by Liwen Ho
CRUSHING ON THE BILLIONAIRE
Billionaires with Heart Series Book 3
Liwen Y. Ho
Crushing on the Billionaire
Copyright © 2018 by Liwen Y. Ho. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Design: Victorine Originals
Interior Design: 2 Square 2 Be Hip (www.2square2behip.com)
Publisher: 2 Square 2 Be Hip (www.2square2behip.com)
First Edition
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Afterword
Acknowledgments
More Books by Liwen Y. Ho
About the Author
Dedication
For Julieann, Audrey, and Jewel, my writing partners in crime. Thanks for the word wars!
Chapter One
Devon
If there was one thing Devon Brooks feared most, it was being alone. As the youngest of three, he’d hardly had a moment of peace to himself as a kid, which was precisely how he liked it. Even now at age thirty, he worked with his brother Gabriel at the biotech company they started together and lived next door to his sister Laurene. As a new billionaire—thanks to a generous inheritance from their father—his Los Altos Hills mansion was fully staffed. In effect, he never had a chance to be by himself. Which made this vacation in Hawaii a dreadful one for him.
He’d arrived a few days ago, fully intending to spend the days snorkeling and hiking with Gabe and Laurene, not knowing they’d soon be caught up in new relationships. Gabe had flown back to Silicon Valley to be with his new girlfriend Seraphina, while Laurene was out sightseeing with her new boyfriend Noah. That left Devon sitting poolside at a golf and beach club, his only companions a glass of champagne and a book.
“Hi, handsome,” a feminine voice cooed near his ear. The woman it belonged to leaned over from the plush recliner next to his. “Whatcha reading?”
Devon smiled politely. Even though he was in need of company, the last thing he wanted was a woman who was only interested in his money. He’d noticed the pretty blonde eyeing his Patek Philippe watch and diamond Cartier ring for the past ten minutes since he’d sat down. He was surprised it took her this long to speak up. Looking over the rim of his designer shades, he replied, “Some info on the South Pacific islands.”
“Ooh! I’d love to go there someday,” she gushed. “Maybe you could be my tour guide?” She batted her long, fake lashes at him and reached over to run a hand along his forearm. “With muscles like these, you could be my bodyguard, too.”
“I assume you have a lot of assets that need protecting?” He raised his sunglasses back onto the bridge of his nose. “I could recommend someone to you. Someone much burlier than me. I’m afraid I don’t get much of a workout as a handyman.”
Disgust flickered across the woman’s face. She readily pulled her hand back from Devon’s arm and wiped her hand on the towel beneath her body. “I think I’ll be fine.” With a swift turn of her head, she began talking to the man on her other side.
Devon chuckled softly as he resumed reading. It always surprised him how much people—especially women—despised the professionals who kept their wires and pipes working. That was one reason he was glad he’d retired his toolbox five years ago. He’d been happy as a blue-collared worker who earned a decent living from good old-fashioned manual labor, but he was proud to be working in the corporate world now, helping to further cancer research. He was fortunate to be a jack-of-all-trades type of guy with interests in a variety of fields.
Right now though, his interest was solely invested in one thing—the gorgeous dark-haired woman walking toward a cabana on the other side of the pool. Her wide-brimmed hat hid her face, but there was something familiar about the way she walked. She glided along the pavement in high-heeled sandals that showed off a pair of long legs, moving with the grace of a dancer. Her cover-up revealed just enough of the gold bikini that hugged the delicate curves of her body. Devon squinted to focus on the image decorating her slender ankle. His mouth grew dry when he saw the tattoo inked in black of a single dandelion with several seeds flying above it. Could it be?
The woman sat down on a plush recliner next to a female also in her early thirties. Now in the shade, she took off her hat and set it to the side. Her bubbly laughter filled the air, brightening the whole place more than the tropical sunshine on this summer day. As soon as Devon heard it, he knew without a doubt who she was.
Kylie Martin. His old girlfriend. The only woman he had ever truly loved, if you could call a childhood crush love.
Only a few days ago, his sister Laurene had mentioned bumping into his ex on the island of Oahu. Now, here she was, looking every bit as amazing as the last time he saw her a dozen years ago.
Back at Eden Prep, Devon and his siblings had been the middle-class students attending an elite private school, thanks to some scholarships. It’d been a miracle that he had caught the attention of the most popular—and wealthiest—girl on campus. It had helped that he’d stood a head taller than the rest of the boys in their class and he’d driven a cool car, a Mitsubishi Eclipse, that he’d bought and fixed up with his own money. He had managed to impress Kylie for a year and a half—a lifetime in high school years—before she left him for the son of a millionaire.
Devon released a heavy breath. That was all in the past. He may not have been rich enough for Kylie before, but he was now. He owned multiple properties worth hundreds of millions of dollars around the world. His garages housed a dozen supercars, including the Koenigsegg Trevita he’d flown in for this vacation. He could buy an island, for crying out loud. In fact, he was just reading up on one that he was looking to purchase.
Not that he still wanted to win over Kylie Martin. He was long over her … wasn’t he? He had almost convinced himself of this before she looked over the sparkling waters of the pool and spotted him. Their gazes locked, and Devon’s body immediately heated. His heart raced as Kylie cocked her head, studying him. The shock on her face soon gave way to a surprised smile. She recognized him.
In that instant, Devon knew he was a goner. Old memories of their time together surfaced in his mind, along with joy in his heart. Kylie had been so many of his firsts—first date, first girlfriend, first kiss. Being the hopeless romantic that he was, he’d always held a special place for her in his heart. Perhaps that’s why he’d never found another woman to rival her.
This chance meeting couldn’t have come at a better time. With the palm trees swaying above and the roar of the ocean behind them, this was the perfect place for a second chance at love. Devon rose from his seat and grabbed two glasses of champagne from a server walking by. With a bright smile, h
e strode around the pool to Kylie’s cabana. If things worked out the way he hoped, he wouldn’t be spending the rest of this vacation alone.
Chapter Two
Kylie
Kylie Martin gripped the cushion of her recliner to keep herself upright. If her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her, the last man she ever imagined—or desired—running into on the Big Island was walking toward her right now.
She let out a soft gasp, her heart pounding with each one of his steps. Time had been good, oh-so good to Devon Brooks. He’d been cute in high school, but he was now the very definition of smoking hot. His unbuttoned white linen shirt revealed a well-defined chest and taut abs that seemed to glisten in the sunlight.
He seemed like a photoshopped image walking off the pages of GQ, but Devon was very much a real man. The tenderness and hope on his face made her stomach drop—and not in a good way. Kylie wished she could hide or become invisible. She’d be so ashamed if he knew the type of person she’d become.
“Who is that hunk of a man?” Kylie’s friend, Tabitha, drawled in a southern accent as she peered over the rim of her sunglasses. Her curly blonde hair swung around her shoulders as she leaned forward in her seat. She twisted her petite body to face Kylie, her jaw dropped. “Is he looking at you, Ky? I think he is! And he’s walking this way! Whatever could he want with us?”
Kylie bit her bottom lip as she flipped her long straight hair over her shoulder. She pulled her sheer cover-up over her body, trying in vain to conceal herself. So much for wanting to show off the bikini she’d splurged on for this trip. She also kissed goodbye to enjoying her one day off from work. There was no relaxing now, especially with the barrage of questions Tabitha was shooting her way. “We were classmates once upon a time.”
“Are you sure you weren’t more? Because the way he’s looking at you sure says otherwise.”
“We did date, but we were just kids. I haven’t seen him since high school.” Kylie shot Tabitha a pleading look. “He doesn’t know about my family, and I’d like to keep it that way. Please.”
Tabitha’s blue eyes widened. “Of course. Mum’s the word. I won’t say a thing about why we’re here. We’re just two girlfriends on vacation together.”
“Thanks,” Kylie managed to reply as a rich baritone voice greeted them with a smooth hello. She glanced up, and up some more, until her gaze locked with a pair of familiar hazel eyes. “Devon? Fancy meeting you here.”
“Laurene mentioned she ran into you the other day. I was hoping our paths would cross as well. You can imagine my surprise when I saw you.” He handed her a glass of champagne then gave the other one to Tabitha. He flashed a friendly smile and introduced himself. “Hi, I’m Devon Brooks, an old friend of Kylie’s. And you are?”
Tabitha offered her hand, which Devon promptly graced with a kiss. “I’m Tabitha, but you can call me Tabby. Aren’t you a gentleman, giving me your glass of champagne?”
“It wouldn’t be right to let a lovely woman go thirsty in this heat.”
“You sure are sweet. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Devon.” She turned to Kylie with a raised brow. “Aren’t you going to give your old friend a hug? That’s what we do in the south.”
Kylie tried to keep her cool, but her cheeks felt like they were on fire. “You know I’m a California girl through and through,” she replied with gritted teeth.
“Come on, Ky. We ought to keep to tradition.” Devon winked at her, causing the flurry of butterflies in her stomach to take wing.
“I suppose we should.” She set her glass on a side table and stood up. Even with her heels on, she only came up to Devon’s shoulders.
He stepped forward and wrapped his muscular arms around her, not bothering to wait for her to initiate. “It’s so good to see you. You look amazing.”
“Th-thanks.” Kylie could hardly think, much less speak. Devon’s embrace was so strong and warm, offering her a level of comfort she hadn’t felt in a very long time. How could he be so gentle and kind to her after she’d dumped him in high school? A lump formed in her throat as she reflected on her regrets.
He was too good for her then, and he was too good for her now. She took a deep breath to clear her thoughts but ended up getting a whiff of Devon’s spicy cologne. Oh, he smelled amazing. Her heart skipped a beat, confirming how easily she could fall for him again. If only the circumstances were different … but they weren’t. Loosening her hold, she replied, “You look great yourself. I can’t believe how tall you’ve gotten. Did you end up playing basketball in college?”
He held her for another second before letting go. When he pulled back, he stood close with barely a foot between them. “I did, but I messed up my knee sophomore year. It was the end of the road for me then.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I know how much you wanted to play professionally.”
He shrugged. “It’s all right. Life had other plans for me. I’m happy where I am. How about you? Let me guess, you’re a dancer now or maybe an artist? You were always so creative.”
Frowning, Kylie shook her head. She hated being reminded of how she’d had to give up on her dreams. “Things didn’t work out the way I’d hoped either.” She also hated the pity she saw on Devon’s face. She recognized that look all too well. “It’s fine; it just wasn’t in the cards for me. Anyhow, I don’t want to bore you with the details. I’m sure you came to this beautiful place to escape reality.” She pasted a smile on her face and injected some enthusiasm into her next words. “Thank you for the champagne and for stopping by to say hi. It was nice to see you again after all these years.”
Before Devon could reply, Tabitha jumped off her recliner, taking her beach towel with her. “You know what, I’m going to do some sunbathing over there—” she pointed to the other end of the pool “—you know, in the sun, since that’s what sunbathing entails,” she added with chagrin. “You go ahead and take my seat, Devon. Stay as long as you like.”
“Tabby!” Kylie softened her next words when she realized how loudly she was talking. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay in the shade? You burn so easily.” If Tabitha didn’t pick up on her insistent tone, she would surely notice her pleading eyes. Or not. Kylie watched her friend wave goodbye and saunter away with a mischievous grin. Oh, she was going to give her an earful later. But now, she had a more pressing problem to deal with.
Devon studied her with a curious yet amused expression. He glanced at the empty seat beside her and remarked, “If you’d prefer to be alone, I understand. But I was hoping for some company. My siblings abandoned me for their significant others, so I’ve been spending my time in paradise all alone. You know how much I hate being by myself,” he added with an exaggerated pout.
Kylie couldn’t help but smile. Devon had always been a social butterfly back in high school. His confidence and likability made him stand out in a crowd and captured her—as well as their female classmates’—attention. It seemed times hadn’t changed. She noticed several women around them glancing his way. But crazily enough, Devon only had eyes for her. She’d be a fool to tell him no. She also had to admit a part of her wanted to reconnect with him, to know how he was doing. As her first boyfriend, Devon had always held a special place in her heart.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. “Sure, have a seat.”
His full lips curved into a wide grin, revealing a boyish side. He quickly plopped down on the recliner beside her, lacing his hands behind his head. “Great! So, tell me all about what you’ve been up to since graduation.”
Kylie cringed. This was what she’d been afraid of. What would Devon think of her now if he knew her family had lost all their money and she’d only been able to come on this trip because of her job?
Chapter Three
Devon
Talking with Kylie made Devon feel like a teenager again. He felt happy and light, without a care in the world. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this attracted to a woman, physically and emotionally. There was a level of
comfort he had with Kylie that made being near her feel like home. He wondered though if she felt the same. She hadn’t touched her glass of champagne since setting it down, and now her cheeks were bright red. Devon gave her a reassuring smile. “Sorry to put you on the spot like that. I can go first.”
“Sure,” she replied with a relieved smile. “I’d like to hear what you’ve been up to. It looks like you’re doing well for yourself.”
“I am. We all are, in fact.” He sat up on his recliner and turned to face her. The interested look on her face encouraged him to speak, causing his words to flow like the waterfall overlooking the pool. “You know how I always liked to tinker with things when I was a kid? I took those skills, borrowed some money from my parents, and started my own business right out of college. I contracted with a couple of apartment complexes and got some steady work. It wasn’t much in terms of pay, but I enjoyed it.”
“That’s great, Devon. You always were good with your hands.” Her gaze wandered to his long fingers and traveled up the length of his arm, finally resting on his chest. She blinked quickly, her cheeks flushing, before lifting her eyes. “So you’re a small business owner. That must keep you busy.”
Devon worked hard to keep from smiling. He didn’t mind Kylie checking him out; he more than welcomed any signs of interest on her part. “I actually stopped my handyman business about five years ago. Long story short, Gabe and I were able to start our own company with our father’s help. We focus on cancer research. Not me, exactly; I meet with investors and act as the face of the company. All the on-camera stuff Gabe doesn’t want to deal with, I handle.”
Kylie’s eyes widened. “That’s amazing. You started a company? Your family must be doing really well.”