by Eliza Boyd
Maxwell swiped a hand over the hair on his face. “Because I’ve been in that situation before. He was instrumental in helping me end things with Emily. I was so caught up in that that I didn’t know what to believe.”
At that, she rushed to her feet and pointed to the door. “And that’s the problem. If you can’t believe me, then why are you here?”
He stood too, rising more slowly than she had. “Because I finally realized I could believe myself. Maybe it’s too late now, but I believe I can trust my gut, and my gut tells me to believe you.”
Her breath became shallow as his words sank in. “Why didn’t you do that in the first place?”
Taking a step toward her, he said, “You didn’t let me in. You were going to—I know that. But I let the outside noise cloud my judgment before I could hear you out. And then I said things I can’t take back. Things I can’t believe I said to you and promise I will never say again. So I flew back to the state I swore I’d never set foot in again in the hope that you’d give me one more chance.” With the last word, he reached a hand toward her, holding it there with hope shining in his eyes. “Will you give me one more chance? I promise I won’t spend a dime as I make it up to you.”
Alexis made him stand there and wait it out as she thought it through. Heather had said something similar to her—that she should have been honest and open from the get-go. She hadn’t wanted to though. Mostly because she’d been afraid of judgment and making the same mistakes. Instead, it’d led to a different kind of mistake. The kind that could have cost her everything.
Swallowing thickly, she reluctantly took his hand. His mouth formed a full-blown megawatt smile when her skin touched his, and his sharp intake of breath revealed his shock. Almost too tightly, he gripped her fingers as if he were afraid she’d change her mind.
But then he did.
“Wait,” he said, releasing his death grip on her hand. “Before you agree to letting me apologize, I need to tell you the truth too.”
Her head jerked back as she wondered what he could possibly be talking about.
“I’m not a millionaire like you think I am,” he said, confusing her even more.
“Because you’ve spent all your money on planes and homes all over the US?” she asked. Then she sucked in a breath. “Or did you already buy that resort in Hawaii?”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “No, not yet, but I did make up my mind on that.”
“And?”
“And that’s not part of my truth right now,” he answered cryptically. “But no, I haven’t spent all of my money.”
“Then…” She narrowed her eyes, putting her free hand on her hip. “You’re a multimillionaire?”
“Ehh.” He swayed his head back and forth. “Technically?” He lifted one shoulder, the word coming out like a question.
The crease in her brow deepened before her entire expression fell. In a quiet, curious voice, she said, “Billionaire?” Her chin dipped toward her chest and she peered up at him, anxiously awaiting the answer to something she thought was impossible.
Yet his affirmative nod came anyway. “Bingo.”
She gulped. “No wonder money is the answer to all of your problems.”
Maxwell tugged her closer until she was flush against him. Then he slipped his other hand behind her back to hold her there. When she gazed up into his eyes, he said in a serious tone, “Not all of them. I can’t pay my way out of what I said to you.”
Gently, she shook her head. “No, you can’t.” But her heart beat quickly from being this close to him. In his arms again, she felt something she’d never felt, not even once, with Gabe. She couldn’t deny that. “So, what are you going to do?”
He took a deep breath, settling his hands behind her low back. “Well, first, I’m going to say no to the resort in Vermont.”
Her eyes flashed wide as she moved her head back to get a better view of his face. “What? Why?”
“Because you were right,” he said. “I was buying things to avoid what was really going on in my life. So I’m also going to work on that.”
“Huh.” She was impressed. He could apologize and admit she’d been right. “What else?”
“Then I’m going to apologize to you again. And again and again until you forgive me.”
The smile that curled her lips couldn’t have been helped. “Really?”
“Yes.” He released one hand from behind her back and used it to tip her chin up. “Because, lastly, I’m going to tell the woman in front of me the truth: that I love her and I’m hers for more than a week, for more than just business.” He punctuated that with, “If she’ll have me.”
Alexis’s heart stuttered as she fumbled for what to say. Despite the cold weather outside, her whole body warmed up at the thought of Maxwell loving her. It felt crazy and too soon, but she’d been his from the moment she’d said she was, even if she’d meant it professionally.
Yet she had some doubts. Major ones.
“Maxwell, I have no idea how this will work,” she admitted. “You live in California and I live in a state you can’t stand. I have no money and you have billions. I need a job and you don’t need a girlfriend who doesn’t have her life in order.”
A heart-stopping smirk graced his lips. “Then I think you need to warm up to the idea of my money being the solution to the problems we’re facing.”
That made her giggle. “Touché.”
He wrapped her back up in his arms. “Does that mean you want to figure out how to make it work? Because I’m all for that.”
Pursing her lips, she stared up at him. Was that what she wanted? Did they need a clear plan? He loved her. He was sorry. And she was too.
Nodding, she said, “Yes. I’ve been yours since the moment I said was. I thought I meant it professionally, but…” With one shoulder, she shrugged and grinned up at him. “I guess not.”
“Good,” he said, a beaming smile covering his face. Then he suddenly let her go, stepped back, and extended his hand out to her. “Then let me introduce myself. I’m Maxwell King, and I’m going to be your boyfriend for the next…however long you’ll let me.”
With no one to interrupt them and nothing to stop them, she reached for his hand and pulled him closer to her, her mouth stretched into the widest smile she’d ever had. Then she pressed up onto her toes and kissed him. With his lips on hers, a warmth spread throughout her chest and extended through her whole body. She brought her hands up to his cheeks, his coarse beard scratching against her palms and tingling in a familiar way. Even though he didn’t taste like ocean saltwater this time, it still felt right. Meant to be. Perfect.
Just like with everything else, they’d figure it out. Because she was his, he was hers, and fate had randomly brought them together. What was supposed to be her honeymoon had turned into a week spent with Maxwell in paradise. It’d changed her life forever—including her perspective on money, but especially her perspective on home.
A person could have houses all over the country—all over the world, even. But home was where she felt secure. Happy. Loved. And she felt those things with Maxwell. So even though she wasn’t sure what would happen the next day, in that moment, she felt at peace. In love.
And at home.
Epilogue
Maxwell got out of the taxi first, wanting to open the door for his new bride. But when he reached her door, Jeff was already there.
“It’s your honeymoon, mister. I got it,” Jeff said. But he added more before he opened the door. “Plus, you’re not exactly safe around vehicles.”
Chuckling, Maxwell lifted his hands in the air in surrender. “It’s been two years, Jeff. I’ve had some practice.” As soon as Alexis was out of the car, he asked, “Right? I haven’t hit you with a car door since we met.”
Alexis nodded. “Jeff, the only thing this man has hit me with since we met is love.” She winked at Maxwell, pulling her long hair over one shoulder. Her white sundress floated around her legs in the ocean breeze, the sme
ll of salt tickling his nose.
That brought back so many memories. He was glad to be back in this place. With her.
Keeping true to his promise, Maxwell hadn’t spent a dime making things up to Alexis. Not even for their honeymoon. When his wife had insisted they go to the Maui Royal Resort for it, he’d wrinkled his nose. He couldn’t imagine why she’d want to go there when they could have gone anywhere in the world, like one of his homes in Rome, New Zealand, or the new one in Belize. Alexis didn’t know about that one yet, but since she hadn’t let him spend money on a wedding gift for her, he’d bought one for them.
Instead of spending a lavish amount of money on the perfect honeymoon for his perfect bride, he’d brought her to the place she’d requested to be. The place they owned. Which meant staying there was actually costing them money they could have earned. It was some kind of cosmic joke that his new wife didn’t like his money, but honestly, it worked for them.
After slipping Jeff a hundred-dollar bill, Maxwell waved goodbye to the taxi man and set their bags on the luggage rack a bellboy had brought out for them. Alexis was more sentimental than he was though and hugged the cab driver.
“We’ll let you know when we’re ready to go back to the airport,” she told him before he got back into the cab.
“See you then, missy,” he said through the rolled-down window. Then he was off.
The bellboy took their bags up to their room—the honeymoon suite—while they took a stroll down to the beach. When they were close to the incoming tide, Alexis removed her shoes and set them on the sand. He did the same, not even hesitating this time. The grin on his wife’s face was enough to spur him on.
It was July this time. The weather was warmer, but the ocean water was still cool enough against his skin to make him jump away from it the first time it licked at his toes. Alexis didn’t seem to mind though. Her green eyes sparkled as her long, brown hair whipped around her face while she jogged away from the rushing water. She looked free and happy.
It made his breath catch in his chest. He froze, his toes melting into the sand as the water receded. All he could do was watch her as his hands slipped into the pockets of his linen pants.
When she spotted him, she froze too, the happy expression on her face morphing into a curious one. “What?” she asked, sauntering over to him. “Are you sad you had to leave Phillip and Ana at home?”
Of course that wasn’t it. He didn’t mind giving his team much-deserved time off. They’d had a lot of time off recently though, as he’d been splitting his time between Malibu and Montana. He used to fly there on weekends to spent time with Alexis. Now that they were married, they’d move full time to California, where they could live together officially and hit the beach any time they wanted.
Silently, he shook his head. “No.”
She reached him, trading her curiosity for worry. “Then what’s wrong? Is everything okay?” Her hands went to his chest, resting softly. The sun glinted off the four-carat diamond ring on her left one—the one thing he hadn’t budged on when it came to spending his money on her.
“Everything’s great,” he said, getting choked up. He took her right hand in his and kissed the top of it, his own wedding band shining in the bright daylight.
“Then why do you look like you’re about to cry?”
Maxwell reached toward the top of his head for his sunglasses, but they weren’t there.
“No hiding from me, mister,” she teased, snuggling against his chest.
“That’s right.” He held her tight to him, snaking his arms around her back. He rested his chin on the top of her head and took a deep breath. “I’m just grateful. That’s all.”
Leaning back, Alexis caught his gaze. “For what?”
“For second chances,” he told his wife. “For honesty and being able to trust my instincts.” Then he tucked some of her hair behind her ear, bent forward, and touched his lips to hers. “For you.”
She wiggled her nose against his. “I love you, Mr. King.”
“And I love you, Mrs. King.” He kissed her again, never getting enough of how perfect she fit against him. How right it felt when they kissed. He was a lucky man, and he’d never forget it.
After she’d persuaded her way into this billionaire’s life, he’d had to persuade his way back into hers. He’d almost lost her once, but he wouldn’t let that happen again. Not if he could help it.
He didn’t need any of his money to be with the most perfect woman for him. He’d found her at the perfect time right there in paradise. Maybe he’d hit her with a car door, but she’d hit him with the truth. Her honesty had saved him from a lifetime spent alone, and for that, he could never repay her. His beautiful, patient, and forgiving wife deserved that and more. And he’d just vowed to spend the rest of his life trying, so he would.
Which he thought was the best way to spend anything he had.
Money? Eh. That didn’t matter as much as time spent with his wife.
And he’d make sure she knew that every single day they had together.
Forever.
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Sneak Peek of Book 4
Engaging the Billionaire
A woman desperate to take care of her father.
A billionaire in need of a wife.
And a deal neither of them can refuse.
Will Nicole and Evan stick to the plan?
Or will love get in the way?
Chapter 1
Evan Charleston glanced over his daughter’s head for only a moment, looking for the clock. He needed to know how late he was going to be to the bachelor party. It didn’t matter though. If his daughter wanted his attention, he was going to give it to her.
“And you’ll make sure Grandma knows I can stay up until nine tonight, right? It’s not a school night,” Hadley informed him in her seven-year-old grown-up voice. Her pigtails begged to differ.
He smoothed his hands over one of them, twirling the ends in his fingers. “Of course. She already knows. Just make sure you brush your teeth really well, okay?”
She nodded, her curls swaying. “I promise.”
“Thank you,” he said, opening his arms for a hug. “I’ll be back late, so I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
“Okay, Daddy.” She squeezed him back and then squirmed out of his embrace. “Hey. One more thing,” she said before she’d gotten too far away. Then she popped her hands on her hips, giving him a preview of what was to come over the next ten years.
He had to chuckle, but he also couldn’t help the thick swallow of fear. “Yeah, Had?”
“How did your meeting at Pemhall Prep go today? Did I get in?” The hope in Hadley’s eyes tugged on his heart, nearly breaking it.
The meeting hadn’t gone as expected. Not at all. No one—not even Jude—had warned him of the “strongly family-oriented society” of the school, and if he’d known, he wouldn’t have gotten his daughter’s hopes up. She was in first grade, for crying out loud. School shouldn’t have been so competitive and serious, but he wanted the best for his girl. And this was what she wanted.
Even though he had as many zeroes in his bank account as he had fingers on both hands, he hadn’t been able to buy his daughter’s way into the school.
Instead, he’d accidentally let on that he had a fiancée and their family policy wasn’t a problem for him.
Fortunately, that had pleased the headmaster. But it hadn’t pleased him. He had no fiancée to speak of. Not even anything close. Not since Hadley’s mom, who’d run out on them five years earlier. His daughter didn’t even remember her
, which made things easier in some respects. But, in others, it made things harder.
No matter what, he wouldn’t let Patty ruin their lives yet again.
Evan wouldn’t let his daughter down. “Not yet, little lady,” he told her as honestly as he could. “But I’m still working on it. Don’t you worry, okay?”
Her wide, toothy, megawatt smile hit him right in the heart. “Thanks, Daddy!”
His chest squeezed tight, and as she ran up the stairs to go to her room, he tried not to let the worry eat away at him. He had no idea what he was going to do, but he’d figure it out.
For Hadley, he’d do anything.
His mother’s voice sounded behind him. “You’re so good with her,” she said. As he turned around, she added, “I always knew you’d be a good father, but you were dealt cards I wasn’t sure you could handle.”
He hadn’t been sure he could handle them, either. Somehow, he had. And he’d continue to do so. “Thanks, Mom. And thanks for watching her tonight. You know I hate to ask you to—”
She shook her head, cutting over him. “You know I don’t mind. I live here, but I don’t feel like I get to see her enough. And I love spending time with my granddaughter.”
With a grateful warmth in his heart, he approached his mom and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Waving a dismissive hand, she said, “Don’t even worry. Stay out as long as you’d like. You’ve earned time to blow off some steam.”
“I have?”
“Of course.” She raised an eyebrow when he didn’t respond. “I know how hard you work. Your dad’s money is going to great use, but it shouldn’t be at your expense. He wouldn’t have wanted it that way.” Out of habit, perhaps, she brushed her fingers over the collar of his plaid button-down. “Go have fun. And tell Roger not to get into too much trouble.”
At that, he laughed. “I’m not the boss of Roger. Only Melody is the boss of Roger. Though he’ll get into trouble if he wants to.”
