by Tamie Dearen
Praise for The Limitless Clean Billionaire Romance Series
I wouldn't change a thing in this book - it kept me awake at night reading my kindle … just had to see what would happen next.
Linda Ellen, Author of the Cherished Memories and Soldiers of Swing Series
Rarely do I become emotional to tears. In this book, I started with tears and ended with tears. So many great elements in this book.
Randy Tramp, Author of Night to Knight
There are wonderful characters, deep issues, humor, intrigue, and great chemistry! There's raw honesty in the character of Bran, the blind billionaire.
Tina Morley, Amanda’s Books and More
The Billionaire’s Reckless Marriage
Book Two of The Limitless Clean Billionaire Romance Series
Tamie Dearen
Copyright © 2018 by Tamie Dearen
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Created with Vellum
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Epilogue
From the Author
About the Author
Books by Tamie Dearen
Acknowledgments
I can’t thank my Remarkable Romance Readers enough. They lived through this story as it developed, encouraged me to keep writing, and gave suggestions that literally changed Finn’s and Laurie’s lives. Thank you, Wanda Liendro, Jessica Dismukes, Sue Stinnet, Tabitha Kocsis, Rennae McIntosh, Jennifer Chastain, Stephanie Burdine, Barb Gill, Eleni Datsika, Nadine Peterse-Vrijhof, Misty Geaglone Goan, Trudy Dapprich, Clare Rauch Drexel, Lisa Stillman, Loriann Peterson Merritt, Patti Ferrin, Dana McCall Michael, Marie Hepworth Cline, Heather Stephens McInnis, Sharon Ayers, and Jolyn Safron. And undying thanks to my beta readers and ARC Team, as well.
Thanks to my awesome cover designer, Agape Author Services, and my fabulous editor, Laurie Penner.
As always, I can’t thank my sweet husband enough, for giving me the time to write and edit and for taking care of me while I did it. (Dear Bruce… Submarine!)
To Drew and Alyssa
I love your hearts for children with special needs. You’ve inspired me more than you will ever know.
Chapter 1
Girl, you are crazy as a bat. There’s no way you’re going to get this job. The ink’s not even dry on your diploma. Laurie’s mental dialogue continued to rant, as it had since Branson Knight invited her to interview for the job at Limitless, a charity organization that benefited disabled kids. She’d been attempting to read a book to keep her nerves at bay while waiting her turn to step through the imposing doors, but she failed to comprehend a word. By unspoken consent, none of the applicants had chatted during their interminable wait. If only they had, she wouldn’t have to listen to herself.
I think I have a good chance. I have awesome grades, she retorted, waiting for the negative response inside her head.
All the other candidates probably have real experience.
What is it they say? You’re not crazy just because you talk to yourself… only if you answer back.
Yes, that proves it—you’re certifiable!
Her hands smoothed her hair in a vain attempt to calm the tight black curls that reached to her shoulders—a gift of her mixed heritage. She jumped at the sound of the door opening. The previous applicant strode out, her pleased expression broadcasting a successful interview. In the doorway stood the woman who’d been calling each person into the room. Laurie wondered if she was a board member helping with the interviews or part of the support staff. Sporting an I-didn’t-get-my-morning-coffee scowl, she called out, “Calvin Ehrhardt?” and looked questioningly at the two of them.
Do I look like my name is Calvin?
Three chairs away, the only other remaining applicant, who must’ve been Calvin, rubbed his hands on his pants as he rose to his feet. He squared his shoulders and marched across the lobby, exuding the type of confidence Laurie hoped to feign when it was her turn.
Laurie checked the time. Almost noon. They’d been at it for two and a half hours. Some were quick interviews. Others took two or three times as long. She assumed a longer interview meant the candidate had a better chance.
Why not casually mention your father’s name? That ought to get you hired.
No way! I’m not going to blow my cover now. I’d starve to death before I admit we’re related.
“Hey, girlfriend!” Stephanie Knight strode into the reception area. “I dropped in to bring Branson a package and thought I’d check to see if you were still here. Are you the last one?”
“Yes. I think he’s prolonging the torture on purpose.” Laurie stood to embrace her, but then remembered she might be contagious. “Don’t come too close.” She warded Steph off with a raised hand. Too bad—she could’ve used a hug. “Mom called me this morning and told me she thought she might be coming down with a cold. I was there two days ago.”
Steph froze in her tracks, her bright expression fading. Since her daughter, Ellie, had cystic fibrosis, she didn’t dare take a chance on exposing her to a respiratory infection. “I hope you’re not sick. I’m counting on you for dinner, Saturday night.”
“I have it on my calendar. I’ll probably be perfectly fine.”
Steph blew a piece of hair out of her face. “You have to come. Ellie misses you even more than I do.”
“I miss you guys, too.” Laurie blinked hard, her eyes stinging. Now was not the time to get choked up and emotional. “But you know I couldn’t stay there and be your nanny forever. I finished my degree. I had to move on and make something out of myself.”
“I know. But I still don’t see why you had to move out of your apartment.” Stephanie started the familiar argument.
“We’ve been through this. That place is worth thousands a month. I can’t afford it, and I refuse to take charity.”
“The money is nothing to Bran. The apartment is sitting empty while you and your stupid pride squeeze into a tiny apartment with three other people.”
“It’s all I can afford in New York City.” Laurie heard a noise and glanced toward the interview room, but the door remained closed. “Anyway, it’s fine. All I do is sleep there. My roommates are students who work or study all the time. They’re never home.”
“After you get this job, you can move back in. Bran will let you pay some rent if that makes you happy.”
Steph’s statement rubbed Laurie the wrong way. “Is there something you aren’t telling me? I hope Branson didn’t inform Jarrett he had to hire me just because we’re friends. You know I’d be humiliated.”
“I swear, that pride of yours is going to get you in trouble.” Stephanie’s eyes rotated toward the ceiling, in exasperation. “Why can’t you be reasonable about this? Yes, we’re friends. But you also worked for us as our nanny. Branson knows you,
and he knows your work ethic. Of course he wants Jarrett to hire you if the job is a good fit.”
Laurie saw hurt in her friend’s downturned expression, but she still felt uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry I’m so stubborn about this. I can’t get my dad’s voice out of my head. He said I’d never make it on my own.”
Steph shook her head as she rifled through her purse and retrieved her ringing cell phone. “None of us can make it without help. That’s what friends are for. You helped me for years. I don’t see why it’s so wrong for me to return the favor.” Holding up an apologetic finger, she answered the call, “Hello? Yes, this is Stephanie Knight…”
Laurie sank back into her chair, using the short reprieve to think of a proper retort, but nothing came to mind. Steph was right about her… she had way too much pride. Of course, Bran and Stephanie were nothing like her father, and Laurie had to learn how to accept help from people who loved and cared about her.
Steph ended her call and tucked the phone away. “Gotta run. I need to pick up Ellie’s meds from the pharmacy and deliver them to the school nurse.”
“Okay. Hope to see you Saturday.”
Steph waved as she scurried toward the elevator.
The interview door popped open, and the male applicant departed, looking despondent. His had been the shortest interview yet. Laurie’s heart pounded in her ears, knowing she had to be next. She willed herself to calm down as her inner voice spewed more doubts at her.
Don’t get your hopes up. There were seven other applicants. Even with Branson Knight as your friend, you probably won’t get this job.
I’m not getting my hopes up. I’m doing this interview for experience.
You are so lying! You’re counting on this job, already. You got three new leads yesterday, and you didn’t follow up on any of them.
Shut up!
And if you get the job, what are you going to do about you-know-who?
Double shut up! Jarrett will be my boss if I get the job. He’s the head of the Limitless division. I won’t have to deal with Finn at all.
Laurie had been working hard not to think about Finn Anderson, the hunky billionaire who, like Branson, was one of the four kingpins of Phantom Enterprises, the multi-billion-dollar technology company that developed electronics hardware and software and video games, among other innovations.
You can’t avoid Finn forever. He works in this building. What’s going to happen when you run into him? That mouth of yours is like a loose cannon.
I’m a professional. I’ll smile and say, “Good morning, Mr. Anderson. How are you, today?” I won’t engage. No in-depth conversations. No discussions about anything weightier than the weather.
Ms. Grumpy Face appeared, her eyes settling on Laurie.
“Laurie Fields?”
Laurie steeled her nerves and pasted a cool, collected smile on her face. She stood, tugged her skirt into place, and began the long walk across the lobby, her wobbly legs protesting like she was moving toward the death chamber.
What’ll happen when Finn presses your buttons? You’re not going to lose your temper? You’re not going to tell him off in front of everyone and get yourself fired?
Her brain flooded with memories of heated sarcastic exchanges between her and Finn. It seemed they couldn’t agree on anything, or maybe he was purposefully contrary. She pictured herself delivering a satisfying response to put the man in his place. Then she tried to imagine herself biting her tongue when he goaded her with some chauvinistic comment. Impossible.
The problem with Finn was he knew exactly how attractive he was. With that blond hair and strong jaw and sizzling blue eyes, he probably thought he was a gift to women. A tinge of an English accent made him even more charming. No, not charming… arrogant. Every conversation they’d ever had ended with Finn making some remark that infuriated Laurie so much she lost control.
I’ll have to avoid Finn at all costs. That’s my only hope.
Gripping her portfolio to stop her hands from trembling, she followed the woman into the office. At the end of a long conference table sat all four Phantom Enterprises partners, including none other than Finn Anderson.
Good luck with that avoiding thing.
Shut up!
Finn’s stomach knotted. As Laurie walked into the room, he rose to his feet, mostly in response to Cole Miller’s prodding elbow, but he kept his eyes glued to the resume on the table in front of him. As much as he would’ve delighted to see the shock in Laurie’s eyes when she spotted him in the room, he’d turned over a new leaf as far as she was concerned. In the past, he’d flirted and teased mercilessly, but it was like playing with fire. If Laurie got this job, he would see her all too often, and he could easily get burned.
Finn could never make the mistake of becoming involved with a woman, knowing the pain he would cause when he left her a young widow. Living with cystic fibrosis meant dealing with certain realities and one of those was a short life expectancy. At thirty-three, he was only four years away from the average age of death from CF in the States. So far, Finn had successfully guarded his heart, and he had to keep his resolve firm.
“Laurie, come in and join us,” said Cole, in his customary Texas drawl. “I’m sorry you had to wait so long.”
Finn glanced up in time to see her deep brown eyes widen before she looked away. He couldn’t detect the blush on her golden-bronze skin, but he knew it was there. She probably expected him to spar and tease with her, and he was sorely tempted to do it. He could smile for days from the memory of one verbal match. But today he was going to keep himself under total control. He would be completely solemn, serious, and professional during the interview. And when the meeting was over, he would make certain Laurie didn’t get the job.
It was a selfish thing, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to handle seeing her on a daily basis. She was the kind of woman he liked—sharp, witty, and outspoken—and thus, the kind of woman he avoided. Maybe he could get her a job at another company, so he wouldn’t feel guilty.
“Come down here and take a seat.” Jarrett Alvarez touched the back of the chair beside him. It didn’t escape Finn’s notice that his buddy was more enthusiastic in greeting Laurie than the other seven candidates. Jarrett continued, “I don’t think I’ve seen you since Branson’s wedding.”
Branson responded with a face-splitting smile. He’d been ridiculously blissful ever since he got together with Stephanie and constantly urged Finn to join the ranks of happily married men. Finn had attempted numerous times to explain why that could never happen, but Branson lost every last vestige of common sense when he fell in love.
“Stephanie says hi. She and Ellie miss you a lot, and so do I.” As usual, Branson turned his head and appeared to be looking straight at Laurie, even though both of his eyes were prosthetic. Finn still marveled at his practiced ability.
“I talked to Steph a few minutes ago.” Laurie walked about halfway down the length of the conference table and stopped, shifting from one foot to the other like she wasn’t sure what to do. “I’m not avoiding you guys, Bran. I’m just super busy, working two part-time jobs. Gotta pay the rent.”
Bran’s head shook from side to side, as his brows furrowed. “You know you could live in the apartment free.”
“This isn’t the time, Mr. Knight.” Her lips pursed in disapproval, and she folded her arms, still standing at a distance. Finn knew from conversations with Branson that Laurie had moved out when she finished her degree. Yet she was still close friends with Bran and his wife and family, so Finn wondered why she stood so far away.
“Well, I hope you’re coming to dinner on Saturday,” Branson insisted, his jaw jutting forward stubbornly.
“I’d love that, but I’ll have to see how I’m feeling in a day or two.” A trembling hand darted up to push her hair behind her ear. “I just came back from visiting Mom, and she called today to tell me she could have a cold. I wouldn’t want to put Ellie at risk.”
Nervous dread swi
rled in Finn’s stomach as he fought the urge to flee the room. This time, it wasn’t his attraction that put his body on alert, but the knowledge that cystic fibrosis made him so susceptible to lung infections that a common cold could be life-threatening.
“I didn’t realize Mr. Anderson would be here, or I would’ve warned you.” Her eyes locked with his, full of sympathy and regret. Of course, having been the nanny for Branson’s stepdaughter, who was also afflicted with CF, Laurie was hyper-aware of the dangers of infection. “Should I go?”
“Stay.” The word popped out before Finn could stop it. What was he thinking?
With a sharp nod, she slid into the chair where she was standing. “I’ll sit back here, just in case.”
As they all sat back down, Cole quickly moved down the table to a chair beside Laurie. “I’ll join you, if that’s okay.”
Though the man was simply being thoughtful, seeing them sitting side-by-side put Finn in an even fouler mood, and he mumbled a remark that, unfortunately, carried across the room. “Let’s get this over with.”
With the slightest arch of a single brow, Jarrett told Finn exactly what he thought about his comment and the tone with which it was delivered.
Finn gritted his teeth. “I only meant I’m sure Ms. Fields is tired after waiting for so long. I bet she’d like to get down to business.”
“I’m sure Mr. Anderson has my best interest at heart.” She displayed a gracious smile that somehow reminded Finn of a shark. “I’ll admit my stomach started growling twenty minutes ago.”
