Her Billionaire Bellboy

by Sophia Summers

  His phone rang. “Hello mother.”

  “How are you dear? It isn’t too terrible is it?” To his mother, everything but their palace must be terrible.

  “Not terrible at all. I actually plan to keep this store. It adds to the charm in the town and I’d hate for it to go under.” He thought of how Jo’s eyes had lit when he told her he meant to revive it.

  His father joined them. “You will turn a profit though, correct?”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t be a Torren otherwise.”

  “That’s my son.”

  His mother sniffed. “All this talk of turning profits. It’s so crass.”

  “Mother. If I’m to spend a whole summer here, it may as well benefit someone.”

  “I suppose. I hope that horrid Angelika gives up quickly. Perhaps I shall set her up with one of the other princes. I’m sure those Baldeez brothers might enjoy her.”

  “I’ve got to go, mother. I’m sure it will be fine.”

  He had promised his parents not to get involved with anyone, to stay quiet and clean. And already he was fidgeting, nervous. He couldn’t stand sitting still. And the boredom. He didn’t know if he would survive a whole summer without some sort of diversion. Hopefully what Jo told him was true, that there was a group. And if they didn’t play hard, he could show them a few things. He smirked. As long as he was quiet, and careful, this summer could be just as exciting as his planned months on the Mediterranean with the Baldeez brothers.

  He smiled. Jo could be diversion enough on her own. Stunning, long dark hair, hanging all around her, bright green eyes, tanned skin. She looked less American to him, more like she belonged in his country. She wasn’t overly enamored with him, which he found curious. Maybe that was one of the benefits of being in America. People here had no idea who he was.

  He pulled his car into the marina parking lot. He planned to take the boat out, watch the sun go down on the water. After the mundane tedium, he could use some quiet.

  The dock was empty. All the boats were in their slips, but one. Her boat. Remembering it, he smiled. Beautifully cared for, a classic. There were very few left in the world.

  Chains clanged against masts all along the docks as the wind picked up. They had best tie everything down if the promised storm hit as had been predicted. He had considered getting a hotel for the night but in the end felt too tired to figure it out. He would be fine.

  He doubted it would even hit as they warned. He squinted into the sun approaching the horizon, then hurried to the end of the dock to start untying lines and getting his sail ready. He’d need to hurry to catch the last two hours of light.

  As he finished the final tasks, a boat drifted by, casting a shadow across his face for a moment. The Sonhadora. And at its helm, holding tight to a couple lines, while working the rutter, was Jo. She leaned back against the tilt of the boat, pulling the rigging tighter. The boat picked up speed. What was she doing? He adjusted his body so he could watch. She was already close to the docks, there was no need for such velocity but the look on her face said she loved it. Her face, light, her skin relaxed.

  And she was expert. She took the boat in between two rows, going at a tremendous speed, the wind just right for such an angle. He cringed at what could happen to the beautiful wood that lined the sides. When she arrived closer to the slip for her boat, she turned at the last possible second, into the wind, and used the momentum to push forward into her slip.

  He let out the breath he held. A beautiful bit of sailing at expert hands.

  He clapped. “Brilliant. Positively expert.”

  She whipped her head around and her smile grew. “Thank you.” She called over her shoulder as she worked to tie her boat to the dock, to let the sale go and to start tying down the rigging. Still flushed from the exertion, she stunned him. He picked up his feet and headed in her direction. Like a siren to his song, he couldn’t stay away if he tried.

  He hurried to help her tie it all up. “I’m about to go out myself. How is it?”

  “Oh, it was perfect. You’ll love it. There’s a strong, steady head wind. You can go out and come back without trouble.”

  Her energy filled him. He couldn’t leave her so soon. “Would you like to go back out on the water with me?” Even as he said it, he knew it sounded like a stretch. But he couldn’t let her just go inside and leave him alone. The idea of the quiet on the water did not feel as peaceful as it did lonely now.

  She paused. Then checked her watch. “I’m starving and have plans in a couple hours.”

  Again he was pleased and challenged at her indifference. And he wondered if he affected her at all. He looked forward to finding out. “Perfect. I can share my takeout and I’ll have you back as soon as the sun sets.” He grinned, full set of teeth, the look that made most women agree to whatever he suggested.

  She eyed him for a moment, not taken in, confusion flitting across her features, but then she relented. “I’m in. Especially since you helped me tie down my boat. Thanks.”

  She rushed to the main office, and when she returned, met him at his boat, helping with setting up the rigging and all the lines.

  “Do you work here?” He was surprised, expecting something else from her perhaps.

  “I own it.” She shrugged. “My father does. But he needed some help these last few weeks so I’m here for the summer.”

  Excellent. “How’s the restaurant?”

  “Some of the best food on the island.”

  Thinking of the smell of bacon that morning, he said, “I’m a big fan of breakfast.” Oops. He didn’t mean that in the way most women would take it. He eyed her warily. But she seemed unaffected by what could have been an unwelcome proposition from him.

  Curious only, she asked, “Will you be staying at the marina?”

  “I will. For now.”

  She appraised him with new eyes and he thought he saw a touch of interest but she hid it. Interesting. Good. If they kept things platonic between them, perhaps he could enjoy a summer friendship with her and the others on the island, whoever they might be. And still keep his promise to his parents. No entanglements.

  “We’ll be neighbors then.”

  Ah, the potential just kept growing, and he found himself even more pleased with the thoughts of his summer playing out, sailing, with this beautiful woman at his side. “Do you live on the boat?”

  “As often as I can.”

  As soon as he was out on the water, Nico felt his shoulders drop, his tension unwind and his headache ease. The wind steadily pushed their boat out to the middle as the sun descended in the sky.

  “The best place to see the sun is straight across to the other side.”

  The distance seemed further than they could manage before the sun dropped, but he said only, “Yes, Captain.” With a mock salute.

  They both settled back, eyes gazing out at the water.

  Jo was beautiful, head tipped back, face relaxed. And she did not feel the need to fill the quiet with endless chatter. If he wasn’t careful, this summer could gain him much more than a quick friendship. But a familiar recklessness settled over him and he wanted to know her. The little he had seen, he found fascinating. “Tell me about what you are studying.”

  When she turned to him, he was struck by the green of her eyes. Only the ladies from the Mediterranean countries had eyes such as hers. Or the islands. Again he thought how well she fit in with the people of his country.

  “I’ve finished my masters, but I just wanted to do this additional fellowship to focus on public service.”

  His eyebrows raised, interest once again piqued. “Oh? What specifically about it interests you?” Another aspect of this fascinating woman that intrigued him. The rest of his life would be spent in public service. As the king of a small country he reminded himself, vastly different from what she was referencing.

  “I am interested in non-profits, in programs that help people, in running fundraisers and service or volunteer organizations.” She pulled her
hair back in a low ponytail, her slender neck and lovely profile outlined against the turquois water as they would be in a portrait. She seemed completely unaware of her own beauty. “We had very little focus on those types of things in my MBA, and I am interested in running a non-profit. It is a valuable skill no matter what I go into.”

  “I agree. Most valuable. Do you have an area of interest for your non-profit or a place you would start in public service?”

  Without a breath’s pause, she answered. “Alzheimer research. And I want to set up an activity center, a community club house for the elderly so that they can come and keep their skills alive, their immediate memories active. Studies show that the more active their brains are, the longer they will retain skills. The brain actually rebuilds some of these neural pathways.” Her face lit and she glowed with her own ambition to help in this cause.

  In his own country, the elderly were still an active part of the younger families and he didn’t guess there was as much need for community centers and things, but it must be important in America and to her personally for her to feel so strongly. He considered for a moment, and even in his country, they might enjoy opportunities to spend time with people in their same age and situation. He would bring it up to his father as a possibility to consider. “I can see this is an important dream. I admire your passion. Rarely do I see a woman so energetic and focused on pursuits outside herself. It seems our age set is much more self-minded.” Especially the women he dated. Angelika came to mind.

  Himself included, he chided. And perhaps his myopic outlook on his age group was due to the company he kept. Had he done anything besides entertain his every notion for the last five years? Any public service besides that which was thrust upon him by birth had been far from his mind. When had he ever considered the elderly in his nation?

  She sipped from her water bottle. “I just think that we have a responsibility to make the world a better place. We are all neighbors, old or young, are we not?”

  “I suppose.” Something about that felt a bit like church and he wasn’t ready to go in that direction with their conversation. “Just look at that sun.” He loved watching the sun go down. Tonight the colors spread out in all directions. Not the brilliant rainbow he could often see at home, but deep burgundy and yellows lit the sky. They still had time to catch the actual setting. The sun always hovered for what felt like forever, at the very edge of the sky and then when it was good and ready, if you blinked, you missed it. But the sky stayed light long after.

  “We get some beautiful sunsets here. Especially later in the summer. People come from all over because we rarely have a cloudy day in August and the haze coming up in the evening brings out the most spectacular colors.”

  “I’ll look forward to it.” They had arrived at the other side.

  “Will you be here?” She smiled.

  He enjoyed the hope in her eyes. “I plan too. At least all summer but perhaps all the way until January.” He watched her face, pleased to see a slight flush.

  “I’m glad to hear it. I’ll be here for the summer also.” She glanced at him, questioning, before suddenly reaching for the rutter. “Let’s get out.”

  “What? And leave the boat?”

  “Just for a minute. You won’t regret it.”

  They used the wind for momentum and rode the boat up on the sand. Then they pulled the lines forward and tied them to a tree. He let the sail lose, tied and flapping in the wind.

  She hurried up through the sand into the trees. “Come on. We have to make it to the top.”

  His gaze followed her retreating form. She wanted them to crest the hill before the sun fell beneath the horizon. It would be a race, but they could do it

  He took off after her. “Race you!” Soon overtaking her, he considered slowing down a bit.

  She laughed. “Excellent” Then burst ahead of him with such a surprising start that he faltered in amazement. But enjoying the challenge he roared, “Oh no you don’t.” and tore after her again.

  They pushed through the brush, the trail underused, brambles scratching at his legs as he ran. Then, completely out of breath, they crested the top of the hill, and the area around them opened up. Jo leaned down, both hands on her knees, sucking in breath. “Well done.”

  He admired the rise and fall of her slender frame, the gentle color to her cheeks. “I’ll take a tie from a worthy opponent any day.” She surprised him again, so different from all the other women he usually dated. Adventurous, game for running up the hill. And she hadn’t yet complained about anything.

  She stood, circling, with hands out. “Isn’t it magnificent?”

  He would never have guessed their small hill to give them a surprising view in all directions. The entrance to the marina on the opposite side of the lake with the thick green forest all around. Then the lake spread between them in both directions widening to their right and stretching so far the other side was not visible on either the right of the left of where they stood. From here, the sun would set over the water.

  He breathed it all in, letting the magnificence fill him. “Thank you. I needed this.”

  They stood, watching in silence.

  “I did too.” Something about her expression told him the significance of those three words, that she was carrying a burden he didn’t understand.

  He reached for her hand as though he needed the support. He sensed it might help, and he didn’t know what else to do. They didn’t know each other well enough to be confiding deep concerns. But he somehow knew she might appreciate his gesture. And that she wouldn’t take it the wrong way. So when she laced her fingers in his, he didn’t assume much more was meant than comfort between the two of them. But a sudden and surprising thrill raced up his arm at her touch and could not be denied. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles and wondered if she felt the same.

  To read The Heir, go HERE.

  Read all books by Sophia Summers

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  Other books in the Vacation Billionaires Series

  Her Billionaire Lifeguard

  Her Billionaire Professor

  Her Billionaire Bellboy

  Her Love and Marriage Brides Series

  The Bride’s Secret

  The Bride’s Cowboy

  The Bride’s Billionaire

  Read all the books in The Swoony Sports Romances

  Hitching the Pitcher

  Falling for Centerfield

  Charming the Shortstop

  Snatching the Catcher

  Flirting with First

  Kissing on Third

  Her Billionaire Royals Series:

  The Heir

  The Crown

  The Duke

  The Duke’s Brother

  The Prince

  The American

  The Spy

  The Princess

  Her Billionaire Cowboys Series:

  Her Billionaire Cowboy

  Her Billionaire Protector

  Her Billionaire in Hiding

  Her Billionaire Christmas Secret

  Her Billionaire to Remember

  Her Single Holiday Romances

  Taming Scrooge

  Copyright © 2019 by Sophia Summers

  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.

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