Irresistibly Lost
Married to the Billionaire Prince
Victoria Pinder
Irresistibly Lost
Copyright©2018
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemble to actual events, business establishments, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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Published in the United States of America.
Copyright © 2018 Victoria Pinder Love in a Book
All rights reserved.
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This book is dedicated to Elmo honestly. If it wasn’t for Sesame Street and the whole gang including Cookie Monster, I’d never get an hour to write anything. So thank you, thank you, thank you that educational but fun programming keeps a two year olds attention for a short while so her mom can write her novels about revenge.
Contents
Series information
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Irresistibly Found Preview
Also by Victoria Pinder
About the Author
Please check out the entire Brothers-in-Revenge Series and get caught up.
Irresistibly Lost
Irresistibly Found
Irresistibly Charming
Irresistibly Tough
Irresistibly Played
Irresistibly Rugged
Irresistibly Strong
Irresistibly Dashing
Irresistibly Boxed Set 3-5
Irresistibly Boxed Set 6-8
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Sienna McKenney’s idea of the perfect single-woman vacation included her ereader stocked with the latest mystery novels, poolside cabana service and a suite overlooking the clear, aqua ocean where she might see dolphins swim past from her balcony in the early morning.
No men, no fuss, just relaxing.
Which is why she’d booked herself a luxury room on Hidden Key, far from the community in Park Lake, Florida where everybody wanted to introduce her to a cousin or brother. She’d driven down to the Keys, parked her car and hopped on board the ferry.
Within hours, the boat docked. The moon beamed across the cloudless night sky, and she smelled the salt in the air as tourists from all over the country passed her. The ship lightly rocked and the tropical breeze against her skin made her feel calm. Her heart and mind cleared. Tomorrow she’d spend the day reading at one of those tropical cabanas near the pool.
She followed the crowd at the end and walked silently toward the white hotel with an orange roof.
Before even stepping foot inside, her shoulders slumped at the sound of light reggae music from the pool area. One ruined wedding did not mean she deserved anyone’s pity.
She adjusted her sunglasses as she strolled up the pathway and walked with the group of three female friends already sharing a bottle of wine and one older couple from the ferry as they made their way toward the towering beachfront hotel, the only thing on this small remote island in the Keys.
As she walked inside the Tropical Nights hotel, a blast of cold air brushed against her skin. The hair on her arms lifted with goosebumps. Air conditioning? No…something else. She dragged her bag behind her through the lobby and lifted her head, meeting the brown eyes of the one man she was supposed to hate.
Her pulse spiked and she wasn’t sure if it was anger or because she still yearned for him, even now, when he’d broken her heart.
Sienna parked her suitcase by the white chairs and stomped toward him, the soles of her tennis shoes gaining traction on the white marble floor. She brought her hand to her chest and held it close, like she needed to defend herself, though she’d come to him.
The man, seated, long legs crossed, hid behind a newspaper. She dropped her hand to her side. How was this possible?
Dark hair trimmed short was visible over the paper, his elegant body clad in a tailored black suit, the white cuffs of his shirt crisp. She’d know him anywhere and she’d recognized those brown eyes on her—they were burned in her memory. “Aaden?”
His glanced at her and his face paled. The newspaper in his hands fell to the floor beside him and he stood, taller than her by a foot. He’d been working out in the past two years since their would-be wedding day, his biceps muscled beneath his suit jacket.
With a white face and lips pressed together, she knew he was trying to think his way out of this, but instead he said, “Can I help you, miss?”
Miss? He had a lot of nerve. She took off her sunglasses and crossed her arms, wishing she’d worn a business suit or something powerful instead of her stupid yellow sundress with a flower pattern. She tapped her foot. “Aaden Bentley. Am I dreaming?”
He tossed his head back like she’d slapped him, which she probably should have, but then he said, “You must be mistaken.”
Of all the… Tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but she lifted her chin. No, she’d not cry for him. He’d left that stupid note and disappeared. She grabbed his white shirt, unbuttoned the top two buttons and shook her head as she pointed to the arrow with his mother’s name on it. “Jasmine. Same tattoo.”
He tugged his shirt closed at the neck, but his face was bright red rather than white. “I don’t remember where I got this.”
The Aaden she’d loved would never have erased his mother’s name which he’d always said reminded him that life had both good and bad qualities. She’d read in the newspaper a few months ago that his parents had died, which meant he’d just see the good now in the woman who had hated her.
Sienna ignored the rising heat in her veins from touching him and stepped back. His disappearance and denial of their life together should make her turn on her heels but she didn’t move. Once she caught her breath she said, “Aaden, I don’t care about what happened anymore. You made your choice, but why did you leave me on our wedding day? I was humiliated and hurt. You never told me you were unhappy. You just disappeared.”
He finished with the last button and didn’t look at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, miss.”
The rise in her temperature made sense—he’d always inflamed her passion. Even now, the truth wasn’t something he’d part with. She’d loved a fool and knew it, which said more about her than she liked to admit.
When they’d dated, and he’d stood up to his mother, claiming that Sienna was better than he deserved, she’d felt bathed in eternal sunshine. But then everything ended so fast. She glared at him and didn’t care that her voice rose. “Aaden, I don’t know why you’re lying but I’m not going anywhere without an answer.
It’s not a coincidence we’re at this hotel together, is it?”
His gaze shifted to the other people lobby, then he reached for her suitcase and tugged on it. “I see. Come with me to the pool, miss. We’ll talk in private.”
If he chose the venue, it meant he thought he had power. This was exactly like how he’d dated her in high school, by constantly showing up where she went until she agreed to join him on whatever plan he had for them. But she glanced around the hotel and saw the three women from the ferry watching her now. She lowered her gaze and nodded. She wasn’t big on everyone staring at her either. She shrugged and let her sneakers squeak against the marble as she followed him toward the pool. “Fine. Why not? Let’s go.”
He walked her to one of the private pool cabanas she’d intended to read in this week. As he held the white cloth for her to go inside, he said, “I don’t know who Aaden Bentley is.”
Inside the cabana, the thick white fabric gently floated in the wind, but no one would see them.
Fire burned in her soul as she whipped around and met his dark gaze. “Stop joking, all the time and be serious for once. We’re clearly alone now.”
His pursed lips infuriated her, and her blood boiled. If she didn’t stop him, he’d lie again. So, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to kiss her.
Her left leg went up as steam grew in her veins.
For one second, she was still the girl who’d loved him and then the bride he’d jilted.
Unshed tears threatened to form.
No. She pushed him off her and forced her hands to go to her side. She’d never cry for Aaden again.
A smirk grew on his face as he stared at her and said, “Wow. Sienna.”
“Oh, my name from your lips. Shocker.” There was no question now, not that there ever had been. But he wasn’t going to pull his “it wasn’t me” nonsense anymore. She crossed her arms and lifted her chin. “And you’re definitely Aaden, the deserter. What happened?”
His jaw clenched as he stepped back at her jab. “Sienna, I can’t. I deserve that and more, but you shouldn’t be here.”
Her gaze speared him with victory and she knew it. She’d revel in this feeling because for two years she’d been empty and alone, with no answers. He’d always liked her hair so she loosened it now and let the soft brown waves fall to her shoulders. “So you do remember me, and how you never showed up.”
He closed his eyes, like the sight of her burned him. “Sienna McKenney.”
Aaden still kissed like the man she loved—but could never have. His royal family hated her and refused to allow their prince to marry a commoner. Finally, they’d won. She needed a cold shower, now, but she also needed to hear the truth and not just assume anymore. She controlled the trembles he caused in her body. “Look, just tell me why you walked out on me. I’ll leave you alone and never bother you again.”
Lightning sparked in his brown eyes. It was the same lightning she’d seen when his mother had called her a horrible choice for him. That night he’d apologized, but now… he shouldn’t get to look tortured. This wasn’t fair.
His voice went low. “Sienna, I wanted to marry you that day.”
“But?” She steeled her spine for the truth after two long and painful years.
He slumped onto the lounge chair and massaged his temples. “Marrying you was my only goal.” He placed his hands on the low table before him and seemed to study them. When he looked up he said, “I witnessed an international murder—I am in the witness protection program.”
Great. So much for the truth. She wanted to knock him off that chair and onto the ground, but she was a lady and not strong enough anyhow. Instead she pulled up the seat next to him and sat like she was the queen and he the servant as she glanced down her nose. “You’re such a joker, all the time, and you aren’t even that good at it. You never were, so I’m not leaving until I get the truth.”
“It’s the truth.” His voice held a rumble.
“Sure, it is.” She crossed her legs and sat back, not caring that her calves were more noticeable.
The truth shouldn’t be impossible and would probably set her free to never think about him, ever again.
“Actually, I did.” He rested his elbow on his knee and finally held her gaze. “My parents.” His eyes held a gleam of sadness.
Her heart fell to her stomach and her body didn’t move.
She remembered reading about his parents’ death and thinking the report seemed strange. “Oh.”
He sat straight, and his tailored gray pants brushed against her bare knee when he turned toward her, the fabric soft as silk. “Sienna, I should have called you. I wanted to keep you safe far more than marry you.”
His parents had died a year after their almost wedding. She moved her legs, so they didn’t touch, but she leaned closer to really look at him. Why a year without contacting her? She needed to shut up and listen. “Oh good, the truth now without trying to quell with humor.”
He reached for her hand like he had any right to touch her, but then again, she didn’t swat him away. “My father offered me ten million dollars to walk away from you.”
His family was related to Middle Eastern royalty and incredibly rich. His father paying him off hurt but was what she’d guessed. Hearing that part didn’t make her feel anything but empty. She took her hand back and nodded as she stood. “As I thought.”
He rose as well, blocking her path to the cabana’s fabric door. “It was the stupidest decision I ever made.”
Her heart melted at the catch in his voice. She maneuvered around him—angry and in control. She refused to let him see her tremble or cry. “Why did you take the money in the end?”
He didn’t move, and his white shirt brushed against her bare arms, leaving goosebumps until he took her hand. “Because I knew you’d be better off without me. Did you go to medical school?”
“No.” She took her hands out of his and stared at them. Once upon a time, she’d given him everything. He’d been her first and greatest love, but his rejection had shattered her heart worse than thrown glass. She let out a small sigh. “I gave up on that dream years ago.”
“In two years? And I thought I was the joker in the relationship.” He kept his voice low but stayed beside her. “What happened to you then?”
All he ever gave her was jokes and promises that he never fulfilled. He deserved pay-back. She lifted her eyebrow and didn’t blink at all as she said, “I had your baby.”
“What?” He stumbled back, the color draining from his face.
She laughed without humor. She’d scored a hit, but it didn’t feel good to hurt him as he’d hurt her. “That was mean and untrue. I don’t like that you constantly joke around when I sometimes feel lied to.”
His hand covered his heart like he’d been shocked. “You scared me.”
Good. Then she had one second of vengeance though it was petty and mean. She shrugged. “Well, think about how I felt that day and what just happened in the lobby.”
He lowered his head and said quietly, “I’m sorry.”
Those were the two words she’d wanted to hear for two years now. She nodded and accepted his apology. She could go home, or she could prove to her heart that her feelings for him were over. Sienna slid past the white curtain, and walked back to the lobby, finding her luggage where she’d left it by the white chairs. Now she’d check into her room and forget all about Aaden Bentley. He followed her but wasn’t as fast. “It’s fine.” Someday she’d like the truth.
“Sienna, you haven’t told me what you do.” Aaden's voice called behind her.
Seriously? He’d broken her heart and the only reason they spoke now was blind, dumb luck. She glanced over her shoulder as she tugged up the handle on her luggage. “Oh, well, tell you what—if you can prove to me I should forgive you for breaking my heart, then I’ll let you know more about me.” Would he stick around or run?
She swayed her hips as she walked toward the check-in counter.
“How about instead I give you an opportunity to earn ten million dollars?”
Sienna stopped and stared at him, her hand on her hip. Had he lost his mind?
He headed back to the privacy of the cabana and waved her in. Controlling the situation, or trying to, as usual. He’d taken ten million to break her heart.
“Come back inside.” She rolled her suitcase behind her and reached the gauzy curtain. “First tell me why you listened to your mother and took the money.”
He pulled her all the way inside. She released the handle and tied the fabric, enclosing them. He was going to try and buy her? This time she hoped to hear the truth. She wasn’t in her room with a book as planned. Instead, somehow, she was here, with Aaden. She turned around and ignored the goosebumps on her arms as she met his brown eyes. “Okay, now tell me.”
“Two years ago when we were going to get married, my mother told me that there was a growing threat by someone from my country named Mustafa Attajanazi. He and his group intended to kill everyone in my family and that would include you if I went through with my threat and married a commoner.”
“That is how your mother spoke.” Sienna swallowed, remembering his mother’s voice and opinion like it was yesterday. “You must have believed her.”
Aaden fell onto the nearest chair and didn’t look up. “Yes and leaving the only good woman I’d ever met was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Her body trembled. This time she believed him. She pressed her palm to his shoulder and sighed. Now she could let the past go. “So. The ten million is the blood money that was used to have you walk away from me?”
He nodded and stood to emphasize his word. “Yes.”
“What do I have to do?” She wasn’t really interested, she told herself. Liar. Ten million dollars would set her up for life. She’d buy a condo and have a retirement package. It wasn’t a bad number for bandaging up her broken heart and forgiving him, which supposedly was good for the soul.
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