Lucky 7 Brazen Bachelors Contemporary Romance Boxed Set

by Caridad Piñeiro

  That bad boy had played me like a fool, getting his kicks off making me believe he was a bartender and acting like his discount on patio tiles was some big thing. Money was nothing to him. He was rolling in it and my poor budget must’ve given him a great laugh.

  I’d been deceived. Again. But this time hurt a thousand times worse.

  Wind chimes tingled and my cell lit up with that Southern California phone number. That Hollywood phone number. Anger coursed through me and I pressed ANSWER then held the phone to my ear. “Hello, Milton.”

  Pause. “Are you here, Kaitlin? I’m heading outside.”

  I noted the strain in his normally confident tone. “Don’t bother. I’m not there and I’m not coming.”

  “Sweetheart, let me explain…”

  My eyes narrowed at that term of endearment. “Congratulations on winning your game. You completely fooled me. What’s the fun for next week? Making some naive woman believe you’re the front desk clerk?”

  “Kaitlin, I—”

  “Save it, Milton.” My jaw quivered as hot tears escaped down my cheeks. “I don’t want to hear another word from your lying mouth ever again.”

  Call Ended.

  My throat tightened and my chest ached like a balloon about to explode. Gasping, I grabbed a napkin and crumpled my face into it. Shoulders shaking, I fought to control my sobs, to make it appear that everything was all right like I used to be able to do—but the sobs rippled out one after another with no end in sight.

  License to Date: Chapter Ten

  I’d been played. Big time. I threw myself down on my couch, yanked a throw pillow into my lap, and squeezed the soft cushion senseless as I stared at the ceiling. Why had Paul come into my life and toyed with me like that? And what was with him hanging with me all week long? He had everything. He’d even dated Virna DiAngelo! I gave a pathetic laugh, remembering how I’d immediately dismissed her as his ex. Yeah, the joke had definitely been on me.

  My doorbell chimed an old-fashioned ding dong and I peeked between the window blinds and saw a silver truck parked at the curb. I pushed to my feet slowly, then peered through the keyhole. Frowning, I pulled open the door.

  Paul stood on my front porch looking so unbelievably handsome in his black tux and white tie that he took my breath away. His dark tousled hair made his electric blue eyes stand out and I was reminded of my vision of him coming toward me in a tux. My forehead creased. But I’d envisioned Paul. Not Milton Geoffries.

  Putting a hand on my hip, I said, “Isn’t it considered rude for the host to leave his own ball?”

  He reached for me. “Kaitlin…”

  I immediately stepped back. “Please leave.”

  “Not until you hear me out.” Unfortunately, the wide space gave him the perfect opportunity to push past me and he shut the door pinning me against it. He cupped my face in his hands. “I was going to tell you everything tonight.”

  Gazing up into his eyes made me want to melt against him. “I don’t believe you.”

  He ran his thumbs over my cheeks. “I never lied to you about who I was.”

  Twisting away from him, I scoffed. “Okay, Milton.”

  “The name is part of who I am, yes. But I go by Paul.” His eyes peered into mine. “I’m the same person you met. Nothing’s changed.”

  I stared at him incredulously. “I thought you were a bartender.”

  He started to take a step toward me until my frown deepened, then he slipped his hands into his pockets and stopped. “I’m a bartender, the concierge, and every other job that comes with having a hotel chain. My dad started the Geoffries from the ground up. When he left it to me, I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I work every position to learn the business from the inside out.”

  That sounded so … practical. Not to mention down to earth. Especially for a Hollywood bad boy. “You hooked up with Tiffany Heart from Street Knights.”

  He shook his head. “An absolute rumor. She’s a friend from my college days at U.C. Santa Barbara, but we’ve never been together.”

  I tilted my head. “You did date Virna DiAngelo, though.”

  He held his hand up. “I told you about Virna.”

  I crossed my arms. “She’s not just any ex. She’s a movie star.”

  “I enjoyed the L.A. scene for awhile.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Then my dad got sick and I realized what was important in life. Virna’s a wonderful person, but I didn’t want to spend my life with her.”

  My head spun. “Every guy wants to spend his life with Virna. She’s gorgeous.”

  His brows came together. “You think that’s all I need?”

  I shrugged. “I obviously wasn’t good enough for you. You turned me down.”

  “I turned you down for date number four.” His stance shifted then he stepped toward me slowly as if gauging my reaction. When I didn’t retreat, he came even closer until we stood just a foot apart. “Kaitlin, I want to be with you. I set myself up as date number five because I plan to be the last date you ever have.”

  Butterflies danced in my belly, but I pressed my fingers to my temples and shook my head. “I don’t know what to believe.”

  He closed the distance between us and tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear. “Just before my dad died, he told me he was going to leave me his legacy. When I thought he meant the hotel chain, he chuckled.”

  I imagined the same chuckle I’d heard Paul make so many times and wondered if Milton had the same blue eyes.

  “He told me he meant my mom—that she was the greatest wealth of his life.” He fingered the long red strands resting on my shoulder. “That’s when I realized what was important. It’s not living on the Hollywood circuit or attending exclusive parties. It’s about finding a connection with someone and holding onto it until your very last breath.”

  My eyes widened as I stared up into those sapphire blues that had darkened, deep and intense. I wanted so badly to believe him, but I’d been promised the world before. “Those are beautiful words, Paul. But I’ve read a lot of words about you today and many of them included the words ‘bad boy.’”

  He tilted his head and gave me a side-glance. “Are you talking about the tabloids?”

  I put my palm to my forehead. “The article said—”

  “They’re not interested in the truth, Kaitlin—just selling as many of their rags as possible in any way they can.” He lifted my hands. “You know that. You know me.”

  Hotel chains. Private jets. Movie stars. This was definitely not the Paul I knew.

  My hands tingled where he held them, but I shook my head. “I don’t know you. I thought I did, but then I found out you’re someone else.”

  A pained expression crossed his face. “I’ve opened up to you more than I have to anyone, Kaitlin. That’s all I can do.”

  “It’s not enough.” My chest ached as I finally realized the truth. This man in front of me was not who he had appeared to be. He’d deceived me. “I’ve done what you asked and heard you out. Now, please go.”

  Those blue eyes pierced mine and seemed to plead with me until I finally turned away. Then I heard his footsteps as they crossed the floor, the door squeaked open slowly, and it clicked shut.

  Biting my lip, I swung around and stared at the back of the door. Paul was gone. Or Milton. Or whoever he was. My chest went hollow, pain sliced my gut, and it felt like the scars he’d left behind would never heal.

  I told myself I’d been fine on my own before and I would be again. Only, it didn’t feel that way. I glanced toward my kitchen at the half-empty bottle of wine and before I knew it I was pouring myself a glass. I needed to go to my happy place and needed to make it mine again.

  As I passed the wall in the kitchen where Kristen had ripped off that rooster wallpaper, I suddenly realized something. Kristen’s call from the Geoffries about an opening for her ballroom wedding six weeks from now had been no coincidence. Paul had arranged it.

  My heart melted a little, but I took
a deep breath and reminded myself that was just money. And Milton was rolling in it.

  Holding my wine glass, I slipped open the living room slider, and my heels sank into the lawn as I crossed my backyard. As I walked, Paul’s words echoed through my head and I wanted to believe them. Especially the part about finding the connection between us, because I felt it too. But words were easy to come by. So were limos and fancy white dresses when you had more money than you’d ever need.

  My eyes burned and the railroad-tie steps blurred in front of me, and I thought about turning back. My heart told me that Paul’s words were the truth, but my head told me I’d been burned before. A war waged inside me between what I knew in my heart and what I feared with my head. Then at the bottom of the steps, I looked up and froze.

  I stared wide-eyed at my happy place, a tear spilling down my cheek as chills vibrated through me. Instead of dead grass and dirt, a patio of terra-cotta tiles splayed out before me. My heels clicked against the tiles as I stepped forward, gaping in awe. The Adirondack chairs and beverage table had been stained the perfect shade of blue, reminding me of the ocean in Kauai. In addition to all I’d planned, there was also a border running around the patio with bushes of colorful flowers that had a tropical look about them, and through the center lay a tiled pathway to the water.

  My first thought was that Paul had hired someone to make my dream come true. But then I remembered lunch with my dad. Paul had showed up last minute, freshly showered, and with paint smeared on the side of his jaw. Blue paint.

  Paul had done this himself. For me.

  A twig snapped behind me and a crack echoed across the quiet night. I spun around, then nearly spilled my wine because there he stood on the first railroad tie. I wanted to say something, throw my arms around him, but I felt too stunned to do anything but blink through watery eyes. I watched him approach me.

  “I lied to you earlier.” He dropped off the last railroad-tie and came toward me in sure and steady steps. “I told you there was nothing more I could do to convince you.”

  I lifted my lashes as he closed the space between us. “Paul?”

  “Kaitlin.” He set my wine glass down, cupped my face in his warm hands, and tilted my face toward his. He peered into my eyes with his deep blues. “I love you.”

  Tingles danced across my chest and down my arms. I stretched onto my toes, gazed into those ethereal eyes, then paused a breath away from his lips. “I love you, too.”

  As if that was all he needed to hear, his mouth captured mine and my world exploded into a dream. The rippling water echoed behind me as Paul kissed me sure and strong like he wanted to claim me. But I was already his. Our mouths opened as we explored, tasted, and savored each other. I snaked my arms around his neck, then wove my fingers into that thick tousled hair, wanting to pull him even closer and never let him go.

  When he finally leaned back, I was breathless. His arms went around me, his lips curved upward, and he lifted me against him. I threw my head back and laughed as my feet left the ground and he twirled me around and around—pure bliss flowing through every cell in my body.

  In this moment, I found my true happy place.

  And that was with Paul.

  *

  Instead of coming to the Black & White Ball in a limo, I arrived in a silver truck, but I’d ended up on a date with Milton after all. My black heels clicked across the marble lobby floor and I gazed over at Paul who slipped his hand into mine and winked at me.

  Warmth flooded my belly as we headed down the hall, then strolled into the Geoffries’ grand ballroom hand in hand. The waiter at the entrance did a double-take at Paul and me before serving each of us a glass of champagne.

  I bit my lip and raised my flute. “To you finally agreeing to go on a date with me.”

  Paul lifted his glass toward mine. “What do you think we’ve been doing all week? I’ve just been waiting for you to realize it.”

  My mouth spread into a wide grin. “Sneaky guy.”

  He clinked his glass into mine. “Sweetheart, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

  I sipped the bubbly liquid and surveyed the room. Black and white drapery, an incredible crystal chandelier above us, and elegantly dressed guests scattered across the entire room. A wooden dance floor took up the far corner of the room where hundreds of people were getting down to a hit song I recognized from the radio.

  My eyes squinted as I peered at the band. “Oh, my … is that the Street Knights?!”

  Paul chuckled. “Most definitely. I’ll introduce you to the band when they take a break. I think you and Tiffany will hit it off.”

  “Tiffany Heart and me?” I couldn’t imagine what I’d possibly have in common with the Grammy winner. “How exactly did she become a knight, anyway?”

  “It’s a long story. I’ll let her tell you.” He laughed, then brushed his lips against my cheek. “Would you like to dance?”

  “I’d love to.” I followed him across the room toward the pumping music. We reached the edge of the dance floor and as we set our drinks on the table, an enchanting fragrance wafted up my nose and filled me with joy. My eyes flashed to the glass bowl center piece filled with white-petaled flowers that had bursts of yellow at their core. My hand flew against my chest. “Paul, those are plumeria flowers.”

  The corner of his mouth lifted. “You told me you wanted a white dress, music, plumeria flowers, and your friends.”

  I followed his gaze to the edge of the dance floor where familiar faces greeted me, smiling. Ellen and Henry. Kristen and Ethan. Ginger. Melanie and Matt.

  Ellen waved. “It’s about time you got here!”

  Placing my hand along the side my mouth, I shouted, “Better date than never!”

  Mel gave me a knowing look, nodded her head at Paul, then mouthed, “I told you so.”

  I nodded, smiling.

  The band switched to a slow tempo and Tiffany belted out the beginning of a love song about saying what you want, getting what you want, and the familiar song had never rung truer. Ginger, Ethan, and Kristen stepped off the dance floor. Ethan shook Paul’s hand and they began chatting as I turned to my friends.

  Ginger rubbed her hands together. “Looks like you’ve done it.”

  Kristen raised her brows. “Are we on for painting tomorrow?”

  I shook my head. “I’m afraid not.”

  Ginger’s brows came together. “But the bartender is date number five—”

  “No, he’s not part of the game.” I hugged Ginger first and then Kristen. “Thank you.”

  Kristen squeezed me back. “For what?”

  My eyes watered as she released me. “I thought by consuming myself with the remodel, I was making my house my sanctuary. In reality, I was hiding. Not wanting to hurt again.” I shook my head. “I wouldn’t have met Paul if it weren’t for you both.”

  “Glad we could be of service.” Ginger laced her arm through Kristen’s. “Now we just need to find a man for me. I’m thinking someone like that guy right there. Or maybe him.”

  I laughed as Ginger pointed from the Street Knight’s hot guitarist, to their keyboardist.

  “Ladies,” Paul came over and held his hand out to me, “mind if I steal her away?”

  He led me to the dance floor, twirled me around once—my white satin dress flying around me like a ballerina—and then he pulled me against him.

  I lifted my lashes. “You invited all my friends?”

  He shrugged. “I sent the tickets to Kristen and she did the rest.”

  I glanced down at my white strapless gown with its black satin sash. “You picked this dress out for me?”

  He grinned mischievously. “Alice helped me out. She’s my assistant.”

  A bright light flashed above my head. “So that’s why I always see her with you.”

  He tapped my nose playfully as we swayed to the music. “I did approve of the dress if that counts for anything.”

  I grinned. “It counts for a lot. All of it.”

>   His sapphire-blue eyes gazed into mine. “You said you wanted the fairytale ending in a white dress, but I’m giving you a fairytale beginning. For now.”

  My stomach flipped as the air between us thickened and pulsed—matching the heavy pounding rhythm of my heart. “I lost my bet. You’re going to have a lot of painting to help me with.”

  He brushed his fingers along my cheekbone. “Your wish is my command.”

  Then he kissed me and I was in my happy place.

  License to Date: Epilogue

  Two months later… .

  News Article: Sacramento Social Scene

  Photo (man and woman embraced in a kiss as they rappel down a building)

  Triple S has discovered that the man in this photo is actually Milton Paul Geoffries Junior, hotel heir and former Hollywood playboy. The woman in the photo has been identified as local Human Resources Manager, Kaitlin Murray. Reports have been circulating that the couple is engaged. Both parties declined to comment, but Triple S was able to get this statement from Geoffries’ ex Virna DiAngelo:

  Triple S: Are the engagement rumors true, Ms. DiAngelo? Any idea how the happy couple met?

  Virna DiAngelo: If I had inside knowledge, I wouldn’t be at liberty to say. I would, however, like to formally extend my best to the couple. Paul has been looking for the right woman for a long time and I’m thinking he’s finally found her.

  Triple S: I’m sure Paul and Kaitlin appreciate your heartfelt support. Now, please dish on you as we were all thrilled with your Oscar win this year!! What’s in the works right now?

  Virna DiAngelo: I’ve just started work on a new movie. It’s about a woman who’s given up on love, then she’s handed a second chance when the perfect man walks up and serves her a martini. He’s not what he seems, but he’s everything she never knew she was looking for. It will be released in theatres next year and it’s called License to Date.

  THE END

  About the Author

  Susan Hatler

  SUSAN HATLER is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, who writes humorous and emotional contemporary romance and young adult novels. Many of Susan’s books have been translated into German, Spanish, French, and Italian. A natural optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are fascinating, and imagination is endless. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too.