I spot him leaning against a column near the self-serve kiosks and my heart beats a little faster. It’s the same stance he took up two nights ago in my hotel room, when his eyes were filled with all kinds of invitations. God, I hope I see those same invitations when I get closer.
He waves to me—an excellent sign—and I wave back, coming to a stop in front of him seconds later. “Hi.” I’m a little breathless. From excitement. Not exertion.
His smile puts me at ease as he glances from my suitcase to me. “Hi, yourself. This looks serious.” Without warning, he pulls me to him, his lips finding my willing ones. He kisses me like he’s drawing strength from the contact, before pulling away and resting his forehead on mine. “Tell me you’re not flying to an audition somewhere.”
I laugh. “Unless you count auditioning to be introduced to your family and friends, then no.” I look up at him. “Patty booked me a ticket with you. I hope that’s okay.”
“That’s better than okay. I wanted to ask you myself. How did you get that past Greg?”
“He decided not to wait for us. They’ll do some location shots and otherwise stay on hold until we get back. There didn’t seem much point staying here if I wouldn’t be working.”
“What about the party? I can’t believe we’re both going to miss it. Do you know how long I’ve waited for that invite?”
“It’ll come around again. There’s always next year.”
He takes my bag, shaking his head as we line up in first class. “I doubt it. Jemima was not happy when I told her you’d be attending for me. She’ll be furious knowing neither of us is coming.”
“Patty is going in our place.”
I wish I’d thought to video his response. Patty said his head would twist off his shoulders and she wasn’t far off in that detail. His eyes are wide, and he looks just how he looked when he raced to the table to witness what he thought was his friends getting engaged at Caesars. It occurs to me that in the few days we’ve spent together we’ve done a lot of things that have shocked poor Cole.
“How did she manage that?”
“I talked to Jemima. Explained the situation and how devastated you were to be missing it. Then Patty and I promised that you now owed her a favour, or a news scoop or something.”
“So, I’m on the hook so my assistant can enjoy the night of her life?”
“Something like that. Patty said you had an agreement that she’d attend if she was your absolute last choice. This seemed pretty close to it.”
He laughs and we spend the next few minutes checking in my luggage. I receive my boarding pass and then Cole links my arm through his and leads me away.
“Where to, now?”
“Now we’re going to the first class lounge to wait for our flight. They have a back entrance, which means no long walk to the gate.”
“Wow.”
“Wow is right. We have over an hour so let’s make the most of it. You can even take a shower if you want.” He laughs as I choke and blink up at him. “Oh, I’m tempted. But I don’t think even we could get away with that.” He nudges me and then shows a card at the lounge and we’re allowed inside. We settle ourselves in a comfortable corner and the hostess explains where we can get drinks and snacks.
“Come here,” he says, standing up and holding out his hand. I hold out mine and he pulls me from my chair and ushers me around a corner. My back leans against the wall and he caresses my cheek in that way he has. We’re shielded from any prying eyes. “It’s my turn to ask. You sure about this?”
“No. But I’m willing to take a chance.” I gulp. “On you.”
“Ahh. Standard rule number ten.” His smile is gentle, his eyes filled with sadness. It can’t be easy taking this trip, not knowing what’s waiting for him at the other end. “I really don’t know how long I’ll have to stay.”
“However long it is, I’ll be with you.”
I kiss his chin and he closes his eyes. “Greg won’t be happy if it goes on for ages. Bill Green will be hopping around like a headless chicken.”
“They’ll sort it out.” I slip my arms around his waist and breathe him in. “I think it’s nice that you would drop everything for a friend.”
“He’s important. I have a close-knit group of friends and I expect all of us will be there. I just hope we aren’t gathering for a bad outcome.” Cole’s voice catches and I squeeze him tight. He buries his face in my hair and we stay that way, holding each other. When he pulls away, the threat of tears has passed. “Thanks for this. You’ve no idea how happy I was to see you.”
“It’s not a little stalker-ish?”
He laughs. “No. There’s no one I’d rather spend a fifteen hour flight with.”
“Just a long flight?” I’m fishing, and it’s pathetic, but hey I’m only twenty three. And he’s my first famous boyfriend. In every fantasy he’s my last. Could I be lucky enough that he’s the one for me?
“Melody.” His voice is tight, a tiny frown creasing between his eyes.
“Shhh.” I put my finger over his lips. “You don’t have to say anything.”
He grabs my finger and kisses it, then pulls it away and holds my hand. “I do have to say something. I feel like this is too much, too soon, but what the hell. Life can change in the blink of an eye, can’t it? Our plane could crash and then I’d have never said the words.”
“Oh my God, don’t!”
He smiles and shakes his head. “You know what I mean. Anyway, this trip could be stressful. I might not be myself and there’ll probably be loads of people around. Please be patient with me. If we hadn’t been making this trip, I had plans to get to know you better. To spend lots of time together and find out why I’m so drawn to you. Why you dazzle me without even trying. You’re not anything like I thought you’d be, with your bouncing blonde curls and your funny lists. You’re mature, and sensible with a delicious sense of fun. And you’re caring. I like that. I want more of you.”
“Well, you’re gonna get fifteen hours, at least.”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight. Fifteen hours isn’t enough. Fifteen thousand hours won’t be enough.”
“Two years isn’t that long.” He frowns and I say, “Not my fault I’m good at math.”
“See, I have so much to discover about you. And so much to share with you, too.”
Our lips meet and Cole presses his whole body against me in our tiny alcove out of sight of anyone else. He bites my lip and our tongues reconnect. My breathing speeds up and the throb between my legs that he always encourages is right there again, reminding me of how great we are together. I snake my arms around his neck, so happy with my life in this moment. When he finally pulls back, his brown eyes staring into mine, I remember something I was supposed to tell him.
“Oh. Patty gave me a message for you.”
“And?”
“She said she’s sending you the bill for her glittery dress.”
He laughs, the deep sound reverberating through his chest and into mine. He sighs and kisses me again and then we hear our flight being called. I can hardly believe we’ve been here an hour. Time with Cole always flies by. I need to find a way to stretch out every moment.
He takes my hand and I spread my fingers, his naturally slipping between mine. A tight squeeze has me gazing up at him, again. I seem to spend a lot of time staring at him.
“You ready?” His tone is gentle and for a second, I regret we didn’t try that sneaky shower together.
“I am. Are you?”
“More than ready. I’ve waited a long time for this feeling. Plus, I’m anxious to get home to see Merek.”
“I can’t wait to meet him. I promise to keep you occupied on the flight. The time will fly past.”
We walk hand in hand toward the gate, Cole’s thumb running over my skin the way it did the first time we held hands. Although we’re headed to his home for a serious reason, I’m filled with excitement that we’re together.
“How do you plan to keep
me occupied?” He glances at me and I reward him with my biggest, brightest movie star smile. The one I’ve seen on him more than once.
“I’m going to share my bucket list with you.”
He laughs. “Another list for me to tackle.”
“Well, you’re in with a chance. The first item is for me to hold a Koala.”
We’re at the gate and Cole guides me to the first class line.
“I promise if you stick with me, every item on every list you ever had is as good as done.”
* * *
The End
The Billionaire’s Club
I hope you enjoyed The Billionaire’s Spark. I always hate waiting for the next book in a series to be released, but you’re in luck - The Billionaire’s Club is on preorder! You can grab it today on the site where you purchased this book!
* * *
Flat on his back at the mercy of the most honest woman on the planet...
* * *
Merek Rummer had plans to win Danny’s silly dating game. He organised a woman, carefully laid out his story and set the scene for an entertaining weekend to claim his triumph. Those plans vanished when an industrial accident landed him flat on his back, needing assistance for the most basic of tasks.
* * *
Then his mother chose his nurse, insisting he not be left alone for a second.
* * *
Mindy Cox had settled in to write. The resort brochure promised blissful silence, punctuated only by birdsong. What it left out was the eight weeks of renovations that steal her every creative thought from sun up to sundown. With a deadline looming, she needs a new plan.
* * *
Merek’s estate is the perfect writing environment—quiet and spread out. When Mindy lands in his bedroom, it’s the result of a giant lie she just can’t maintain. With a crotchety billionaire to contend with, her book is surely a lost cause.
* * *
Can Merek woo a woman from his sickbed to win the bet? Or will her direct approach to life derail his plans, his heart, and cost him a million bucks?
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The Steamy Sensations Books
Can’t get enough of the Secret Billionaire’s Club? Don’t worry, there’s ten books coming this year!
The Billionaire’s Heart
The Billionaire’s Luck
The Billionaire’s Treat
The Billionaire’s Duty
The Billionaire’s Spark
The Billionaire’s Club
The Billionaire’s Scare
The Billionaire’s Feast
The Billionaire’s Gift
The Billionaire’s Surprise
* * *
The Secret Billionaire’s Club is part of a multi-author project called Steamy Sensations Holiday Love. Check out the other steamy stories HERE.
* * *
10 authors have joined forces to bring you ten steamy holiday shorts. Make sure you look for these other books for Valentine’s Day:
Liz Durano
Melissa Stevens
Callie Vegas
Liz Gavin
Ja’Nese Dixon
Josie Bordeaux
Terra Kelly
Nick Danes
Heather Young-Nichols
* * *
Enjoy the whole series today!
Also by Tracey Pedersen
Finding Sweet Love Series
All At Sea
All Afloat
All Adrift
All About Us
* * *
One Week Love Story Series
Seven Days To Me
Seven Days To Us
* * *
Married This Year Series
Married This Year
Simmering Love
Adventures In Hiring
Ticket To Ride
Married This Christmas
* * *
Men About Town Series
Tap That!
Tempt Me!
Tight Ass!
Thigh High!
Turned On!
Tinsel Time!
* * *
Famous Love Series
Contracted For Love
Contracted For Life
* * *
The Secret Billionaire’s Club Series
The Billionaire’s Heart
The Billionaire’s Luck
The Billionaire’s Treat
The Billionaire’s Duty
The Billionaire’s Spark
The Billionaire’s Club
The Billionaire’s Scare
About the Author
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Tracey xxx
The Billionaire's Spark: Secret Billionaire’s Club Book Five Page 7