The Beast’s Fake Marriage
Page 18
Once all her paperwork was in order, she got her room card and hurried to the deck of the ship. As she walked away from the ticket counter, she glanced at Tristan. His dark eyes followed her the entire way, and whatever he was thinking was a mystery. The man could obviously play poker.
A woman in a cruise uniform smiled as Belle stopped at the entrance to the ship. “Hello, welcome aboard. We’ll be leaving port tonight. We hope you’ll have a wonderful time. If there is anything you need, please ask. Crew and staff can be identified with neck lanyards and uniforms.”
“Okay, thank you.” Belle let her gaze sweep across the ship. It was massive and modern. It made the one she’d worked on look small and dated.
“Since you’re a contest winner, we’d like to have you meet in the dining hall as part of the marketing you agreed to when you accepted the ticket. If you have any additional questions, someone will be able to answer them.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks. I’m just excited to get a vacation.” Belle smiled.
The woman smiled wider, if that was possible. “That’s what we like to hear. An excited passenger having a good time.”
Sneak Peek! Her Pretend Billionaire Boyfriend Chapter 2
After unpacking, Tristan sat on the full-size bed in his standard interior room aboard the ship. He was used to plush, spacious suites. It was okay—obviously not as big as his penthouse—but he could handle anything for a week. One thing his grandmother taught him was that nothing lasts forever. It was true for almost everything. Although, loneliness seemed to be lasting forever. He’d promised her he’d find someone, but she didn’t understand how hard it was.
Once a woman found out he was billionaire Tristan Stone, they changed. They no longer saw him as a person, just a means to an end. If he could find someone who loved him, truly loved him, he’d jump at the chance to make it work.
He immediately thought of Belle Evans. He’d thought about her spectacular smile and dark-green eyes since he’d seen her. When he first caught her staring, he thought his cover was blown. After talking to her though, he was certain she had no clue. He’d complimented her on her eyes and caught himself before he went further. Good thing too. Telling her she had beautiful eyes turned her icy so fast she could’ve been liquid nitrogen. Which was a good thing. He needed to put her out of his mind and concentrate on being a regular passenger. The point of the trip was to check out the ship and get away. Not get involved.
He raked his hand through his hair before rubbing his hands on his jeans and standing. A walk around the ship would be good to get his mind off everything. It couldn’t hurt to go ahead and get a feel for the ship. As he stepped out of his room, a body bounced off his back.
A familiar scent of coconut and flowers floated around him. “Oh, sorry!”
He turned, and her large green eyes lifted to his face. A nervous excitement bloomed in the pit of his stomach. “Belle, right?” As if he could forget her name.
They eyed a couple of the other passengers and waited for them to enter their rooms.
Belle smiled. “Uh, yeah. Your room is right next to mine?”
“Yeah. It seems so.”
Tristan wanted more time with her. He might not be interested in a relationship with her, but he wouldn’t mind a little company while he was on the cruise. “I was about to go exploring. Would you want to come with me? I figured it couldn’t hurt to get a lay of the land, or ship in this case.”
Belle chewed her bottom lip for a second, like she was debating. “Uh, I don’t know. I’ve got this marketing thing I have to attend in a little while.”
“You do? I was randomly chosen for that.”
Her little eyebrows went up. “You were?”
“Yeah, they said they’d give me a reduced fare if I participated.” He paused. “So, exploring with me?”
For a heartbeat, she let the question hang in the air like she wasn’t sure if she wanted to or not. Then she said, “Sure. Why not?”
“Great.” He hadn’t meant to sound so enthusiastic. “I mean, good. I’d hate to wander around alone.”
“So, where to first?”
“I don’t know. Where do you want to go?” Tristan was curious where she’d pick. He figured she’d say the stores or something like that, like most of the women he dated.
“How about the top deck?” She glanced up at him.
He grinned. “Sounds like a good idea.”
“I never expected to win something like this. Have you ever won anything crazy like this?” she asked as they walked the hall, passing other passengers arriving.
Tristan shook his head. “No.”
Her pouty lips parted with a smile. “I’m surprised your room’s next to mine.”
They reached the elevator and stepped inside.
“I am too, but it’s a good surprise.” He returned her smile.
The elevator continued up, and the minutes ticked by before she said, “Yeah, I think so too. I was a little nervous about coming by myself, but I couldn’t pass up the trip.”
“My grandmother loved cruises and the ocean. She said breathing salt air was akin to cleaning out a closet. You breathe it in, and when you let it out, you let all your clutter go with it.” He startled, not meaning to bring up his grandmother.
“Loved? Past tense?” she asked.
Tristan nodded. She was perceptive. The loss still caused his chest to tighten. “I lost her three months ago. I still miss her.”
Belle placed her hand on his bicep, and her touch sent tingles through his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I kinda know what that’s like.”
For a heartbeat, his mouth wouldn’t work. “Thanks.”
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. He was glad the ship was docked in Miami. Even in May, it would have been chilly in Seattle. In sunny Florida, it was perfect. “Looks like our stop.”
She stepped out first, and he joined her on the top deck. Even though they were still docked, the side they stood on was open to the water. Seagulls squawked and floated on the breeze.
Taking a deep breath, Belle gripped the railing and leaned back. “This is going to be nice. This ship is relatively new, and from the research I’ve done, the previous owner, billionaire Beverly Richmond, personally helped with the design not long before she died.”
Of course, Tristan knew that. He’d been away with his own business dealings, but when his grandmother called, she’d tell him all about her new cruise ship. “I heard that too. She has a grandson, doesn’t she?”
Belle shrugged. “I don’t know. I just wanted information on the ship, and there was a little paragraph about her designing it. Laura, a friend I used to be close to, would know. She keeps up with all that society, gossip junk. If she did have a grandson, I bet he’s brokenhearted, and I think people should leave him alone.”
Tristan nodded. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d met a woman who cared about someone other than herself. “I think so too. Have you ever been on a cruise before?”
“I worked on a cruise ship that sailed out of Louisiana. It was awful. It was old, moldy, and leaky.” She scrunched up her face. “I only stuck with it so I could finish my masters in marketing.” Her eyes grew large. “I’d prefer if no one knew that.”
* * *
Belle wanted to kick herself. She’d already overshared. Why couldn’t she keep her big mouth shut? He didn’t need to know she had a masters in marketing. That would only lead to questions, and the answers were something she didn’t want to share.
“What do you do for a living?” she asked.
For a moment, she thought he would press her, but he dropped his arms and turned his face into the breeze. “A little bit of this, a little bit of that. I was a bit transient, you could say, until I settled in Seattle.”
Transient? Like homeless? Poor guy. Maybe he just liked moving. She wouldn’t ask in case it was a sensitive subject. “Oh, what was that like? I’ve lived in a few places, but I wouldn’t call myself transient.”
&nb
sp; “Where?” He seemed genuinely interested.
“Let’s see. I’ve lived in New York, Boston, Dallas, and now I live here in Miami. How about you?” She needed the focus to stay on him, even though it seemed like he was trying to turn it back on her every chance he got.
He shrugged and looked down. “Oh, here and there. I lived in Houston until I was ten. Then I moved to Seattle. Once I finished school, I decided I wanted to see the world.”
“Seattle seems like a pretty city. I haven’t been there yet. I’ve always meant to go, but things got in the way.” Things like Paul Whitlock.
The smile he turned on her made her grip the railing harder, and her heart stuttered. It was her weak point. A great smile got her every time, and Tristan’s was the best she’d ever seen.
“You’ll have to look me up if you ever do. I can show you around. I know all the great spots to see.”
The alphabet floated in her mind, and words tried to form. “Uh.” That’s all she could come up with? Uh? What was her problem? He was attractive, sure, but it wasn’t like she’d never been around a good-looking man before. Mentally, she smacked herself. If she could’ve physically done it without looking like a freak, she would have. “That would be nice.”
“I think I could stand here all day, but I guess we should actually explore, huh?” A small dimple appeared as one corner of his lips quirked up. She hadn’t noticed that before.
Belle dragged her gaze from his dimple to his eyes. “I suppose so.”
Maybe moving would keep her brain from seizing and she could have a conversation with him. She pushed off the railing and walked next to him down the deck. Being next to him made her feel like a doll. “So, you said you’re transient. Have you been to the Caribbean before?”
“A few times, but I don’t think you can ever visit it too many times. It’s beautiful. I love snorkeling.” He raked a hand through his hair, and the wind picked up a few pieces, making them take funny shapes. It made her want to run her fingers through it and smooth them out.
“What?” he asked.
She blinked. “What?”
“You’re looking at me funny. Do I have something on my face?” His dark eyes held hers, and it was at least three heartbeats before she took a breath.
No, there was nothing on his beautiful face. She only wanted to run her hands through his hair because it was all wild, and she bet it felt great. Cripes. That was not the correct answer, even though it was the truth. This guy was pressing every button she had, and it was only the first day. “Oh, uh, no. Your hair is just kinda sticking up in places.”
He raked his hand through it again. “Is that better?”
A giggle escaped, despite her fight to keep it in. “No.” It was worse, but she wouldn’t say that.
They passed a chair, and she stepped onto the seat. She grabbed his arm and stood him in front of her. His hair was as silky as she thought it’d be as she ran her fingers through it, trying to fix the wayward strands. “I’m not sure it’ll matter with the way the wind is blowing.”
“How tall are you?” he asked.
She flicked her gaze to his and lifted an eyebrow. “Not that short.” Tristan was at least a foot taller than her, but she’d always been drawn to tall men.
He rolled his eyes. “Seriously.”
She put her hands on her hips. “I’m five feet one and one quarter inch.”
“That quarter inch is important, huh?” His lips quirked up, and his teeth showed through. It was an award-winning smile. Not as good as the sexy half-smile, but still great.
Belle grinned. “Absolutely.”
She finished fixing his hair and looked at him. “There.”
“All good?” The corners of his eyes creased as his smile reached them.
Then she realized just how close he was and how great he smelled. Good gravy, he smelled fantastic. Spice and sea air mixed and rolled around her. Her mouth went dry. “Um, yeah, all good.” She jumped down before any other temptations popped up. Tristan wasn’t just good looking; he gave her this feeling of comfort and safety. He was someone she could see herself falling for. Those thoughts needed to stop. She wasn’t on the cruise to find a man. It was to refresh and regroup. That’s it.
“Thanks.” He remained still as he looked down at her.
He was so close that if he was threatening at all, she would call it looming. She didn’t get that vibe from him though. He struck her as the large teddy-bear type. The kind you cuddled with on the couch, eating popcorn and watching movies. Tingles erupted just thinking about it. Yeah, she needed to put at least a foot between them. A ruler might be necessary.
After that, Belle concentrated on keeping her distance and watching what she said. They explored the ship for hours before returning to their rooms to freshen up before they were supposed to do the marketing thing. Knowing Tristan was in the room next to hers made her heart trip. She’d be seeing him every day. If she didn’t get a grip, she’d end up making a fool of herself.
* * *
Get your copy of Her Pretend Billionaire Boyfriend and cruise along with Tristan and Belle as they fall in love.
Other Books by Bree Livingston
A Clean Billionaire Romance Series
Her Pretend Billionaire Boyfriend:
A Clean Billionaire Romance Book One
Her Second Chance Billionaire Sweetheart:
A Clean Billionaire Romance Book Two
Her Broken Billionaire Boss:
A Clean Billionaire Romance Book Three
Her Fake Billionaire Fiancé:
A Clean Billionaire Romance Book Four
Her Stranded Billionaire Mix-Up:
A Clean Billionaire Romance Book Five
A Clean Fake Relationship Romance Series
The Cowboy’s Fake Marriage:
A Clean Fake Relationship Romance Book One
The Star’s Fake Marriage:
A Clean Fake Relationship Romance Book Two
The Bodyguard’s Fake Marriage:
A Clean Fake Relationship Romance Book Three
The Matchmaker’s Fake Marriage:
A Clean Fake Relationship Romance Book Four
A Clean Romance Stand Alone
Love and Charity
The Mistletoe Game:
A Clean Christmas Novella
COMING IN January!
The Ranger’s Chance:
A Clean Army Ranger Romance Book One
and
Her Undercover Billionaire Roommate:
A Clean Billionaire Romance Book Six
About the Author
Bree Livingston lives in the West Texas Panhandle with her husband, children, and cats. She'd have a dog, but they took a vote and the cats won. Not in numbers, but attitude. They wouldn't even debate. They just leveled their little beady eyes at her and that was all it took for her to nix getting a dog. Her hobbies include...nothing because she writes all the time.
She loves carbs, but the love ends there. No, that's not true. The love usually winds up on her hips which is why she loves writing romance. The love in the pages of her books are sweet and clean, and they definitely don't add pounds when you step on the scale. Unless of course, you're actually holding a Kindle while you're weighing. Put the Kindle down and try again. Also, the cookie because that could be the problem too. She knows from experience.
Join her mailing list to be the first to find out publishing news, contests, and more by going to her website at https://breelivingstonwrit.wixsite.com/breelivingston.
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