Her Billionaire Mistake (Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove Book 1)

by Lucy McConnell

  Mrs. Morgan gave her a side hug. “Welcome to Seattle. I’ll take care of your clothing needs, dear. You just make sure this guy stays in line.”

  Brooklyn covered her mouth and laughed. “You got it. And thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Asher suddenly couldn’t wait to show Brooklyn his home, to have her spirit leave its mark so the rooms never felt empty again. He wanted memories with her—billions of them. And he knew, deep down, that each one would be sweeter than the last.

  Epilogue

  Brooklyn

  1 Year Later

  “Can I look?” Brooklyn brought her fingers up to the blindfold, ready to rip it off.

  Asher chuckled. “Not yet, love. Just a few more steps.”

  The smell of damp soil and moist tree leaves filled her senses, but it was Asher’s strong hand in hers that drew most of her attention. He had the habit of doing that.

  For the last year, he’d worked tirelessly on the Mountain Cove during the day. Their evenings were spent together, participating in whatever celebration Eureka Springs supported that weekend: hiking, paddleboarding, or working the shop if things were busy. Asher could make a mean batch of brownies and was the only billionaire she knew with a food handler’s permit.

  They walked a few more steps, the land sloping gently down, before he stopped her. Going behind, he turned her to face the side and reached for the blindfold. “Are you ready?”

  His breath was warm on her neck and sent goose bumps over her skin. “Yes,” she replied, all breathy. She couldn’t help it; this man took her breath away with a look. Being this close sent her into heart palpitations.

  The blindfold fell away, and she blinked against the setting sunlight. When her vision cleared, there was a mailbox built to look like a tiny Sweet Shoppe. “It’s so cute.” She bent down and opened it. Inside was a small leather box. She gasped, her body freezing in place. Was that a …?

  Asher took the box out and got down on one knee. “Brooklyn Triggs, you make the world—my world—a sweeter place. Would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?” He cracked open the box to reveal an engagement set with a wide gold band and a solitaire diamond.

  Tears sprang to her eyes. “Yes!” She pulled him to his feet and kissed him for all she was worth. He responded quickly, and they tangled until the sun went down and the crickets came out.

  When they had to breathe properly, they pulled apart.

  Asher grinned. “Wanna see the best part?”

  “I thought this was the best part,” she replied as she nipped at his bottom lip.

  He moaned in pleasure. “Stop, or you’re never going to see the rest of your surprise.”

  “There’s more?” she asked, astonished. “Like a diamond ring isn’t a big enough surprise?”

  He laughed. “Just wait.” He used his phone flashlight to illuminate the side of the mailbox.

  She craned her head and squinted. “Mr. and Mrs. Lockmore. Wait—what?!”

  He suddenly turned shy. “I may have built you a house.”

  “What!” she shrieked again, grabbing his arm and shaking it. “Tell me you’re kidding.” She laughed even as she said it, because the truth shone in his eyes. Pieces of the last year clicked into place. He’d shown her magazine pictures, asked her opinion on bathroom fixtures all under the guise of gathering information for his job.

  “I’m not kidding. Lot 21 is ours.”

  She threw herself into his arms once more. “I love it.”

  “You haven’t seen it.”

  “Doesn’t matter. It’s a home with you in it.”

  “Are you ready to add our names to the Sweetheart Tree?”

  Her heart warmed at the thought. She knew just where she wanted to carve a heart: right below where Grandma and Thomas had carved theirs six months ago. “I can’t wait.”

  “Me neither. I love you, Brooklyn.” She’d seen that look of pure love so many times over the last year that any doubts she’d had about him had disappeared.

  He really was the best of men—honest and true. And she didn’t think she could love him any more than she did at that moment.

  Then again, maybe she could. After all, they had a lifetime of moments ahead of them.

  * * *

  Don’t leave the Mountain Cove just yet!

  Pick up the next romance by clicking here. Or keep reading for a sneak peak.

  * * *

  The Matchmaker's Billionaire

  Chapter 1: Grant

  “Cruise!” A woman at the front of the crowd screamed and waved her hands. “Cruise Donnelly!”

  Grant Robbins smiled to himself, standing back as she jumped up and down, doing her best to get the attention of the actor who played Cruise Donnelly in all the films. Hearing someone yell Grant’s character’s name as if he were a real person never got old.

  Grant looked around him, soaking it all in—the crowd looking to spot celebrities, the camera crews and reporters, the red carpet. With every movie release, new premieres became more of a big deal, and at number five in the series, fan support for the Cruise Donnelly franchise was skyrocketing. Being the creator behind it all felt amazing. Not bad for a nobody kid growing up in Arkansas.

  In the melee of the crowd, the woman fell forward but steadied herself with a stanchion post. She tossed her thick curls over her shoulder and waved both arms again as if there hadn’t been an interruption. “Cruise Donnelly!”

  In front of him on the red carpet, Gavin Stone’s chest rose and fell in a small sigh before he turned his billion-dollar smile to dazzle her. Exactly what his fan had been gunning for, of course.

  While Gavin was the face of Cruise Donnelly, Grant was the mastermind behind him. Grant was the one behind the computer, dreaming up scenarios where the international spy risked everything to rescue the innocent and save the world from terrorists and subversive regimes. But Grant didn’t mind sharing the fame with Gavin. The guy was the perfect actor for the role.

  “Can we get a shot of the cast?” a photographer in front of them requested. Flicking his fingers, he positioned the top-billed actors to stand in front of the billboard-size Trouble Entendre movie poster.

  Taking the hint, Grant slowed his step and guided his date—Cami was it? He couldn’t remember—to the side and out of the picture. She huffed her displeasure and glared toward the cameraman, and Grant almost laughed. He had no idea what color his date’s eyes were, but at the moment, he was willing to bet they were green with envy.

  Tossing her head, Candi leaned toward him. “Shouldn’t you be in the picture?” Her earrings swung forward and knocked him in the cheek as she hissed into his ear. “You’re the author after all!”

  “We’ll be next.” He was perfectly happy being on this side of the camera when it came down to it, and was used to the routine. She, however, had never been on this side of the stanchions for a movie premiere, so he excused her confusion.

  “Everyone stay where you are,” the photographer directed, “and let’s add the director, the producers, and the scriptwriter.”

  Grant suffered through a few rounds of photos without his date, but as soon as she was invited to join in a few shots, she perked up. Especially when she was sandwiched between Grant and Gavin. She clung to the actor like she was about to fall into a chasm that had suddenly opened up between her and Grant. That was fine. He’d never met—Caitlyn?—before she’d stepped into the limo for tonight’s showing, and other than the photos that would be online forever, he’d never see her again.

  A few minutes later they were in their theater seats. When the house lights dimmed, instead of the audience falling silent, applause erupted, the sound muffled only by the explosion of an airplane in the opening scene. Grant settled into the cushy velvet seats, ready to see his imaginary world come to life on the big screen.

  “Do you think you can introduce me to him?” Cali’s whisper was an annoyance off to his right. With the film’s action amping up, he opted
to pretend he hadn’t heard her, but after a moment, she repeated herself, louder. “After the movie, could you introduce me to Gavin Stone—or don’t you know him?”

  Grant set his jaw against her taunt. Knowing she was an emerging actress, he’d planned to introduce her to both Gavin and the director, Oliver Nguyen, at the cast party that night, but her entitled attitude soured him on it. He shifted in his seat, leaning away from her and ended up pulling on the too-fluffy skirt of the woman on his other side. Apologizing as she pulled it out from under him, Grant took in the movie theater full of people dressed in tuxes and ball gowns. Though he understood wanting to celebrate several months’ worth of work, it was a rather odd practice when he thought about it. This movie and its release was an important accomplishment in his life as well as to many others in the audience, yet it all seemed so . . . fake. So staged. And it was. The grandiose spectacle of a premiere was part of making the release successful, but in that moment, the urge to leave LA, to escape to his new retreat in Arkansas, struck with such force, he couldn’t push it away.

  He pulled his phone from his breast pocket. I need a break, Grant texted to his cousin and personal assistant, Annalise.

  The movie screen lit up again with a smattering of bullets and an explosion brighter than his phone and his pulse beat accelerated with it. The adrenaline coursing through him had little to do with Cruise barely escaping the fireball and everything to do with seeing this book on the big screen for the first time. Even after the huge success he’d become, Grant still worried every time a book launched or a movie released that this would be the one to flop. Not that he shared that insecurity with anyone. No, he was Grantham Robbins, New York Times bestseller, known worldwide for his spy thrillers, and quickly approaching a JK Rowling-net worth—not that he judged success by any of those standards. Maybe that was the source of his fear. If money, status, and fame didn’t prove his success, what did?

  Please have the plane on standby and alert Mrs. Hodges to get Dawnwell ready? He’d named the house he had yet to see in person, though it was finally move-in ready. At a dirty look from his date, he quickly tapped one last text to Annalise. I’d like to leave as soon as the premiere is over. Thanks. He slipped the phone into the jacket pocket of his tux under Casey’s hardened glare.

  Apparently, even the writer-slash-screenwriter didn’t get a pass when it came to movie etiquette. At least not when he barely knew his date, and really, had no desire to get to know her. She’d been there at his agent’s insistence, and more for looks on the red carpet coming in than anything else. He could see the tabloids now, Grantham Robbins with another beautiful up-and-coming actress on his arm who wouldn’t last the week. It was a good thing the women he was seen with understood that being together provided mutual benefits and romance was off the table. No one seemed to realize how difficult it was to have their first date splashed across the gossip sites. Celebrity dating wasn’t for wimps, and he was ready to give it up completely. It just wasn’t worth it.

  Leaving LA for Eureka Springs, though, had been worth every questioning look and shake of the head as he’d made his excuses to skip the after-party with the producers, director, and actors. In the theater lobby after the showing, he’d given sincere congratulations and compliments to the cast and crew, but he had no desire to stick around.

  The film would be a success, and it pleased him. The good reviews, news stories, and star interviews, over the next couple of weeks would be nice, but somehow, this time, all he wanted was a break. He’d pushed so hard for so long, he needed a chance to recover or he wouldn’t have the mental energy to finish the next Cruise Donnelly book. The story percolated in the back of his mind, and the beautiful woods of Arkansas was going to be the perfect retreat to get his writing done.

  We hope you enjoyed this sneak peak.

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  Now Available from Bestselling and Award-Winning Author Lucy McConnell

  Read on to discover more sweet romances from

  bestselling author Lucy McConnell.

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  About the Author

  Lucy McConnell has always been a reader and a writer. She writes fantasy, clean romance, Christian romance, historical fiction, and cookbooks under the name Christina Dymock.

  When she’s not writing, you can find her volunteering at the elementary school or the church; shuttling kids to baseball, soccer, basketball, or rodeo, depending on the time of year; skiing with her family; wake boarding; cycling; or curled up with a good book.

  You can sign up for her newsletter by clicking here and can check out here website here: http://lucymcconnell.wordpress.com/