Bedding The Billionaire (Bedding the Bachelors Book 3)

by Virna DePaul

  “It’s been devastating for me, too,” she said. “I’m sorry for running.”

  “I know you are,” he said. “I want nothing more than to be with you. I love you with all my heart. But I have to trust that when you commit yourself to me, you’re going to give me all of you and that, come what may, bad or good, you’ll stand by my side so we can deal with whatever happens together.”

  “I want to give you that. I want to promise you that.”

  “I know. But like I told you before, it’s not a matter of just saying it, Luce. It’s a matter of proving it.”

  “So that’s it? I ran. I disappointed you and now you don’t want me anymore?”

  “I can never not want you.”

  “But I can hear it in your voice. You’re walking away just like before. All those months ago, you never called me. You never came after me.”

  “I was giving you time. Hoping you’d come to me.

  “You’re too used to getting whatever you want. You’re spoiled.”

  “Maybe I am. Maybe things have come too easily to me. But I’ve given you what you wanted. Sex without commitment—”

  She snorted. “Like it’s not what you wanted too?”

  “The sex absolutely. But you’re more than sex, Luce.”

  “Then why won’t you fight for me?”

  “Because I need you to fight for me.”

  The silence that followed his words told him he’d stunned her almost as much as he’d stunned himself. But it was true. He needed her to fight for him, whether it was today or tomorrow. If she wasn’t willing to do that…

  “I don’t ever want you to be embarrassed of me or regret being with me,” she finally said. “I don’t want to screw up your life.”

  “Then don’t walk out of it,” he said. “Stay with me. Come to me. But do it only if you can commit and fight for what we have. I’ve got to go now, but think about what I’ve said, sweet thing. And take care of yourself.”

  “You too,” she whispered.

  And even though it was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do, Jamie hung up the phone.

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  “The people of Summitville want to thank you and Whitcomb Enterprises for your generosity, Jamie. And we want to apologize, unfortunately not for all but for some of us, for the initial mistrust we laid at your feet.”

  “I’m just glad we’re moving beyond the past, Garrett,” Jamie said into the phone. “And that we’re working on solutions to heal the town.” He hoped the healing would apply to both the land surrounding the old automotive factory and some of the lingering grief over Sierra’s death and any anger directed at Jamie because of it.

  But Jamie had finally accepted he could only do so much, and that the speed and degree of one’s healing had a lot to do with the attitude of the person grieving.

  As it always did, his mind found a way to divert his thoughts to Lucy. He had no doubt she still grieved her sister’s death, but was she grieving Jamie’s absence from her life? He liked to think so, given how terribly he missed her.

  “We’ll see you in a few weeks,” Garrett said.

  Jamie said goodbye, hung up the phone, and turned his chair so he was staring out his window. Instead of seeing the impressive cityscape, however, his mind was filled with memories of Lucy on her pink bike. Lucy petting a stingray and holding a snake. Lucy underneath him and above him, urging him to give her the release she craved…

  He cursed even as his dick hardened.

  It had been two weeks since he’d asked Lucy to come to him with her heart fully committed, and it still hadn’t happened. His body craved hers. But most of all, he missed just being with her, talking with her, and enjoying her sassy sense of humor.

  Maybe she’d never come to him. Maybe Lucy’s prejudices and fears about his wealth and privileged background weren’t something she’d ever be able to overcome.

  He didn’t want to accept that, but at what point did hope have to give way to realism?

  Someone knocked on his door and he turned his chair around again. “Come in.”

  It was his assistant, Annabelle. “Just bringing you your mail.”

  He took the pile of envelopes. “Thanks,” Jamie said. He started to sort through the mail, but sensed Annabelle hadn’t moved away.

  “I’m sorry, was there something else, Annabelle?”

  “Just…um…” She hesitated, then reached out and withdrew a bright orange envelope from the middle of the pile and put it on top. “You’ll want to open this first.”

  He looked down at the envelope, his eyes widening when he saw the beautiful black and fuchsia print on the front.

  It was addressed to Jamison Whitcomb the Fourth.

  The return sender?

  Lucille Conrad, soon-to-be Mrs. Jamison Whitcomb the Fourth.

  * * *

  After her last conversation with Jamie, it had only taken an hour of serious contemplation for Lucy to conclude that hell, yes, she could commit herself to him and everything that came with him—for better or worse. All she’d had to do was replay the last few weeks they’d spent together and recognize his willingness, even after those horrible pictures came out and she ran away, to give her a second chance.

  But she didn’t just want to tell him that. Like he said, words didn’t mean anything unless they were backed up with action. So she’d enlisted Melina and Grace to help her start planning. Thus began a whirlwind of activity. Time and again, she’d almost given in to her desperate urge to contact Jamie and beg to see him. She knew he was probably worried that she hadn’t done so yet, but she hoped that in the end, he’d think the surprise she had planned for him had been worth the wait.

  The ball had started rolling as soon as Lucy had contacted the event planner recommended by Melina. Ariana Castillo had her own reality show and had become famous by taking people’s thoughts and dreams, mixing them with their personality, and turning them into the most fabulous, awe-inspiring parties anyone had ever seen. She was normally booked at least a year in advance, but Jamie’s father was somehow involved in the production of her show, so she’d happily put Lucy’s event at the top of her list.

  When Lucy had called her, the voice on the other end of the line sounded too young for a woman who’d been planning high-profile parties for the last decade. When Lucy told her that, Ariana had laughed and said, “I guess the party lifestyle keeps me young. Do me a favor, Lucy. Close your eyes and tell me what you envision for this party.”

  And Lucy had, starting with the fact she wanted it held not at a posh hotel but someplace old Hollywood, like a sunset ranch. Ariana had taken everything from there, checking in often with Lucy to make sure the event came out the way she wanted. They’d enlisted the talents of some of Los Angeles’s best caterers, florists, and set designers, and sent out hundreds of invitations after Brianne had helped her with the guest list.

  Now, the time had come for what Lucy hoped would be one of the most talked about engagement parties L.A. had seen in decades. A reality star with the initials K.K. was even rumored to have tweeted about it.

  It was less than an hour before the event began. She knew Jamie was coming because he’d sent in his RSVP. She couldn’t wait to see him and the expression on his face when he walked in. She wanted him to love it. She wanted him to still love her. And she hoped and prayed he’d see the party for what it was—her over-the-top pledge that she was committed to blending their two worlds—their two selves—to create one incredibly fun, passionate, and unique life together.

  * * *

  As the limo pulled into the long driveway leading to the Dandelion Ranch, Jamie stared at the invitation Lucy had sent him. Against the elegant black background, the fuchsia embossed lettering read, “Lucy and Jamie.” Then right underneath it read “Engaged” in white scroll lettering.

  He smoothed his fingers across the one word, telling himself the tightness in his chest was solely excitement, but he knew some of it was nerves. Not because he doubted Luc
y, her commitment, or her ability to put on a spectacular event, but because after talking to Brianne, he knew who else had been on the invitation list, and he didn’t want anything or anyone to put a damper on the joy of evening. Lucy had invited not only his immediate family and her mother and father, but their families’ family and friends. Hell, even Gretchen and dickhead David had made the list. And Rachel and Michael, when as far as Jamie knew, the only time she’d met them was at that one disastrous encounter at the café on Coronado Island.

  The driver pulled up front and Jamie stepped out of the car. The exterior of the ranch house was rugged and well maintained, but there were no fussy trappings announcing an engagement party was taking place inside. When he opened the door, however, he could see the outdoor patio and how it had been transformed…

  “Oh, my God,” he said in a breathless voice.

  From behind him, he heard Lucy say, “Is that a good, ‘Oh, my God,’ or an “I want to run back outside’ one?” she asked.

  He turned around to face her. “I’d say that is the best, “Oh, my God,” I’ve ever uttered, but it’s not true.”

  Her beautiful eyes flashed with worry. “It’s not?”

  “No. Because I hadn’t seen you yet.” He twirled his finger so she’d spin around.

  She looked glorious.

  She’d put her nose piercing back in and wore a black and fuchsia dress that reminded him of a pin-up girl. The neckline was cut low, but not plunging, and it maintained a scalloped pattern all the way around the back. The silky material ended just below her upper thighs, where about two-inches of orange petticoat peeked out. Her shoes were orange, and her bag was a plaid of black, orange, and fuchsia. She’d colored her hair red again, and she’d pulled the sides back and pinned it with a bright orange flower.

  Jamie didn’t know much about fashion, but he suspected most women couldn’t pull off such a dramatic, intensely-colored look.

  His Lucy did it beautifully.

  “Now that I’ve seen you,” he said, “Oh. My. God. Words can’t express how wonderful you look to me right now. And I’d say that if you were wearing a raggedy tarp.”

  The worry left her eyes, and they sparkled with joy. “Right back atcha, Professor. Now…” She held out her arm. “The guests haven’t arrived yet because I wanted you to see it all first. But they’ll be here soon. May I escort you outside?”

  * * *

  As Jamie hooked his arm through hers and they walked outside, she saw the party decorations as if for the first time through his eyes. The colors around the room matched the invitation—black, white, fuchsia, and bright orange. Market lights had been strung up, and at sunset they would transform the party from an evening cocktail party into a magical nighttime dance in the wilderness. All the linens and chairs were black, grounding the vibrant outdoor space. The cardboard vases used to create the centerpieces were also black and blended in with the tabletop so that the color of the vibrant pink and orange roses, dahlias, and daisies, popped right off of the table.

  There was a fully stocked bar, and waiters in black uniforms and orange and fuchsia ties passing appetizers on trays. The appetizers were classy, but playful—things like dirty martini skewers, crackers with pesto tapenade, spicy stuffed mushrooms and French fries served with spicy ketchup.

  One table was covered with orange paper cones filled with strawberry cotton candy and the bar was serving a special drink made of vodka and orange cream club. The dessert table was filled with handmade cookies decorated in matching colors with some even bearing the monogram “JL.” There were orange and pink cupcakes with sugar flowers that matched the fresh ones on the tables.

  A wooden dance floor had been set up in one corner with orange and pink planks interwoven into the brightly polished wood. The band had set up on a black stage adorned in orange and pink flowers and ribbon.

  “Will the fairies be coming out when the sun goes down? Because this is all so magical, I wouldn’t be surprised at all. But there’s two thing’s missing.”

  “What’s that?”

  He slipped his hand in his pocket and pulled out the engagement ring. She immediately held out her hand and he slipped the ring on her finger. She stared at it for a moment, admiring the beauty of the ring that Jamie had picked out for her.

  Because she knew without having to be told that he’d picked it out for her specifically.

  He took her hand, lifted it to his mouth, and kissed her palm. Then he said, “You haven’t kissed me yet, sweet thing.”

  “Well, we need to take care of that…”

  Lucy stood on her toes, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him, putting every drop of love and happiness and excitement she felt into the act. By the time she pulled away, they were both breathing heavy. Jamie’s hands wandered her back and the top of her ass, and he leaned his forehead against hers. “You sure the guests will be here soon?”

  No sooner did the words leave his mouth than they heard Brianne shout, “Oh, my God! Lucy, it came out even more beautiful than I expected!”

  They turned to see Brianne, Jamie’s parents, Gabe, Ryan, Cole, and Luke stepping on to the patio. Brianne had insisted she send Eric an invitation, but he’d never even RSVP’d, which worried Lucy. From everything she’d heard about him, neither his actions on his wedding day nor the ignored party invitation fit who he was. But she wasn’t going to bring that up now. Maybe later…

  After that, the guests began arriving in droves. Lucy greeted them warmly whether she knew them or not, or whether she liked them or not. Tonight was about celebrating her and Jamie, but it was also about proving to him that she was willing to do whatever it took to fit into his world without changing who she was.

  At one point, she looked up to see Rachel and Michael approaching. Jamie didn’t look at her, and he didn’t say a word, but the way he squeezed her hand let her know that he was one hundred percent there for her if things got ugly.

  “Jamie, what a quaint little place to have a party. Was this your idea?”

  “No, Rachel, the party was all Lucy. She did an amazing job.”

  Rachel scanned Lucy from top to toe and said, “Oh, hi Lucy. You blended in to the background there, so I didn’t even see you at first.” She laughed. When no one else did, she said, “Oh, my goodness, I was kidding. Can’t any of you take a joke?”

  “Was that what that was, Rachel?” Jamie asked. “Because it sounded more like a put down and if it was, you can leave right now.”

  Rachel’s eyes widened and her face turned red. “No, it really was a joke, Jamie.” She turned to Lucy, “I’m sorry, Lucy, if I offended you.”

  Lucy just smiled. “Have a good time, Rachel.”

  “Let’s go find a seat,” Michael said, dragging her away.

  Jamie squeezed her waist. “I appreciate all this more than I can say, Luce, but you have to know, life with me isn’t about you having to hang out with jerks and take it. If someone hurts or insults you in my presence, I certainly won’t let it go, and if I’m not there, you’re free to go all spunky pants on whoever you need to.”

  Lucy giggled. Honestly, while she’d been tempted to roll her eyes at Rachel’s failed attempt at humor, it hadn’t bothered her beyond that. It was as if, with Jamie by her side and his ring back on her finger, she was made of Teflon.

  A few minutes later, however, Lucy saw her own mother and father approaching and felt that old, familiar tickle of apprehension building in her stomach and chest. It settled when her mother grabbed her in a hug and held her tight. When she finally let go, she had tears in the corners of her eyes. “Thank you for including us, Lucy. This is beautiful. You’re beautiful.”

  Lucy felt tears fill her own eyes. It had been over fifteen years since her mother had told her she was beautiful.

  “Thank you for coming, Mom. We’re so glad to have you.”

  Lucy’s father stepped up next. He didn’t look at her dress or her shoes or her hair. He looked directly into her eyes and said, “Thank yo
u, Lucille. You have no idea what this means to us.”

  Lucy stepped forward and hugged him, and after a few seconds he relaxed and hugged her back.

  There were over two hundred people in attendance by the time the guests stopped arriving and the party got into full swing. Mason’s parents and his sister never showed, and Lucy hated that Milly wasn’t there, but Jamie’s entire family, Grace and Max, Melina, Rhys, and the twins, most of Jamie’s friends and co-workers and their dates or significant others, and at least a hundred others, both rich and not so rich, mingled together beautifully. When the sun went down and the pink, orange, and white lights came on over the dance floor, the band fired up and the real fun started.

  And that was when Jamie took her into his arms and danced the night away with her.

  EPILOGUE

  Jamie stood at the altar waiting for his bride, his best man and groomsmen by his side. Across from him stood Brianne and (Jamie still couldn’t believe it) Rachel, who shock of all shocks, had become one of Lucy’s good friends during the past year.

  Jamie looked across the expansive grounds of his father’s estate to the spectacular ocean view and marveled at how far he and Lucy had come.

  After things between him and Lucy had been settled, she’d turned her focus on Milly. Since Mason’s family had continued to be rude and uncooperative, she’d taken them to court. Standing in front of a room full of people, including several who’d made her feel “less than” for a lot of years, she told the judge how much she wanted to honor her sister’s wishes by taking care of Milly. She argued she’d make a great guardian. She told the judge how much she had accomplished since she’d emancipated at sixteen years old, including putting herself through college to earn advanced degrees. She detailed her teaching achievements and provided letters of recommendation from almost a hundred co-workers, friends, and family, including Lucy’s mother and father. She admitted she liked to have fun, but said that made her well-rounded and an even better role model for Milly.