Billionaire's Island Bride (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series)

by Angelo, Judy

  “I know. I was a fool. It was a secret I kept to myself but I’m telling you now. I love you, Erin. You and Soleil are my life. I want you with me forever.”

  Her face crumpled and he could see she was struggling to hold back the tears . “Do you mean it, Dare? Don’t play with me.”

  “Do I look like I’m joking?” His grip tightened round her. “You’re mine and you can keep digging up all the skeletons you want. You’ll never scare me off. You’re never going to get away from me, Erin. You’re trapped with me on this island. I’ll hide your passport if I have to.”

  To his relief that got him his first smile from her. “You won’t have to,” she said, smiling through her tears. “You have me for life.”

  And when Dare pulled her close and kissed her she responded with a passion that told him, without a doubt, that every word she said was true.

  EPILOGUE

  “Thank you so much for coming, Dare.” Robyn clasped his hand for a second and her eyes brimmed with tears.

  Then she turned to Erin. “And Erin how can I ever thank you?” She took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Erin in a fierce hug. Then she stepped back and dabbed daintily at her eyes with a handkerchief.

  “I’m so glad you were able to make it for the funeral. Mom had a special place in her heart for you, Erin. You know that, don’t you?” She dabbed at her nose then tucked her hankie into her purse. “That’s why I was so distressed when I couldn’t reach you. Mom would never have forgiven me.” She looked over at Dare. “Did Erin tell you I was always jealous of her?” She gave a little laugh. “Mom was always comparing the two of us. Erin was the angel and I was the devil.” She shrugged. “It took me a long time to realize what Mom wanted me to learn from Erin - her strength, her determination.” Her eyes took on a faraway look. “During those last days in her battle with cancer we talked…more than we talked all my years growing up in the house. And that’s when I began to understand her and how much she wanted the best for me.”

  She took a deep breath then pasted a brave smile on her lips. “I guess it’s time for me to grow up now.” She touched Erin on the shoulder then turned and walked across the churchyard to the limousine where the rest of her family waited patiently for her.

  After she climbed into the car and they drove off Erin turned to her husband. “Thanks for coming with me,” she said.

  "I wouldn’t have let you come alone,” he said with a smile. “Now let's get back to the hotel before Princess Soleil drives poor Francine crazy.”

  With a chuckle he put his arms around her shoulder and Erin put her arm around his waist knowing that she had the greatest blessing in the world. She was loved.

  THE END

  Thank you for reading ‘Billionaire's Island Bride’. I sincerely appreciate your support. If you liked this story I would appreciate your clicking the ‘Like' button on my Amazon page. Positive reviews are also very welcome! That’s the best support any author could ask for.

  CLICK HERE TO LIKE OR REVIEW: BILLIONAIRE'S ISLAND BRIDE

  The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series (click on the links to go to each book):

  TAMED by the BILLIONAIRE

  MAID in the U.S.A.

  BILLIONAIRE'S ISLAND BRIDE

  DANGEROUS DECEPTION

  BOX SET - BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES COLLECTION, VOLS. 1 - 4

  Excerpts follow:

  TAMED BY THE BILLIONAIRE

  CHAPTER ONE

  Roman Steele stared across the boardroom table at his long-time business associate. “So basically you’re telling me she’s a spoiled brat.”

  The older man frowned. “Since you put it so bluntly…yes, I guess that’s what I’m saying.” Richard Van Buren laced his fingers across his stomach and leaned back in the chair. “She’s getting me worried, Roman. She’s all grown up now. She can’t keep behaving like this.”

  “Don’t you think you’re being melodramatic?” Roman asked, slightly amused. “You said she’s grown now. I would think the realities of life would calm her.”

  “That’s the problem. I haven’t exposed her to any of those realities.” Richard shook his head then sighed. “Ever since her mother died when she was six I’ve been spoiling Serena, letting her have her own way. Trying to make up for the loss of her mother, I guess.” His eyes took on a distant look and his voice trailed away.

  “But you went overboard?” Roman prompted.

  Richard grimaced. “I let her run wild for years. I thought with the supervision of the housekeeper she would be alright. After all, girls are supposed to be easier to raise than boys, right? Guess I was wrong.” Richard smiled ruefully. He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a brown leather wallet from which he took a small photograph. He slid it across the table. “This is my Serena when she was nineteen.” He shrugged. "It's a couple of years old."

  Roman picked it up and found himself staring at the smiling face of a girl sitting on the back of a shiny black stallion. She was breathtakingly beautiful with long chestnut hair floating around her heart-shaped face and a pretty pout that drew attention to the pink petals of her lips. Her eyes were the exquisite blue of the Pacific Ocean and in them was a bold defiance that spoke of the girl's confidence and spirit.

  Roman raised his eyebrows. “So this is Serena,” he said, almost to himself. “She’s a beauty.”

  “That’s the problem,” Richard said grimly. “She’s beautiful and she knows it. And she's also the daughter of a wealthy man who spoils her." His face turned sad. "This is not how I want things to be. I want my daughter to be prepared for the world. When I pass on she’s the one who’s going to take charge of the company and right now she’s not prepared for any of that.”

  Roman tore his gaze away from the photograph and looked back at Richard. “You talk as if you plan to leave soon,” he said with a chuckle. “You’re as healthy as a horse.”

  “Yes, but you never know...” Richard tapped his silver pen on the table, his weathered face thoughtful. “Serena is finishing up college in a week. She’ll be twenty-one with a Bachelor's degree in art history. She didn’t even do her degree in business like I told her. How prepared can she be to take over the business?" He shook his head then smiled wryly. "I can’t even rely on her to find a suitable husband. She’s shown no interest in the guys who've come knocking. She'll probably keep rejecting them for years to come.”

  “So what are you going to do about this?”

  Richard shrugged. “Short of forcing her into marriage with a man with some business sense, I have no idea.” Then he grinned at the preposterous idea. "If only we were back in the nineteenth century."

  Roman sat back and looked keenly at Richard. He could see that despite his attempt at humor the older man was distressed. They'd just finished up a business meeting where they'd discussed a possible collaboration between both their companies. They were considering a partnership in the development of a new line of skin care products. Out of the blue Richard started talking about his daughter. The situation was obviously weighing heavily on his mind.

  “So let me get this straight," Roman said, folding his arms across his chest. "You have a daughter who likes to have her own way. She doesn't listen to you yet you give her whatever she wants. You’ve been doing this for the past twenty-one years and now you want her to settle down and get involved in the business?”

  Richard gave a solemn nod. "I know I've been a terrible parent. And I know it’s late. I should have been firm with her all those years." He gave a deep sigh. “She's not prepared, Roman. My daughter needs a crash course in real life.”

  Roman released his folded arms and leaned forward. “I have an idea that could help.”

  “Yes?” Richard raised his eyebrows, obviously curious.

  “What if your daughter worked for me for a while, say for the next six months?”

  “You would take her under your wing, be a mentor to her?”

  “Right. I’ll give her responsibilities that will equip her to help you in t
he management of your company. There’s just so much you can learn within a six month period but I can structure her role and experiences so that they’ll give her a foundation in business. You can build on that once her internship is over.”

  Richard looked doubtful. “You know she could easily get that experience at my office.”

  “True, but how seriously do you think she'd take her job knowing that she could leave work, go shopping and never get fired?”

  Richard's lips tightened. “I see your point."

  “Now I can’t promise you that after six months your daughter will be an angel but what I do promise is that she’ll leave my company with experience in the various aspects of business.”

  “Sounds good so far,” Richard said, still with a hint of doubt in his voice. “I’m going to have to figure out the best way to break this to her. I know she had her heart set on touring Europe right after graduation but now this? She’s going to have a fit.”

  “And you, dear Dad, are going to sit her down and let her know she starts work at Steele Industries the first week of July.”

  “That’s just a week after she gets here.”

  “What better time to start? It will be before she gets used to being at home, all relaxed. She needs to jump in head first.”

  Richard nodded then he expelled his breath and on his face was a look of relief. He rose and stretched out a hand to his partner in crime. "Roman, as of the first week of July my daughter is in your hands. Let's shake on that." There was a twinkle in his gray eyes as he smiled. "I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into.”

  Roman grasped Richard's hand. “Don't you worry about that. By the time I'm done your Serena will be a new woman." He smiled, full of confidence, as he released the man's hand. "You can trust me on that.”

  ******

  If you enjoyed this excerpt, get the full story by clicking on the link:

  TAMED by the BILLIONAIRE

  And here's a sample of Volume 2:

  MAID IN THE USA

  CHAPTER ONE

  Celine hummed a love song as she pushed the housekeeping trolley down the carpeted hallway. Today was going to be a great day she’d told herself, no matter that she was stuck in Cambridge for yet another summer when she’d much rather be back home in France with her mother and two rowdy little brothers.

  She smiled as she thought about Marc and Sylvan. The ten and twelve year olds were probably driving her maman crazy at this very moment with their constant pranks and rough play. If only she could be home with them. She was the only one who could keep those two in check.

  She stopped at the door to suite 1206. No time to dwell on that now. She had twelve suites to clean in the next few hours and she wanted to make a good impression. For the last two summers she’d worked at small hotels where the pay was minimal and the hours long. This summer she’d been lucky to land a job at one of the largest hotels on Main Street. She’d be earning almost fifty percent more than she’d made at her previous job. It was still a far cry from adequate but if she kept to a tight budget she might just be able to save enough to go home for Christmas.

  Celine knocked on the door. No answer. She knocked again just to be sure then stuck her keycard in the slot and pushed the door open. Gathering up a handful of towels and tiny bottles of toiletries she tucked them in the crook of her arm, grabbed the handle of the vacuum cleaner then backed into the room.

  The presidential suite was magnificent with a spacious living room filled with antique furniture and ornate carpeting. A sparkling crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. Celine paused to admire the elegant room. Oh, to be able to live like this. She chuckled to herself. It would probably take a month’s salary for her to pay for one night in this suite.

  Now where to start? She had an armful of towels so the bathroom it was. Still humming she pushed the door and walked into the bedroom.

  At that moment she heard a click and the bathroom door opened. She gasped and the towels fell from her hands. Standing in front of her, his face hidden by a thick towel, was a tall, muscular and very naked man.

  Celine screamed.

  “What the…” The man dropped the towel and stared back at her in obvious shock. “Where did you come from?”

  “I…I’m sorry,” Celine said as she backed away. “I thought the suite was empty. I’m so sorry.”

  The man was staring at her with eyes that were shockingly green. “I was in the shower so if you knocked I wouldn’t have heard a thing.”

  Mon Dieu. He was standing there, tall and lean and every inch a man, and he was making no move to cover himself. Celine dropped her eyes, her face hot with embarrassment. She turned to flee.

  “Wait. I want to talk to you.”

  Was he serious? She would not turn back to talk to a naked man no matter how handsome. She was back in the living room and had already grabbed hold of her vacuum cleaner when his voice stopped her.

  “Don’t leave,” he said, his voice imperious and bold. He sounded like the kind of man who expected to be obeyed. He was standing in the bedroom doorway and this time, thankfully, he had the towel wrapped around his waist. “Wait for me in the living room. I’ll get dressed.”

  Without bothering to wait for a reply he turned and went back into the bedroom, leaving Celine staring at the empty doorway...

  ***

  Get the full story, 'Maid in the USA' by clicking on the link:

  MAID in the U.S.A.

  DANGEROUS DECEPTION

  CHAPTER ONE

  “But Dani…”

  “No ‘buts’. Just tuck it away for a rainy day.” Danielle stuffed the bank notes into her brother’s pocket.

  “But where’d you get-”

  “What did I tell you, Brian?” She shoved him toward the door. “Now go. I’ll be right down. I just want to make sure we didn’t forget anything.”

  As Brian exited the door, pulling the large suitcase behind him, Dani turned to look at the boxes still standing in the hallway. She shook her head. She had no idea how all that was going to fit into her Chevy Blazer. She'd warned her brother not to pack too many things but he was taking so much stuff that she almost felt like he was moving out for good and not just leaving Chicago to head out for his first semester at the University of Notre Dame. She went into the living room and then into the kitchen, looking around to see if he had left anything lying about. Finally, she went to his bedroom.

  As she opened the door a flood of emotions filled her and she blinked quickly, fighting back the tears. This room had been Brian’s haven for the last four years, ever since she had moved them to this apartment when their father died from a heart attack. She had been only eighteen years old but fortunately legally qualified to be Brian’s guardian. Her mother succumbed to breast cancer when Brian was only eight and then they lost their dad when he was fourteen. She swore that as long as she had breath he would not lose her, too. He would never be placed in foster care. And she'd kept her promise.

  Dani pulled the door closed and went to the living room where she picked up her handbag and slung it over her shoulder. As she went through the door she plastered a brave smile on her face. There was no way she was going to let Brian know how deeply she was affected by his leaving. He was ready to start his new life as a college student and she wanted nothing to distract him. She'd been a mother hen for the last four years but now she would just have to learn to let go.

  She took the elevator to the ground floor then went out to the car and hopped into the driver's seat. She turned to her brother. "Ready to go?"

  He shrugged. "As ready as I'll ever be."

  She reached over and tousled his hair just like she used to do when he was six years old. "Then let's go 'em, tiger." ******

  Dani's first week without Brian was busy, which was a blessing for her. Her new schedule did not allow her the luxury of sitting at home feeling lonely. Each day she rushed home from her teaching job at Applewood Preschool, changed into her uniform for her new night job a
s chauffeur at Apex Limousine Company, and checked in for work by five o'clock sharp.

  She'd been on the job five nights and so far had survived despite some rough spots. Tonight, though, something was different. She'd been summoned to the boss's office and through the glass door she could see Tony Martino, the owner and manager. He was pacing the floor. As she pushed the door open and entered his office he nodded to her.

  “We need to talk,” he said and jerked his head toward the only chair that did not have papers piled on top of it.

  Dani's heart fell. Tony looked none too pleased. What had she done to upset him? She couldn't afford to lose this job, not right now. She'd only been working with the company a week and already had been able to send money to Brian for his books. She was counting on next week’s pay to cover the cost of his hockey uniform.

  He flopped down in the chair behind his desk then his look softened as he stared at her. “Don’t look so worried,” he said. “I’m not going to fire you.”

  Dani let out her breath slowly and cursed herself for having such an expressive face.

  “I know you’re wondering what this is all about,” he said and leaned forward. “I heard about the incident the other night.”

  She held her breath again, sure she would be reprimanded for literally dumping one of her passengers on his own driveway. The man had been drunk and had tried to grope her as she held the door open to let him out. She'd pushed him off and, unsteady as he was, he'd landed on his behind. Now she was in trouble because of it. She looked back at her boss but remained silent.

  Tony’s face grew serious. “I heard about the incident through a third party and I’m not pleased. Why didn’t you tell me what happened?”

  Dani’s glance wavered and she looked down at her hands. When she said nothing Tony spoke again, even more sternly. “From the day I interviewed you I could see you were a tough kid but you can’t keep things like this a secret. You have to remember that you’re a woman and you have to be careful.” He leaned back and clasped his hands over his paunch. “And I have to remember that, too. I’m not proud of the fact that I put you in that situation.”