Disguised with the Millionaire (Dangerous Millionaires Series Book 2)

by Debra Andrews

  “It’s over, baby.” He picked up her good hand and held it in his warm one. “You didn’t have to risk your life for me by getting between a gun and a bullet, Kate. You could have been killed. Are you all right? Your arm, does it hurt?”

  She lifted up her bandaged arm that was in a sling. “I’m okay. I didn’t want to lose someone else that I… Uh, I didn’t want anyone else to die.”

  “Say it, Kate? You didn’t want to lose me. Say you love me, if you do…?”

  Numbly, she nodded as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I love you, Trent. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.” She stared toward the road without seeing and raised her chin. “But I’m going to get on with my life, as I would have before I came here. I’m going back to school to become a psychologist. I want to help children. That’s if you’re not going to prosecute me for working at your company. You know I only practiced that one day with you—and you were in on it.”

  “I said that to scare you into staying with me—I couldn’t let you go. Now look at me.” When she did, he said, “Kate, no divorce—unless you really insist. I would have been here sooner, but I had to clear up everything with the police.”

  She frowned at him. “Can you forgive me for lying to get into the company?”

  “Yeah, but forgive you? Forgive me. I should have listened to you earlier. I’m sorry, Kate. I was an idiot. And it was an admirable thing you did, seeking justice for your brother, risking everything.” He placed his arm around her, pulling her close. “And you found the killer, Kate—my own, so-called mother. She was never really a mother to me, and now I know why.”

  “How do you feel? Are you going to be all right?”

  Trent nodded. “I only feel sorry for her, for the bitter life she led. My grandfather has asked for my forgiveness, too. And I said I’d give it to him. Partly, my covering up of how bad my relationship was with Eden, kept him from not really knowing all the details. He says he done with trying to manipulate others so he can have his way. Kate, he asks for your forgiveness as well.”

  “I’ll give him mine gladly. Trent, I didn’t expect she was the one sabotaging you.” Kate laid her hand on his chest. “But I have to know that not only do you forgive me, but if you can trust me. If we don’t have trust, we don’t have anything, right? No future.”

  He cupped her cheek. “Kate, I trust you with my life—damn, you stepped into the path of a bullet for me, crazy woman. And I admit I was insanely jealous of Blake or anyone when it came to you.”

  “And your mother and my stepfather—wow. All I can say is that we didn’t luck out in the parent department.”

  Trent nodded. “I’m just glad it’s over. We’re lucky.” He pulled her close to him and lowered his lips to hers. Heat swirled through her. Moments later, he lifted his lips from hers with a groan. She gasped, not wanting their mouths to part.

  “Kate, I love you. And as your husband, I want you to tell me everything your stepfather did to you, and then we’ll forget it—or go to therapy. We can go spit on his grave every year if you’d like, but I’d rather you forget him.”

  “I’d like to let it go, too. You already know the worst. Most of my growing up was sheer neglect. I still remember being about five and standing on a chair cooking dinner over the stove, wearing a long robe. It’s a wonder I didn’t catch on fire. Mostly, Matt and I just tried to stay out of my stepfather’s way, especially when things weren’t going well for him. Then he was a monster.”

  “If I can help it, no one will ever hurt you again. You’re my sweet, brave Kate. I want us to be happy and grow old together.”

  Tears misted in her eyes. “Let’s do.”

  He blew out a deep breath and retrieved a folded paper from his pocket. “The prenuptial agreement.”

  When he started to tear it, she grabbed his hand. “You don’t have to do that.”

  He continued to rip up the paper. “We are not going to start over in our very real marriage with something like this between us. I’ll give the same amount that’s mentioned in the prenuptial agreement to the Center as a wedding gift.”

  Kate gasped. “They’ll be able to help more children.”

  He put his arm around her and squeezed. “I know how important that is to you, and I want to help children, too. You can make it your own project, if you want.” His dark gaze lowered to her lips. All she wanted was to melt into his dark eyes. “However, there is something I want from you, Kate, in return. A proper honeymoon. A long luxurious one with just the two of us, with nothing to do but love each other.”

  She felt warm beneath his gaze. When he took her mouth in another searing kiss, she thought she would burn up in a blaze of desire. His fingers trailed up her arm and covered her breast. She moaned.

  After some time, he lifted his lips from hers. “Why don’t you pack for a month? Whatever else we need, we’ll buy.”

  “As long as it’s not on the yacht,” she teased.

  “Not for a long while.” He rose from the swing. “It’s Christmas time. Not much work gets done this time of the year, and I want to give Roland a chance to handle the company.”

  She stood beside him. “That’s generous of you.”

  “He has to earn his way out of this for what he did. This is a first step. I think we all deserve a second chance and with Eden now dead, along with your stepfather, we have a chance to be a real family.” He pulled her close and gazed down at her. “Now, why don’t we get out of here before I take you into the bedroom, and we don’t get any further?”

  She reached up and pulled his face down for a kiss. “We’ll get to our honeymoon trip, but let’s start here, or I’m sure we won’t get beyond the car—and it’s kind of small.”

  “Let’s begin all over again.” He extended his hand to Kate. “Hello, I’m Trent Farrington. Architect, engineer.”

  She smiled at the absurdity. “All right. I’m Kate Meyers Farrington. I plan to one day be a psychologist and help abused children. It’s so nice to meet you.”

  “I want a large family.” He swung her up in his arms and carried her toward the door.

  “Trent, what will the neighbors think?”

  “They’ll think we’re in love. And we’d better get started. We need to have lots of kids so we don’t have to force one of them to marry to continue our dynasty.”

  She smiled. “How about four…or six?”

  He laughed. “Or a dozen? Whatever you want. No one would be any happier than my grandfather and me.”

  THE END

  *****

  Page forward for more from Debra Andrews:

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  MORE ABOUT DEBRA’S BOOKS

  Thank you for reading DISGUISED WITH THE MILLIONAIRE (Dangerous Millionaires Series). I hope you enjoyed the story.

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  Sincerely,

  Debra Andrews

  "Glitzy, Sexy Romances with a Dangerous Twist"

  BOOKS IN THE DANGEROUS MILLIONAIRES SERIES:

  (Books can be read in any order and are stand-alone stories)

  WEEKEND WEDDING DECEPTION http://amzn.to/1GrT5Th

  DANGEROUS PARADISE http://amzn.to/1GodmsW

  DISGUISED WITH THE MILLIONAIRE http://amzn.to/1YUfDr9

  HIS WYOMING LAIR (Coming 2016—to be notified when released, sign up for a new book release alert: http://eepurl.com/ZKIsb )

  ***********

  DA
NGEROUS PARADISE - BLURB

  (2012 National Readers’ Choice Awards Finalist in Romantic Suspense)

  (~ The Romance Reviews - 5 Stars TOP PICK)

  Strangers on the run for their lives: After death threats for her late father’s business crimes, a woman escapes with her new fiancé on a cruise but becomes stranded with his handsome associate. Unfortunately, the only people who know they are alive are those out to kill her.

  DANGEROUS PARADISE - CHAPTER ONE

  “What the . . .?” Kelly Cochran flicked on the light and stood rooted in the doorway of her bedroom in her Los Angeles apartment. The French doors to the balcony swung in the evening breeze, and the linen draperies billowed like sails. Her heart slammed against her ribs in a painful, warning rhythm. She had locked those doors in the morning.

  Her gaze lowered to the shattered glass on the carpet. Panic raced through her. Why had the newly installed alarm failed to go off?

  She fumbled in her purse and hit redial on her cell phone. Please, Robert, answer. He was the last person she’d spoken to and had dropped her off at her apartment only a few moments ago.

  A thump from the closet sent cold, dark fright spiraling through her. She turned to run, but strong arms grabbed her from behind, knocked her bag and phone from her hands, and sent her flying onto the bed. The man pounced on top of her and crushed the breath out of her.

  “Help!” she cried, kicking wildly. She tried for a knee-kick to his groin, but hit his thigh instead. “Somebody help me!”

  He fisted his hand in her hair and jerked her head painfully against the headboard, then clamped his other grimy hand over her mouth. “That’ll cost you, bitch. I heard about you redheads. I bet you like it rough,” he said, in an almost casual tone.

  Kelly shook her head frantically. He laughed and released his hold on her hair, then grabbed the front of her shirt. She pummeled her fist against his arm.

  He chuckled, his rotten breath assaulting her. “I’ve been paid to off you, but it’s a shame to take out a hot chick like you before we’ve had a little fun.”

  A nasty grin lit his face and frightened her more than his threats. She knew in that moment her death would mean nothing to him. Sheer terror sent adrenaline flying through her.

  She jerked her mouth free and bit down hard on his hand.

  He yelped. “Damn you, bitch.”

  Kelly managed one loud shriek before he clenched his hands around her neck, strangling her screams and cutting off her air supply.

  With spots dancing before her eyes, she clawed at his hands, but couldn’t pry loose his crushing death-grip. She had to do something to save herself. Wriggling frantically beneath him, she extended her arm and touched the edge of the nightstand. Her fingers curled around the base of her crystal lamp.

  Thunk. He grunted and his hands fell away but his body weight slumped on top of her.

  She shoved him off her and air rushed into her lungs. Raising fingers to her throbbing throat, she rolled from the bed. The man groaned.

  A crash in the living room—as if the door had been broken down—startled her.

  “Kelly!” Robert yelled.

  Her breath rushed out in a tide of relief. Thank God, he was here.

  She snapped her head toward her attacker who’d already staggered to his feet. Her previous adrenaline rush that had allowed her to fight so violently for her life had vanished. Now, she gasped for breath, and trembling consumed her body.

  Instead of coming toward her, the intruder fled onto the second-floor balcony. He gave her one last menacing glare that promised he’d be back, then grasped a rope and was gone.

  * * *

  One Week Later - April Fools’ Day

  “I’m perfectly safe, Aunt Kaye,” Kelly said into her cell phone. “I’m a thousand miles away from L.A. and that thug. What could possibly happen?”

  Kelly opened the blinds overlooking her balcony on the luxurious Royal Queen III. Outside, a steady, wind-driven rain rapped the glass––a clear testament to the unpredictability of typhoon season in the South Pacific.

  Despite her reassurances to her aunt, Kelly’s throat tightened. Before the attack, she had taken the simple act of breathing for granted. No more.

  “Sorry I left so suddenly.” She hoped she sounded normal enough to soothe Aunt Kaye’s fears. “If word gets out someone tried to kill me, it could hurt the company.”

  “The company? I’m worried sick about you,” her aunt said in her raspy voice.

  “Don’t be. That’s why Robert insisted I go on this trip. We need to consider our options and decide what I’m going to do. Now, please, don’t worry. Perhaps, by the time I return, Detective Spagnola will have someone in custody.”

  “You seem to be spending a lot of time with Robert?”

  “I enjoy being with him. Why?”

  “But he was your father’s lifelong friend,” Aunt Kaye said. “I thought you always considered him as an uncle. With his mother working for your grandparents and living on the estate, he was almost like your dad’s little brother.”

  “Yes, but we’re not related by blood, Aunt Kaye. And you should have seen Robert. He was impressive. He busted down the door to my apartment and ran in like a hero. He risked his life to save mine—that killer could have shot him. That he did what he did, means a lot to me.”

  That night she’d flung herself into Robert’s arms so thankful for his help.

  “I’ll allow you that he’s compelling, and I’m grateful to him, too, for coming to your rescue,” Aunt Kaye muttered, “but didn’t the thug flee before Robert even walked into the bedroom? It sounds to me like you saved yourself.”

  “But, Aunt Kaye, I don’t know how long I could have held the man off.” Though she was surprised at how violent she’d been when put to the test.

  “You’re under a lot of stress with this maniac after you. Don’t do anything––”

  “Impulsive?” Kelly frowned. She had worked hard to curb her impetuous nature. And after graduating with her MBA, she had returned to work for the family company. Still, Kelly sensed her aunt needed reassurance. “This cruise is nothing more than a chance for me to regroup. And it’s a business trip for Robert. He’ll be busy with his clients. I’m just grateful for this chance to get away.”

  “All right, sweetie. I’ll try to lose my auntie jitters. However, you’re young and beautiful. Robert’s no fool—”

  When the ship’s horn blasted, Kelly exhaled a sigh of relief. She didn’t want to discuss her feelings for Robert. She wasn’t even sure what she felt for him. He’d been her friend and mentor for so long . . . “Aunt Kaye, the ship’s leaving port. I’ll call you in a few days. I love you.”

  The ship moved out of the Port of Lautoaka and along the Fiji shoreline, blurred by the deluge. Kelly hadn’t seen the sunshine since they’d arrived yesterday.

  Bracing her hand on the door, she felt the change as the ship entered the open water where waves crested into peaks before plummeting into a green-gray ocean. Dampness mingled with the air-conditioning and the smell of saltwater. She shivered and rubbed her arms for warmth. A headache hammered her temples and she glanced around, nervously.

  You’re safe on this trip. As if to taunt her, lightning seared the darkening sky, followed by the loudest crash of thunder she’d heard all afternoon.

  “Oh . . .” She whirled from the stormy view and paced the floor of the large, blue and gold cabin, agitated and second guessing her decision to take this luxurious trip.

  Get a grip, girl. She stepped to the dresser and examined her reflection in the mirror. She brushed her long hair away from her neck and carefully traced her fingertips along the tender bruises. Although still a faint yellow, the bruises were barely noticeable with the makeup she’d applied that morning.

  Oh, Dad, why did you leave me in this mess?

  Thankfully, she had Robert in her life. When they’d arrived that morning, he surprised her by having two dozen white roses delivered to her cabin.


  Kelly leaned over and inhaled the sweet fragrance, then reread his bold script on his card.

  ‘Love always, Robert.’

  She smiled. Did he mean the kind of love one had for a lover? She suspected his feelings for her had changed when he kissed her unexpectedly the day after the attack. And then, ‘to ensure her safety,’ he’d asked her to accompany him on this business trip.

  She had almost been killed . . .

  Had he been so shaken up that he realized he loved her?

  With a sigh, Kelly walked to the closet and removed her blue evening gown from a hanger. The silk caressed her fingertips as she draped the dress over a chair. Tonight she’d explore this new romantic side of Robert. A girl could get used to this.

  Deciding she needed a rejuvenating shower, she stripped down to her underwear. Then her gaze fell on a familiar gray envelope on the nightstand.

  The terror had begun a month ago with the arrival of the first in a series of similar threatening letters. This was the first one since the attack.

  Her pulse beat erratically as she reached for the envelope and sank onto a chair. The usual cut-and-pasted letters from magazines creepily spelled out her name and company address.

  Despite her shaking hands, she opened the envelope and managed to read the letter’s different-sized words.

  You take expensive trips and don’t repay your father’s debts. Next time, you die.

  Kelly leapt to her feet. Robert had paid for this trip and this elegant suite. Even though many clients had lost their life savings in the company’s debacle after her father’s death, she and Robert were going to make sure all were gradually repaid. Resisting the urge to crumple the letter, she stuffed it back into the envelope.

  With it in hand, she slipped on her robe, hoping Robert was next door in his cabin. The clatter of something falling in the bathroom . . . made her pause. A chill edged her spine. She froze.