The Billionaire's Box Set

by Hazel Taylor

  “Aren’t you going to use the ATM?”

  “Nah, I’ll do it later.” We stood in the cramped entry, oblivious to the people passing.

  “So what do you do?”

  “I’m a pilot.”

  “Oh, wow, that sounds exciting. I would love to hear more. Well, listen, I am running late, as always. Can I give you my phone number so we can talk another time?" She stood fumbling with the enormous bag I’d failed to notice earlier. It looked large enough to carry a medium-size dog in it.

  “Sure.” Pulling out my cell, I handed it to her. It was easier than doing it myself. Her hands expertly moved through the process, making me think of other things. What in the world was wrong with me? Seconds later she handed it back to me.

  "I have to go. It was nice to meet you, Jason. Love the dog picture on your phone. Call me, you can tell me about it later."

  And just like that, she flitted out the door, leaving me holding my phone, watching, as her heavenly scent seemed to float around me. Looking behind me, I saw that the line was mysteriously clear now, so I headed back inside to make the deposit.

  Tiffany

  My heart was beating so erratically I had to call my girlfriend Cassie before I left the parking lot.

  “Oh my gosh, I just met the man I am going to marry at the bank. He’s a pilot, his name is Jason and he has the most intriguing blue eyes you have ever seen.”

  “Really? You just met him, Tiff.”

  "I know, but I could FEEL it. You mean to tell me you didn't feel it when you met Nick? That electric sensation, as if sparks were flying around you both and there is just this pull between you. You don't know the person, but somehow it feels right."

  “Oh, yes, that feeling, I remember. Well good luck with that. After about five years it can turn into the oh, you again feeling I get now.” I knew I shouldn’t be talking to Miss Debbie Downer, but Cassie was my best friend in the whole world. She had marriage troubles big time but hopefully, it would all work out for them.

  Backing up, I kept talking on speaker until BAM, I'd run into something. "I have to call you back,” I said hastily. “I just had an accident." Hanging up, I hurried out of the vehicle, only to come face to face with him.

  “What in the hell is wrong with you?” His expensive car had a huge dent in it, thanks to me. He wasn’t even looking my way, just rubbing his hands over his car while he yelled.

  “I’m sorry about your car. It is all my fault; my insurance company will pay for it.” This was one heck of a way to start a relationship with your future husband.

  “Did you just get your license or something?” His voice and the hostility he was throwing my way was hurtful. It was an accident, for crying out loud.

  “As a matter a fact I did a month ago.”

  When he finally turned to me, the look of anger, recognition, and shock on his face was enormous. "You just got your license?" His voice, however, hadn't quieted at all as people passed in their cars.

  “Yes. I’m sorry.”

  Rubbing his hands over his face, he stormed back to his car, got in and drove off without another word. What a rude man. And to think I’d thought he was the ONE. How silly of me.

  Still shaken up, I got back in my car and headed to work, where I took a few moments alone in the bathroom to regain my composure. How could one man be so handsome and pleasant one moment and rude and arrogantly obnoxious the next? If he texted or called, I was going to ignore it. Deep blue eyes or not, I didn’t deserve to be treated that way.

  2

  Jason

  My whole day was a mess. Not only was my car a wreck, but the woman I’d thought would be my future wife was likely twelve years younger than me and I probably couldn’t touch her for another year or two. I must be losing my mind. I probably shouldn’t have yelled at her the way I did, but not only had she dented my Porsche, but she’d led me on. Fitness instructor, yeah right.

  The next few days flew by and I couldn't stop thinking about her. At lunch my hands itched to text her, in-flight her red hair and blue eyes imprinted on my memory, distracting me more than once. At the gym, I looked around as if searching for her. Before bed, I kept recalling her pixie form, those tight shorts and full lips. When I woke, guilt swamped me at how rude I had been to her.

  On more than one occasion I was told I had an arrogant and obnoxious streak, but most of the time it didn’t bother me. What I lacked in personality I made up for in skill as a pilot and businessman. Nobody was perfect; I didn’t see it as a big deal. If they couldn’t get past my harsh exterior, they weren’t meant to be a part of my life.

  Normally I would have brushed off my harsh attitude as one of life’s eye-openers. If that made me rude, so be it. That morning, however, I had been way off base taking it out on her. It had just been an accident.

  Halfway through my day, Donovan, a client and friend of mine, decided to call me. “Hey, Jay, how’s things in your world?” He sounded so happy it was sickening. He had gotten married last year to a lovely woman named Paige that had somehow become the reason he existed—except, of course, for his beautiful daughter.

  “All right, man. How about you?”

  “Amazing. Paige and I are down here on the island taking a relaxing break.”

  “Nice. I need to get away sometime soon. Are you staying a while?”

  "Actually yes, we are probably going to stay for about another month or two. I might fly back and forth a few times, but I just found out Paige is pregnant. She is having a hard time so that’s why I am calling. I need your help.” I could hear the concern in his voice, a man worrying about the woman he loves.

  “I’m at your service, you know that. What can I do?”

  “I need you to fly her nutritionist out to help.”

  “Of course. When do you want me to bring her?”

  “As soon as possible. I told her tomorrow if that won’t mess up your schedule?”

  “Nope, I can juggle a few things around, and Carlos, my guy from Mexico, can take over my clients for a few days.”

  "Great. I think I need her more than Paige does. I just don't know what to do for her. My mother is in California with Amber visiting Cameron and Lily since she just had a baby, so it's just me. I'm a lost man. She's sick and tired, not eating well and doesn't want to leave the bedroom. I had a local midwife come, but she told us that this was normal, the up and down, the sickness. She suggested some changes, but they don’t seem to be helping and Paige assures me this woman works miracles.”

  “Then a miracle it is. I will have her there sometime tomorrow.”

  He went on to give me her name and address, Tiffany something. Her name made me think of that pixie I’d met a few days ago and how I longed to see her again.

  "Thanks, Jason. See you soon."

  “You bet.” Hanging up, I began rearranging my schedule, calling my other pilot to cover for me.

  By the time I messaged the woman, it was close to midnight. Her Facebook picture showed a woman’s shadowy form doing a yoga pose as the sun shone brightly behind her. Her hair was bright blue, and she stood on a mat posing. Warrior Woman Yoga.

  Tiffany

  It took some doing but I had to rearrange my schedule for the trip I was taking to see my most important client, Paige Donatella, who was pregnant and vacationing in the Bahamas. Secretly I was thrilled for the trip, mixing business with pleasure.

  After a good night’s sleep, I packed light, since I was only supposed to be staying a few days. I received a message on Facebook that The Sky is the Limit Airline Charters was picking me up at 11 am. Their page showed a lovely picture of a jet backed by a blue clear sky and said the owner, Wagner Enterprises, had been in business for 10 years.

  The next morning a knock sounded on the door at around 10:45 am, and of course, I was still not ready. My cat still needed to be fed and my plants watered.

  "Come in," I called as the can of tuna did a near nosedive into the sink.

  I didn’t hear anyone come in, bu
t I could feel a presence. I knew it probably wasn’t such a good idea to just let a stranger in my apartment, but too late now. “I’ll be ready in a moment.”

  What a surprise when I turned and came face to face with none other than Mr. Rude and Obnoxious himself, Jason Wagner. The man I had dreamt about every night since the day we met. The frown on his face copied my thoughts. “You shouldn’t just let people enter your apartment like that,” he said testily. “What if it was some lunatic or something?”

  “Or some rude man.” He was right, but I wasn’t about to admit that. I pushed past him to run water to my plants in the window. “Excuse me.”

  He didn’t say anything else, merely stood in the background waiting silently as I finished. I could feel his eyes upon me, every step I took, and more than once I was drawn to look his way, only to find him staring at me intently. My nerves were a wreck.

  The small apartment felt even smaller with him in it. I felt like I couldn't breathe, and that electric shock from our first meeting seemed to engulf my whole body, so much so I spilled water more than once and almost knocked over a lamp on my end table.

  He was dressed in jeans and a casual shirt and jacket; it was virtually impossible to know he was a pilot by his casual attitude.

  3

  Jason

  “I like your place. It’s comfortable, with the plants, animals, sunlight. It’s nice.” I was in uncharted territory here. Seeing her for the second time and being in her apartment, watching her flit around nervously excited me. It was odd, though, how she could have such a following and reputation in her industry and live in this apartment if she was so young. I was relieved, though, that perhaps she was at least legal.

  “Thanks.”

  She was still mad at me for my bad attitude, and rightfully so. I had been out of line; I would find a way to smooth things over. For now, I would just wait and enjoy the show.

  She certainly traveled light, with one suitcase and a small carry-on bag. It was refreshing to see as I loaded my BMW with her stuff. Many women seemed to want to carry the whole house with them.

  “I see your other car must be in the shop.” That was a definite dig, one I chose to ignore as I opened her door. She deserved to be a little naughty.

  I rarely picked up a client. Usually they came to me and my planes, but my personal friendship with Donovan changed that. Having her sit beside me in my car headed to my airplane only enforced my possessiveness. MINE. “How long have you known Paige?”

  "About four months. I have been teaching her yoga. Mr. Donatella said she is pregnant and has been sick."

  "I know. Donovan and I have been friends for a few years. Paige is so tiny it's hard to think of her having a baby."

  His laughter filled the car. "Men. You are so funny about pregnancy. You act like it's the plague or something. Our bodies are designed for this, giving birth, going through the process of pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Once she gets past this first phase of sickness, she will be fine.”

  Through my mirrored sunglasses, I looked at her bare legs. How I longed to touch them, run my fingers along their smoothness. Her delicate fingers fumbled with my radio, stopping at Madonna. It wasn’t my taste but it suited her. I couldn't help but smile. Her youthfulness was showing.

  As we drove and her fingers raced over her phone screen, I pondered how my father and mother would take the ten years’ age difference, maybe eleven. It didn't matter to me that my bride was that young, but they had a very certain way of looking at things that wouldn’t leave room for exceptions.

  Not that this mattered to me. I’d given up pleasing people back in my adolescence. Either way, this spritely pixie was going to be mine; she just needed time to come around to my way of thinking. "How many times have you given birth, Tiffany?"

  Her chin dropped as she looked turned to me, blue eyes bright and clear. Then she closed her mouth just quickly. "None, but I have many friends who have given birth. I’ve studied the birth process, how exercise and nutrition play a part in a woman's health during this time." Her ruby curls bounced as she flicked her head back to her phone. Who in the hell was she talking to anyway?

  I ignored the agitation that was building as she sat, clearly engrossed in her phone, ignoring me.

  At the airstrip, my Tecnam Twin Engine Aircraft awaited. Erick, my assistant, stood by waiting. It took only moments to load up and prepare for takeoff. Tiffany didn’t say much, but she looked nervous as she shakily belted up.

  “You okay?”

  “Yes, just nervous. I didn’t realize the plane would be so small.”

  “Well, it’s just the two of us. I have many different planes, but this is my favorite. We don’t have a long flight and the landing strip on Donovan’s island is not the largest.”

  "He has his own island?"

  “Yes, as do I.”

  She didn’t say another word, her hands gripping the seat tightly. Poor woman was clearly frightened, not good for the flight.

  “You’ll be fine, mi amor. I have been flying planes for a very long time. Relax and enjoy the view.”

  “Okay.” Her voice was shaky, and it tormented me that I couldn’t reassure her more. Many people suffered this same problem until they got off the ground.

  “You’ve never flown before?”

  “No.”

  "Well, after this first flight you will be fine. Almost everyone has the jitters the first time." Taking her hand in mine, I couldn't resist pulling it to my lips for a gentle kiss. Her warm hand quivered slightly as I ran my thumb over her palm before replacing it on the seat.

  The sooner I got it over with the better. She would feel better, as would I.

  4

  Tiffany

  I couldn’t breathe between his nearness, his earthy musky smell, and the fact that I had never flown before. The way his thumb and lips caressed my skin sent tingles up my arm, and for just a moment I forgot I was in a plane as I closed my eyes to take it all in, breathing deep. When I glanced over at him, he just smiled before releasing my hand to begin take off.

  After holding my breath with eyes closed, I felt the rumble of the plane. His fingers caressed my cheek, and then we moved and lifted off. When I opened my eyes, we were in the air and it was beautiful in that scary oh my goodness sort of way. It didn't take me long, though, to relax, his voice soothing my nerves as the sights intrigued me.

  "I knew at a young age that I wanted to be a pilot. My parents discouraged it but realized there was no point. Every toy I had needed to be able to fly or I made it fly by throwing it in the air. They told me it began with my first flight at a year old."

  "I can see why. The view, the sky, it's dreamlike."

  "I often take trips, not for the destination but the flight itself. I usually enjoy the flight there, more than the location. I love to watch planes, fly them, jump out of them, you name it. What about you?"

  “You’ve jumped out of an airplane?”

  “Heck yeah, about eight times. It’s an experience that will leave a person speechless the first time around.”

  “I don’t think I will be doing that anytime soon.” Listening to him, I could feel his excitement, the thrill as he maneuvered the controls on the dash.

  “My mom had a lot of health issues. She was overweight and suffered from diabetes, and sadly, it ended her life when I was 14. My grandfather and grandmother raised me. I made it my passion to help people stay healthy and strong to battle the health issues they couldn’t control. I always found that yoga is an exercise that everyone can do, even those with physical issues that limit mobility.”

  All my tension was gone now as I studied the cabin and what he was doing. "What are all these buttons, knobs, and switches for? It looks confusing. What if you accidentally bump something?"

  His husky laughter made my insides flutter. He truly had a perfect smile.

  "Well, I can honestly say I have never bumped anything. It's like driving a car: you have to always pay complete and total attention at all
times. There is no room for mistakes or it's your life."

  A chill slipped down my spine, making me sink farther into the leather seat.

  “Relax, mi amor. There won’t be any mistakes here today.”

  “Are you always this confident, I mean almost obnoxiously so? People do make mistakes.” The other day slipped into my mind, reminding me of his rudeness and bad attitude.

  "Yes, sorry to say. It's just my nature." His hands maneuvered over the controls, making me tingle everywhere at the thought of what they would do to my skin. "Speaking of which, about the other day, I want to apologize for being such an ass to you. I am sorry, I had no right to yell at you like that. It was an accident, and a small one at that."

  The sincerity of his words melted my heart, but I wasn’t going to let him off that easily. “Please don’t do that again. It wasn’t very nice, and I won’t tolerate being treated that way again.”

  “Understood.” The smile he flashed me stirred up the butterflies in my stomach.

  By the time we landed, I was happy to get off the plane, as beautiful as the flight had been. I was shocked when we landed on a small island that had a private beach, boat dock, and this gloriously large house with windows everywhere.

  A pair of dogs came running to greet us as Jason and I made out way to the house. He refused to let me take my bags, pulling them behind him instead. Donovan greeted us warmly, then showed us to our rooms, explaining to me that Paige was sleeping but as soon as she was awake, I could see her.

  The house was immense, with an all-glass great room that overlooked the water. It boasted an understated elegance that was simple and blended well into the beach and ocean colors of the outdoors.