Bryce_Nanny’s Aussie Billionaire

by Piper Sullivan

  Sierra sighed and pushed her lush red hair off her shoulders before she took a long slow sip from her glass. “Then you have to do it.”

  “I do?” I had not expected her to say that since she’s been after me for years to end my obsession with Mason.

  She nodded. “You do. Be his faux whatever but use this time wisely. Seduce him, make him see how good you could be together. Whatever it takes. And when this is over-,”

  “It’s really over,” I finished for her, ignoring the stop and drop of my heart so hollow in my chest.

  “Or he realizes he’s been a big fat dummy all this time and you get your happy ending,” she smiled and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

  Yeah or that. Except we both knew there was a better chance of keeping a snowman standing on Main Street in July. “So I shouldn’t keep asking to use his land for my equine massage business?”

  Sierra finished her beer and swiped the foam from her mouth. “If you think it won’t slice you open every day to see him. Especially when he does move on, which he will.”

  “Just the thought of it slices plenty, thanks.” I had already spent years watching him date women who weren’t boring like me. They were tall and thin and most important they were busty and blonde. They weren’t average height with brown hair and blue eyes like me. I didn’t have pouty lips and my C cups weren’t impressing anyone. “Well I guess I need to find some land and see about getting a loan.”

  “How much do you need?”

  I shook my head. “No Sierra. I love you and I’m grateful for the offer but I can’t take that kind of money from you. If my business fails you’ll hate me.”

  “Gee, thanks for thinking so highly of me.”

  “Oh come on, you know it’s not that. That money is for your future. You paid a steep price for it.”

  She shrugged like it didn’t matter but I knew it did. Her parents and baby brother died in a freak boating accident when we were fourteen and with no family to take her in she came and stayed with us until graduation. Dad couldn’t take care of two ranches so it had been sold and the money added to the trust left for her. “I know but your parents never touched that money and they should have.”

  “You were family well before that and you know it. We all loved having you there and I know for a fact they wanted to make sure you could do whatever you wanted with your life with that money.”

  “Fine but I’ll co-sign a loan for you because you’ll need it.”

  “I can get Jack to do it.”

  Sierra rolled her eyes. “Honey he’s got less collateral than you unless you count his guns and body armor.”

  Crap she was right. Being a Ranger for the past six years and regular Army a decade before meant he had no home base, no car. No collateral just as Sierra said. “I’ll think about it, okay?”

  “You know where to find me and my pocketbook.”

  “I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” I told her and finished my second beer of the night. “I have a ton of sleep to miss out on tonight.” I knew I would help Mason because I was powerless where he was concerned but I didn’t know if I had it in me to do what Sierra suggested. He hadn’t noticed me in all this time, what would make this time any different?

  Hope you enjoyed this preview Dear Reader, find out how Mason & Sage’s story ends here.

  * * *

  Seal’d to Her: A Preview

  Prologue

  Jaya ~ 3 months ago

  “You ready?” My partner Detective Greg Jeffries asked with a blinding white smile that was such a contrast to his smooth cocoa brown skin. We’d been partners since I joined the homicide division four years ago.

  “Ready. The radio said a DV call was active at this address five minutes ago,” I replied. We stood on the other side of the door where a suspect stood, armed and angry. Real time updates were coming in my ear as multiple cars made their way to our location. Multi-tasking was important on a day like this, that had the potential to turn deadly on a dime.

  “Shit! Damn domestic violence calls,” Jeffries bit out. Every officer hated them because they were more volatile than drunks and junkies. The only thing more dangerous than these calls were traffic stops. “We should’ve gotten those tacos first, someone else could’ve handled this shit.”

  “Well we’re here now Greg and we need to get in there. He’s got four guns registered and who knows how many else.” Our search for suspects had turned up John Daly’s DNA on the victim. We needed this guy alive. “Backup is en route, but you heard him, we don’t have much time.” The man screamed and yelled at his wife who only seemed capable of whimpering and shouting in pain.

  “Dammit Jaya,” he groaned, weapon drawn and aimed at the ground. “I guess we’re going in.” He gave another devastating smile because as much as he complained, Jeffries loved life as homicide detective in Miami as much as I did.

  With a nod, I gave three sharp knocks on the door with my fist. “Mr. Daly this is Detective Martinson and we need you to drop your weapons and open the door.”

  “No fucking way! I am not going to jail for some shit I didn’t do!”

  Fucking guys always thought they were in charge. He should have thought about jail while he beating his wife and possibly murdering someone. But I couldn’t say any of that now. I needed to talk him off the proverbial ledge.

  “You won’t go to jail if you let Maureen out unharmed. Right now we just want to talk to you. Invoke your rights now and you’ll get a lawyer who can get you off on whatever you might have done. If you hurt Maureen I’ll have no choice but to send you to jail.

  A smack sounded and a woman cried out. “Fuck that! She’s my goddamn wife and I can do what I want with her.”

  “You can’t hurt her Mr. Daly, so drop your weapon and open the door.” I turned to Jeffries’ intent stare and he nodded his approval. “Maureen, are you all right?”

  “I’m not injured,” she answered but her voice shook with fear. “Just a little banged up.”

  Though I was certain this wasn’t the first time she’d covered for her husband, this time I understood her motives. Armed and unhinged was not a good combination for her.

  “That’s good. See John? She’s not hurt. Let her go and then you and me can talk.” A shuffling noise sounded and I turned back to my partner. “Can you get to the fire escape?” I whispered.

  He nodded and stepped back. “Give me two minutes before going in,” he said and took off down the stairs. My eyes were glued to my watch the moment the door smacked shut, listening as the lock disengaged.

  “Come on in, then,” he groused but I went in, my Smith & Wesson leading the way.

  “John, I’m Jaya. Are we all good in here?” The apartment was a mess, vases in pieces on the floor, coffee table overturned and the sofa with fresh stains indicative of a fight.

  “We’ll be right as rain if you go the fuck away.”

  I kept my voice calm even though I really wanted to crack his head open with the butt of my gun. “You know I can’t do that while you have a gun to your wife’s head. Let her go and I’ll give you time to call your lawyer before we take you in.”

  “I ain’t going jail bitch.” His anger was apparent but that voice came out icy cold, emotionless and threatening. His eyes were wide and glassy, pupils dilated as whatever drugs he was on took over.

  “No one’s taking you to jail right now John. I just want to question you about Lila Stevenson, arriving during this was just a coincidence.” I had his attention now, and so I kept on talking. “If anyone thinks you’re dangerous they won’t hesitate to shoot, so lets both lower our weapons as an act of trust, all right?”

  He nodded and lowered his gun but his other arm gripped around Maureen’s throat tightened and she yelped. “I didn’t rape that chick either. Yeah we had sex because I paid good money to screw her. Am I supposed to make sure every whore I screw gets home safe and sound?”

  Yeah asshole you are, I thought but didn’t say that.

  “Of course not
John, but this is the first I’m hearing about her being a prostitute. Now you see why we need to talk to you? My job is to find her killer not deal with domestic disputes so please, don’t make this worse.” Finally, Jeffries smooth bald head appeared about a head taller than John Daly. “Care to tell me how she ended up beaten and strangled?” And left behind a dumpster but I held that back for later.

  “Fuck no!” he shook his head and raised the gun again, squeezing his wife’s neck even tighter. “She blew me, I fucked her and I left. Maureen was making her delicious meatloaf and needed some barbecue sauce so I stopped at the store before coming home. Dumb bitch dried out the meatloaf, didn’t you?”

  Maureen squeezed her eyes shut, ignoring the bruise forming on her left eye and nodded. “I did,” she squeaked out as tears leaked from her eyes.

  “See? And I disciplined her. As is my right as her fucking husband! Check County Hospital records if you don’t believe me.”

  Shit. He wouldn’t be the first guy who’s alibi was another crime, but it was looking more and more like Daly wasn’t our guy. “Alright John, listen to me goddammit. We need to get your statement about Lila, but if Maureen doesn’t press charges you won’t be arrested. We’ll clear your alibi and this will all be over.” And I knew from years on the beat that Maureen would not press charges, and more importantly, Daly knew it too. He was thinking about it, considering giving up control momentarily in exchange for his freedom.

  Then he started shaking his head and all the hairs on my body raised, a sure sign shit was about to go upside down.

  “I can’t go in. I can’t! You fucking pigs’ll find a way to pin something on me. You always do.” His grip tightened and Maureen screamed at the same time Jeffries knocked over a flowerpot and drew Daly’s attention. “What the…?” Daly whirled around, grip still tight on Maureen and raised his gun.

  “Jeffries down!” Shit, I didn’t have a clean shot without hitting Maureen.

  Then the shot rang out. As loud as a cannon, and my partner collapsed on the metal grate. “Drop the gun!” I fired a shot in his leg and he went down just as Maureen came flying at me, eyes wide and screaming like a banshee.

  “No, don’t shoot him!” As soon as I registered what was happening I put a bullet in her too, right in her chest dammit.

  A shot hit my right shoulder and I spun, letting off another shot at Daly at the same time he did, sending another bullet into the same shoulder, about five inches apart. Blood spread around Daly’s stomach and I felt woozy, black spots forming on the outer edges of my vision. Staggering, I fell to my knees, hearing the uniform sound of the tactical team preparing to breach. “Officers down,” I yelled and then fell over before my whole world went dark.

  Colt

  “Hey Ma, I’m here.” I used my key to enter the apartment I bought for her on Lake Shore Drive a few years back, looking around with a smile. It didn’t matter how much money I made, how much I gave to her to spend, she had this million-dollar penthouse decorated similarly to the ranch house she’d raised me and my brother Grady in Calumet City, a small town about thirty minutes outside Chicago. Bright colors and rustic furnishings were odd to see in this space, but it always felt like home to me.

  “Colt! I’m so glad you’re here.” My mother, Claudia Sharpe, rushed in and wrapped her arms around me like she hadn’t seen me five days ago. “How are you sweetheart?” Head tilted to the side so her brown shoulder length hair shot through with grey swung around her face. Familiar blue eyes stared at me. “I’ve invited some guests for dinner.”

  I groaned. “Ma you promised, no more matchmaking.” She’d spent the past year putting women in front of me, hoping to marry me off to give her some grandchildren. Since Grady was still working off book for Uncle Sam, it was up to me in her eyes.

  “I’m not matchmaking, and you’re grumpy. Have a beer,” she told me at the same time she set a bottle of IPA in front of me. “Sharon Martinson, well Cavanaugh now, lives in the other apartment on this floor.”

  I frowned. “Since when?” That apartment has been rented for nearly a year.

  Ma’s blue eyes looked far too innocent. “About a year ago, but we’ve grown close over the past few months, as mothers of children with dangerous jobs,” she gave me a pointed look that was filled with worry and fear. “Anyway Jaya was shot, and she’s had a hard time so we’ve been chatting and I invited her.”

  I didn’t hear much else of what she’d said after hearing that Jaya had been shot. Jaya Martinson was the only girl I ever loved, but I’d broken her heart. It was a lifetime ago but hearing her name again, hearing that I could have lost her without knowing it made it feel like yesterday.

  “Is Jaya okay?”

  Ma sighed and grabbed my beer, taking a long sip. “Her body is healing apparently, but Sharon is worried.”

  Damn I was worried too. “How did she get shot?”

  The doorbell interrupted her answer and I groaned, standing and glancing at the table set for…four? “Come in, how are you?” The answer was low and muffled but my eyes were glued to the doorway as an uneasy feeling settled over me. Then Miss Martinson was in the doorway, looking just as I remembered her only older. “Miss Martinson, you’re looking more beautiful than ever.”

  She smiled, delicate features so similar to Jaya’s it made my heart squeeze.

  “Colt what a handsome man you’ve grown into. Big too,” she said and squeezed me into the same hug she had when I was a boy. She pulled back and gave me a sympathetic smile I didn’t understand. “You remember Jaya, don’t you?”

  What? I looked up and slammed into green eyes that often invaded my dreams. She was even more beautiful now than the last time I saw her. She’d filled out, her body was now that of a woman, soft and supple but strong.

  “Jaya,” I whispered.

  She was frozen, shock and anger and hurt flashed before her expression went blank. “Excuse me,” she whispered and turned, skirting around Ma and slamming the door behind her.

  “Dammit! I’ll be right back.” Sharon put her hand on my chest to stop me.

  “Let her be Colt. We should have told her he’d be here,” she said to Ma. “It was too big of a shock after everything.”

  I’d noticed the sling she still wore, the pale set of her skin and the purple crescents under her blank green eyes. “Can you tell me what happened?”

  Sharon guided me to the long red sofa that was the centerpiece of the living room and told me all about the murder investigation that had come to a head in the middle of a domestic violence call. “She took two bullets to the shoulder and decided to leave Miami PD. She didn’t give me details but I’m sure there’s more to it than that. She came back a month ago.”

  One month, and Ma knew. She’d kept it from me. “I should go after her.”

  “Don’t,” Sharon said softly. “She’ll come back, but she’s needs to regroup.”

  I wasn’t so sure but plenty of years had passed, and she knew Jaya better than I did.

  “I can’t believe we got stuck with dish duty.” I had a feeling the mothers were still trying to play matchmaker, but judging by Jaya’s demeanor since she returned, I didn’t think I’d ever get her to crack a smile.

  “Mostly you since I can’t do much right now.” She pointed to the sling with a blank look as she rinsed and put another plate away.

  “Jaya I’m sorry about what happened, to you and your partner.”

  She stiffened at my touch, and a flash of anger surfaced, but she quickly hid it. “It’s fine. Jeffries won’t be a cop anymore, but at least he’s alive.”

  “What will you do now?”

  She gave a one shoulder shrug like it was no big deal even though we both knew it was. “No idea. I’ll figure it out though.” Of course she would, there wasn’t a single person I knew stronger or more independent than Jaya.

  “I have no doubt about that Jaya. If you’re interested I could use your skills.”

  She scoffed, giving me a sideways look
that took me back to our childhood. She’d given me that look thousands of times over the years. “Well, as you can see, I’m not capable of doing anything, never mind any kind of security so, no thank you.” My surprise must have shown because she explained, “My mother told me what you were up to before convincing me you wouldn’t be here tonight.”

  Ouch. I guess that answered the question of if she still hated me. “Would you have come if you’d known I would be here?”

  “No.”

  Unequivocal. That stung but I couldn’t believe after all these years she still felt that way. “You still hate me?”

  She shook her head, long wheat blond lashes fanned as she blinked, drawing my attention to the freckles she’d always hated, but were now more pronounced from her years in the Miami sun.

  “I don’t hate you Colt, but seeing you brings back a lot of memories I’d rather forget.”

  Memories. We had a lifetime of memories together starting from first grade and she wanted to forget them. All. Playing kickball in the street, catching lightning bugs in jars. Our first clumsy kiss in the dark movie theater, and our even clumsier attempt at making love for the first time. Memories I treasured, cherished. And she wanted to forget them? I couldn’t let that stand.

  “You want to forget a lifetime together because I joined the Navy? That’s real mature Jaya.” It wasn’t just that I left, I knew that. It was how I’d done it.

  She sucked in a breath that should have warned me, but I couldn’t have known it would set her off. “You didn’t just leave Colt. You left me without talking about it, without preparing me. In the middle of the semester you tell me you’re leaving in five minutes for recruit training. Then you didn’t call or write like you said you would!” She flung the towel at my feet and took a few steps away as though she couldn’t even stand being near me.