Hawaiian Masquerade (Destination Billionaire Romance)

by Rachelle J. Christensen

  He paused, looking around, listening to the rush of rain mimicking the sounds of the ocean below. It couldn’t have been Lexi, but her voice reverberated in his head. Lexi was everywhere around him. He could imagine her smelling the flowers and hiking the trail with determination and a smile. Of course he would think of her when he heard that noise. He’d made his decision: pride was a lonely partner, and he didn’t intend to live his life in agony. Lexi was waiting for him somewhere. He just had to find her and ask for her forgiveness.

  He grabbed onto a tree branch and pulled himself farther along. Stumbling on rocks, Derek noticed that a mini-slide had occurred higher up the trail. The large boulder that marked the upper ledge streamed dark red with mud.

  But wait, that wasn’t just dirt . . . Derek lurched forward, scrambling up the trail. A line of blood shimmered along the indentations of the boulder, and Derek knew in his gut that it was Lexi’s.

  The mud ran thick around the rocks, and Derek had to go off-trail and climb through bushes and around trees to get to the top. He spied a neon-green running shoe caught against a jagged boulder. “Lexi! Lexi! I’m here!”

  A moan answered his cries, and he looked to his right to find her curled on a rock, a hand to her head. He searched frantically until he saw a bush that he could grab. He held tight to the coarse bark and dropped down to the ledge, where Lexi lay dangerously close to the edge. “Don’t move. I’m here. Can you hear me?”

  She opened her eyes, the jade hue in crystal-clear focus, piercing Derek’s soul. “You came,” she whispered.

  “Lexi, I’m an idiot. I’m so sorry. Please be okay. I’m here now. Can you move? Is your back okay?” His words came faster than the raindrops pelting his face.

  “It’s just my head. It hurts.” Lexi reached her other hand up and touched the scruff on his cheek. “I love you.”

  Derek grasped her hand, his throat thick with emotion. She loved him, after he’d rejected her, humiliated her—after all he’d done to her. “I love you, too, Lexi Burke—my golden girl.”

  He was able to get her to her feet and pull her up the muddy surface, flinching every time she winced in pain. Once they reached even ground, he scooped her into his arms and hurried to his car. “I have a first aid kit. Let’s take a look at your head.”

  She had a two-inch gash on the back of her head and was sucking in air like every breath hurt. Derek helped her apply pressure and settled her in the front seat of his car, with the seat reclined. He drove as quickly as he dared on the slick roads with his precious cargo. Minutes ticked by, and Lexi’s breathing evened out. Derek spoke in hushed tones, keeping her alert. “You’ll be okay. Head wounds bleed a lot, but it looked clean. How do you feel?”

  “Glad that you found me,” Lexi said.

  “But you found me,” Derek said. He glanced at her with a smile. “You’re some kind of angel, aren’t you?”

  “Angels don’t lie. Derek, I’m so sorry that I wasn’t honest with you.”

  Derek held up his hand. “No, I’m sorry. If I hadn’t acted the way I did, you wouldn’t have been afraid to tell me that you’re, you know, a billionaire.”

  Lexi laughed weakly. “I promise that I didn’t know about being a billionaire. That was news to me, and I still haven’t confirmed it.”

  “I’m not angry anymore, Lexi. I’ve been up here all morning asking God to help me fix things. I was completely unfair to you. You didn’t need to tell me your personal financial situation, and if I’m being the kind of man that I should be, your money shouldn’t matter.”

  Lexi sighed. “Thank you. I’m sorry that I was living a Hawaiian masquerade this whole time. From now on, my mask is off.”

  The relief in her voice pricked Derek’s soul, and he vowed to earn her trust, respect, and love. She was a finder of lost souls. Derek could see each moment he’d known her, from the first day when she held the little girl in the store, to spending time with her friend who was struggling, to the intense scene last night when she’d stepped out from the crowd like a vision and rescued him. “Thank you. I need to tell you that GlobePhoto contacted me last night. They were confused about some kind of arrangement that Eliza was trying to make between us, using some of my photos and hers combined in a tourist package deal. It was all Eliza. I don’t understand why she was trying to exploit me when she has plenty of talent herself, but you, you . . . saved me...”

  “It only cost a million dollars.” Lexi chuckled, and the sound warmed Derek’s heart.

  He helped Lexi into the hospital. While she waited to be checked out, she held his hand. “I would’ve given a lot more than a million dollars for you, Derek.”

  Derek leaned forward and kissed her gently. “I know. I didn’t understand how that much money could ever be a good thing, but I do now. Money is a tool, like a machete. With the right intent, it can support a family, help a friend, or even fix a water heater. Your soul is beautiful, Lexi.”

  Lexi kissed him until the nurse returned to stitch up her head.

  31

  Lexi smiled when Derek parked near Ke’e Beach the following week. Her head had healed nicely, and she’d had plenty of time to recover while Derek worked overtime to design a new logo and build up a portfolio for his new job. There was a light in his eyes that made Lexi grin every time she saw him.

  “So, we’re back to where it all began?” Lexi asked as she trudged through the sand with Derek carrying the snorkeling gear and his new camera.

  “I thought if we looked hard enough, we might see those kissing sea turtles again.” Derek checked the case on his waterproof camera and double-checked the strap before sliding it over his neck.

  Lexi laughed. “Any bets this time regarding those turtles?”

  “Hmm—if we see them, then you have to let me teach you how to chop coconuts.”

  She moved his camera out of the way and placed a hand on his chest. “And if we don’t, then you promise to keep searching with me until we find them.”

  Derek arched an eyebrow. “That could take a long time.”

  Lexi nodded, and then she lifted up on her toes to kiss him. She put her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear. “Maybe forever.”

  “I certainly hope so,” he replied, before kissing her until everything else melted away but the paradise between them.

  Free Book

  Thank you for reading Hawaiian Masquerade from Gelato Publishing. Read on to find out how you can receive a free book from Gelato Publishing.

  If you’d like to be alerted when the next book in the Destination Billionaire Romance series is released and receive a free book, The Busy Woman’s Guide to Getting It All Done, click here.

  For a special sneak peek at the next two books in the Destination Billionaire Romance series, continue reading.

  Also by Rachelle J. Christensen

  Other Works by Rachelle

  The Soldier’s Bride

  Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things (Wedding Planner

  Mysteries #1)

  Veils and Vengeance (#2)

  Proposals and Poison (#3)

  Wrong Number

  Caller ID

  Novellas:

  Silver Cascade Secrets

  Hope for Christmas: An Echo Ridge Romance

  Double Take

  Nonfiction:

  What Every 6th Grader Needs to Know: 10

  Secrets to Connect Moms & Daughters

  Lost Children: Coping with Miscarriage

  Try These Other Destination Billionaire Romance books

  If you enjoyed Hawaiian Masquerade you will love the other books in the Destination Billionaire Romance series.

  The Reclusive Billionaire by Lucy McConnell

  Shadows in the Curtain by Cami Checketts

  Almost Everything by Taylor Hart

  The Lucky Billionaire by Jeanette Lewis

  Keep reading for a sneak peak at Shadows in the Curtain by Cami Checketts.

  Following the sample of Shadows in the Curtain, you can read t
he first chapter of The Reclusive Billionaire by Lucy McConnell—the story of a down on his luck billionaire and the cute veterinarian who takes in strays.

  For the latest releases and information about Gelato authors, sign up for Gelato Books’ newsletter by clicking here.

  Excerpt from Shadows in the Curtain

  EMMALINE SQUINTED INTO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS, focusing on the exuberant crowd instead of ignoring them as she had throughout the night. She bowed and smiled, exhausted but thrilled with the performance. Many, most particularly her aunt, would say her current situation was beneath her abilities and social status. The dilapidated Coaster Theater in Cannon Beach, Oregon, might not be the most glamorous venue, but the people she worked with were sincere in their understated talent, and she found playing narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was always a challenge.

  A young girl ran to Emmy and presented her with a huge bouquet of red roses. Emmy bent and hugged the child before holding the bouquet aloft. The crowd bellowed their approval.

  As she lowered the flowers, Emmy saw the note. She swallowed hard, swaying slightly. Timothy, who played the part of Joseph, rested a hand on her back.

  “You okay?” he asked through his smile, waving to the crowd.

  She pulled the flowers to where he could see the note. You’re Mine, written in bold permanent marker on a cut piece of blue cardstock. An exact replica of the other notes.

  Timothy’s hand gripped her waist possessively. If it would’ve been anyone else, she would’ve told them to back off, she was married, but Timothy was a close friend and his protection like a brother’s. “Stay close to me,” he said.

  They exited the stage and hurried down the hallway. The rest of the cast trailed behind, feet tapping loudly on the concrete floor as they rushed to the front foyer to greet their fans.

  The director and prop manager stood in the hallway congratulating the cast. The director, James, every inch a gentleman from his pressed vest to his bowtie, gave her a slight bow. Emmy adored the older man. The prop manager, Shane, grinned shyly at Emmy and squeezed her hand. He looked rough with his unkempt beard and dark, scraggly hair, but his kindness endeared him to the cast.

  Her husband, Grayson, ducked through the doorway leading into the front hallway, a bright spot against the dingy paint. “You were unreal, Em.”

  She handed him the flowers, hoping he’d see the note and know what to do. He bent and gave her a quick kiss before she was swept past him to the waiting throng.

  “I’ll be here,” he called.

  Emmy wished she could stay with him and let him protect her, but she couldn’t neglect her supporters. Many of these people attended performance after performance, and although her fake gaiety hid mounting fear and frustration, they deserved to at least shake her hand and receive a smile.

  Timothy stuck to her side while people surged past with compliments, hand squeezes, and the occasional hug. Emmy searched every eye, but only saw excitement from a fun performance or weariness from sitting too long. If anyone had murder in mind, he was as good at putting on a fake face as she was.

  No one piqued her curiosity. Until he came. She had no clue what his name was, but the past few weeks she’d seen him almost every morning at the gym. He was much too good-looking, with his rippling muscles and deep blue eyes. She always avoided looking directly at him, though she knew that was as obvious an indicator of her attraction as staring would be. She couldn’t avoid him now.

  The wide entryway, which featured plush, faded carpet and wood-planked walls, shrank as he drew nearer. The babble of the crowd faded. He reached for her hand, staring deep into her eyes. Her hand fitted itself into his like he was a magnet. Her entire body leaned toward him.

  “You were amazing. So passionate.” He smiled, and the room swayed.

  Emmy was quite sure the passion she experienced right now had nothing to do with singing or acting. She should draw away but couldn’t force herself to. “Thank you,” she managed, embarrassed by the huskiness of her voice as she tried to catch a breath.

  The crowd pressed forward, and he was forced to release her hand and move to the side. His blond date gushed over Emmy for a second, and then they were gone.

  Emmy continued greeting other patrons but couldn’t forget the allure of his blue eyes. He didn’t seem like the creepy stalker type, but she had to wonder. Could he be the one sending the notes?

  The last of the crowd finally filtered out the doors. Emmy congratulated her fellow cast members and accepted their praise. She looked up to see her husband leaning against the refreshment counter with a warm smile on his face, brown hair flopping into his right eye.

  Heat rushed to her cheeks. She’d allowed herself to react to another man. She was stronger than that. Trained to project emotions on demand, she was also an expert at reining in any untoward feelings and separating herself from her role, no matter how attractive her co-star may be. Why had she let her guard down tonight? It must be because of her fear over another note, or maybe seeing that man in a different environment.

  Whatever it was, it wouldn’t happen again. Grayson reached her side and bent to kiss her. His kiss was sure and steady. Maybe not exciting or passionate, but filled with love and the only home she knew. Grayson was hot cocoa and a fire on a chilly Oregon night.

  “Emmy.” Her husband almost growled her name. His normally serene green eyes flashed. “The police will be here soon. We’ll find out who’s sending these notes.”

  Emmy wilted against his lanky frame. She didn’t doubt the police would try, but it had been months. She wished her stalker would either show his face and give her a chance to smack him good, or leave her alone.

  Excerpt from The Reclusive Billionaire

  “Dr. Scott! Dr. Scott!”

  Running his hands up the sides of the dark wood, Dr. Lucas Scott gripped the edge of the lectern, feeling the corners dig into his palms in an effort to ground himself enough to make a coherent statement in front of the dozens of reporters in his press room. There were so many things wrong with this moment that he felt as though he were standing next to himself watching it unfold. Not finding a safe harbor in the sea of faces eager for a scandal, he ignored their frenzied attempts to gain his attention and began.

  “As many of you know, GermTech Pharmaceuticals has been researching a cure for the Indian butterfly flu.” Researching was a mild word—they were hunting the strain of bacteria that was slowly killing hundreds of people, with the promise to take out thousands more should it spread to other continents. They were close . . . so close.

  The reporters quieted down and shifted to the edges of their seats. They held their phones out, ready to record the words that would destroy Lucas’s legacy and broadcast them on the five o’clock news.

  Lucas’s lips continued to read the speech prepared by his top-notch PR team as it streamed across the teleprompter. He may have been speaking about dissolving his management team and the steps they’d taken to ensure GermTechPharm would continue to provide high-quality medications for those with liver damage, diabetes, and many, many other conditions, but his mind was back at his sister’s bedside as she slipped away from this life.

  Brianna’s cheeks bore the rash that had given the butterfly flu its misnomer. The red-and-purple splotches spread out from her nose and swooped into her hairline, mirror images, like the wings of a butterfly. Her sea-blue eyes were rimmed in red. Her lips were cracked and her throat constantly dry, which made every word spoken a chore.

  Brianna had asked Lucas to take care of her husband, Tyler, and their three boys. She’d told him to keep them close and to not forget that he was loved. She must have known how easy it would be to lose that sense of belonging when she was gone, because he felt empty and alone in a world that was quickly turning against him.

  Swallowing back the emotion building in his throat, Lucas wrapped up his speech. “I will be stepping down as head of GermTechPharm for the time being.”

  The reporters gasp
ed in unison, no doubt adding a great layer to their sound bite for the evening news.

  He paused to take a much-needed breath, and the barracuda jumped in. “Mr. Scott, what do you have to say to consumers who have trusted your products for years?” Tossing her medium-length blond hair over her shoulder, the reporter bared her overly bleached teeth in a predatory smile.

  “GermTechPharm has never sold a medication that has not been cleared by the FDA. In fact, we consistently go above and beyond the minimum requirements set forth in FDA guidelines,” replied Lucas.

  The other reporters took her interruption as an open door to throw their questions in his face like buckets of salty water.

  “Is it true that you were close to a breakthrough on the butterfly cure?” asked Rudy Carmolin. He was a decent fellow, the type that took a guy out for dinner and drinks instead of grilling him outside his front door first thing in the morning. Of course, in this situation, when reporters smelled blood in the water, niceties were set aside.

  “The butterfly flu poses an interesting challenge, and we are always up for a challenge.”

  “But you just said you dissolved your team.”

  “Yes, the team that was working on a cure is no longer functioning.”

  “Then who’s going to stop it?” Rudy pressed.

  Let them find a new savior; I’m out. “There are several other companies working on a cure at the moment.”

  “Are they close?” asked a man who had just graduated from his mom’s razor to a four-blade last week.

  Normally, Lucas wouldn’t give this kid a second look, but the group waited for his answer. “I am not privy to their research and can’t answer that question.”