The Angler, the Baker, and the Billionaire (Destination Billionaire Romance)

by Day, Amberlee

“Because people retaliate when you dare to play dirty.”

  “These are bubbles. That’s not playing dirty. What could be cleaner?”

  She couldn’t think of anything else to say. All she was aware of was the strength of his hold around her waist and how he was slowly drawing her closer. When she realized he was finally going to kiss her, no more waiting, she said, “Stop.”

  He froze. “No?”

  She reached up and gently removed the face net, releasing his scruffy beard. Gently, she stroked it and the soft skin showing above it. Was he short of breath, or did she imagine it?

  “I got the feeling you didn’t like the beard,” he said.

  “Honestly, Jamie,” she whispered, “I’ve been a little curious.”

  “So have I,” he said. “And I’ve been very, very patient.”

  His soapy hand went around her shoulders and brought her lips to his. Those fluttery butterflies she’d been feeling exploded with Jamie’s kiss. It was electric. Sophie’s experience with kissing was as limited as her dating life, but she didn’t remember ever feeling like this before.

  It was a minute before they came up for air and looked into each other’s eyes.

  “Tell the truth,” he said, his voice still intimately low. “You’re hooked for life and will never kiss a clean-shaven face again.”

  “I don’t know.” She put both hands on his face, running her fingertips through his beard, and ending up with her hands around the back of his neck. She felt him shudder, and that electricity made her tingle in response. “Kyle’s not too bad when he’s all clean and brushed, and it’s softer than I would have guessed, but I think I need to gather some more data.”

  “I feel obliged to help, ma’am.”

  They were still exploring kisses when someone loudly banged a spoon on the kitchen countertop. They looked up to see Roger, who’d arrived unnoticed. “I’m not disturbing you, am I?” he said.

  “Sorry, Roger.” Jamie released Sophie, who retrieved her towel and headed back to the sink to hide her blush. “Bit early for the rolls to be done.”

  “Cathy said you were back. What are you doing here, Jamie?” Roger didn’t bother to hide the anger in his voice.

  Jamie didn’t rise to the bait, and even sounded cheerful. “Helping out. Sophie taught me how to make cinnamon rolls this morning.”

  “You know what I’m talking about.”

  Jamie hesitated for a moment. “What am I doing here? I’m enjoying the company of a lovely friend, and I don’t appreciate you making it sound like something is wrong here. You’ve known me a long time, Roger—”

  “Yes. Yes, I know you. I know why you come up here, and I know how often you come up here. If you think—”

  “I don’t.”

  Sophie wasn’t sure what the argument was about, besides Roger trying to defend her honor, but decided it was time to speak for herself. “Roger, seriously. You don’t need to worry about … anything,” she said. “I’m not sixteen. I can handle things myself; you really don’t need to worry.”

  Unless Jamie isn’t to be trusted, but I don’t really believe that anymore. Do I?

  The two men still stood scowling at each other. Finally Roger said, “Saturday.”

  Jamie’s expression didn’t change. He clearly didn’t know where the conversation had turned.

  “Saturday,” Roger repeated. “The picnic on the island.”

  “Oh, right. That’s still on, Roger. Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “I’m just telling you, you have until then.”

  Jamie didn’t respond, and when no one moved, Sophie asked, “What are you talking about? He has until then for what?”

  “Fine,” Jamie told Roger.

  “Fine, what?” Sophie asked again. She was beginning to get mad at this conversation. Why did Roger think he had a right to an opinion, unless he knew something she didn’t know? “What am I missing?”

  Jamie’s shoulders relaxed, and he wiped his soapy hand on his apron before taking it off. “I’ll talk to you about it Saturday,” he said. “Roger’s right, I need to get going. Thanks for letting me help this morning.”

  His eyes, for the brief moment they touched hers, had turned steely. She shivered.

  Jamie nodded at her cousin before depositing his wadded-up apron on the countertop and leaving out the back door.

  His exit felt like a vacuum, pulling part of Sophie with him. Roger’s shoulders slumped, and he ran a hand through his hair.

  “What in the world was that about?” Sophie didn’t try to hide her anger. “You don’t have the right to choose who I see. Jamie’s harmless, isn’t he? Cathy said he wasn’t dangerous. Is there something I don’t know about him? Otherwise, you—”

  “Dangerous?” Roger grunted. “Not dangerous in the way you’re thinking. But it’s true you don’t know everything about him. Or probably anything about him, if I’m guessing right. Don’t be in such a rush, Sophie. You just … You don’t know him that well. If your mom was here—”

  “If my mom was here, she wouldn’t be trying to make me uncomfortable like this.”

  “But she’s not here,” Roger said. “So I feel like if I’m worried, I need to say something.”

  Unfortunately, Roger’d said the very thing to put the wind in Sophie’s sails. “No, you’re right,” she said, her voice hard. “My mother’s not here.”

  Her cousin finally looked uncomfortable that he’d gone too far. “Sorry about that. I shouldn’t have … How about I come back in an hour, pick up those rolls?”

  “Fine.”

  He pulled on his hat and made a quick exit out the back door, just as the timer dinged for the cinnamon rolls. As Sophie headed over to tend the oven, she was left with two questions to ponder: What was happening Saturday, and what did Roger have against Jamie?

  13

  When Loren and Reva arrived a few hours later, Sophie was wrapping up loaves of bread for that day’s menu at Angler’s Cove Lodge.

  “All alone?” Reva slipped off her jacket and hung it by the door.

  Sophie had come to enjoy seeing what the colorful cook would wear each day, and today didn’t disappoint. It appeared to be an oversized vintage punk rock concert shirt paired with brightly patterned leggings and black hiking boots. Her black-and-purple hair sprouted high from her head in pigtails.

  “Love the look,” Sophie said. “Slow baking day. Cathy has an appointment.”

  “How much longer does she have?” Reva asked. “A couple of weeks, right?”

  “Two weeks tomorrow. Hey, do either of you know what might be happening Saturday?”

  “Can’t think of anything,” Loren said. “Hold on, that’s not the Pioneer Home reception, is it?”

  “I don’t know, maybe,” Sophie said.

  Loren turned to a wall calendar Sophie had never paid attention to. “No, Cathy has that down, but it’s not for a couple of weeks. Funny she’d agree to cater such a big event right when her baby’s due. She must really trust you, Sophie.” Loren winked at her.

  “Actually, I think it’s only like six dozen.” Reva tied on her apron. “The other bakeries in town have orders, too. Spread the love.”

  “What’s the event?” Sophie took a look at the calendar on the bulletin board. “Pioneer Home? Isn’t that the retirement place? Oh, wait. Here’s a flyer. Join us in Totem Square as we cut the ribbon on our newly remodeled … But I was just by that building a few weeks ago. Has it been closed?”

  “No, it’s open,” Loren said. “They’ve been remodeling parts of it for like a year, and this is like a grand reopening. More rooms, new facilities, that kind of thing. Big community event.”

  “How big?”

  “Hundreds,” Reva said. “All kinds of people turn out for these things in Sitka.”

  Sophie squinted at the calendar square early the next month, where Cathy had scribbled in 11 dozen. “Wow,” she said softly. “She hasn’t thought to mention that yet.”

  She jumped when Reva spoke
from close to her shoulder. “Eleven dozen? Yeah, she must have faith in you.”

  The back door opened just then, and Cathy came in—or, Cathy’s belly, followed by Cathy, Sophie noticed.

  “Shouldn’t you be at your doctor appointment?” Sophie asked.

  “On my way. Did Roger get the rolls?”

  “He sent one of the men to get them.” Because he was too chicken to see me again so soon. “Hey, Roger said something earlier about Saturday. Is there something planned I should know about?”

  “Like eleven dozen cupcakes,” Loren muttered, loudly enough that Cathy heard.

  “Eleven dozen? No, the Pioneer Home cupcake order isn’t for a couple of weeks. This Saturday … hmm. Oh!” Cathy, wide-eyed, turned to Sophie. “Didn’t I tell you about Saturday?”

  “Uh, no. I’m pretty sure not. What’s up?” She hoped it wasn’t something big, like a wedding cake.

  “Platsky family reunion.”

  “What? You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. Every year in August we go up to …” Cathy glanced at Loren and Reva. “… Roger’s boss’s place. You know how I told you he owned an island?”

  “Sure. You mean we get to go there?”

  “Yes. The island’s kind of a long oval shape. On one end is the house, and on the other he’s got it all set up for four-wheeling, volleyball, picnic tables … all kinds of fun stuff.”

  “And we get to go spend the day there?”

  “Yes, we do. There should be a few dozen of us. In fact, that reminds me …” She picked up a pencil and wrote on the calendar. “Cookies for Saturday. Be thinking about what kind you want to make.”

  “I will,” Sophie said, as Cathy headed back out the door. “Good luck at your appointment.”

  What Sophie was really wondering, though, was what the Platsky family reunion had to do with Jamie (she hoped she wouldn’t find out he was a cousin, a tiny worry she’d had ever since she heard him call her uncle “Uncle Knuckles”) and why he promised Roger that something would happen Saturday.

  14

  The rest of the week was busy but uneventful. Jamie didn’t stop by the lodge kitchen again, but that afternoon a large flower delivery arrived for Sophie, as if he hadn’t given her enough to smile about. The card just said J. Luckily, it came straight to her room, so she didn’t have to endure any teasing or questions from Reva and Loren. She loved them, but did worry just how much he’d spent on such a large, gorgeous bouquet.

  The morning of the reunion, Sophie was up early, as usual, making rolls for the fishermen. Cathy hadn’t come to the lodge the last few days. The doctor had said she should spend less time on her feet, so she’d finally agreed that Sophie could handle the daily bread and rolls.

  Once the morning baking was done, she’d gone back to her room to shower. What to wear to a family reunion where she’d likely get dirty? Grubby jeans and an old T-shirt made sense, but she found she wanted to look nice, too. The awkward conversation between Roger and Jamie had kept her looking forward to Saturday like she would to the first day of school—nervous excitement, anticipating the unknown. She ended up compromising on her outfit: older jeans that still looked good on her and a newer T-shirt that made her feel pretty. She pulled her dark, wavy hair back into a ponytail, leaving a few curls to frame her face.

  Sophie was on the wraparound deck outside her lodge room when Roger and Cathy arrived to pick her up for the reunion.

  “Ready to go?” Roger asked. “Cathy and the boys are in the truck.”

  Sophie was staring out into the water and hadn’t moved yet, so Roger leaned on the railing next to her.

  “See out there, about halfway to that island?” She pointed straight out from the deck.

  “What am I looking for?”

  “I thought I saw a whale spout a few minutes ago. I’m hoping it’ll come back.”

  Roger chuckled. “You’ve got the whale-watching bug. I can’t blame you. That was a pretty amazing sighting that day at the boat.”

  “Was that rare, then?”

  “No, we see them a lot. They just don’t often accommodate such a close view. That probably was a spout you saw, but if it’s been a few minutes …”

  “It’s probably gone.”

  “Yep.”

  Sophie picked up the container with the cookies she’d baked the previous day and walked with Roger around to the Angler’s Cove Lodge parking lot.

  “I just want to say,” Roger said gently, “that I’m sorry if I embarrassed you the other day.”

  “That’s okay. I mean, yes, it was embarrassing. And please don’t do it again. But no worries.”

  “The thing about Jamie is, you just don’t know him very well.”

  “You mentioned that. And you’re right. I don’t.”

  “Cathy and I have known him a long while. He really is a good guy.”

  “I’m sure he is. Kind of rough around the edges.”

  Roger took his hat off and scratched behind his ear. “He’s looking pretty scraggly, that’s for sure.”

  “I do have to wonder why you’re warning me against him if he’s such a good guy as you both keep saying. Either way …” Sophie stopped and put her hand on Roger’s arm. “You don’t have to worry about me, Roger. Jamie’s fun, but he’s really not my type.”

  “Not your type.”

  “Jamie looks like a castaway who doesn’t know he got rescued from his deserted island. An island with no razors or clothing stores. I enjoy spending time with him, but I don’t see that we have that much in common and definitely not any sort of future.” Unless you count how he manages to make my heart race and my legs melt like butter in a saucepan.

  “So you’re just flirting with him? You’re not actually interested?”

  Sophie shrugged. Mostly, she wanted Roger to not worry. But if she was truthful, was she really interested in dating someone like Jamie?

  Yes.

  No.

  And there was that hollow stomach again, telling her she wasn’t being honest or fair. She tried to ignore it.

  They had reached the truck. Sophie could see Cathy and the twins waiting inside, but Roger stopped her.

  “Just keep something in mind,” he spoke quietly. “You’re our priority, Sophie. Mine and Cathy’s. We’re watching out for you. But I hope you aren’t giving out mixed signals. Even a rough-looking guy like Jamie can get hurt when someone pretends to be interested.”

  Before Sophie could respond, he’d opened the truck door for her to climb in the back with Ty and Spence. She put on a smile and greeted everyone, but felt hurt and bewildered. What had suddenly made sweet cousin Roger go from trying to protect her from Jamie, to trying to protect Jamie from her?

  Roger had reserved one of the charter boats for the day to get them out to the island, along with his parents, Sophie’s Uncle Curtis and Aunt Nan; their daughter, Tracy; and their granddaughter, Ellie.

  “Ellie graduated from high school this year,” Tracy said, “and she just returned from a summer backpacking in Europe.”

  “How exciting!” Sophie said.

  Once they reached the boat, Sophie determined to focus on reconnecting with her Platsky family. They were mostly easy-going, fun-loving people, so it wasn’t hard. She liked the looks of this new young cousin she’d never met. Ellie was short, curvy, and blond like her mother—like most of the Platskys, really. Sophie’s looks were so much darker, like her father’s family. Looking at Ellie and Tracy, Sophie realized she was going to really stand out at the reunion, as she always did in Sitka when she was younger. Luckily, they made their Latino cousin feel like one of the gang.

  “And she’ll have to tell us all about Europe,” Cathy jumped in, “but you’ll have plenty of opportunities to hear it. Ellie’s going to come work with you as an assistant in the Cookie Jar, Sophie.”

  Sophie’s heart lightened immediately. “Wonderful! Do you have much experience in baking?”

  “Just the basics, but I do like to bake. Nothing like Aunt C
athy. She says you can teach me.”

  The smiling faces around Sophie made her feel loved, supported, and needed. She wished her mother were here to see them. “I’m sure you’ll learn quickly. I’m really so glad I’ll get to know you better, Ellie, and frankly, I was getting nervous about running things on my own.”

  “I wouldn’t leave you without help,” Cathy said. “Remember Uncle Wade’s daughter, Marcy? She’ll be on the island today. Her two kids—”

  “Marcy has two kids?” Sophie interrupted. “How’s that possible? She’s my age.”

  “She does, and the youngest will be in school all day this year, so she’s going to come help at the bakery, too.”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  Sophie was so busy enjoying family, she forgot to watch for whales or even enjoy the scenery as they passed through the harbor and around several islands. It wasn’t until Roger announced that they had arrived that she looked up to see their destination.

  What had she expected of an island owned by a billionaire? She didn’t have any experience with people like that, but she realized looking at the house set up high on the island that she’d been expecting a castle.

  This wasn’t a castle, but it was huge, and gorgeous, and did have one turret. Three stories tall, the edifice—which jutted out in interesting directions—seemed to be covered in windows, but the remaining exterior was painted dark grey with white trim and textured stone. Off to one side, a sturdy dock stuck out into the water. The situation and landscaping were breathtaking.

  “It’s beautiful! I don’t understand how someone could have a place like this and not live in it full time.”

  Roger shook his head. “You know rich people. Always have someplace new to be.”

  “I don’t know rich people, but … wow. I’d never leave. Aren’t we docking here?”

  Roger hadn’t slowed down, though he moved the boat closer to shore. “No, we’ll use the dock on the west end. That’s where we’ll spend the day. I just thought you’d like to see the house.”

  Sophie took one last look. “It really is beautiful. I bet it’s amazing inside.”