Romance: Unlikely Love Boxed Set - A Billionaire Romance Series (Romance, Contemporary Romance, Billionaire Romance, Unlikely Love Book 4)

by Nancy Adams

  It turned out that Gail was a graphic designer. She had actually worked in the corporate world and had been the creative director at several Fortune 500 companies. Tony and Mark had similar backgrounds. They had both worked in corporate America, Tony as a CEO and Mark as an attorney, before making Clandestine Resorts their home. I asked jokingly if all the residents were burned out corporate moguls, and they laughed and surprised me by saying that for the most part my statement was true.

  Curious, I asked if Ezra was included in that population, and they smoothly changed the subject. I figured he was but no one wanted to tell me. I didn’t think he was only a handyman who just happened to own a compound. Money had to have come from somewhere to fund it, and I figured he had made that money in the corporate arena and had stayed at the resort instead of returning to that old life.

  And I couldn’t blame him. The longer I stayed at Clandestine Resorts, the more I didn’t want to leave. The fact that I had been there for a month already and the time had flown by so quickly probably had a lot to do with it. I blushed thinking that Ezra’s presence was probably the biggest reason why I didn’t want to leave.

  Later on that evening as I sat at the dinner table, I was surprised to see Ezra saunter in. I hadn’t seen him that whole day, so I was caught off guard when he popped up during the meal. Mark was sitting next to me and Ezra motioned for him to move over.

  “You can’t always sit by the pretty lady,” Mark said, looking put out.

  “Excuse me?” Gail said. “What am I? Chopped liver? There’s a seat right here by me, Mark, and I was quite a looker back in my day.” She gave him a brisk nod.

  “You’re still a looker,” Ezra said, smiling at Gail.

  “Thank you, son. You’ve always had good taste.”

  I smiled as he sat down next to me, and he surprised me by greeting me with a kiss on the lips without thinking.

  “I knew it! I knew it!” Gail shouted excitedly. The rest of the table stopped and stared at the commotion on our end.

  “You guys have the hots for each other!” Tony added, and Mark arched a brow and seemed to suddenly not be in the best of moods. Curiously, Mark and Ezra exchanged a glance that I didn’t understand.

  I was too busy blushing to give it much thought. Ezra cleared his throat. “Mind your business. All of you.”

  I didn’t say a word and instead looked down at my plate and busied myself eating. Up to that point, we had pretty much kept our relationship secret, but either Ezra had forgotten or didn’t care anymore.

  As he tossed an arm around my shoulder and whispered something naughty in my ear, I realized that he just didn't care what anyone thought anymore.

  Gail beamed at me throughout the entire meal as if Ezra and I were newlyweds or something, and I tried to stop myself from blushing at the idea. Is that what I wanted from Ezra? Not marriage, per se. But a relationship? I looked at him as he made conversation with everyone around the table, making all the residents feel at home. He was clearly the leader of this pack. This was his place. His home. It was a home that he had built for a bunch of strangers. But it wasn’t my home. My home was back in Massachusetts, far away from the warmth of the Texas sun. Far away from the warmth of Ezra and his friends. I chewed silently, upset that I had become so emotionally invested in not just Ezra but also the others around me. In a matter of weeks, Clandestine Resorts was feeling less like a vacation and more like the type of place I wanted to be. I shook my head as if to clear it. No, Marie, I said to myself, Massachusetts was home with my family and my friends Sarah and Libby.

  But then what about Ezra, my heart seemed to be asking, and I looked up then and caught him looking down at me. For a second, his eyes were unguarded, and he seemed to looking at me with an emotion that I didn’t want to say out loud, because it was too soon. Too soon for what I saw in his eyes. Then his expression changed and the teasing Ezra I knew was back.

  “What happened? Why do you look so gloomy all of a sudden?” he asked, as I pushed my hair away from my face and absently played with one of my curls.

  “Nothing. I was just thinking, you know, that I might just actually miss this place when I leave.”

  “Miss this place? Or just miss me?” he said softly, and although his tone was teasing, his eyes weren’t.

  “Maybe a little bit of both,” I said with a small smile.

  “Hey lovebirds,” Tony interrupted, “we’re all planning on going out to the Saloon to dance, want to join us?”

  I had it on the tip of my tongue to say no when Ezra answered for us, “That sounds like fun. We’re in.”

  When the others started talking amongst themselves again, I asked Ezra, “Since when did you start thinking you could speak for the two of us?”

  He shrugged. “Since we became ‘us.’”

  I didn’t argue with him. I had to admit, I definitely liked the thought of “us.”

  * * *

  As soon as we were done eating, we piled into two vans and headed to the bar. It was actually called Bobby’s Last Chance Saloon and Dancehall. I couldn’t believe the name. I thought it was hilarious because it sounded so corny. It wasn’t as seedy as I’d expected. It was mostly just a dance floor with tables on the side, and Ezra went to get us a couple of beers while I stood around awkwardly, wondering what to do next.

  Just when I thought I was light years away from the awkward teen I had been. I shook my head.

  Mark came up to me. “You ready to shake your groove thing, Marie?”

  A bark of laughter bubbled up from my lips. “I don’t know how to dance to this type of music.”

  “No problem. I’ll show you.”

  I was tempted to say no, but then the music started and Mark dragged me to the dance floor while I protested.

  “Ezra’s waiting for me.”

  “Just let him wait,” Mark said, doing a fancy two-step. “Just copy me.” I tried my best, stomping when he stomped, clapping, sliding and gyrating across the dance floor. After about five minutes, I was just starting to get the hang of it when the band decided to take a break.

  I clapped and whistled like everyone else and finally noticed Ezra leaning against the bar, gingerly sipping his beer. There weren’t men like him around where I lived. He just looked so virile and comfortable in his own skin. He also looked composed and confident. He eyed me as I approached. I felt my cheeks grow warm as he let his eyes wander across my body. Feeling bold, I let my eyes do the same, not bothering to hide the fact that I was checking him out and eager to get back to his side.

  He circled his arms around my waist as I stopped in front of him.

  “You looked great out there,” he said, pulling me back up against him. He ran his hand down my arms and I felt little goose bumps appear.

  “Think so? I had no idea what I was doing. I was just trying to follow Mark. He’s so nubile. I would never expect it.”

  “He used to go dancing a lot with Lucinda, his wife.”

  “Wife? What happened?” I said, my stomach dropping, waiting to hear more bad news.

  “Oh she’s fine. They’re still together. She just had knee replacement surgery, so she’s staying in Houston with their kids. Her kids convinced her that their place would be a better environment to heal than in a hippie commune in the middle of nowhere.”

  I smiled, knowing I would have thought the same way just four weeks ago. “Mark must miss her.”

  Ezra nodded. “He goes to see her every weekend.”

  “How many kids do they have?”

  “Three. Well, two now. One passed away.”

  “Oh, that’s terrible. I’m so sorry for him.” I looked back at Ezra and noticed that his eyes seemed to be focusing on nothing, as if he were thinking of something in the past. I figured he was thinking of those he lost too. I didn’t want to ruin the mood so I attempted to change the subject. “So how did all of your misfits get together?”

  “What do you mean?” he asked, pulling me in closer.

  “You, Ma
rk, Tony, Gail and all the rest?”

  “Mark introduced me to this place. I came to recuperate, I guess you could say, and ended up falling in love with the place.”

  “Recuperate from what?”

  He looked down and said, “Care to join me outside?”

  I wasn’t expecting that question, and wondered about the abrupt change of subject.

  We were quiet as he led me to a barn that sat behind the saloon. He ducked inside through a crack in the door and I followed. There were horses and a stack of hay lying in the corner.

  “Umm…should we be here?” I asked him, looking around.

  “The owner is a friend of Gail’s,” he said shortly. We turned on a little light and we sat down together near the pile of hay.

  He stared at me before raising his hand and pushing my bangs out of my face, and then he kissed me, thoroughly, slowly, taking his time. When he was done, I immediately wanted more.

  “I came out here to talk to you, but instead I can’t stop kissing you.”

  “Is that so bad?” I asked, leaning in and bringing my hand to rest on his strong jawline before tilting my lips back up to meet his. He wasn’t the only one who couldn’t get enough. When we were able to catch our breath, Ezra pulled away slightly and wrapped his arms around me, bringing me up against his chest. He held me like that and I couldn’t remember the last time being in a man’s arms made me feel safe or even cherished. If I allowed myself to think about it, I knew that I’d never felt like this with anyone, least of all Phillip.

  “So what is it you wanted to talk about?” I asked as I snuggled closer to him, enjoying the feel of his fingers as they traced up and down my arm in a soothing manner. He lay back against the hay and nudged me so that my head lay against his chest.

  I brought my hand up and felt the beating of his heart as it thudded steadily against my ear.

  “Remember when I told you that I was married before?” he started.

  I nodded against his chest but didn't say a word.

  “When my wife died, I fell into a really bad place, and Gail and Mark and everyone here, they helped me with the healing process.” He paused and I waited for him to continue.

  “So I bought this place when the previous owner wanted to sell it, and I turned it into a profitable business for the most part so that the residents wouldn’t have to worry about money or food. I just wanted to create a place where everyone was welcomed, where everyone could come here to heal. You see, Mark’s more than just one of the residents. He’s actually my father.”

  I looked up sharply and he said, “Excuse me. My father-in-law. I never met my real father.”

  “Your wife’s father?”

  “Yeah. I blamed myself for my wife’s death and I felt Mark and Lucinda should have blamed me too, but never. Even in their grief, they cared about me. Didn’t turn me away. We grieved together.”

  “What made you blame yourself for your wife’s death?” I said, remembering that he’d said she died in a car accident.

  He sighed deeply and I felt a change come over him. “You wondered how a poor handyman could buy a place like this?”

  I shrugged and said, “It has crossed my mind.”

  He laughed and then was silent for a long time. I tickled his side. “Spit it out. What’s this deep dark secret? Did you inherit the money from a ruthless dictator you’re related to? Or are you a secret drug smuggler just pretending to be good?”

  “The pretending to be good part is accurate,” he mumbled. He then cleared his throat and said, “I haven’t been completely truthful with you.”

  Suddenly, I heard giggles and voices, and a group of teens came wandering into the barn.

  “Get a room,” one of them said to us and then started giggling. Apparently, a little underage drinking had been going on before they stumbled upon us.

  “Hey, can you give us some privacy?” Ezra said sitting up.

  “Come on man, this is our hangout,” the adolescent said, and Ezra seemed ready to tell the teen to find a new hangout when I interrupted. “Don’t worry about it. Let’s go.”

  He helped me sit up, and as we walked away, I saw Tony and Mark walking towards us with a man I didn’t recognize. He seemed to be some sort of law officer.

  “Sheriff, what can I do for you sir?”

  “Hi, Ezra. I’m looking for Miss van Basten.”

  I sighed and rolled my eyes. “I’m sorry my father keeps wasting your time, officer—”

  He cut me off. “It was your mother actually who contacted me.”

  “Mom’s back in Massachusetts?” I said confused. I thought she had gone out of town to Belgium to meet up with a potential client.

  “Well, I guess. She called me to get in contact with you. It seems that your father isn’t doing too well…”

  I didn’t let him finish. “Daddy? What’s wrong? What happened?”

  I felt Ezra take my hand. It would have been comforting if I weren’t already working myself into a panic.

  “He had a heart attack. He’s in intensive care.”

  “Oh my God,” I said covering my mouth as tears welled in my eyes.

  “I need to get home. Now.” I walked blindly in the direction of the vans. I almost tripped since I couldn’t see where I was going; my tears were clouding my vision. Thankfully, Ezra caught me before I hit the ground.

  “Careful,” he said, helping me back up into a standing position.

  And together, we headed towards the van where the other residents were waiting with concerned looks on their faces. I climbed into the van as they all looked on solemnly. Inside the van, I sat quietly praying to God that my father would be alright. Gail sat to my left and Ezra was on my right.

  I didn’t remember much about the trip back to the resort. I just remembered them dropping me off at my cottage and Ezra following me in as I packed.

  He watched me silently.

  “I’m sorry this is happening,” he said finally.

  I nodded and kept packing.

  “Do you want me to go with you?” he asked suddenly when I was done.

  “No,” I said, more forcefully than I intended.

  He looked hurt, but quickly hid it. “So do you have everything?”

  “I think so.”

  “Alright, I’ll drive you to the airport.”

  I didn’t say anything as I got in the car. And the hour-and-a-half drive to the airport was pretty much made in silence. Any time Ezra attempted to make conversation, I didn’t really respond, so eventually he stopped trying.

  When he pulled up to the airport, I hopped out and he came around and helped me unload my one bag of luggage.

  I was about to dash off when he said, “So this is it then? You sure you don’t want me to go with you? You know, just for moral support? I could stay at a hotel…” He stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. I’d never seen him seem so at a loss before.

  “No. That would be awkward.” I knew I sounded ridiculous, but was unsure how else to phrase it. My mind was jumbled and I wasn’t thinking straight.

  “Awkward?” he said softly to himself, and then nodded slightly. “I understand.”

  He leaned forward and kissed me on my forehead. “Well if you need me…”

  I was already turning around and walking away, mumbling a quick, “I’ll call you.” And it wasn’t until I was on the plane that I realized that I hadn’t even bothered to say goodbye.

  Chapter Eight

  “You have to eat something,” I said to my dad a week later as I sat across from him. He was frowning down at his oatmeal with a look of distaste on his face.

  “I don’t have to eat this.”

  “The doctor said you need to go on a low-carb and low-fat diet.”

  “Oatmeal is disgusting.”

  “Come on, Dad. Stop giving Mom a hard time. She worked hard to make this,” I said as she stood close by, chewing at her nails. I had never seen her, not once in my life without makeup before today. St
rangely enough, the lack of makeup made her look softer and actually approachable. I had gotten my ice-queen defense mechanism from her; I had realized that much when I was a teenager. But while I had warmed up with age and let people in, she seemed to have maintained her aloofness. But her eyes revealed that she was tired, stressed and just as worried about Daddy as I was.

  “Stop staring at me like I’m dying,” my father said huffily.

  “You almost did die!” my mother shouted.

  My father and I turned to look at her. She wasn’t prone to outbursts. In fact, she was one of the most soft-spoken people I knew. And then, to my shock, she began to cry. I’d never seen her cry, and so for a second I just stared at her, not sure what to do. And then I came to my senses and approached her, carefully wrapping my arms around her.

  “It’s okay, Mom. Daddy’s okay. It’s okay.”

  She stood stiffly in my embrace and then wrapped her own arms around me. We hugged each other tightly while Dad looked on, clearing his throat.

  “If you two are done having your moment, I would really appreciate it if you could get me something to eat. Like edible food. And maybe something to drink as well?”

  Mom narrowed her eyes at him and said, “Didn’t a heart attack teach you anything? No more bagels! No more cream cheese! No more muffins! And no more drinking during breakfast! No one needs wine for breakfast!” She was shouting now.

  “The French do.”

  “You’re not French,” my mom said, visibly trying to calm down but making it clear that she was done with that conversation. “Eat your food and then get some rest. I’ll be back to get your plate.”

  “It’s a bowl.”

  “Thank you for correcting me,” my mom said, not bothering to turn around to acknowledge his testy comment. I walked out with her, but not before I turned around and gestured to my father to eat up. He gave me an annoyed look and I responded by giving him a big smile. It was weird how my normally stern dad looked so vulnerable and tired.

  I couldn’t wait until my old dad reappeared.