My Unexpected Serenity: California Billionaires Book 1

by Harlow James

  If so, then I get the rush now. I’ve never given this much of my time to a man before, so I really have nothing to compare it to. But then again, Wes isn’t just any man. He’s the rarest breed of male specimen out there—rich, insanely hot, and sweet and commanding in all the right ways.

  I’ve been nicked by an ember of intrigue, stoked by a flame of lust, and now I’m engulfed in feelings that I’m having the hardest time naming, but they still don’t make me want to fight them anymore. My reservations about dating a man like Wes are starting to subside, making me question why I had them in the first place.

  Maybe my mom’s experiences don’t have to be my own. Maybe the problem wasn’t the men; maybe the problem was her. I mean, have you ever watched reality television, like The Bachelor? These women go on national television looking for their happily-ever-after, but once you hear some of them speak, you’re like, “Girl! You are the problem! Do you hear yourself right now?”

  My mother is definitely a piece of work, so perhaps her luck in love won’t be my own. I have my shit together far more than she ever did at my age, and Wes appreciates me for who I am. He’s not overbearing. He’s not asking me to change. He’s not asking me to dress a certain way or give-up any aspect of my life so I can fit into his.

  And that has to mean that he and I are different. He’s not going to hurt me like my mom was hurt by all of her suitors. Nope. I’m going to cling to this hope that I’m feeling and ride it into the sunset.

  Or sunrise. Shit. The sun is way too high in the sky right now. How long have I been out here?

  Consumed with thoughts of Wes, I ran way past my marker and now I have to book it back even faster so I won’t be late for work before my first day of class.

  Barging through our front door with the sole intent to race to the shower, I’m stopped dead in my tracks by the ridiculous display of yellow and pink roses sitting in a glass vase on the counter. The bouquet is so big that I don’t even notice Chloe standing on the other side of it, her wavy brown hair sticking up from her insane sleep habits.

  “Holy shit,” I breathe out while pressing a hand over my galloping heart.

  “Yeah. I really wish lover boy would have gotten the message that it’s insanely early for flower deliveries.”

  “It’s not going to kill you to get up a little early today,” I reply as I move further into our home.

  She turns so slowly with a murderous glare in her eyes that I feel myself gulp at her anger. “Do you not know who your best friend is anymore?”

  I hold my hands up in the air. “Okay. You’re right. I’m sorry that I wasn’t here to intercept them. But seriously?” I step closer, eyeing the arrangement and then leaning in to smell them. “These are beautiful.”

  “I’m sure there’s a card,” she mumbles before lifting her coffee mug to her lips and taking a drink, her unruly hair falling over her face as she brushes it away. “Let me guess. It probably says something along the lines of, “Shayla, your pussy has whipped me within an inch of my life. Please accept these roses as a token of my appreciation. And if you let me put it in your ass, I’ll gift you diamonds next time.”

  I didn’t think she could ever shock me silent, but I think Chloe just succeeded.

  I stare at her, mouth agape as she rolls her eyes and then plucks the card from the arrangement. “Don’t act shocked. I’ve only had one sip of coffee. You’re lucky that was as tame as it was.” Her fingers lift the flap on the envelope, but I wake from my shock fast enough to get the card from her before she reads it.

  “I still don’t know what to say to you right now, but you’re lucky I love you, Chloe.” I shake my head at her as she shrugs indifferently, before focusing my attention back on the card in my hands.

  In Wes’s handwriting, I read the note written just for me.

  Shayla,

  I hope your first day of class of your last semester is an easy one. I know today is the beginning of an end for you, but I don’t think anything can thank you enough for the positive beginning you and I have created.

  This weekend was unforgettable and the color of these flowers reminded me of the sunset we watched together.

  I can’t stop thinking about it.

  I can’t stop thinking about you.

  And I hope you’re still thinking about my offer to attend the gala with me in a few weeks.

  Have a wonderful day, sweetheart. Call me later to tell me all about it, please.

  Wes

  “You look like you’re about to cry right now,” Chloe says, breaking me from re-reading his words. And I’d be lying if I didn’t get a little misty-eyed at his message, but the man is pulling out all of the stops and I’m soaking each and every one up like the cliché girl ‘in like’ that I am.

  “Chloe,” I say, turning to face her and all she does is sigh before opening her arms to me for a hug. I step to her and hold on to her for dear life as the rush of fear and excitement rolls through me.

  “I know, Shayla. You’re in trouble. I saw it on your face when you got home yesterday.”

  In true Chloe fashion, she bombarded me with questions the second I walked through the door. And of course I told her everything. She’s my best friend.

  “I am. You don’t think I’m a fool, do you?”

  “Hell no. I would have slept with him after the first date. You’re a saint for lasting as long as you did.”

  I laugh because of course Chloe is thinking I’m just referring to having sex with him so soon, which I don’t regret for one second.

  “It’s not just the sex, even though that was enough to knock me off my feet.”

  Chloe closes her eyes and mutters, “I’m not jealous, not jealous at all.”

  I chuckle and then continue. “It’s him. It’s everything. I never let men in. I never give any man the time of day, and the one that actually makes me want to forget all of my stupid issues and rules is too fucking perfect.”

  “I know. But he’s crazy about you. It’s written all over his face.”

  “I’m crazy about him too.”

  “Then just go with it. And who knows, maybe he has a billionaire friend he can set me up with,” she teases as she squeezes me tightly and then pushes me away. “Okay, I love you. But I could only hold my breath for so long. You need a shower stat, woman.”

  I glance at the clock on the wall. “Shit. I’m gonna be late.” I type out a quick text to Wes, thanking him for the flowers, and then race down the hall like I had planned to ten minutes ago.

  “Whatever. It’s not like Joe can afford to fire you,” she calls out to me, and even though I know she’s kidding, I get ready with lightning speed, and then hop in my car to work my shift at the coffee house before I head for my last semester at UCSB.

  ***

  The day is long, full of filling cups of coffee and packaging up baked goods. Monday is when we get our supply order as well, so Melissa and I work tirelessly between customers to put it away.

  “What a day,” she says, wiping her forehead before moving to the sink to wash her hands.

  “Agreed. Although I have class tonight, so mine is only half-way over.”

  “How was your weekend?” My smile overtakes my lips instantly and Melissa notices just as quickly. “That good, huh? Is the cheese guy giving you other gifts now?”

  My chuckle rings out between us. “Maybe.”

  “Oh, girl! I’m jealous. So, who is this guy?”

  I debate telling her because I don’t even know what Wes and I are. And the more people that know about us, the sooner our relationship will get out. It’s not that I don’t trust Melissa, but I also like keeping our connection to myself, at least for the time being.

  “He’s older. Hot as hell. But it’s still new, so I’m not inclined to share just yet.” Melissa wasn’t really paying attention or around when Wes came in the handful of times he’s been here, so I’m not sure she’s noticed him intently.

  “I get it. But hey,” she says, clasping her hand
on my arm, “it’s nice to see you smiling like that.”

  “I smile,” I argue. “It’s not like I’m a Debbie Downer all the time.”

  “That’s not what I’m saying. But your smile… it’s different. You can tell he makes you happy. And I’m just happy for you,” she shrugs before taking off for the back of the store, leaving me out front trying to get my cheeks to relax, but struggling miserably.

  When I leave It’s a Grind a little after three, I have just enough time to grab a late lunch and then head to campus for my afternoon class that starts at four. Monday nights I have one class, and then two morning classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. But these last three classes will require a lot of reading and writing, so they won’t be easy.

  I settle down in my chair in the auditorium and take a drink of my water bottle before reaching into my bag to pull out my laptop to take notes. I can type faster than I can write, so it just makes it easier for me. A crowd of other students starts to filter in and then the professor takes his spot at the front of the room, commanding our attention for the duration of the class.

  Two hours pass by in a blur, leaving me mentally drained as I think about the workload of this class and how I’m going to manage it with my other two. As I drive back home, all I can think about is my bed and a hot shower, and calling Wes. I refrained from doing so earlier, knowing he was probably buried in work, but now that it’s past five o’clock, I’m hoping he has time to speak with me.

  Images of our last night spent together waft through my brain and my heart aches with how I wish he could hold me tonight like he did on the yacht. I’ve never craved a warm body next to me at night until we shared his bed. And now I want it again.

  When I arrive home, Chloe isn’t there, which means she’s probably walking a dog or running an errand or two.

  I hop in the shower, dress, and realize I’m not quite hungry for dinner yet, so I decide to get comfortable in bed to call Wes. The phone rings once, but then goes straight to voicemail. Huh, that’s weird. He must be busy, so I decide to send him a text message instead.

  Me: Hey. I’m home and wanted to hear your voice and thank you for the flowers officially. Call me when you’re free.

  I wait to see that the message has been delivered, but it stays that way for a while before I give up on a response from him. Knowing I can’t sit here and stare at my phone for hours, I decide to crack open my books and get ahead on some of my reading while I wait for him to call me.

  Chloe comes home about an hour later and barges into my room. “You’re home?”

  “Yeah. Only the one class on Mondays. But I have to go back in the morning.”

  “Nice. I grabbed some pizza. Want some?”

  My stomach rumbles just from her offer, so I follow her into the kitchen and grab a slice straight from the box.

  “So, did you talk to Wes today? Thank him for these ridiculous flowers?” she asks, gesturing to the bouquet on the counter.

  “I tried,” I say around a mouthful of pizza. I finish chewing and then continue. “I sent him a text this morning, but when I called over an hour ago, it rang once and then went straight to voicemail.”

  “Huh. Maybe he’s busy. I can’t imagine him getting much of a break being the CEO of a billion dollar company, you know?”

  “Yeah,” I mumble, hating the twinge of disappointment that is living in my stomach right now. After the high of this morning when I got the flowers and read his note, my visions of speaking with him tonight came to life much differently in my imagination. “He’ll probably call me soon,” I say, trying to convince myself harder than Chloe when she offers me a sympathetic smile.

  I return to my room and try to read more, but my eyes get heavy and eventually I rest my head in my book as I lie on my stomach in my bed. I’m not sure how long I’m out for, but the buzz of my phone wakes me up. My cheek sticks to the page from a puddle of drool I left during my cat nap, but I bat it away from my face before jumping up to grab my phone from my nightstand.

  “Hello?” I answer with way too much enthusiasm.

  “Hey, gorgeous.” Just the sound of his voice quiets the doubts that were swimming in my mind over the past few hours.

  “What time is it?” I ask before bringing my phone down from my face and looking for myself.

  “After eight,” he replies. “I’m sorry I couldn’t answer earlier. I was… I had a late meeting.”

  “Oh. I get it. It’s okay,” I say, even though there’s something about him that seems off. “Is everything okay?”

  He blows out a long breath and I can just imagine him running his hand through his thick hair, the silky strands that I had my fingers buried in just yesterday morning. “Yeah. Just a long day. It was mentally draining. But I can’t tell you how good it feels to hear your voice.”

  “Same.” I smile and resituate myself on my bed so my head is resting on my pillow now.

  “So tell me about your day? How was work and class?”

  “Oh, the usual. Although it was kinda weird knowing this is the last first day of classes for me.”

  “I bet. I finished college so long ago, so I barely remember what that was like. I kind of blocked it out once I was done.”

  “I plan to do the same.”

  “So what are you doing now?” he asks as I hear some noise in the background.

  “Lying in bed. I fell asleep while reading for class. What about you?”

  “I just got home. I’m ready to take off this suit and jump in the shower.”

  The image of Wes’s wet and naked body has me rubbing my thighs together instantly. “I wish I was there to join you.”

  A growl comes through the line, followed by the deep rasp of his voice that coats my limbs from head to toe in a flurry of tingles. “Me too, Shayla. Fuck. I hate that my life is so crazy that I couldn’t see you today.”

  “It’s okay, Wes. I get it.”

  “My phone never stops ringing. I had to silent it during my meeting earlier. And when I saw you calling, I wanted to answer. But …”

  “Wes. Stop apologizing. I needed to get work done anyway. This weekend was amazing, but we both knew real life was going to start again this week.” I bite my lip to keep myself from spewing my need to see him. I can’t put that pressure on him when he sounds like he’s dealing with a lot and maybe a day away from each other is a good thing to dampen the intensity he sparks within me.

  “Are you free at all this week? At night?”

  Sighing, I think through my schedule. “Not really. Any night I’m not working at the club, I’m studying or doing homework. And my days without class are spent working at the coffee shop.”

  “I get it.”

  “But I do want to see you,” I continue.

  “I want to see you too, sweetheart. Fuck, I miss your lips.”

  My hand reaches up to my mouth as I remember what it feels like to be kissed by him. “I miss yours too.”

  “Can I see you this weekend?”

  “I work Friday and Saturday night, but I’m free Saturday morning.”

  “Can I take you to breakfast? Or maybe make you breakfast here?”

  Grinning from ear to ear, I can’t answer fast enough. “Yes. Either is fine.” The thought of seeing where Wes lives makes me feel giddy again.

  A contented sigh leaves his lips. “Okay. I’ll think about what I want to do and let you know this week, okay?”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Alright. I’m beat. I’ll talk to you soon, Shayla.”

  “You’d better, Wes.”

  “There’s nothing I want more. Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  We end the call and I take a moment to let the excitement of our conversation roll through me as I kick my arms and legs around on my bed.

  “God,” I groan, hating how wound up my body is feeling and how fast my heart is pounding while thinking about how long I have to wait to see him. I know he’s busy, but maybe I could surprise him like he’s d
one for me. He couldn’t get upset about that, could he?

  Tomorrow I have class in the morning, but I’m done by noon. Maybe I could stop by his office just to see his handsome face and get a taste of his lips.

  Wes may be a billionaire and can get anything he wants, but I’m a determined woman myself—and when I want something, I tend to go after it too.

  ***

  The weight of my other two classes hits me as I leave campus, walking through the buildings along sidewalks flanked by grass and flowers. I love this campus, and I will never regret the time I’ve spent here, but this semester might just be the death of me. And as I try to soak up my walk back to my car, my body is already itching to leave my surroundings all too soon as I prepare for my next destination—Wes’s office.

  I try to decipher what his reaction will be when he sees me, but if the desperation in his voice during our conversation last night is any indication, I’m sure he’ll be more than happy with my surprise.

  When I arrive, his assistant, Sheryl, is sitting at the front desk, typing away on her computer. The dark wood looks so shiny against the white walls and gold accents throughout the small space, but I try not to get distracted by how fancy his office is, and remember why I’m here. The last time I was here I was fired up and didn’t really pay attention to the details around me.

  “Miss Mitchel,” she says as she smiles up at me. “How can I help you?”

  “Hi, Sheryl. I was wondering if Mr. Morgan had a few free moments I could steal.”

  “Is he expecting you?” she asks, moving her mouse around as she glances at her screen.

  “No. I was hoping to surprise him,” I whisper on a wink, and her eyes widen instantly.

  “Oh. Well, I know he’s been on a call for a while now. Let me make sure he’s done before I let you back there. Although I heard him raise his voice earlier, so I don’t know that he’s in the best mood.” She grimaces.

  “I think I might be able to change that.” I smirk back at her as her cheeks turn pink.

  “Well, I’ll be right back. Please have a seat.” She stands from her chair and gestures to one of the empty chairs in the lobby as I make my way over and take a seat. My knees won’t stop bouncing and my body is humming with anticipation of seeing his face in just a few moments, but she’s only gone for two minutes before she’s walking back toward me.