The Billionaire's Assistant: A Billionaire Romance (The Hampton Billionaires Book 4)

by Erika Rose

  The past few hours had been nothing less than torture. Manhattan was lit up with lights; trees were decorated with glass baubles and tinsel. A Santa stood on every corner shouting his version of ho-ho-ho. And everywhere he turned there were people. Families hurrying along to get home in time for Christmas Dinner. Lovers that were strolled unhurriedly down Fifth Avenue searching for that final present, everyone had someone special to share their Christmas with but Cayden.

  Sure he was going to dinner with his family, but for the first time Cayden wished he had someone special to buy a gift for. Someone to surprise him with a gift, someone to share the festive season with and for some reason he couldn’t stop thinking he wanted that person to be Anna.

  “Cayden, come on everyone’s in the den.” Aunt Pam called him back to the moment.

  “Sure I’m coming.” Cayden said moving towards her and the happy sounds of children laughing and adults chatting in anticipation of Christmas.

  “Look who I found at the door.” Aunt Pam announced with her hands on her hips.

  “Cayden!” His cousin Lisa, tall and blonde, was the first to jump up to greet him. She hugged him fiercely as the scent of cookies drifted over him. Another tradition he missed. “We’re so glad you came.”

  “Me too.” Cayden said as he set the gift bags down under the tree. “Whose are those?” Cayden asked pointing to two children playing a board game in the dining room.

  “Oh, a friend’s. She’s working late tonight. I know right, Christmas Eve, but she’ll be picking them up soon.”

  Cayden turned and walked over to his Uncle Doug where he was patted on the back and thoroughly welcomed with the offer of a cigar and scotch.

  “Good to see you.” Came a deep voice from behind him.

  “Rae, good to see you too.” Cayden smiled at his cousin. Rae was a firefighter and Cayden had become used to the rough voice after Rae had been in a fire. “Bad one?”

  “Yeah, luckily no one got hurt.” Rae said sipping on a scotch.”

  “Rae’s got a girlfriend.” Lisa said from her couch where she was sipping on eggnog.

  “Really?” Cayden feigned interest.

  “Sort of, we’ve been seeing each other for a couple months. But it’s like I’ve known her forever. I just asked mom earlier this evening if I can have grandma’s ring. I feel a proposal coming up.”

  Cayden genuinely smiled. He was happy for his cousin, especially because he knew the feeling. Only he couldn’t scrape the guts together it took to commit.

  “How about you Cayden? Any one special?” Aunt Pam asked settling in front of the fireplace with a glass of red wine.

  “No, not at the moment.” Cayden said looking at his whiskey. Aunt Pam was like his mom in some ways, she could tell a lie a mile away.

  “Really, not at the moment? That means there was someone?” She probed further.

  “There was, now there isn’t.” Cayden said a little bit too bluntly.

  “Cayden honey, you’ve got to learn that life wasn’t made for being alone, it was made to share and enjoy, and to find that one person you can annoy for the rest of your life.” She smiled fondly at Doug before turning back to Cayden.

  “I am enjoying it.” Cayden shrugged, but knew his voice barely convinced himself.

  Aunt Pam gave him that knowing look, the one that said, we’ll leave it for now but we’re getting back to it later.

  Cayden turned to Uncle Doug, “So anything good on the History Channel lately?” He knew that would get his uncle talking and his aunt to stop talking for a short while.

  “Actually there was something quite interesting on this week. Apparently there’s a theory the Titanic didn’t sink, the whole disastrous event might’ve been an insurance scam.”

  Cayden nodded, trying his best to look interested as his mind churned back to Anna. Did he really miss his one chance to share and enjoy?

  CHAPTER 20

  Her nose had lost almost all semblance of feeling; luckily her hands were tucked into her brand new gloves Callie had just bought her for Christmas. Anna felt guilty about what they had cost, but Callie had insisted. Anna eventually agreed after negotiating that the price covered her birthday in March as well and Callie wasn’t allowed to buy her another present then.

  She looked down at the luxurious light blue cashmere gloves and gave in to the need to hug her friend.

  “Don’t you wish you were agile like that?” Callie asked as she pointed at the skaters on the Rockefeller Skating Rink.

  Anna laughed. “I do wish I was agile like that, but at this moment I’m a pretty happy girl.”

  Callie turned to Anna and cocked her head. “If I knew a pair of cashmere gloves would get you out of your brood, I’ve gotten you some months ago.”

  “I haven’t been brooding.” Anna defended, although she knew it was a lie. She had never felt unhappier in her life.

  She was living with her best friend, working with an excellent attorney who was a fair boss and if she put her mind to it, could actually enjoy living in New York again.

  But she missed the slower pace of the Hamptons, the family-vibe of the office at Rosi’s, her small apartment and most of all she missed Cayden.

  “Ha! You’ve been brooding like a witch over a cauldron. I’ve been waiting to see what concoction comes out of it. Are you sure you shouldn’t have given him a second chance?”

  It was Anna’s turn to shake her head sadly. “To what Callie? To fall deeper and deeper in love with him while I know he’s never going to commit? I didn’t ask him to marry me Callie; I simply asked he accept the fact that we’re more than fuck buddies. Can you imagine in a year or two when I’m still in the same position how it would hurt to walk out then?” Anna shook the shivers away that rattled her body and focused on the skating rink. “I’ll be fine, it’s just takes a while for the memories to fade.”

  “Are you sure you’re going to be all right tonight?” Callie asked concerned. She was joining her family for Christmas Eve dinner on Fifth Avenue. “You know you’re welcome to join us.”

  Anna turned to Callie and mustered the brightest smile she had. “Of course I’m sure, and I know I’m welcome but I’ll be bad company. I’m just going to head home, run a bubble bath, and jump into it as soon as I finished talking to my dad.”

  “Okay but you know you can call me if you change your mind?” Callie asked as she started backing away from Anna.

  “I know, go on they’re waiting for you.” Anna laughed.

  “Merry Christmas Annie!”

  “Merry Christmas Callie.” Anna said as her friend turned and briskly walked towards Fifth Avenue.

  Anna tucked her hands into her coat and watched the skaters a while longer. She knew it would take a while for the memories of her time in the Hamptons with Cayden to fade, but how much more time?

  It was those memories that haunted her that recognized the man on the other side of the rink. He could’ve been any man in New York in his long coat and dark blonde hair, but it was the arrogant grin that Anna recognized instantly.

  Cayden.

  Her heart actually leaped as recognition set in, as all the memories she had been trying to forget pushed their way through the fog back into the front of her mind.

  He cocked his head slightly and waved.

  Anna couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up, or stop the hand that waved back.

  Cayden smiled at her across the rink and pointed towards the road. Anna nodded and started walking in that direction.

  She met him the bottom of the steps. He looked as attractive as the first day she saw him, but this time his eyes didn’t turn her on, they recognized the need in hers.

  “Anna.” He said closing the distance between them, taking her hands in his. “It’s so good to see you.”

  Anna smiled, careful to hide her excitement. The last thing she wanted was to get excited only to be shot down. He probably had a girlfriend tagging along. “Hel
lo Cayden.”

  “How’ve you been?” he asked, his gold flecked brown eyes searching hers.

  “I’ve been well.” Anna laughed. “Honestly can this conversation get any more awkward?”

  Cayden laughed, keeping his gaze on hers. “You’re right this is stupid. Let’s take a walk.”

  Anna nodded and Cayden took her hand in his. For a moment she considered pulling it away, but she wanted to hold his hand. Even if was only for a short while.

  “I hate the city this time of year.” Cayden said as they started walking towards Central Park.

  “Why?” Anna asked confused. She looked around and noticed happy people everywhere. Children bouncing from the sheer joy of Christmas, couples holding hands and smiling knowingly at each other, it was the best time of year.

  “Because everyone is so goddamn happy, it makes me itch.” He said scratching beneath the scarf that was tumbled around his neck.

  “You don’t like happy people?” Anna asked stopping for a moment to look at his face.

  “Normally I do, but not when I’m miserable.”

  Anna read the meaning behind those words, but she wasn’t going to fall for it. He had made the decision and needed to face the consequences. She kept quiet hoping he couldn’t read the satisfaction she felt that she wasn’t the only one feeling miserable at Christmas.

  “Why would you be miserable?”

  “Really, you have to ask?” Cayden asked glancing at briefly at her.

  “Well I haven’t seen you in three months, a lot could happen.”

  “I know, anything happen with you?”

  “Yes, actually. I got a job as a personal assistant to a very important lawyer at one of the top firms in the city. I moved back in with Callie and I met a guy who doesn’t have commitment issues. He’s kind, he loves me for who I am and he’s always excited to see me.”

  Cayden stopped and yanked her arm around to face him. “You’ve met someone else?”

  “He’s really special.” Anna said biting back the laugh that was twitching the corners of her mouth.

  “Where is he then?” Cayden demanded holding her now by both her arms, his eyes fierce with anger. Anna recognized the possessive streak and couldn’t help but feel giddy that he was still so protective after being apart for three months.

  “Jimbo? Well he’s at the pound I’d imagine. I go there every Saturday to see him. If I had a place of my own I’d adopt him but until then I can only spend time with him when I help out at the pound on Saturdays.”

  “Jimbo, the pound? You met a dog?” Cayden asked flabbergasted.

  Anna laughed. “Yes, I did. Like I said he’s trustworthy, kind and would love to spend more time with me.”

  Cayden pulled her into his arms. “God I’ve missed you.”

  Anna relished in the feel of his embrace, his familiar citrus aftershave floating in the cold night air.

  CHAPTER 21

  Holding someone had never felt so good, Cayden thought as he held Anna against his chest. This was what had been missing all these past months, Anna. His Anna as he had come to think of her. For a moment he considered slapping her firm ass for telling him she had met someone else.

  But he didn’t, instead he burrowed his head into her soft hair at the nape of her neck where her mysterious scent aroused him. He didn’t want to let go but he knew they needed to talk. So he hesitantly let her go but held her hand firmly in his as they walked towards Central Park.

  “So how’s everyone at Rosi’s?” Anna asked, he Caribbean blue eyes captivating him.

  “They’re good. I’m not so good though.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I have a new assistant that isn’t you, because I go home every night wishing you were there, because I wake up every morning only to find my bed empty.”

  He heard Anna gasp softly. “Cayden…”

  “Let me finish. After my parents died I never wanted to commit to anyone again, losing them was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with…until I walked away from you. I figured if you didn’t love anyone you couldn’t get hurt.”

  It was Anna’s turn to stop and turn to look at him. “What do you mean?”

  “These past few months had been horrible. I’ve dealt with death, I know how to process it, how to move past it. But I can’t move past you. I can’t handle thinking about you spending your nights with another man. I can go on without you, even though I’d be miserable as fuck, I don’t want to.” He searched her eyes but read only uncertainty in them. “I want you back Anna.”

  “Cayden I told you, I need more. I can’t just be a casual lay; my feelings for you moved beyond that at least a month before I moved away. I can’t be with you knowing you don’t plan on having a monogamous relationship with me. Just like you can’t imagine me with another man, I can’t handle the thought of you with another woman. If you can’t commit that would bug me the whole time. I need to know I can trust you.”

  Cayden let out a wry laugh. “Anna in the three months since you’ve left I haven’t had more than dinner with anyone.”

  “So you’ve been busy, what if you get bored?”

  “I wasn’t busy, they simply weren’t you.”

  He felt the corners of his mouth lift into a grin as those blue eyes lightened up. “Cayden what are you saying?”

  “I’d like to commit to you Anna. I want a committed monogamous relationship with you and only you. I didn’t realize it, not completely anyway, until I saw you tonight.”

  Anna let out a happy laugh. “What are you doing in New York anyway?”

  “I had dinner with my mother’s family, but they were all so happy I left early.”

  “You left early because they were happy on Christmas Eve?”

  “I haven’t been happy since you left Anna.”

  The honesty made his voice sound raw, but Cayden didn’t mind. If he was vulnerable so be it, he wanted this woman more than he wanted air. If this is what it took to get her back, he’d give it to her.

  Delicate snowflakes started falling, turning the sky into a magical winter-wonderland. Snowflakes clung to her lashes as she smiled up at him. Cayden took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and softly pressed his lips against hers.

  The noise from the city faded as his senses zeroed in on Anna. Her lips were warm and familiar against his. He felt the big black hole in his chest slowly start to come back to life. He pulled away smiling from ear to ear. “I missed you.”

  “Do you want to come home with me?” Anna asked shyly.

  It was Cayden’s turn to laugh and lifted his hand to hail a cab. A yellow cab pulled up as soon as he signaled. Cayden turned to Anna. “How soon can we get there?”

  Cayden closed the door behind him and quickly assessed the apartment. From first glance it was obvious two girls lived here. The furnishings, the neatness and the ample flowers and candles made it apparent.

  Anna put down her handbag and shrugged out of her coat and faced him nervously. “Well here we are.”

  “Here we are…”Cayden tried his best not to jump her. He didn’t want to scare her away.

  “Would you like something to drink?” Anna asked moving into the kitchen.

  Cayden didn’t answer her but instead followed her. Once was behind her he placed his hands on her hips and drew her back against him, against the arousal that he could no longer control. She sighed softly and laid her head back against his shoulder.

  Softly he trailed delicate kisses down her neck. When he reached the top of her sweater he turned her around to face him. “I need you…” Cayden had never spoken such honest words before; they tasted unfamiliar in his mouth but he could hear the need in his own voice.

  Anna smiled seductively, took his hand and led him to her bedroom before she turned to him, “I need you more.”

  Cayden felt his breath back up as her eyes clouded with desire for him. He grew hard as he reached for the hem of her sweat
er and pulled it over her head revealing the smooth satiny skin underneath. The black lace that was cupping her breasts had his mouth watering even as his hands reached for her.

  Her small hands tugged off his jacket before she started slipping the buttons out of their holes on his shirt. As soon as his shirt fell to the floor and her warm hands brushed against his torso Cayden took her mouth.

  There was no rush tonight, he savored every touch every kiss to how much she meant to him. Her fingers worked on his buckle and once released she undid his pants. She slipped her hand into his pants stroking his cock with slow strokes, it was driving him mad.

  Even as their tongues dueled Cayden tugged down the leggings she was wearing, revealing a black lace panty matching the bra.

  “If I didn’t know better I would’ve thought you had plans tonight.”

  Anna giggled. “If a girl isn’t getting any, at least she could try and feel sexy.”

  “You are so fucking sexy,” Cayden drawled as his mouth started a slow trail of hot kisses into the valley between her breasts. The slow sigh she let out urged him on; he pushed the lace fabric aside and took a soft dusky nipple into his mouth. It tasted of her unique scent mingled with her mysterious perfume, a taste he had become addicted to.

  As he nipped and sucked her hands found his balls, softly fondling them. He groaned and his teeth closed over her nipple.

  “Ah!”

  Cayden smiled and left her nipple to pay the same attention to the other one before getting rid of the rest of her clothes.

  Anna stood before him naked and glorious; he could see the curls at the apex of her thighs shine with moisture. He kicked off his boots and shrugged out of his pants before lying down with Anna on the bed.

  Before he could make his next move she was on top of him, kissing and licking her way from his collarbone south. As her lips cruised over his ribcage he weaved his fingers into her hair.