The Protective Billionaire

by Christine Kersey

  Despair and hopelessness swept over her as she imagined all sorts of terrible things happening to Maya—getting hit by a car, getting attacked by a wild animal, getting hurt and not being able to come out where she would be found and then dying all alone.

  That last one really did it to her. Sobs climbed her throat and burst from her mouth. “Maya! Oh, Maya! Where are you?”

  Wiping away her tears, she forced herself to slow her panicked breath.

  Maybe Cameron had found Maya and she was getting upset for nothing. Or maybe Maya had gone back to Janie’s cabin.

  With no other idea where to look, Aubree turned around and headed in the direction of Janie’s cabin, hopeful that Maya had returned.

  It took her a while—she turned the wrong way more than once—but eventually she reached the cabin. “Maya! Maya, are you here?”

  There was no flash of cream-colored fur, no wagging tail.

  With hope dimming, Aubree ran all the way around the cabin, then went outward into the forest in concentric circles. No Maya.

  With a heavy heart, she trudged to the patio and sank onto the chair that faced her easel, then she stared at the spot where she’d last seen Maya as if staring hard enough would conjure up her dog.

  Tears trailed down her cheeks and she let her face fall into her hands as sobs shook her shoulders. She was crying so hard that it took a moment for the sound of an approaching vehicle to break through her anguish, but when it did, her heart went from despair to terror in one second flat.

  It was Tyler. It had to be. Who else would drive all the way up the road to the cabin? Janie hadn’t said anything about coming, and with knowing how on edge Aubree was, there was no way she would show up out of the blue.

  Hide! I have to hide!

  Aubree leapt from her seat, brushing the tears from her cheeks as she stood, then she frantically looked for a place to hide. She couldn’t go inside the cabin—that would be the first place Tyler would look. No. Instead she dashed into a nearby row of trees and pressed her back against the wide trunk of the nearest one, then she peeked around the side to see who was driving up the gravel road to the cabin.

  With her heart thumping painfully inside her chest, she stared at the place where the vehicle would appear when it reached the bend in the road that would bring it right to the cabin’s front door.

  The crunching of gravel roared in her ears, and her eyes were riveted to the bend in the road.

  A black Jeep came into view, drawing closer, closer. Aubree had no idea what type of car Tyler would be driving—what if he had a rental?

  Keeping her back against the tree trunk, she stared at the Jeep. The windows were tinted—too dark to see who was driving. With wide eyes, Aubree watched as the Jeep stopped.

  This was it. This was the moment she would have to decide whether to run deeper into the woods or to confront the man who had completely disrupted her life.

  The Jeep’s engine shut off and then the driver’s door swung open. With her gaze locked on the Jeep, Aubree unconsciously held her breath.

  A long, jean-clad leg appeared, and then she saw the face of the driver.

  It was Cameron.

  Aubree’s breath came out in a rush.

  Why was he there? Why wasn’t he out looking for Maya? And how did he know where to find her?

  Then she knew. When she’d failed to show up at his place at the appointed time, he’d come looking for her. Probably to see if she’d had any luck.

  Crushed to know that Maya was still missing, Aubree dragged in a shaky breath. Then, as she watched, Cameron stood next to his open door looking into the interior of his Jeep. Then he clapped his hands. A moment later a cream-colored dog appeared, and with Cameron’s help, it jumped to the ground.

  “Maya!” Aubree screamed as she bolted from behind the tree and raced toward the Jeep.

  Maya looked her way and bounded right to her.

  Aubree knelt on the ground. Seconds later Maya was there, nuzzling her neck, her tail wagging in a wide arc, her tongue lolling out.

  “Oh, my baby! My sweet, sweet, baby!”

  Wrapping her arms around Maya, Aubree wept with joy and relief. Her precious dog was back and she seemed unharmed.

  Cameron had found her and brought her home.

  Cameron.

  Aubree lifted her tear-streaked face from Maya’s soft fur and looked toward the man who’d been willing to help despite what had happened the day before. He was still standing beside his Jeep, his lips curved in a broad smile.

  Now that her fear of losing Maya had melted away, Aubree noticed how very attractive Cameron was. And the fact that he’d dropped everything to search for her beloved dog before bringing her home… It more than made up for the way he’d scared her so badly the day before.

  Chapter Nine

  The pure joy on Aubree’s face was worth the time Cameron had taken to search for—and find!—her dog. He couldn’t remember ever seeing someone so ecstatic over a dog. Clearly, she loved that animal. He walked over to the pair.

  Aubree stood and faced him. “Thank you so, so much!”

  Her green eyes shimmered with tears, but he was certain they were tears of happiness. “Glad I could help.”

  “Where was she?”

  “Trotting through the forest. She seemed to be having a great time.”

  Aubree laid a hand on Maya’s head. “I can’t believe you found her.”

  Then she smiled the most amazing smile he’d ever seen. Dazzled, he was momentarily rendered speechless. Blinking to clear his head, he smiled in return. “It was pure luck.”

  She knelt beside Maya. “What am I going to do with you, you naughty girl?”

  “You could always get a GPS collar.”

  Aubree stood. “I didn’t know that was a thing.”

  Feeling clever, he explained. “Yeah. Then if she runs off again you can find her pretty easily.”

  She nodded. “Great idea. I’m gonna do it.” She looked at Maya, who looked up at her. “In the meantime, this one is going to stay on a leash.” Then she faced Cameron. “How can I thank you? You dropped everything to help me.” Tears filled her eyes again. “And then you found her. I’m indebted to you.”

  Cameron paused for a moment, although he already knew what she could do for him. “I know how you can thank me. Let me take you to dinner.”

  Her eyebrows tugged together. “Dinner?”

  Why did she seem reluctant? “Yeah. You do eat, don’t you?”

  Smirking, she said. “From time to time.”

  Despite himself, he swept his eyes down her slender body. Then he met her gaze. Her eyebrows had gone up. Embarrassed to be caught so blatantly checking her out, he deflected. “What do you say? Will you let me take you out?”

  “I don’t know.”

  That wasn’t the answer he’d been expecting. Women never turned him down. “Uh…” he stammered, “how can I convince you?”

  Her eyes shifted away from him as she bit her lip.

  What was up with her?

  “It wouldn’t be a date,” he heard himself say.

  That earned him a sharp look.

  Why did I say that?

  “I know,” she said, her tone conveying complete certainty that that had never been in question.

  Unexpectedly stung, Cameron almost withdrew the offer. But that would be dumb. Now that she’d made it clear dating was out of the question, it only made her more intriguing.

  Or maybe she wasn’t single.

  “Are you…” he began, then he wondered if she would be annoyed with him for asking so he let the question trail off.

  She narrowed her eyes. “Am I what?”

  “Are you single?”

  She stared at him, right in the eye, for several moments. “No.”

  Ah-ha! He knew there was a reason she’d rejected him. It wasn’t him. It was because she wasn’t free to date anyone.

  Oh. She wasn’t free to date. Bummer.

  Why had she lied ri
ght to his face? His very handsome face.

  Stop it, Aubree. You know you can’t encourage any romantic interest. You have to be careful.

  Softly sighing, when she looked at the way his lips had subtly turned down, she couldn’t seem to stop herself from saying, “You know, it should really be the other way around.”

  His head tilted. “What should be the other way around?”

  She watched Maya find a shady spot under a nearby tree and lay down, then she wondered if she would regret what she was about to suggest. “I owe you a debt of gratitude. And…” Softly chuckling, she added, “I kind of want to apologize for yesterday.”

  His lips tugged upward. “Be more specific.”

  He was going to make her admit all the embarrassing things she’d done.

  Don’t forget what he did to you.

  Though it helped to remember that, she was still kind of mortified that she’d trespassed and then threatened him.

  His eyebrows went up like he was waiting for her to continue.

  “For, you know. Trespassing. And maybe threatening you.”

  He laughed, loud and heartily. “Maybe threatening me?” He mimed holding a baseball bat over his right shoulder, and in a high-pitched voice, said, “Stay back or you’ll regret it.”

  She grimaced, but his impersonation of her was too funny not to laugh. “You’re right,” she said with a grin. “And I’m sorry. But you really scared me.”

  He dropped his arms so that they hung loosely at his sides. “Well, I’m sorry about that.”

  She was ready to move past it. “You’re forgiven.”

  He nodded as a tiny smile played around the corners of his lips. “I forgive you too.”

  She swiped a hand across her forehead like now she would be able to sleep at night. “Thank goodness.” In reality, she was glad he didn’t hold it against her.

  He laughed. “All right. Enough of that.”

  Aubree’s gaze slid to Maya. She really was beyond grateful that Cameron had taken the time to look for her precious dog. What if he hadn’t? Would she be in a puddle of tears right then, frantic with worry? “I’d like to make you dinner,” she said. “As a thank you.” And really, that would be fine, wouldn’t it? She’d already made it clear she wasn’t available.

  Lied, you mean.

  Mentally shaking off the thought, she considered his offer to take her out. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy going out to eat—in fact it was one of her favorite things to do. But being out in public where someone might recognize her and take her picture and then post it on social media and say where they’d spotted her sent a shiver of fear cascading through her.

  It would lead Tyler straight to her. She couldn’t chance it.

  Although she had to admit that inviting a man she hardly knew into her home didn’t seem like the best idea either. But she was so grateful for him finding Maya that she pushed aside the fear that seemed to be a constant hum just below the surface. A fear that she needed to overcome. If she let fear rule her life, she would be letting Tyler win.

  That was something she could not allow.

  Though disappointed that this would be nothing more than a thank you dinner, Cameron was still glad for the opportunity to spend time with her.

  “Dinner would be nice,” he said. “Thank you.”

  He hoped her boyfriend wouldn’t have a problem with her having another man over for dinner. But really, he didn’t care what some other guy would think.

  Then he remembered the way she’d bolted at the grocery store when he’d offered to get the cereal box from the top shelf. And the way she’d barely looked at him when he’d offered to help her up after she’d fallen. Not exactly the way someone in a healthy relationship would act. Was this boyfriend treating her right? Where was he, anyway? Would he be showing up during dinner?

  He was getting ahead of himself. “Maybe,” he said, “I owe you a debt of gratitude.”

  “For what?” Her voice held a tone of disbelief.

  “For making my day more interesting.”

  She chuckled, then she looked at Maya, who was stretched out in the shade. “Hear that, Maya? Going on a spontaneous hike through the woods while searching for you was interesting.” At the mention of her name, Maya lifted her head and looked their way for a moment before lying back down. “Actually,” Aubree said, “the spontaneous hiking part does sound nice. Just not the searching part.” She frowned. “That was beyond frustrating.”

  “Don’t forget. I found her.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “Which is why I’ll be the one feeding you.”

  Cameron laughed. “I just meant the search was rewarding for me since I ended up finding her.”

  She grinned. “Rub it in, why don’t you?”

  Smiling, Cameron held up his hands. “Just sayin’.”

  She shook her head, but her face was happy and relaxed. “I’ll fix dinner for you right here.” She swept her arms out. “At the cabin.”

  He had to know, had to ask. “Is your…boyfriend going to join us?”

  Her eyebrows slid together before smoothing out. “Does tomorrow night work?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then he won’t be there.”

  That was good news.

  He won’t be there. What was she doing? Why was she pretending—okay, lying—about having a boyfriend? Did she really believe every man who showed the tiniest bit of interest in her was going to become a stalker? That she needed to have a make-believe boyfriend to keep men at a distance.

  Well, yeah. She kind of did. Especially after what had happened with Tyler.

  She looked at Cameron. As handsome and kind and friendly as he was, there was no way she could risk dating him—or anyone. Even if he didn’t seem like the same kind of man as Tyler. No matter what, she had to protect herself.

  “Okay,” Cameron said with a tight smile. “Tomorrow night it is.”

  Wanting to discourage any further conversation about her phantom boyfriend, Aubree glanced toward the house. “I’d better get back to it.”

  Cameron nodded. “Right. Okay. I’ll, uh, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He turned and began walking toward his Jeep.

  She stared at him, half wishing he’d stay, but also knowing that wouldn’t be the best idea.

  He stopped and turned to face her, his focus completely on her. “What time?”

  It took her a full beat to regain her composure. “Six?”

  Nodding, he smiled. “Six it is. See you then.” Then he strode briskly to his Jeep and opened the door.

  “Thanks again,” she called out.

  Cameron looked her way.

  “For finding Maya,” she added.

  “Happy to help.” Then he climbed inside, turned on the engine, and drove away.

  She watched until he was gone and found she was eager to see him the next evening.

  Chapter Ten

  The next evening Cameron turned up the drive to Aubree’s cabin, surprised at how nervous he felt. But really there was nothing to be nervous about. She’d made it clear she was only making him dinner as a thank you for his help in finding Maya. There was nothing romantic here. No need to impress her.

  Yeah right.

  He was all about impressing this woman who was beautiful yet aloof, crazy about her dog but less than crazy about people. That was his assumption at least. Why else would she be holed up in an isolated cabin?

  In a way it was refreshing. So many of the women he associated with were all about the night life and being seen with movers and shakers. Being seen with him. A quiet evening with a home-cooked meal held unaccustomed appeal. Even if she had a boyfriend.

  He pushed that thought aside as he shut off the Jeep’s engine. Reaching over to the passenger seat to pick up the gift he’d brought, he softly chuckled, then he got out and walked to the front door. He knocked, and a moment later Aubree opened the door.

  She wore form-fitting jeans and a dark pink blouse that matched the color of her lips. Camero
n’s eyes slid to those full lips and for a moment he wondered how it would feel to kiss them.

  Down, boy. She’s not available.

  Forcing away his frown by pushing a smile onto his face, he said, “Good evening.” He was about to tell her how lovely she looked but decided it wouldn’t be appropriate under the circumstances. Instead, he held out the gift bag that had white tissue paper poking out of the top. “I brought this for you.”

  Her eyebrows tugged together as she tilted her head. “You didn’t need to bring me anything.”

  “I know.” Then, as he pictured her reaction to what was inside, his smile broadened.

  Aubree took the gift bag from Cameron’s hands, curious what he’d brought, but also a little wary. She’d told him she wasn’t single. Why was he bringing her a gift? Then again, she should stop assuming the worst.

  “Thank you.” She stepped back and opened the door wider. Maya appeared beside her and Cameron knelt to tell her hello.

  Pleased that he was taking a moment to greet her dog, Aubree studied him as he squatted beside Maya. His chiseled jaw was obscured by a neatly trimmed beard, but when he stood and faced her, she couldn’t miss a bit of sparkle in his blue eyes. Even so, she couldn’t deny that she was a bit nervous to have him in her house. Just the two of them. He was a lot bigger than Tyler. If Cameron had ill intent, she would be in trouble.

  Tamping down her fears, she pushed a smile onto her lips.

  “Are you going to open it?” he asked as he gestured with his chin toward the gift bag.

  Curiosity growing, Aubree stepped back and swept her arm toward the interior of the cabin. “I will after you come in.”

  “All right.” Cameron stepped past her, and as he did, the subtle scent of cologne followed in his wake.

  Aubree inhaled the scent. She liked it—musky and masculine. “Please sit.” The living room was tiny—just big enough for a couch and a recliner along with a coffee table, and a fireplace was tucked in the corner. Cozy was how Janie had described it. But Aubree didn’t care. She was just glad to be somewhere where she felt safe.