He opened the door, stepping back so she could take it all in.
“This looks even better than the pictures,” she said.
“It looks phenomenal with the furniture you picked. It could still use a little more personalization, but I think the new owners are going to like it.”
“Have you found a buyer, yet?”
“I just finished the renovation,” he said, laughing. “There’s a lot to be done, and with the holidays, I think that I need to focus elsewhere. There is some interest, though.”
“I was trying not to think about Christmas,” she said. “I was hoping my dad could come out for Christmas, but he said he had some things to do at home and he would see me soon.”
“I’m sorry about that,” David said. He hugged her close and kissed her forehead.
When she stood on her toes and tilted her head up, he covered her soft lips with his and kissed her deeply. They toured the rest of the house hand in hand while Kelissa chatted about the photo shoot and Rich’s friend.
“This house is gorgeous,” she said when they completed the tour. “It’s going to make whoever buys it very happy.”
“It is. It’s one of the best I’ve ever flipped. I’m glad it’s going to be my last.”
She climbed back into the truck with him, scooting across the bench so she could sit next to him.
“It doesn’t have to be your last, David. You can do real estate and manage my career.”
“I don’t have the passion for it that I once did. It was different when I was chasing the almighty dollar. Now that I’m where I want to be, I have different goals.”
“And those are?”
“Making you happy, of course.”
“I am happy,” she said.
“You’re content. I want to make you deliriously happy, and I know that is going to take a bit of work on my part. I want to start by getting you back under the same roof as me.”
“I know,” she groaned. “And I know it’s a pain for you to sleep in the hotel with me. But I just can’t go back to the house. Every time I walk into the foyer, I relive him killing that man. Not that I feel sorry for him, but it’s an image I’d rather forget. A man lost his life, and without warning. Yes, he deserved it, but that doesn’t mean I wanted to witness it.”
“I’m sure it makes you think of other things you’d rather forget.”
“Exactly. I don’t want to relive gun violence every time I walk into a house. Maybe after you sell this house you can do one more job and buy a house for us. The furniture has to go somewhere after this house is bought, right?”
“It does unless the buyer wants the furniture, too.”
“Hopefully, they won’t. I’m just jealous. This place is so nice, and it’s in such a secluded area. When we start looking for a place, I want something like this. I mean, the view of the mountains, the huge property off the beaten path. Everything about this place is just perfect. I almost wish that you hadn’t put it on the market at all, but I know if there’s interest, you have to let that prospective sale run its course.”
“Maybe they’ll change their mind,” he said, but she was already shaking her head.
“There is no way someone is going to just let this place slip through their hands. No. I predict that the first person you show it to is going to snatch it up. You could even triple your investment.”
“I hope you’re right,” he said.
“Where are we going?”
“I thought you might like to see the rest of the property. There are two guest houses with five bedrooms each and their own ten-acre parcel of land. Each house is far enough away from the other that there is a lot of privacy, and with the rolling hills, you can’t see the main house from here, or the barn.”
“Do you think it will get divvied up?”
“I doubt it. There, see the first house over there? That one is close to a stream that runs down from the Black Mountain. It doesn’t come onto this property, but most of the surrounding property is part of the national forest and I think there’s only one neighbor way down the road.”
“This place is really amazing. Are we going to stop and look at the guest house?”
“The other guest house is almost exactly the same, and that one is further down the private road and on the way to the horse barn. They’re almost identical, so I thought we would check that one out.”
She nodded, leaning back into the comfortable seat. His arm around her felt so right, and she almost laughed at the image of the two of them giving it all up to be ranchers. She would never walk away from her modeling career, but she longed for a place like this where she could hide from being a celebrity for weeks at a time and only emerge when she wanted to. It would be the best of both worlds, and a place like this might even encourage her father to come out for a visit.
She sighed at the thought of her father.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m just upset my dad couldn’t come. He’s such a homebody, and a workaholic.”
“Did he say why he couldn’t come?”
“He said he had things to do at the house, but he said he’ll come out soon. Or I’ll see him soon, so maybe I’ll just have to surprise him for Christmas.”
“That sounds like a plan,” David said. “Maybe we could both surprise him.”
“Really? You haven’t seen your parents since they were put in witness protection, and you would spend Christmas with me and my dad?”
“Does your dad like surprises?”
“No, but I do.”
“That’s good to know. My parents could come, too.”
“I guess I didn’t think about that.”
“Thanksgiving went well, didn’t it?”
“I don’t know. I was too busy trying to deny my feelings for you.”
“That was painful to watch,” he teased.
“Admit it, you were worried.”
“Of course, I was. But it was worth it, and things worked out for us.”
“They did. Is this the place?”
“It is. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“I love the main house, but I wouldn’t even mind living here in one of the guest houses, either. The mountains are amazing, and the air just smells so fresh and clean.”
“Come on. I’ll show you around.”
She smiled and took the hand he’d offered, getting out of the truck on his side and holding his hand as they made their way up the brick walkway in the perfectly manicured front lawn.
“The landscapers did a fantastic job. I can’t believe how much better this place looks compared to the pictures.”
They stopped at the door, and Kelissa waited for him to take the key out and unlock the door. When he knocked instead, she was confused.
“Is there someone here?” she asked.
“Sort of.”
The doorknob turned, and the door opened. When Kelissa saw the man standing in the doorway, she burst into silent tears.
“Daddy?”
“Hi, princess.”
“Daddy, what are you doing here?”
“I was just showing the place to Bill and Marta.” David’s parents appeared behind her father, then the three of them stepped out onto the large, wraparound porch. “Isn’t the view beautiful from here?”
“Yes, it is but I don’t understand what’s going on.”
She looked at David, and back at their parents, then back at David.
“Are you buying this place?” she asked, then shook her head. “I mean, you already bought it. But are you keeping the place?”
“It really depends.”
“On what?”
“On you.”
He knelt down, looking up at her with a smile on his face, their parents looking on and the massive Black Mountain looming in the foggy distance.
“Kelissa Knight,” David began, pulling a small, velvet box out of his pocket and opening it to reveal a gorgeous diamond ring. “Would you make me the happiest man in the world and spend the rest of
your life with me?”
She was speechless, her heart pounding and her eyes flicking from one face to another as she tried to wrap her head around what was happening.
“Is this our place? Our home?” She looked at her dad. “Daddy, are you moving here?”
“If you’ll have me,” he said, teary-eyed and smiling.
“Wow,” she said as it all sank in.
“You said you liked surprises,” David said. “I was afraid you would catch me when I had you pick out your own furniture.”
“This is…wow. And your parents?”
“They’re going to live in the other guest house.”
He smiled, still holding the ring out patiently. She looked at it, then looked at him, one eyebrow arched.
“That’s a huge diamond. Is there a tracker in that thing?”
David shook his head, laughing.
“No,” he said, still smiling sheepishly.
“Alright then,” she said.
She took a deep breath and looked around one last time, soaking up the moment and the people surrounding them with perfect, unconditional love and she knew that she was home. This place, with this man was where she was meant to be. Everything else would fall into place or fall to the wayside. There was only one answer to his question, and as she watched him waiting for her to say the word that would change both their lives forever, she smiled and said the only thing she could say.
“Yes.”
THANKS FOR READING!
This book is part of a bestselling series called “United States Of Billionaires”. Every book features a different billionaire in a different city and very soon we could be coming to your home town!
Below are all the books currently available, is a city you love in there? Download now and check it out. (Be warned, all these books are extra STEAMY!)
Book 2 – The Billionaire From Atlanta
Collect the whole series!
Peace, love and high heels!
Lena & The Simply BWWM Team
Fancy A FREE BWWM Romance Book??
Join the “Romance Recommended” Mailing list today and gain access to an exclusive FREE classic BWWM Romance book along with many others more to come. You will also be kept up to date on the best book deals in the future on the hottest new BWWM Romances.
* Get FREE Romance Books For Your Kindle & Other Cool giveaways
* Discover Exclusive Deals & Discounts Before Anyone Else!
* Be The FIRST To Know about Hot New Releases From Your Favorite Authors
Click The Link Below To Access This Now!
Oh Yes! Sign Me Up To Romance Recommended For FREE!
Already subscribed?
OK, Read On!
A MUST HAVE!
BABY SHOWER
10 BOOK PREGNANCY ROMANCE BOXSET
50% DISCOUNT!!
An amazing chance to own 10 complete books for one LOW price!
This package features some of the biggest selling authors from the world of Pregnancy Romance. They have collaborated to bring you this super-sized portion of love, sex and romance involving the drama of a baby on the way!
1 - Tasha Blue – The Best Man's Baby
2 - Alexis Gold – The Movie Star's Designer Baby
3 - Cherry Kay – The Tycoon's Convenient Baby
4 - CJ Howard – The Billionaire's Love Child
5 - Kimmy Love – Her Bosses Baby?
6 - Lacey Legend – The Billionaire's Unwanted Baby
7 - Lena Skye – A Baby Of Convenience
8 - Monica Castle – The Cowboy's Secret Baby
9 - Tasha Blue – Fireman's Baby
10 -Alexis Gold – The Billionaire's Secret Baby
TAP HERE TO DOWNLOAD NOW!
ANOTHER MUST HAVE!
TALL, WHITE & ALPHA
10 BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE BOOKS BOXSET
50% DISCOUNT!!
An amazing chance to own 10 complete books for one LOW price!
This package features some of the biggest selling authors from the world of Billionaire Romance. They have collaborated to bring you this super-sized portion of love, sex and romance involving loveable heroines and Tall, White and Alpha Billionaire men.
1 The Billionaire's Designer Bride – Alexis Gold
2 The Prettiest Woman – Lena Skye
3 How To Marry A Billionaire – Susan Westwood
4 Seduced By The Italian Billionaire – CJ Howard
5 The Cowboy Billionaire's Proposal – Monica Castle
6 Seduced By The Secret Billionaire – Cherry Kay
7 Billionaire Impossible – Lacey Legend
8 Matched With The British Billionaire – Kimmy Love
9 The Billionaire's Baby Mama – Tasha Blue
10 The Billionaire's Arranged Marriage – CJ Howard
TAP HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS NOW!
The Billionaire From San Diego Page 16
