The Billionaires Club- The Complete Series

by Leslie North

“He openly and freely talked about his lack of free time. How he could barely get one day off per year—one day per year, Geri. That doesn’t sound like he’s in any position to have a girlfriend. Not one he’d actually spend time with, anyway.”

  “But leaving without talking to him about it? Like, actually opening up to him and hearing his side and hashing things out? You were only ever shooting yourself in the foot.”

  Jackie’s pout deepened. “I wasn’t shooting myself in the foot. I was protecting myself.”

  “Were you protecting yourself? Or were you really just punishing yourself?”

  Silence settled between them as Jackie mulled over her best friend’s words. Jackie finally sighed, feeling the clarity of her friend’s perspective settling over her. “You know I hate it when you make too much sense.”

  Geri laughed, squeezing her friend’s arm. “It’s because I love you. I want you to be happy. And every time we’ve met up or gone for coffee this past month, you’re still moping.”

  “I’m not moping—” Jackie started, but then cut herself off when she noticed that hard look from Geri returning. “I was moping a little.”

  “You should talk to him. At least text him from your new number so he has it.”

  Jackie sighed. “I don’t know. We’ll see.”

  The friends chatted for a little while longer before Jackie scooped up her mail and headed back to her car. Now it was time to head to her newest assignment—back to Marin. It was a quick little house-sitting gig that had cropped up earlier that day. And good timing, too, since the family with the dog named Henry’s assignment got cut short.

  She punched in the address to the new assignment in her GPS and got moving. Geri’s words haunted her the whole way there.

  Because she was right. Jackie’s defense mechanism—pull away before anyone could hurt her first—toed the line with self-punishment. Instead of taking a risk and diving into something that might be worthwhile and fulfilling, she’d chosen to just end it herself to avoid the threat of hurt or rejection. To just punish herself by closing herself off to the chance of anything, good or bad.

  Is that really how you want to start the next chapter of your life?

  It was a thought that kept returning to her ever since the wedding. Now that she was less than a year away from graduating and beginning her long-sought-after career, it stood to reason that other things in her life should begin clicking into place.

  But she wasn’t going to be obtaining new results if she didn’t try new things. And ditching Daniel on the last day of the wedding, well…that was just one more example of how she tried to protect her heart. She’d been battered enough by growing up in the system. Wasn’t that enough?

  She gripped the steering wheel of her car as she drove back to Marin, the cycling thoughts making her teeth clench.

  As far as she saw it, she had two options: she could continue to do things as she’d always done—close off, shut down, run away—or she could take a risk on something new.

  Choosing college and an eventual career—that had been a big risk. And it was working out. She was succeeding.

  So maybe her love life deserved the same risk-taking.

  Just this once.

  By the time she arrived to the new assignment—after a little bit of circling the wrong block—she had made her decision. She wanted to reach out to Daniel. And if it meant she had to show up at his penthouse and stand by the front door until he came home? She’d do it. Even if that meant waiting for days. Possibly weeks.

  She just needed to try. To let him know that she had acted out of fear, instead of the love that she felt for him. To apologize, if nothing else.

  On her way up to the front door of the cute little townhouse, she paused to really look at the place. The house was actually slate gray, an uncommon color but she loved it. Dark mulching made interesting flowers and bushes pop. She’d been to so many houses and slept in so many strangers’ spaces, but she could say one thing for certain: if she had her pick of places? This one might be at the top of her list.

  She scrolled through her phone to find the check-in instructions. She found the key card under the hollow frog in the landscape, next to the ivy climbing a trellis, and then swiped herself in.

  But the second she stepped inside, she knew something was wrong. For starters, her footsteps echoed.

  The house was entirely empty.

  “Shit,” she said, fumbling to find her phone. This had to be a mistake…though it couldn’t be. She’d followed the instructions. She was in the right house. Why was there nothing here?

  She checked the email again, stepped outside to verify that she was indeed at the right house number on the right street, and then walked back inside, heading cautiously down the main hallway. Maybe they just don’t have any furniture in the living room. Maybe the rest of the house is furnished.

  The story was the same in the kitchen. And as she poked her head around the corner to look into the dining room, she gasped.

  Someone was in here. Someone tall, with dark blond hair that had grown a little longer at the edges, hands shoved into the pockets of dark gray sweatpants as he looked out the back window into the tiny backyard.

  Jackie gasped.

  It was freaking Daniel.

  He turned slowly toward her, looking more vulnerable than she’d ever seen him. “Please don’t be mad at me for doing this.”

  Tears immediately sprang to her eyes and she shook her head. “I’m not. Not at all.”

  His throat bobbed and he watched her for a tense moment. Jackie didn’t realize she’d started crying until she tried to talk and tasted the salt of her tears. “Why are you here?”

  “I didn’t know how else to get ahold of you. So I started a new account and rented this house so I could offer you the assignment.” He paused, shaking his head. “God, that sounds like I’m a stalker.”

  She laughed in spite of the situation. “Maybe. But I was just planning on heading to your penthouse and sitting by your front door for the next week—or however long it took until you came home. So, I think we’re equally matched on the stalker front.”

  Some of the tension in his face relaxed and he took a step closer. “You were going to come to my house?”

  More tears arrived then and she nodded, unsure if she wanted to faint or sob for a full hour from how fucking good it felt to see him again. She’d missed him so much more than she’d allowed herself to fathom. And that should be all the sign she needed.

  “God, that makes me so happy to hear.” He paused, a few steps away from her, his fingers twitching. She wasn’t sure how to bridge the distance between them. She owed him so many apologies. So many conversations.

  “I’m sorry,” she blurted, “for everything.”

  Daniel closed the gap between them and scooped her into his embrace. His strong arms went around her, squeezing away the last vestiges of confusion and pain. Now, these tears were born from relief. From happiness. From the possibility of building something with Daniel at her side.

  “I’m sorry too,” he murmured, slowly swaying back and forth with her. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize sooner that I hated my life. But I guess that’s why meeting you was the best thing that happened to me.”

  She propped her chin on his chest, looking up at him, drinking him in after all this time away. “So what has changed since I saw you?”

  He hefted with a laugh. “Oh, only everything. I quit my job.”

  She gasped so hard it echoed. “Are you serious?”

  His grin went ear-to-ear. “Yep. I’m officially self-employed now as a business consultant. I make my own hours. I work from home. Lowest stress levels I’ve ever had. Sounded like a pretty good time to make things right with this girl I met in my bathroom a month and a half ago.”

  Laughter cascaded out of her. God, the pieces weren’t just coming together, they were melting into the most gorgeous image she’d never thought possible. “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah. Not sure
if you’re still looking for someone to go to puppy cafés with, but I’m available if you need someone.”

  Tears filled her eyes again, and he swiped a few away with the pad of his thumb.

  “I love you, Daniel,” she whispered. “I wanted to tell you at the wedding, but I was scared. I got so scared and I ran away.”

  “I know, princess.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I was scared too. And that’s why I didn’t change things right away. But look at us. This is meant to be. Because I love you too.”

  Jackie pushed up onto her tiptoes and their lips found each other’s. Kissing him again was like coming home, in the realest and deepest sense she’d ever known. Because he’d felt like home to her since day one. Since before she’d even met him, there was something about his house and his energy that she’d connected with.

  And really, the signs had been there all along. She just hadn’t known how to read them.

  “Is this our new house?” she asked, half-joking.

  “If you want it to be.” Daniel snagged another kiss from her lips before continuing.

  “I love the wood floors and all the sunlight in here,” she whispered. “But really, I want to be where you are. Because you’ve always felt like home.”

  Daniel pressed his forehead to hers. “You trying to make me cry?”

  “Maybe a little,” she said with a laugh.

  His blue gaze danced across her face. “I love you, Jackie. Let’s make a home together. I want to be with you for as long as you’ll stand me.”

  Her cheeks hurt from smiling. She threw her arms around his neck, every inch of her body vibrating with bliss. “Sounds like you’ve still got your negotiation skills. How can I say no to that?”

  Daniel squeezed her tight enough to pick her up off the floor, covering her mouth with his.

  Finally, the risk of letting someone in was worth what might happen afterward.

  Because even if this ended someday or left her broken, her life was better for opening up and taking a chance.

  True love was worth it.

  Epilogue

  SIX MONTHS LATER

  “Henry! Henry! No more crotch sniffing!”

  Jackie covered her face with her hands as her dog refused to unbury his snout from between the legs of the complete stranger at a nearby table. She and Daniel had come here with the newest member of their family—a golden retriever they’d named Henry, naturally—because it was their favorite outdoor cafe, based on both dog inclusivity and tastiness of menu.

  Daniel managed to lure Henry away from the unsuspecting table of diners, offering his heartfelt apologies. Once he managed to get Henry back to their table of six, Daniel broke out into laughter.

  “He’s a teenager, what do you expect,” Daniel said.

  “I didn’t sniff crotches when I was a teenager,” Jackie said, unable to prevent herself from planting kisses on top of Henry’s adorable head.

  “I sure did. And I’m about to do it again tonight,” he said, waggling his brows at Jackie.

  She laughed, swatting at his arm with the laminated menu in her hand. “Stop it. Look, there’s Mila and Grayson and the baby! They’re coming over.”

  Jackie and Daniel waved as the new family of three wound between tables toward them. Grayson had their son, Ethan, strapped to his chest in a baby carrier, which was Jackie’s favorite part of Grayson’s transition into fatherhood.

  “Hey, guys!” Mila held out her arms for a hug as she approached Jackie. When Grayson came over, she planted a kiss on top of Ethan’s head and then hugged them both.

  “So good to see you guys again. I feel like it’s been longer, but it was just last month,” Mila said as she helped take Ethan out of the baby carrier so Grayson could sit down.

  “Now, I’m happy to report we can meet up more,” Jackie said. “My thesis might have almost killed me, but it’s done!”

  Grayson clapped his hands. “That’s what I like to hear! We need a round of beers to celebrate.”

  Daniel rubbed at her back, smiling down at them. “Go on. Tell them the real reason we’re here today.”

  Jackie paused, feeling a blush creep into her neck. “What, like graduating with my master’s isn’t reason enough?”

  “Go on,” Daniel urged.

  Mila and Grayson’s eyes went wide and she could almost see the word ‘engagement’ dangling unspoken between them.

  “I already have a job offer,” Jackie said, unable to fight the grin. “I signed the papers last week. I start next month.”

  Mila and Grayson gasped.

  “That’s incredible!” Grayson said.

  “Yaaaay, Jackie!” Mila said, making baby Ethan clap his hands too.

  “Hey, hey, what did I miss?”

  Jackie turned at the new voice, finding Blake approaching the table.

  “Oh, look, it’s ‘A Bit Late Blake,’ finally making his appearance!”

  Now that Daniel had formally dropped the ‘Delayed’ part of his nickname, it had become his mission to tease Blake about his own tardiness. Jackie loved watching the ways in which Daniel’s friendship had grown since changing his life around. Not that it wasn’t strong before, but now, the three of them gelled even deeper—and definitely more often.

  Meanwhile, Jackie had given Daniel a new nickname: she had begun calling him ‘Dashing Daniel’—a reference to how gorgeous he was, of course, but also a nod to how willing and attentive he was to their lives together. He was willing to race toward their future, and do anything necessary so that they could both lead fulfilling lives, which made him more gorgeous than ever in her eyes.

  “Everyone was clapping, I thought you were just excited to see me,” Blake teased, leaning down to kiss Mila and Jackie on the cheeks. He clapped Daniel and Grayson’s backs before settling into the open chair waiting for him.

  “Jackie had some news,” Daniel prompted again.

  “I’m finally done with school, and I’m about to have my first-ever well-paying big girl job,” she said with a huge smile.

  “Hell yes, Jackie! God, these guys are lucky they found women like you and Mila to balance them out. Fashionista entrepreneur over here. Now a selfless, heart-of-gold life changer.”

  “Just makes us wonder who you’re going to find,” Grayson said.

  “Probably nobody,” Blake said.

  “Oh, please. Now you sound like me last year,” Daniel said.

  “I’m really proud of you, Jackie,” Blake said, ignoring Daniel’s comment and leveling her with his gaze. “You’re a bad ass, you know that?”

  Jackie giggled, feeling her cheeks heat up. This group of friends…god, they felt so right and natural in her life. The perfect extension of the solid friend base that she already had. Because their groups were beginning to blend. Mila and Geri had already met and the three of them had gotten coffee, hitting it off right away. And Jackie had tagged along with Mila and Lainey to an art movie opening—one of the better nights she’d had out and about in San Francisco.

  “You’re very sweet,” Jackie said. “So sweet that I’m sure it won’t be long before you find the lady of your dreams.”

  “Let’s see. If Jackie and I fell in love during Mila and Grayson’s wedding,” Daniel began, “then that means that Blake will fall in love with someone during our wedding.”

  Jackie laughed. “I mean, that sounds logical. Except for the part where we haven’t even planned a wedding.”

  “Right.” Daniel leaned in closer, and added in a lower voice, “So let’s change that.”

  Jackie’s eyes widened as Daniel fished something out of his pocket and pushed his chair back. Slowly, he sank down onto one knee at her side, holding out a sparkling white gold engagement ring. She gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

  “Henry and I,” Daniel began, scooping their dog against his side, “have been talking, and we both thought that since you’re formally done with school and about to begin your career, now would be the perfect time to admit how m
uch I want to marry your beautiful pixie butt.”

  Laughter rippled out of her, tears already blurring her vision. “Oh, my God. Is this for real?”

  “It’s so for real. Because what we have is the realest. I’ve never been with anyone like you before, princess. You wake me up. You make me look forward to every single day by your side. And I want to spend the rest of our lives together, loving everything about you, loving everything about us. Will you marry me?”

  A muffled sob escaped her and she nodded, falling forward to wrap her arms around his neck. “Yes, Daniel. Of course. Of course I’ll marry you. You’re the only one I would consider forever with.”

  Applause erupted around them—not only their table of friends but the tables nearby, too. Jackie wiped away a tear as Daniel eased the ring onto her finger.

  “It’s so beautiful,” she whispered.

  “Not even a fraction as beautiful as you are,” he whispered into her ear, bringing her knuckles to his lips. “My princess.”

  “My dashing Daniel,” she whispered.

  End of The Billionaire’s Pretend Girlfriend

  The Billionaires Club Book Two

  Blurb

  For all of his life, billionaire Blake Harrison has firmly believed the route to happiness was keeping his heart free. But after seeing two of his best friends fall hard for women, he’s starting to second guess himself. The problem is, if he can’t get past the second date with a woman, how can he possibly consider settling down? Jokingly, his buddies bet him he can’t go out with the same woman five times. When he gets beaned in the head with a baseball at his team’s practice field, trainer Michelle Stewart is the one to patch him up. His buddies immediately set their sights on the beautiful trainer. She’s the one, they agree. And after a few dates, Blake begins to wonder if she really is…

  Sure, Michelle is attracted to Blake. He’s sweet and charming and the hottest guy she’s ever dated. But if she’s attracted to him, it’s got to mean he’s wrong for her. For one thing, she works for him. For another, she has a rotten track record when it comes to men, and it’s better if she just steers clear of charming, hot guys. Besides, she has to think about her daughter Mollie and what’s best for her, too. Even though her mind is telling her no, her heart is shouting that Blake is a big yes. The problem is, listening to her heart has always gotten Michelle into trouble. Could it be possible that her heart is finally telling her the truth? Or is Blake just too big a risk?