”

  “Oh shut the fuck up, you stupid bastard. You chose to be a damn martyr. You chose to take the fall in my place. Yeah, I told you to do it, and I promised to take care of you while you were inside and to leave you alone once you were free. But you were the one who was dumb enough to believe me!”

  His taunts hit home, hard. My muscles start to tighten around his ribs. I can literally break him over my knee if I want.

  Julia and her father are watching me. I stop tightening my grip.

  “So it’s true,” the Reverend muses. “He accepted incarceration so that you would remain free, when he did nothing to that man.”

  “I told you—” Julia sighs and goes quiet, shaking her head.

  “Look,” Daniel waves his hands, still looking ridiculous dangling from my grip. “We’re both criminals. We belong together, well away from decent people like you and your...lovely daughter. If you’re gonna throw me out, throw him out as well!”

  My heart sinks. I sigh, and look at the Reverend. “I’ll leave if you want.”

  He scowls at me, surprising me. “Don’t you dare. We have a lot to talk about. As for him...I’m calling Earl to come pick him up.” He walks over to the coffee table and picks up his phone. His hands are shaky, but he seems all right.

  I nod and cart Daniel over to the door. “You can wait outside,” I tell him, doing my job even though it’s my night off.

  “But wait, my jacket,” he protests as Julia gets up to unlock the door and open it for me. “Come on, man, I’ll freeze.”

  “Earl will be up in five to ten minutes. This town is tiny,” I reply patiently as I step out onto the porch.

  “It’s ten degrees out—” he yells in a final protest.

  “Exactly.” I pitch him off the porch and into a snowbank. He lands safely but sinks deep enough that he’s stuck flailing like a turtle on its back.

  I go back inside and shut the door on him. Good riddance to that relic of my past—now, to face my future.

  I square my shoulders and walk back in to face the Reverend. Everything I rehearsed has fled my mind, but I still manage to look him in the eyes. “I’ll explain everything,” I start, but he shakes his head.

  “I don’t want to hear it,” he replies in a low, tired voice. “I know I misjudged you in many ways. But whether Daniel’s accusation about you and my daughter is true or not, we’re not talking about that. I already have a headache.”

  Julia sits quietly in a chair nearby, looking both nervous and determined.

  “What should we talk about then, Reverend?”

  “We’re going to talk about the fact that you are not laying another hand on my daughter unless you lead with a ring. That is one thing I will never compromise on, and if Julia weren’t so wildly in love, she’d likely agree.”

  Julia speaks up. “Actually, I do agree.”

  The Reverend blinks at her. “Oh.” Then he looks between the two of us. “And you? Are you ready to commit to her, and wear a symbol of that commitment?”

  Damn. This is all happening fast. Except it isn’t. We’ve been in love for years. We’ve only just started finally admitting it and doing something about it.

  “I guess I’m just surprised that you changed your mind so fast,” I admit.

  “I haven’t changed my mind. Not entirely. But when I discovered that Julia was in love with you, I prayed for a sign. Tonight, I got it.” He takes a deep breath.

  “You had every reason to run in here and do some violence to your brother that would silence him and vindicate you. He just taunted you more. And while he confirmed that you truly are a better man than he will ever be, he also admitted just how little he valued the biggest sacrifice of your life.” The Reverend goes over to the china cabinet and fishes out three snifters and a bottle of brandy.

  He pours one for each of us as he goes on. “You did not avenge yourself. You just subdued him and got rid of him.”

  Outside we can see flashing red and blue lights as Earl picks up my lightly chilled brother. For the first time in a long time, it doesn’t make me sick inside to see signs of a cop around. “I can’t claim to be a better guy than I was and then not act like one.”

  “Well, I’m glad you did.” He coughs into his fist and starts passing out glasses. “Now, I am going to have a nice brandy, and then go to bed, because I have absolutely had it with this evening. I expect you two to behave while under my roof.”

  “Yes, Reverend,” I chuckle as Julia, wearing a look of deep relief, comes to sit beside me. We clink glasses, and I take a welcome drink.

  It’s going to be a test of my willpower to stay out of bed with my new love until the storm is over, and I can buy her a ring. But her father is right—it’s what she deserves.

  The next year is going to be amazing. I can just tell. Even if the rest of the year is full of storms, we’ll weather them together.

  Her hand slips into mine as her father turns to put the bottle away, and I give it a sq
ueeze. Now I will have two things to thank God for every morning.

  I’m looking forward to it.

  The End.

  A Kiss of Winter (Dreams Fulfilled Book 3)

  A Second Chance Christmas Romance

  * * *

  By Scarlett King

  Synopsis

  Andi Carter and David Delgado are best friends and partners in a ghost hunting organization in Upstate New York. They also used to be married—but they don’t like to talk about that. It was a mistake, they were too young...and there were some issues in their sex life. Once again—they don’t talk about it. Of course, now they’re back in the land of unresolved sexual tension, Mulder and Scullying their way through cases—except that he’s the skeptic.

  * * *

  They hear about a bizarre case in picturesque Phoenicia, and head out to a bed and breakfast to investigate for themselves. Once there, the romantic setting creates hilarious levels of awkwardness as their memory of their comically terrible first try intrudes on any hope for a second chance. They try to focus on the investigation, but can’t seem to sort out where the mistletoe came from or how it manages to keep being replaced.

  * * *

  When a few of the locals start flirting with them, unexpected jealousy and rekindling of desire force the pair to work on solving their own romantic issues. Their rekindled passions end up reminding them of the love they share, and give them a second chance now that they are mature enough to form a committed relationship. In that way their hunt is a success, even if the mistletoe incident remains a mystery forever.

  Andi

  David and I don’t talk about our short-lived marriage. It gets in the way of our friendship and our partnership. We’re supposed to be trying to explain the inexplicable—of the paranormal variety, not the romantic—and bickering about our ill-fated romance isn’t the way to do it.

  * * *

  We were so young back then, and though he was never able to satisfy me when we were both inexperienced and didn’t have a clue, being cooped up with him in this romantic little town has me noticing how much David has changed—and has me wondering just how much he’s truly learned in the years since we broke up.

  * * *

  With mistletoe hanging everywhere in this town, there’s no doubt that love is in the air. But can that love be ours, or did we already waste our one chance? ’Tis the season for many things, but are we brave enough to let it be the season of second chances?

  David

  Once upon a time I was a complete idiot—too damn young and inexperienced and cocky to boot. And because of that, I messed up my chances with the woman I’ve always loved.

  * * *

  Unrequited love is never easy, but it’s a whole hell of a lot harder when it includes a successful business and a lifelong friendship. Even years after I blew my chance, I just can’t let go of the feeling that Andi is the only one for me.

  * * *

  I never want to see Andi hurt again, so when she comes down with a mysterious winter-related illness, all my protective instincts come creeping in. I’ve already lost this woman once, and I’ll be damned if it happens again.

  * * *

  Now I just need to make her see that we’re worth a second chance—and if I need to let a little Christmas magic run its course to make that happen…well then, who am I to say that miracles don’t exist?

  Chapter 1

  Andi

  * * *

  “Good morning, sunshine!”

  David strolls in through the connecting door between our suites and pulls the curtains aside on all the windows, sending thin winter sunlight trickling into the room. He’s got that shit-eating grin on his handsome face that used to annoy me back when we were married.

  I lob my pillow at him, eyes bleary, but my aim is still perfect after five years. It bounces off his chest, and he looks down, then snorts and scoops it up. I roll over and bury my face in my remaining pillow. “Go away! It’s freezing and before nine.”

  “Yes, and this is the Catskills. People start their days at dawn here—we’re missing chances for interviews. Besides, it was your idea for us to spend our Christmas up here.” The slight edge to his voice reminds me of how hard it had been to sell him on this investigation when I first learned of the events transpiring in this town.

  Our partnership as paranormal investigators—just like our friendship—survived our disastrous six-month marriage with little more than some awkwardness and regret. But here I’ve had to live with him again for over a week and a half, and it’s reminding me of why we broke up. “Yes, I know. Just give me…half an hour.”

  I have also always hated that he’s a morning person.

  “Nuh-uh. You decided to spend half the night driving over to the county hospital to chase down those frostbite cases, and you straight up told me that you didn’t want us knocked off schedule because of it.” He comes over and crouches down beside the bed, so his face is level with mine. “So get your cute ass up. We have a mystery to solve.”

  He was right. And it wasn’t just any mystery, either. It was the paranormal event of a lifetime—a genuine Christmas miracle that started almost two weeks ago with thousands of witnesses. It was an event so enormous that even news and social media have noticed and have been rationalizing and celebrating it instead of denying it outright.

  Within a week of the first sighting on December 23rd, Phoenicia, New York, had already gained the nickname Mistletoe Village, becoming a destination for romantic-minded snow bunnies from all over the East Coast—and beyond. The bed and breakfasts have filled up, people are renting out spare rooms in their houses for some extra cash, and over a hundred couples have gotten engaged here so far. Tourists, reporters, bloggers, and curiosity seekers are mingling with the local population, filling up the restaurants, cafes, and bars as the early January chill drives them inside.

  I can hear the rustle and chatter of the crowd down on the street even through my double-glazed window. Dammit, he’s right.

  I sigh into my bedding and roll over to look at David. He’s cute, both in personality and looks, and I really like the guy. But I also find him really annoying at times, which is part of why the whole marriage thing never worked out.

  We’re still best friends though, and I wouldn’t be able to run Astraea Paranormal without him. He’s the tech half to my lore half. While I’m doing interviews, conducting research, and recording EVPs, he’s checking for magnetic fields, seeking rational explanations, and making sure that whatever we come up with can’t be easily debunked. He also handles the technical and scheduling details, making sure we can get where we need to be and do what we need to do—and do it on time.

  And that’s why I’m waking up on January the third in a bed and breakfast in the Catskills with my ex-husband in my face.

  “Dammit, Dave,” I grumble, but I know he’s right.

  David Delgado, tech genius and occasional jackass who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, flops into a bedside chair as I drag myself out of bed. He’s the classic tall, dark, and handsome type with thick, coffee-colored hair, big brown eyes, and an easy smile. To top it off, I know he’s got an amazing body under that turtleneck and jeans—but I don’t let myself think about that any more.

  When he was younger, he was almost cherubic looking. But he was also a bit of an immature pain in the butt back then, so…it was a trade-off.

  And that brings us to Reason Number Two that we should never have married: we were too damn young to know what we were doing—in and out of bed. It would have helped if David had taken instruction better, but I have my own faults, too.

  I rub my eyes, blinking several times. “Unh. Okay. My notes from last night’s interviews are on the laptop. Take a look at them while I clean up.” I push myself out of bed as he gets up to go for my laptop case.

  As I walk past him, I hear his breath catch. Still half asleep, I haven’t pulled my sleeping shirt down to cover where it’s ridden up my thighs in back. I grumble
and tug the hem down over my ass, remembering how I used to love turning him on by accident like that.

  “Y-yeah. Okay,” he replies like a startled kid. I can’t help but smile a little. Okay, well, maybe I still like it some.

  My marriage to David was the biggest and most regrettable mistake I’ve made in my life. We were too young—in our early twenties—and though David is sweet and would never hurt me, he was even more in over his head than I was. He was too immature and irritating to live with, and it sometimes felt like I was helping to raise my younger brother all over again.

  As I scrub off in the shower with the door open, I hear him clicking away on my laptop. “I’m really starting to think someone is messing with our investigation,” I hear him sigh.

  “That Jack Whitman guy?” I think about Whitman as I lather up my hair. He’s a local—and a world-class skier, snow sculptor, and billionaire playboy with an eccentric father. Mischievous, creative and—I’m starting to suspect—probably the reason why we’re here.

  He also happens to be ridiculously sexy in that slim, toned, sleek way that is almost androgynous. With his pale white skin, black hair, his father’s brilliant blue eyes, and one of those smiles that light up the street, it’s a real shame that he’s even less mature than David.

  “Whitman and whoever else is conspiring with him to do this. There is absolutely no way that mistletoe could just appear hanging just about everywhere in the entire town, with new sprigs somehow popping up every night, without an awful lot of help.” I hear more typing.