by Tamie Dearen
Praise for The Billionaire’s Secret Marriage
I wouldn't change a thing in this book - it kept me awake at night reading my kindle … just had to see what would happen next.
Linda Ellen, Author of the Cherished Memories and Soldiers of Swing series
Rarely do I become emotional to tears. In this book, I started with tears and ended with tears. So many great elements in this book.
Randy Tramp, Author of Night to Knight
I loved the new twist on the billionaire love story idea. Can't wait to see how the whole series turns out!
Lia London, Author of the Northwest Romantic Comedy Series
There are wonderful characters, deep issues, humor, intrigue, and great chemistry! There's raw honesty in the character of Bran, the blind billionaire.
Tina Morley, Amanda’s Books and More
The Billionaire’s Secret Marriage
Tamie Dearen
Copyright © 2018 by Tamie Dearen
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Created with Vellum
Contents
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Acknowledgments
Foreword
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
From the Author
About the Author
Books by Tamie Dearen
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Acknowledgments
I can’t thank my Remarkable Romance Readers enough. They lived through this story as it developed, encouraged me to keep writing, and gave suggestions that literally changed Bran’s and Stephanie’s lives. Thank you, Wanda Liendro, Jessica Dismukes, Tabitha Kocsis, Rennae McIntosh, Jennifer Chastain, Stephanie Adams, Barb Gill, Eleni Datsika, and Nadine Peterse-Vrijhof. And undying thanks to my beta readers and ARC Team, as well.
Thanks to my awesome cover designer, Agape Author Services, and my fabulous editor, Laurie Penner.
As always, I can’t thank my sweet husband enough, for giving me the time to write and edit and for taking care of me while I did it. (Dear Bruce… Submarine!)
To my grandfather and my grandson, who taught me that we see each other with our hearts, not our eyes.
Foreword
Glaucoma took my grandfather’s eyes by the time he was forty years old. He never saw my face, but we were the best of friends. I used to get up before sunrise so we could drink hot tea together on the back porch of their tiny farmhouse. I followed him around as he fed hay to the cows and collected the chicken eggs. In the eyes of a ten-year-old girl, there was nothing he couldn’t do. He wielded a saw and a hammer to build new outbuildings on their property. He killed chicken snakes with his bare hands. He knew every cow by touch. That he could do these things without the benefit of sight never seemed anything but ordinary to me.
And so, when our blind grandson was added to the family, my expectations for him were high. Yet, he is even more amazing than my grandfather. He is fluent in three languages, and he can read and write Braille in multiple languages as well. He has read more books (mostly audiobooks) than I have. He leaps fearlessly from cliffs, trusting only our word that there is water below. You should hear him play the drums in the school jazz band!
When I told him I was going to write a romance book with a blind hero, he asked me why. I explained I wanted to show that people are basically the same, whether or not they have the benefit of vision. He agreed to talk with me and give me advice about my character. The most remarkable thing about that conversation was not the insights he shared, but the fact that a fifteen-year-old boy took the time to chat with his grandmother about her writing. Once again, he taught me that what makes him special is not his disability, but his heart.
I hope you feel the same way about Branson...
Chapter 1
Stephanie Caldwell winced at her reflection in the mirror, snatching a tissue to wipe the smeared mascara from under her almond-shaped hazel eyes. She wasn’t about to let anyone know she was bothered by the announcement her boss just made. No one else had been surprised. Why was she? She knew from the start there could never be any kind of relationship between her and Branson Knight.
I’m twenty-nine… too old to have a silly school-girl crush.
A few wispy brown curls escaped her bun, the only adornment of her neck. She hadn’t worn her typical costume jewelry, knowing the other female guests would be sporting genuine diamonds.
The jiggling doorknob, followed by a few sharp knocks, jerked her back into reality. There had to be a dozen bathrooms in Bran’s mansion. Why did someone need to use this one, in the far back corner of his darkened private library? Most people didn’t even know it existed.
“I’ll be out in a minute,” she called, hoping whoever it was would simply go to another empty restroom. A glance in the mirror revealed red-rimmed eyes and a matching red nose. Maybe she could explain it away as an allergy attack.
The doorknob rattled again. “Stephanie?”
Bran’s voice. She laid her hand over her chest as her heart performed a haphazard flip. Just her luck—the one man she most wanted to avoid at the moment.
“Yeah. Sorry, boss.” She forced a relaxed tone. How could she explain why she’d chosen his private restroom, hoping to hide away until she pulled herself together? “The hall bathroom was taken, so I didn’t think you’d mind. But I’m coming out, now.”
She turned out the bathroom light and whipped the door open, planning to slide past him and escape, but his imposing form blocked her exit, silhouetted by the dim moonlight trickling through the library window. He towered over her, though her three-inch pumps boosted her to a respectable five feet seven. She hated the way her chest clenched so close to him, glad for the moment she couldn’t see how enticing he looked in a tuxedo. But he was one of those guys who looked hot in anything he wore, whether he was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, with his muscles stretching the thin fabric, or draped in an expensive designer suit.
“I was looking for you. I sent a text.”
“Sorry. I had my phone on silent during the party.” She hoped he couldn’t tell from the wobble in her voice she’d been crying. “Technically, I’m not working tonight.”
Her boss was driven and would probably work around the clock if he could. He even dictated to her while he was exercising in his private gym, not that she minded the scenery.
She must’ve done a poor job of hiding her frustration because his voice went contrite. “I’m sorry, Stephanie. I wanted your take on the reactions when I made the merger announcement. I should’ve warned you
ahead of time, so you’d notice the details. Were you watching?”
Her stomach fell into her gut as she realized why she’d been invited in the first place. She’d been so thrilled to find her name on the exclusive guest list for the annual spring gala, thinking he was finally beginning to see her as more than an employee. He’d even insisted she buy a new dress at his expense. She’d purchased the exquisite designer gown with growing excitement, especially when he asked her to describe it to him in detail and suggested she come early to the party. For a few days, she’d allowed herself to believe the fairy tale might come true. Hoping Branson Knight was actually interested in dating her.
She’d swallowed her lumpy pride when she arrived, only to be greeted by Bran’s girlfriend, who looked her over as if her clothes had come from the refuse pile. Carina was one of those girls—beautiful, rich and successful. No doubt she’d been homecoming queen, head cheerleader, class president, and valedictorian. Only the remembered words of Steph’s mawmaw kept her from creating a Carina voodoo doll and sticking it with pins. “Now Stephanie… don’t judge people. Every mean person has a sad secret hidden inside.”
But it wasn’t Carina’s snobby attitude that had hurt Steph’s feelings. What tore her apart was recognizing the obvious truth. Bran wasn’t interested in her. He simply wanted her to be his “spy.” The new dress was only part of her disguise, because Branson assumed, correctly, she had nothing in her closet that would allow her to blend in with the other, affluent guests. As usual, with Bran, it was strictly business.
“I was watching. I paid attention, even though I didn’t realize I was still on the clock.” More perturbed by the second, she couldn’t resist a dig. “But which merger announcement were you referring to? Your takeover of Reston Incorporated? Or your engagement to Carina Parker?”
He seemed to wince, though the moonlight didn’t illuminate his face clearly. She didn’t need to see him. She knew his face by heart, from the arch of his brows to the angle of his carved jaw, which was smooth-shaven tonight, though his customary style sported a slight beard, one she thought made him look even more rugged and masculine.
“The business announcement, of course. My engagement isn’t important.”
“Not important? You’re getting married, and you don’t think that’s going to impact your life?”
His hand came up and pushed through his dark hair, leaving the ends sticking up like pieces of straw in his shadowed silhouette. She almost reached up to smooth them, but caught herself at the last second.
His head was shaking slowly back and forth. “The marriage will be mutually beneficial to both of us. Living together won’t change anything.”
He spoke as if it were a business transaction. Her next words spilled out before she could stop them. “Wouldn’t it be cheaper to hire someone by the hour?”
When she saw him stiffen, the hair stood up on the back of her neck. This time she’d gone too far.
“Perhaps you’re right, Ms. Caldwell.” He spoke as calmly as if he were reciting a grocery list. “Were you volunteering for the job? What are your hourly rates?”
All the oxygen rushed out of the room, leaving her so lightheaded she had to grab the doorframe to stay upright. Her chin lifted as she glared at him, ineffectually. “You couldn’t afford me, Mr. Knight.” Gaining her composure, she tried to push past him.
“Wait.” Her arm was in his iron grip, as he bent down to mutter in her ear, his breath sending electric impulses rippling down her spine. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. Please forgive me.”
“No apology necessary.” She jerked at his unrelenting grasp. “I was out of line. It’s none of my business.”
“I should’ve told you about the engagement.”
Dagnabbit… he sounded repentant. She grasped at her anger, catching it before it disappeared.
“Why didn’t you?” Another tug of her arm produced no results.
“Honestly, it slipped my mind, with the Reston deal on the line.”
Really? Business made him forget his engagement? She ought to feel sorry for Carina.
“Let. Me. Go.” She stumbled back when her arm slipped free at last. An engagement could simply slip his mind? She wondered, not for the first time, if there were any feelings inside his impassive exterior. How could she be attracted to someone so cold and calculating, so much her opposite? She must’ve imagined those times when she’d caught a glimpse of the real Bran Knight, the fantasy man she was in love with.
“I’ve apologized. Now can we get back to business?”
“Yes, we can.” She pushed back the storm of emotions threatening to explode from her fragile hold. “As the first order of business, I’m giving you my two-weeks’ notice.”
“Why?” He took a step toward her, holding out an open palm. “I told you I’m sorry. What else do you want?”
“I don’t want anything.” Nothing you’re willing to give me. “But you’ll have a wife to pick out your clothes and check your appearance and coach you on your expressions. You won’t need me anymore.”
“Your job entails a great deal more than that.”
His detectable irritation gave her a sense of satisfaction. He hardly ever displayed his emotions, so he was impossible to read. She had to face reality—Branson Knight was never going to think of her as anything but a personal assistant, no different from any of the dozens he’d probably employed through the years.
Maybe his engagement and marriage would help her douse those flames she’d been trying to suppress for the last two years. She shouldn’t have let herself fall for him.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Ellie’s new medication was incredibly expensive, and the insurance wouldn’t cover it. She couldn’t afford to lose this job, no matter how much her pride stung. But what if his new wife wanted him to fire her? Carina had always given Steph the cold shoulder, making her feel invisible.
“I apologize, Mr. Knight. I was totally out of line. The truth is, I need my job, and I don’t want to quit. But my head’s killing me, so I think I’ll call it an early evening.”
Though her words were stiff she managed to sound genuine. At least she thought she had. Yet he stopped her before she could get away, his hands firmly grasping both shoulders as he bent his head toward her. For an instant, she thought he was going to kiss her, and her chin lifted toward him, lips parting of their own accord. But he turned his head at the last minute, his face contorting in frustration.
“I’m blind, Stephanie, not deaf and not dense… at least not usually. I don’t want you to leave until we fix things between us. You’re the best personal assistant I’ve ever had. You take care of every part of my life, personal and business. I’m willing to consider a raise, if that’s what you want.”
“I’m not asking for a raise.” She swallowed a lump in her throat. A raise would be life-saving right now, but she couldn’t accept it under these circumstances. “Why do you make everything about money?”
His hands dropped to his sides. “Because, in my experience, that’s how things are.”
“I’m not like that.” His words hurt so much, even though she knew it was his own life experiences that made him so cynical. “Don’t you know me by now? We’ve been together two years.”
“Are you volunteering for a pay cut?” The corner of his mouth twitched, a grin threatening to emerge, and she briefly considered stomping on his three-thousand dollar Ferrinos.
“Of course not,” she sputtered. “I need money, like everyone else. But that’s not what this is about.”
“Then enlighten me.” In the shadows of his face, his eyebrows lifted. “Why are you upset?”
She struggled to explain her reaction without revealing her feelings for him. “I guess my feelings are hurt because you usually share everything with me.” Her voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. “I didn’t even know you and Carina were serious.”
“You knew we were dating exclusively.” His eyes widened in innocence.
“You d
idn’t even pick out her birthday present. You said, and I quote, ‘Get her anything. It doesn’t matter. I’m sure you’ll pick something suitable.’”
“You know I never hide anything from you. I didn’t mean to do it tonight.”
“That’s debatable.”
The man hid behind a mask. Sure, she knew about most of his business dealings. Yet she never had personal contact with his closest friends, other than Carina, who sometimes barged in during work hours. Of course, he worked so much, he didn’t have much time for leisure activities.
“I planned to announce the engagement in June at the shareholders’ meeting, but Carina said it was too impersonal. Right before the party, she talked me into pushing the date forward. I didn’t have a chance to tell you.”
“And you just happened to have that diamond and ruby ring lying around?”
He waved his hand in the air, as if erasing her objections. “That’s not even the real engagement ring. It’s one my mother left to me. Carina would never settle for another woman’s ring.”
“I understand.” She threw the lie out with all the resentment she felt.
“If you’d moved into the estate, like I’ve suggested all along, you would’ve known the last minute details.”