Reluctant Billionaire
Page 10
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About the Author
Cheryl Phipps is a USA Today Bestselling Author.
‘Never forget to laugh at yourself.’
As a young mother with three small children, Cheryl Phipps escaped the daily chaos of motherhood through her beloved romance novels. She loved being whisked away from nappies and wiping noses to exotic locations filled with suave heroes and feisty heroines, and wonderful small towns with heart-warming tales of strong family ties and life-affirming true love.
Her bookshelves still hold those favorite authors – Marie Force, Nora Roberts, Marian Keyes and Cathy Kelly – plus new-found favourites, Bella Andre and Roxanne St Claire, who write stories that echo Cheryl’s own values: family always comes first and life’s struggles and challenges are always surmountable through love.
Cheryl’s three children have now grown up and have families of their own, leaving her arguably free to pursue her dreams of writing novels. She has published 17 so far with another 2 due out soon. She lives in a quiet suburb of New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, with her wonderful husband, who she married the moment she left school (yes, they were high school sweethearts). She enjoys taking walks with her husband, dinner out with friends, travel, and, of course, weaving sensual stories that celebrate the joy of love, family and resilience.
www.cherylphipps.com
cheryl@cherylphipps.com
Also by Cheryl Phipps
Contemporary
Millionaire - Family Ties Series
The Millionaire Next Door
The Millionaire’s Proposal
The Millionaire’s Seduction
Billionaire Knights Series
Restless Billionaire
Ruthless Billionaire
Reluctant Billionaire
Reckless Billionaire – out late 2017
Resistant Billionaire – out late 2017
Prossers Bay Series
Prossers Bay Boxed Set - Books 1-3
Finding Liam
Seducing Megan
Saving Stephanie
Emily’s Wish
Laguna Beach Series
Weddings in Laguna
Hidden in Laguna
Romantic Comedy - Sycamore Springs Series
Jack and Gill
Adam and Eve
Samson and Delilah out late 2017
Romantic Suspense
Bend But Never Break
Restless Billionaire
Macy took a bite of the lobster and it was perfect. Nothing less should be expected at Bruno's, because the Chilean chef had exacting standards which he led by. She licked her lips in anticipation of the next mouthful.
"You have a little sauce right there." Evan pointed to her chest.
Sure enough, as careful as she'd been, there it was. Her shirt was no longer so white. She shrugged. “Happens all the time here. Actually, there's bibs on the side of the table. I don't know how I forgot about them."
"Bibs?"
"Yes.” She reached over the table and pulled two of the firm paper bibs and handed him one. “To cover your clothes."
His eyes were like saucers. "Like a baby?"
Macy laughed at his shock. "Too fancy for a bib?"
"I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t," he said wryly.
"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you," she told him, as she fastened the paper bib around her neck and tucked it down her front.
Evan shook his head in amusement. Crack! He broke open a claw and juice sprayed across the table.
"Oops, sorry. Lucky you had the bib."
"Unlucky you didn't," she smirked.
He looked down at his spotted linen shirt that had earlier also been the one color. A dazzling blue that matched his dreamy eyes.
"I should have listened to the expert."
Macy liked that he wasn't outraged at spoiling his shirt. She liked that he could see the humor in such a thing. She liked an awful lot about Evan Knight.
It turned out to be a fun and enjoyable night, and at Bruno's insistence they even forced down a small bowl of gelato despite being full.
While Evan paid, Macy went to thank Bruno, and say hi to his wife and the kitchen staff, who made a fuss and told her to come back soon. Her heart was as full as her stomach by the time she found her way back to Evan.
They walked out into an end of a summer night, and stood at the rail on the edge of the world, where the breeze was a little fresher, but the air was still heavy with the smell of the ocean.
“Come an look at this.” she pulled him by the hand, around the corner, and pointed down. It was finally getting dark and they could see the lights far below of the marina and the shopping district.
“That’s a beautiful sight,” he said, but he was already looking back at her.
She realised they were still holding hands and she let go to grab the rail. “I’m so glad you talked me into coming out with you tonight, Evan. It’s nice to see a different face around town. Unless it's tourist season, when it's crazy with strangers."
"I'm glad too. But surely it’s still tourist season here?”
“The season used to be longer, and we’ll get the odd person who wants a more intimate experience between now and winter, but there’s so many choices for people along the coast, with towns that have more to offer than Heaven’s Cove. We haven’t exactly moved with the times”
“That must make business tough?”
“Business is just fine.”
“Good. Will you have any time off this weekend?"
She hesitated. One date was all she’d planned for, but she was having such a good time, why not have more while she could? "When do you go home?"
"Sunday afternoon."
"And you had no plans?"
"I was going to sail all weekend, but I could be persuaded to do something else."
His voice conveyed a meaning she couldn't ignore. “It might be quieter on Saturday afternoon. I can ask my dad to take care of things if he's well enough. We could take Maggie out and I can show you some beautiful bays around here."
"That would be good. I hope I’m not being too pushy, but what are you doing tomorrow night?"
"Oh. Since it's Friday, I usually have a beer at the local bar. You can come if you want. It's kind of a tradition for most of the town. A winding down gently into the weekend kind of thing."
"Sounds good, if I wouldn't be intruding?"
"Not at all. Everybody's welcome."
"In that case. I accept."
As he drove carefully down the hill, Macy studied him. He had a kind face. A strong chin. A lovely smile. And, he’d ‘saved’ her from Sean. Could he really be privileged, and also be such a nice guy?
“Want me to show you the town?”
“Sure. Shall I park?”
She laughed. “It won’t take that long. Just drive in a straight line.”