The Billionaire's Marriage Promise

by Melody Archer

  For now however, her aunts told her she needed a break and so she had come to the beach. It was a sunny day and the thought of spending a little more time in the sun felt really good. Her dogs lay down beside her, standing as guards. Ever since the fire, she took the dogs with her wherever she went. Her aunt Florrie had insisted on it and that she always carry her two-way walkie-talkie.

  Rorie was scared especially after that latest episode, but she refused to stay confined to the house because of it. Besides, she reminded her aunts that whoever was behind the scare tactics seemed to do their evil deeds after dark.

  She hoped Gabe would return to the Island soon and that he’d have a strategy that would help keep them all safe.

  Looking at the long stretch of water in front of her, she wished she could see Gabe’s yacht, but he wasn’t here yet. Instead, she spotted several boats moving across the water headed to the other Islands. Most likely it was tourists enjoying some time on the water.

  The only person missing to make this day great was Gabe.

  Rory let out a long sigh as she walked along the beach. She stopped when she came to her favorite spot. With one hand shielding her eyes from the sun, she looked up to the tall, sturdy oak tree. This was the very tree where her and Gabe had carved their names when she was only fourteen. With one finger she traced the makeshift scribbles they’d etched into the wood. Rory grinned as memories floated into her mind of Gabe putting his carving knife in her hand while he covered his much larger hand over hers.

  Rory flexed her hand even now as familiar warm tingles spread from her hand up her arm.

  That summer had been the first summer something had shifted inside her and she became aware of Gabe as man. No longer had she seen him as her big brother. It was also the summer he’d left the Island almost as quickly as he came.

  After that summer, she couldn’t stop thinking about Gabe Stevenson. It seemed like memories surrounded her wherever she went on the Island. Even her night dreams were filled with Gabe.

  It was after that summer that Rory started writing her first romance. The love stories began to pour out of her. Some scenes were shaped from her memories, but all the stories were inspired from what she imagined it would be like to be loved by a man like Gabe Stevenson.

  She turned to set her tote bag against the base of the tree.

  Laying the beach towel on the sand, she pulled out her manuscript and pen from her tote bag. She was now writing her tenth novel, and it had all begun with Gabe.

  She had him to thank for being her inspiration.

  The corners of her lips turned up and she began to read what she’d written so far in her latest romance. Lying down on her large beach blanket, she read through the first few chapters using her red pen to cross things off and make the needed changes.

  Soon the warmth of the sun made her a little sleepy. She put her manuscript down and set a rock on top of it so the pages wouldn’t fly away. Quickly shedding her oversized t-shirt to the blue spaghetti strap shirt she had underneath, she decided to give herself a little time to tan. For just a little while she would close her eyes.

  Soon she was dreaming that Gabe had returned to the Island, his whistle seemed so real.

  A scrunching and rustling of papers woke her up.

  Her eyes flew open, her heart rate accelerated in fear. Was someone trying to sneak up on her?

  Squinting from the bright sun, Rory shielded her eyes and saw Gabe. She expelled a breath. What was he doing picking up papers that were scattered across the beach. He whistled as he went. Her two dogs followed at his heels like he was their long lost pal.

  By the time Rory sat up, he was walking her way.

  Gabe squatted beside her, the large stack of papers swishing in his hands.

  Rory rubbed her eyes, trying to make sure she wasn’t still dreaming.

  “You almost lost your story. It was flying away on the beach when I pulled the sailboat up to the pier. I think I caught most of it.” Gabe’s rogue smile caught her off guard. “Here you go.”

  Rory stared for a moment at the stack of papers and suddenly it dawned on her that he was holding words she’d written. “Thanks for gathering up the pieces of my manuscript.” Her cheeks heated. Gabe was here. Had he read her story? Could he guess that this was a romance inspired by him?

  “Don’t worry, I only read one page.” How could he read her thoughts so easily?

  “It’s a romance. You probably wouldn’t like it.” Rory wasn’t sure what books he read, but she was convinced romance wasn’t one of them.

  Quickly she grabbed the stack of papers. The love story she had written, which was inspired by Gabe, seemed much too private for him to read.

  “Au contraire. I really like your writing. Although, I am curious to read the rest of that last unfinished scene.” Gabe winked at her, his blue eyes mischievous.

  She swatted him with the manuscript in her hand, knowing he was teasing.

  A loud easygoing chuckle escaped his lips.

  Flustered, she shoved the papers back in her tote bag, thinking of the scene he was talking about. It was the same scene where her heroine Adrianna had dropped the pepper shaker to the floor and Jared had bent down to help her and had leaned in to their almost kiss.

  Rory looked away for a moment trying to collect her thoughts pretty sure her cheeks couldn’t get any warmer. She turned back to peer up at Gabe only to see him standing with his hand held out towards her.

  Hesitantly, she put her hand in his. Gabe pulled her close to him. She looked up, her knees going weak at the warm appreciation lingering in his large blue eyes.

  Flustered, she stepped back and out of his arms. Her emotions were in conflict and uncertainty warred with desire. All of a sudden if felt like she had stepped into new territory.

  “Want to go sailing with me?”

  This request was familiar and she replied easily.

  “Now?” Rory looked out towards the end of the pier to see Gabe’s beautiful large state-of-the-art sport sailboat floating near the end of the pier.

  “It’s a sunny day and the wind is just right. There’s no time like the present.” Gabe’s handsome face held a hint of challenge.

  A challenge she accepted. “Sure. I just need to call Aunt Florrie.” Rory touched the number on her two-way walkie-talkie. She explained to her aunt that Gabe was taking her on his sailboat. Told her she’d be careful and would be back in a couple of hours.

  Rory slipped her two-way radio back in the pocket of her jean shorts.

  “They’re okay with that?”

  “My aunts are more than okay with that. I’m pretty sure you can do no wrong in their eyes.” Rory lips turned into a half-smile, realizing how true that was.

  “Well, that’s good to know. I hope that their niece feels the same.” Gabe turned to look at her, his rogue smile firmly in place as they walked along the pier.

  Rory giggled. “Well, I know you a little better than my aunts and you can do plenty wrong. But, you’re lucky because I still think you’re fun.” Rory gave him a friendly shove.

  Without warning Gabe grabbed her waist, holding onto her as he dangled her arms and legs over the water. “I can do plenty wrong?”

  “Okay, okay. I give.” Rory laughed as she dangled there.

  “And?” Gabe was waiting for his compliment. This was something he’d required of her ever since she was young. If she didn’t agree, he’d dangle her over the side of the dock once again.

  “And, you can do no wrong.” Suddenly he turned her so she faced him. As Rory slid down against his hard body, warm tingles of awareness skittered across her skin everywhere her body touched his. As soon as her feet touched the wooden dock, she took a step back. Her senses were on overload after being so close to Gabe.

  “I’m happy you know when to give up.” He slowly removed his hands from her waist, a big grin on his face.

  Rory swatted him and hurried toward the sailboat. “Maybe I haven’t completely given up. It’s possibl
e I’m strategizing when to make my next move. It might be when you least expect it.”

  He laughed out loud as he followed her. “That’s what I love about you Rory. You’re a woman who doesn’t give up and is always finding a way to make her next move.”

  That’s what he loved about her? She wanted to hug those words close to heart, but she knew better. He was like a big brother she never had and his words were spoken casually in a moment of fun.

  She shook it off and grinned at him and hurried to the end of the pier where his sailboat was anchored.

  Gabe hurried to catch up and held out his hand to help her step into his boat. Her hand trembled slightly as she put her hand in his. He pulled her close to his side with one hand and slipped the other around her waist to keep her steady.

  Her body still tingled from his touch. It seemed his hand lingered at her waist longer than necessary. Rory forced herself to calm down.

  “Thanks. I think I’ve got it.” As soon as Gabe pulled his hand away the cool air settled on her where his hand used to be. Rory hurried back to make room for Gabe as he stepped onto the deck of the boat and untied the rope from it’s mooring.

  “The wind has picked up. It’s a good day for sailing.” Rory knew she was starting to babble. She did that when she was nervous. It had been so long since she’d been out sailing with Gabe. She stepped toward the center of the boat, and stopped as the breeze caressed her face.

  “You like this?”

  “Oh Gabe, this is wonderful. I’ve missed this.” Rory sat on the long bench in the middle of the sailboat and closed her eyes letting the wind blow over her face. She sat there awhile before she stood up and walked over to where Gabe was at the helm. “There’s something peaceful about being on the water, letting the wind blow across your cheeks.”

  “True. But I find you get a better feel for it when you’re at the helm. It’s been a few years since you’ve sailed. Do you remember how it’s done?” Gabe’s eyebrow quirked up as he threw out a challenge.

  He motioned for her to step in front of him and take control of the wheel.

  “You’ll need to re-fresh my memory Gabe.” Rory was excited to handle the large boat. Gabe had practically grown up sailing, and even though they’d done this before, she really needed the reminder for almost everything about sailing that she needed to know.

  She stood behind the helm with one hand tentatively on the wheel.

  “Use both hands so you have a steady grip. I’ll show you.” Gabe stepped up close behind her and placed his hands on hers.

  Her hands tingled with warmth at his touch. He stepped close behind her as he showed her how to steer the tiller to stay on course. His arms brushed against hers on both sides and she felt snuggled in a safe cocoon.

  “So here’s a few boating rules to remember. When two sailboats are approaching each other and the wind is on the same side of each boat, the boat that is windward - in the direction of the wind - must give the right of way to the vessel that is leeward. Another important guideline to remember is if you get too close to another boat, whichever boat has the other boat on its starboard side - right hand side - must yield the right of way.” Gabe’s instructions were helpful and she only hoped she’d remember everything he taught her.

  “Ah yes, it’s coming back to me. I feel like such a newbie.” Rory gripped the wheel tight and steered the boat away from a boat they passed on their starboard side.

  “You always were quick at figuring things out.”

  “Well, I have a fairly good teacher.” Rory turned to look at him a wide grin on her face.

  Gabe’s face was so close to her own that she could feel his warm breath on her cheek when he spoke.

  He was so close she could easily lean back into his arms. Scents of sand and sea rose off his skin and Rory inhaled deeply. Lifting up her eyes she was lost in the intensity of his gaze — two blue pools that reflected her own desire — a gaze she could drown in. Those two blue orbs moved from her eyes and stared down at her lips. He started to lean down. Butterflies began to form in her belly as she anticipated her first kiss with the same man she’d been dreaming about for years.

  Without warning, a seagull screeched loudly overhead startling them both.

  They took a step back from each other.

  Rory glanced at him an uncertain smile on her face before she hurriedly turned her head forward.

  With her gaze straight ahead she started babbling as was her habit when she was nervous. “Sailing is so wonderful. It’s a place to breathe and feel safe.” Rubbing her arms she let out a long sigh.

  Rory looked over the quiet waterway, letting a rare moment of calm wash over her. They had slowed down a little and the waterway ahead was clear of boats for the moment.

  Turning to look back at Gabe, she noticed his brows puckered in worry.

  “Why the serious face?”

  “It’s just a little disconcerting that one of your biggest concerns is for the safety of your aunts and you. I just worry about you that’s all.”

  His words brought a smile to her face. She couldn’t help but appreciate the fact that Gabe Stevenson — a man as well known as he was with thousands of other concerns — was worried about her.

  Before she could speak, he went on. “But just so you know, I did hire some workers to put hidden cameras around the cottage and around Grand’s Hunting Lodge. And I’m doing more digging into who is behind the fire and who wants to ruin all your hard work.”

  “Thanks Gabe for doing that. I have to admit my worry is for my aunts.” Rory bit her lip wondering how much to tell him. “There’s just been some weird stuff happening on the Island for the past couple of years.”

  Gabe reached up and ran his finger along her forehead to smooth out the furrow between her eyebrows. A trail of warmth tingled her skin. “Your aunts told me. They also said that when you were a child, someone sent a threatening note that something bad would happen to you when you got older.”

  “Yes.” She nervously tucked a tendril of hair behind one ear. “Well, who knows what will happen. My aunts tend to worry too much about me. Besides, I still have two weeks before I turn twenty-one.” Rory expelled a nervous laugh. She couldn’t help but shiver at the reminder. Who hated her that much that they wanted to hurt her?

  “I think it’s prudent to do what we can to keep you safe.”

  She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

  “I want to help keep you safe Rory. I think I’ve come up with a way to do that.” Gabe ran a hand through his hair, his bright blue eyes honing in on hers.

  “Sounds good. What is it?” He looked so serious and she tensed wondering what he was thinking.

  “If you’re by my side I can protect you.” Gabe expelled a long breath, his gaze boring into her own. “I’m asking you to marry me.”

  Rory’s eyes widened and her mouth hung open at his words. Her heart accelerated with excitement for a moment, before she came down to earth. He wasn’t asking to marry her because he loved her. Did he only feel sorry for her?

  Chapter Five

  As soon as the question left his lips, an unexplainable longing filled him that he wished he could marry Rory for real. He couldn’t do that of course, no matter how much he might want to. She was the girl he had hung out with most summers since she was six years old. He was like the older brother she never had.

  Of course it made sense that he would protect her. Gabe would protect her like a brother. Not like a man in love.

  The only thing this marriage would be — all it could be — a necessary step to help them both get what they wanted.

  Gabe looked over at Rory, the corners of his lips turning up as he watched her jaw dropped in surprise. Her emotions flitted across her face with all the force of a rising storm. For a moment he thought she would accept his proposal, but without warning she turned to frown at him.

  “Please tell me you’re not asking me to marry you because you feel sorry for me?” Rory crossed her arms and he c
ould hear her toe tapping on the wood deck of his sailboat.

  “No I don’t feel sorry for you. I want to protect you.” He could see she softened a little at his words. “If it makes you feel better you would also be helping me out too.”

  Rory shook her head and chuckled. “How in the world would marrying me help you out?”

  “Because of the stipulation Grand put in his will.” Gabe went on to tell her that he needed to be married by his twenty-seventh birthday to receive his inheritance.

  “That’s in three weeks.”

  “I know.” He could see her digesting the news. She uncrossed her arms and turned to look at the water for a moment. He continued, hoping she would hear him out. “It’s sudden I know. But hear me out Rory. I was thinking this wouldn’t be a real marriage. We could agree to make this a marriage-of-convenience for one year. You would get one million dollars and I would promise to do everything I could to see you and your aunts protected. Then at the end of one year, we would part as friends.”

  The frown on Rory’s forehead didn’t bode well for her response to his proposal.

  “A marriage-of-convenience. I didn’t think people did that sort of thing anymore.”

  “Most people don’t except it seems to be a thing in my family. Even my mom and dad’s marriage started out as a marriage-of-convenience.”

  “Really?” Rory shook her head a surprised look filled her face. Gabe could almost see the wheels turning in Rory’s mind.

  “Yes. In fact, to hear my mom tell it, in the beginning her and my dad didn’t get along. Yet, they grew to love each other.” Gabe remembered those early childhood years and how his dad and mom were always kissing each other. Then, he thought of his two older brothers and the fact that they also were putty in their wives hands.

  “That’s great that it worked out so well for them.” Her hands had a slight tremor in them as she reached for her jacket. He helped pull it around her shoulders. She glanced up at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty. “I’m not sure. I need a little time to think about your proposal, okay?”