The Millionaire Plan

by Karen King

  It was a typical upmarket glossy magazine, featuring models dressed in designer clothes, immaculate homes furnished with expensive furniture in unpractical colours such as cream and lemon, and gossipy articles about the rich and famous. This will be my life if I marry Randy, she thought as she browsed through it. She’d have everything she wanted and never have to worry about money again.

  She’d never know love either. For she knew for certain that Randy didn’t love her and probably never, and it sent a chill to her heart. She pulled herself together. So what? She’d loved Rod, hadn’t she? And look where it had got her.

  She flicked through the pile of magazines until her eyes felt tired and heavy. After putting them on the floor, she reached out and switched off the light then snuggled down in bed. Sleep came in bits and drabs, interrupted by jumbled up dreams of a huge wedding cake that crumbled as she tried to cut it, bank notes raining out of the sky, and dogs barking.

  Dogs barking! She jerked open her eyes and realised that the barks were real. Tess must want to go out. She jumped out of bed, still half-asleep, ran across the bedroom floor, pulled open the door, ran into the hall, and collided with Jed, who was just coming out of his bedroom.

  ‘Ouch!’

  He reached out and grabbed her before she fell back on the floor, his hand gripping her arm to steady her.

  ‘Sorry!’ they both said together then laughed.

  Jed reached out and flicked the light switch, and she sucked in her breath. He wore only a pair of black jersey boxer shorts that clung seductively to his hips.

  Then she remembered that she was only wearing a black flimsy nightie and in this light it was probably far too revealing. She edged back into the shadows of the doorway in an attempt to preserve some of her modesty.

  Jed was staring at her, his expression unfathomable. She swallowed, suddenly nervous. The air hung heavy between them, charged with tension.

  ‘Wuff!’

  Tess stood in front of them, wagging her tail, waiting patiently.

  ‘I’ll let her out.’ Jed’s voice was thick, as if he’d been dragged out of a sleep.

  Amber nodded, not trusting herself to sleep.

  For a breath-taking moment his gorgeous tawny eyes held hers, challenged her, then he turned away and set off down the hall with Tess at his heels

  Amber retreated into her bedroom, shut the door, and leant against it, her body trembling. Boy, that guy certainly lit her fire!

  Jed came back a few minutes later. He stopped outside the bedroom door and knocked. ‘Tess is back in bed now, Amber.’

  ‘OK. Goodnight,’ she answered.

  She knew he was standing outside the door, waiting to see if she would open it and talk to him but there was no way she was going to. Not with them both in such a dangerous state of undress. There was only so much self-control a girl could exert, and Jed Curtess was making her use every last iota of hers.

  ‘Goodnight,’ he replied. Then she heard him walk next door and open his bedroom door.

  Mentally patting herself on the back for not giving into temptation, she climbed into bed and switched off the lamp. But it was quite a while before she got to sleep.

  When she came downstairs the next morning, dressed in cropped jeans again and the spare top she’d brought with her, Amber was relieved to find a note from Jed taped to the fridge saying he’d left early to take some more photos. As far as she was concerned, the least she saw of him the better. That way she wouldn’t do anything stupid like kiss him.

  Honestly, she just couldn’t seem to control herself when he was around.

  She made a cup of frothy coffee and some toast, then cleaned out the puppies’ bed, fed Tess, and let the little dog outside for a while for some fresh air and exercise. Next, she set about tidying up, ready for the relief warden to arrive. She stripped the sheet and duvet cover from the bed she’d slept in, put them in the washing machine, and went into the other bedroom to do the same to Jed’s bed. Judging by the state of his bed, he’d tossed and turned most of the night, like her – though she doubted if it was for the same reasons.

  The pillow still bore a slight indent where he lay. She picked it up to take off the pillowcase and caught a whiff of his potent male smell mixed with the woody cologne he wore. Slowly, almost in a dream, she sat down on the bed, hugging the pillow to her, the smell invading her senses, bringing up memories of last night, his kisses, his touch.

  Her mobile beeping brought her back to earth. She took it out of her pocket and pressed the button to see who the text was from, half hoping it was Jed.

  It was Randy, telling her to text him when she was on the way back and he’d meet her at the marina and take her to lunch.

  He is keen, she thought. She keyed in ‘Thanx. That’ll be brill. C u l8tr. x Amber’, and pressed send.

  Time to stop daydreaming about Jed, she told herself sternly. She only had a few days left to hook Randy, and she had to make every one of them count.

  She stripped the pillowcase and linen off Jed’s bed, bundled them in her arms, and carried them to the washing machine, her head held high so she his scent wouldn’t invade her senses again. OK, she did hold them to her cheek just once as she went put them in the machine but it was only fleetingly so it didn’t count.

  It had been long enough to kick in her hormones once again, though. Whatever it was that gave that guy so much sex appeal he ought to bottle it, he’d make a fortune.

  She couldn’t face going back into Jed’s room and putting clean sheets on the bed yet, so she phoned the hospital to see how Mike was. The nurse let her speak to him, and although he sounded a bit weak, he assured her he was fine and sounded delighted to hear that Tess and the pups were doing fine. He thanked her for staying with them and she assured him it was no problem. As she finished the call, telling Mike to take care of himself, she thought wryly that she would never have guessed exactly how much a problem being in such close contact with Jed would be.

  She could handle it. In a few hours they’d be back in Coombe Bay, she’d be having lunch with Randy, practising her millionaire-hooking skills on him, and she could forget all about Jed.

  Forget Jed? As if!

  OK, well maybe not forget, but at least she could avoid him then there’d be no chance of her falling for his potent magnetism again, would there?

  Her mobile phone beeped again. She checked the message, thinking it would be Callie and her face broke into a smile when she saw it was from Jed telling her to put the coffee on because he was on his way back.

  The sooner you’re back at Coombe Bay, the better, Amber Wynters, she thought as she filled up the kettle. If just a text has you grinning like an idiot you must be going soppy.

  So when Jed walked in a few minutes later, she kept her emotions completely under control as she raised her eyes from the magazine she was reading. Totally ignored how drop-dead-sexy he looked in the khaki shorts and white sleeveless vest he was wearing, she asked him calmly if he’d taken all the photos he needed.

  ‘Yep, I’ve got some brilliant ones.’ His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. ‘I’m really glad we came here. I’ll get a few articles out of this, maybe even a book.’

  ‘That’s good. There’s coffee in the pot, help yourself,’ she told him and went back to reading her magazine, congratulating herself on her self-control.

  It was only when Jed reached over her shoulder, turned the magazine around, and patted her soothingly on the head that she realised she’d been holding it upside down.

  The relief warden, a big, friendly man called Steve, arrived just after eleven. Tess greeted him happily and it was obvious they were old friends. He explained that he often visited Mike and Tess and usually looked after the Nature Reserve when Mike went away.

  ‘So there’s no need to worry, Tess and the pups will be fine with me,’ he assured them. ‘And talking about pups, where are they? I want to take some photos for Mike.’

  Amber took him to see the pups. She watched, smiling as he
cooed over them and made a big fuss of Tess, telling her what a clever girl she was. For such a big, burly man, he was remarkably gentle with animals. She had no qualms about leaving Tess and her babies in his care.

  Finally, when Steve had taken several photos and phoned the hospital to speak to Mike and assured him that he would stop until he’d fully recovered – which the doctors said would be several weeks – Amber and Jed packed their rucksacks and said goodbye.

  ‘Sorry we have to dash off but Amber has a lunch date and I’m anxious to get started on my article,’ Jed told Steve.

  ‘Well, thank you, on Mike’s behalf, for holding the fort here and looking after Tess,’ Steve held out his hand. ‘It’s kind of you both, especially as you’re both strangers to the island.’

  ‘No problem,’ Jed shook his hand.

  ‘Goodbye, lass.’ Steve offered Amber his hand.

  ‘Bye, Steve. Give Mike our best wishes.’

  They both picked up their rucksacks and set off down the cliff again.

  Determined to manage the descent unaided rather than subject herself to the barrage of emotions that came with Jed’s touch, Amber set off ahead but she hadn’t gone far when she stumbled. Panic seized her as she felt herself fall then Jed grabbed her and steadied her.

  ‘Let’s forget about pride and independence and get you down in one piece.’ He slipped his arm around her waist.

  She nodded numbly, using every ounce of willpower she possessed to stop herself leaning back against him as she longed to do, and they set off down the cliff together.

  Jed advised her to put on the travel bands as soon as she got into the little dinghy, to give them chance to work before she went on the Chenoa. It was good advice. She hardly felt nauseous at all on the way back so enjoyed the journey. The sea was lovely and calm, the scenery breath-taking, and as she leaned over the rail with the gentle breeze blowing her hair, she thought that she’d never felt happier.

  ‘How are you feeling? Have you got your sea legs yet?’ Jed asked her, leaning against the rail besides her.

  She turned towards him, smiling, ‘I’m fine,’ she said. ‘These travel bands are marvellous.’

  ‘So you’ll be OK to go sailing with Randy tomorrow then?’

  She didn’t want to think about that. The thought of playing a part, trying to fit in, pretending to be something she wasn’t so that Randy would be interested in her felt so wrong. She’d felt so natural and free with Jed. He accepted her for who she was and was such easy company. If only Jed was a millionaire, she thought, then all my problems would be solved. She could marry him instead

  What was she thinking? Of course she couldn’t! She could never marry Jed for money. It wouldn’t be right. She cared too much for him.

  ‘Amber?’

  Jed’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts and made her realise she hadn’t answered him yet. What was it he had asked her?

  ‘I asked if you’d be OK to go sailing with Randy tomorrow?’ he repeated, looking at her curiously.

  ‘Oh yes, I’ll be fine,’ she said brightly. Too brightly. ‘Thanks to you. It was kind of you to bring me on this practice trip.’

  ‘No problem,’ he replied. ‘It’s been good to have the company – and the help. I don’t think I could have managed those pups all by myself.’

  ‘So what are your plans now?’ she asked him. ‘When do you need to get the yacht back to America?’

  ‘There’s no immediate rush,’ Jed replied. ‘I’ll set sail the weekend, I think.’

  This weekend she would be going back home too. She would never see Jed again. A wave of desolation swept over her as she realised how much she would miss him.

  ‘That’s when I’m going home too,’ she said.

  ‘I know.’ He was staring out at the ocean, his face expressionless.

  She longed to ask him if she would he miss her as she would him

  Don’t be stupid, Amber. You’ve only known each other a couple of days.

  A couple of days that had left an indelible impression on her. Jed would be hard to forget, she acknowledged. He’d stirred feelings in her she didn’t know she possessed.

  For a while, they stood against the rail, side by side, gazing out at the sea, both lost in their thoughts. Then Coombe Bay Marina came into sight and Jed went to the cockpit to steer the boat in.

  Amber felt a flutter of trepidation as they approached the marina. Now it was back to reality. Back to her Millionaire Plan. Back to life without Jed, because for her own peace of mind she had to cut him out of her life. Right now. Today. Because if she got any closer to him, allowed herself to explore her feelings for him, there was no way she would be able to marry Randy.

  Chapter Seven

  Rule number 7: Cultivate the art of flirting and body language.

  Amber had sent Randy a text, as promised, to say she was on her way home. He must have sat in the café waiting for them to return, because as they approached the marina, she’d spotted him sitting at one of the tables, drinking a cup of coffee. He waved, finished his drink, and came over to meet her.

  ‘Hello, darling!’ Randy kissed her on the cheek as soon as she stepped off the boat and linked his arm through hers. ‘I’ve booked a table for lunch in a lovely restaurant.’

  ‘I need to change first,’ she told him. ‘I’m not exactly dressed for a restaurant.’

  ‘Sure, babe. I’ll drop you home and wait for you.’ He propelled her by the elbow away from the yacht.

  Amber turned to say goodbye to Jed but he’d disappeared. He went below deck pretty quick, she thought. Probably glad to get rid of her. He’d been very quiet all morning and she guessed that he regretted last night as much as she did and was only too pleased that Tess had disturbed them before things had gone even further.

  ‘You’re a bit quiet. How was it on the island?’ Randy asked, as he pressed the remote to open the doors of his sleek Ferrari. ‘You and Curtess get on OK?’

  ‘Sure. Not that we saw that much of each other,’ she said quickly. ‘Jed was busy taking photographs and I had my hands full looking after Tess and the pups. Nothing went on between us.’ She added just in case he was wondering.

  ‘I didn’t think it would. Why should you bother with a nohoper like Curtess when you’ve got me?’ He opened the car door and got in, leaving her to walk to the passenger side and open the door herself. Not that it bothered her. Her generation didn’t expect to have doors opened for them. Women today were independent. They didn’t need a man to look after them.

  Yeah, right, Amber. That’s why you’re trying to hook yourself a millionaire.

  She sank into the luxurious leather seat and closed the door. Randy started the engine, put the car into gear, checked his mirrors and drove off. He’s not jealous at all, she realised. And why should he be? As he said, someone like Jed couldn’t compete with him.

  Like hell, he couldn’t. Jed was way out of Randy’s league in looks, sheer magnetism, and personality.

  But he wasn’t a millionaire. And that’s why Randy was so confident. He knew that Amber wouldn’t turn down the chance of snaring him for a fling with a nobody like Jed. His cock-sure confidence made her angry and she longed to show him that he was wrong. Money didn’t matter to her. She judged a man by what he was not what he had.

  Except she didn’t, did she?

  The old Amber did but the new Amber was only interested in a man for his money.

  She had nothing to be ashamed of. She wasn’t after the money for herself. Besides, men like Randy knew some women only married them for their money. They only married themselves if it was financially advantageous. Like to gain an inheritance, as in Randy’s case. She and Randy would both be doing each other a favour.

  ‘It was nice of you to postpone the sailing trip until tomorrow so I can come with you,’ she told Randy.

  ‘That’s OK, a couple of the others couldn’t make today either,’ he replied, airily.

  So he hadn’t postponed it just for her. Why s
hould he? She wasn’t that important to him.

  Callie and Simon were in the flat when Amber and Randy walked in. Callie pointedly eyed the outfit Amber was wearing but didn’t say anything. I guess I’ll get the third degree later, Amber thought as she went to change. She’d agreed to meet Randy for dinner that evening so he could introduce her to a couple of the others who were going sailing the next day.

  Callie was out when she got home, but Amber noticed she had a missed call from her mother. Probably to tell her how the house sale was progressing. She’d better return the call and find out how things were.

  ‘Hello.’ Her mother’s voice sounded wobbly, as if she’d been crying.

  ‘Mum! Are you OK?’ Amber asked anxiously. ‘Is Dad alright?’

  ‘Oh, Amber, I’m fine, dear. Just a bit shook up.’

  ‘Why? What’s happened?’

  ‘I don’t want to worry you, dear.’

  ‘Mum, if you don’t tell me, I’ll cancel my holiday and come home.’

  She heard her mother take a deep breath. ‘Well … oh, it’s so awful. I can hardly bring myself to tell you.’ She was gabbling so much Amber could barely understand what she was saying.

  ‘Mum, what’s happened? What is it?’ she asked.

  ‘Oh, darling. We had the bailiff here this morning.’ Her mother’s voice faltered. ‘Can you imagine it? We weren’t even dressed. He banged on the door so loud your dad almost had another heart attack.’

  ‘A bailiff!’ Things must be worse than she’d realised. ‘Why, Mum? Do you owe some money to someone?’

  ‘We haven’t been able to pay the Council Tax bill. Your father didn’t tell me.’ He mother stifled a sob. ‘He said he didn’t want to worry me.’

  Amber could just imagine how her parents had felt. They’d always paid their bills on time, prided themselves on never owing a penny. ‘Did they take anything, Mum?’ she asked, anxiously.