by Nella Tyler
Carson adapted well to school, taking to the idea of having more children around and activities to keep himself busy. He was very bright and loved learning his alphabet and how to begin writing the letters.
It was a late summer evening when they decided to take a picnic down to the bank of the lake bordering the back of the estate property.
Cole packed the back of an ATV and they drove slowly along the tree line toward the water. He pointed out small landmarks where he had played as a boy. He drove toward the stables so they could watch as the horses exercised in the yard.
Carson loved the horses, and Cole hiked him up onto his shoulders to keep him out of the mud as they entered the barn. It was a beautiful building, paneled with oak and contained brass fittings, and even a graded wading pool where the horses were exercised. Gilda clung to Cole’s arm, excited as Carson.
“I love to come down here,” she said, smiling.
“You missed living in the country, didn’t you?” Cole asked her.
Gilda nodded. “This isn’t exactly like where I grew up, you know. I don’t want to go back home, but I would like to live in the south again. I’m not crazy about the winters here, if I have to be honest.”
They strolled through the barn until they came to a stall at the end of the row. Cole turned inward and pointed at the pony busily munching hay inside the stall. He handed Carson an apple. “You want to feed your pony?” he asked smoothly.
“Feed my pony?” he responded in an amazed voice.
“I thought you wanted your own pony?” Cole continued.
“Really? Really, Cole? Do you mean it?”
“I sure do, after all, you’re my son now,” he answered.
Both Carson and Gilda turned to look at him in amazement.
“Really?” they asked in unison.
“I was planning to tell you at the picnic, but yes, my attorney got the paperwork through the system more quickly than we’d anticipated and as of this afternoon, you, Mr. Carson, are now Carson Stephens.”
“Wow!” Carson squealed, hugging Cole. “Can I call you Daddy?”
“You sure can,” Cole patted his back.
“I think that would be a perfect idea,” Gilda chimed in.
Both Cole and Carson turned to look at her.
“After all,” she continued, “you’re going to be a daddy to the new baby, too!”
“Sweetheart, are you saying you’re pregnant?” Cole asked in an excited voice.
She nodded. “Is that okay?” she asked, although she knew nothing would make him happier.
“I think I can take it, if you can,” he winked and pulled her into an embrace that included the three of them.
Cole put Carson on the pony and walked him around in the yard outside the barn, Carson holding on for dear life.
“I think he needs some riding lessons,” Cole commented and Gilda agreed. “How about you, Gilda? Would you like to take lessons and learn to ride?”
“You know, I think I’d love that!” she exclaimed. “But I want to wait until after the baby. I can’t take any chances that something would happen again,” she worried aloud.
“Good idea,” he agreed, pulling Carson off the pony and packing them all in the ATV to finish their picnic plans.
Carson was playing at the water’s edge, tossing in stones and digging around with sticks.
“You’ve made me very, very happy, Cole. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be married to or have as the daddy of my children.”
“That’s high praise, coming from you, sweetheart. Have you thought about what you want from the future?”
“Huh, strange that you should ask. You really want the truth?”
“Of course, that’s why I asked.”
Gilda picked up a twig, broke it in half and tossed it across the grass. “If I had to be absolutely honest, I would say that I’d like to move south. I know this is your childhood home and all, but Cole…these aren’t my people. Carson doesn’t really fit in, not really.”
“I figured you’d say something like that,” he agreed. “That’s why I’ve been consolidating my U.S. businesses and sold off everything overseas. I’m in a position now where I can sell this estate; if you’d like, we can move wherever you like.”
“You mean it?”
“The world is your oyster, my sweet, sweet wife. Pick anywhere you’d like to live, and I’ll get us there. I love you and want you happy.”
“Not as much as I love you, my darling Cole.”
Cole pulled her into his arms and when Carson’s back was turned, Cole kissed her hard on the mouth and then pushed her hair aside as he kissed her ear.
“I love you.”
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BILLIONAIRE VACATION
THE COMPLETE SERIES
By Nella Tyler
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2016 Nella Tyler
Chapter One
Megan Mahoney walked slowly through the airport terminal to the baggage claim. She was distracted as she thought of her mother’s fearful words. She’d been aggravated beyond belief when her mother, Dahlia, had insisted that she visit her the day her plane was to depart for Hawaii. Dahlia begged Megan to forego her trip but Megan would have none of it. Megan had asked Dahlia why she should cancel her trip, but all Dahlia could say was that she had a bad feeling.
That wasn’t a good enough reason for Megan. She was excited about her long overdue vacation and dismissed of her mother’s warning. She and her two best friends, Benita Stratford and Ashlee Moore, were going to Hawaii for two months and she wouldn’t allow anything to ruin it for them. They were all teachers at Lexington Junior High School in Wayman, Massachusetts and looked forward to the glorious weather on Oahu before having to face another fierce winter in Wayman. Megan forgot about her mother’s dire warning and hurried to the baggage carousel. Her flight had already been delayed two hours due to the storm in Wayman. She hoped there would be no problems with her bags.
She maneuvered her way to the front and watched as the bags fell down the ramp onto the rotating belt. She saw her big, red bag tumble down the ramp and tried to grab it. She leaned forward, but the belt was moving quickly and her grasping fingers missed handle. Her weight carried her forward and she tumbled onto the conveyer belt. She was mortified as several passengers chuckled at her predicament. She tried to get up but fell backward instead. Suddenly she heard laughter in her ear as two strong hands clasped her waist and lifted her from the belt. She turned her head to look into a pair of dazzling, grey eyes. They were beautiful: clear and sparkling.
“Are you all right?” he smiled broadly. His hands remained on her shoulders.
Megan wanted to sink through the floor with embarrassment. She pulled out of his grasp and looked at his handsome face. Of all the times to have such an awful accident. And it had to happen in front of a drop dead gorgeous man.
“Yes. I’m fine. Horribly embarrassed, but fine,” she mumbled. “Thank you for rescuing me. I swear, I’m not usually so clumsy.”
“Not a problem. I’m always ready to help a lady taking a ride on the baggage carousel,” he chuckled.
Megan frowned at him.
“It wasn’t like I was riding a merry-go-round,” Megan huffed.
“It’s similar,” he teased.
Megan looked at him in fury and he burst out laughing. She could have pummeled him in vexation. Yet she couldn’t remain angry with him. His eyes were just too lovely, and being angry just wasn’t Megan’s personality. She didn’t take herself too seriously and could always laugh at herself. She grinned.
“I imagine I could have been the cousin to The Three Stooge
s,” she chuckled.
“You would have fit in perfectly,” he grinned gleefully. “But I am glad you are uninjured. I will get your bag for you.”
Her bag came around again and he pulled it from the carousel while she grabbed her smaller bag.
“You don’t exactly travel light, do you?” he teased.
She smiled.
“I’ll be staying for two months. I’m vacationing with my best friends, who arrived in Oahu yesterday.”
“You couldn’t have picked a better place to vacation. Oahu is breathtaking.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” she said as she hung the smaller bag on her shoulder. “Thank you again for rescuing me.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied.
She grabbed the handle of the large bag, waved, and then walked away. As she walked outside to wait for a taxi, she berated herself profusely. How could she walk away from him and not get his information? She hadn’t even looked at his left hand to see if he wore a wedding band.
Maybe because she wasn’t used to doing such things. Up until a few weeks ago, she had been engaged to Douglas Murphy: a wonderful man whom she loved dearly and would have married the next month. Well, as it turned out, he wasn’t as fabulous as she’d thought.
He had dumped her for Denise Whittaker, a skinny, blonde woman with big boobs who happened to be a teacher at her school. When Douglas broke up with her, she’d wanted to scratch both of their eyes out. Thanks goodness summer break started a few days later and she didn’t have to look at them. But that was only a temporary condition. Soon enough, she would have to face them. How she would do that, she didn’t know. Well, she was determined not to worry about that eventuality right now. She was in beautiful Oahu and she intended to enjoy herself.
“No taxi yet?”
Megan swung around and stared into those remarkable grey eyes again.
“No. Not yet. There doesn’t seem to be enough taxis for the people who need them.”
“May I offer you a ride? There’s plenty of room in the truck for your bags,” he teased.
Megan grinned ruefully.
“I don’t know. My mother taught me at an early age not to accept rides from strangers.”
He extended his hand.
“Drake Hanover, at your service. Born in London, but I’ve resided in the States since the age of four,” he said.
She shook his hand. His grip was firm and warm. She liked it.
“Megan Mahoney. I thought I detected a slight accent in your voice. You’ve been in America for so long. I’m surprised you haven’t lost it completely,” she mused.
“I traveled to England quite often. So my accent is still intact. My work takes me all over the world,” he explained.
“What is your work?”
“Ride with me and I’ll tell you all about it,” he countered.
This time Megan did look at his left hand and saw that he wore only a signet ring on his left pinkie.
“I am not married nor engaged. Nor do I have a girlfriend,” he said wryly.
Megan blushed but looked at him directly.
“Any single woman in her right mind would have checked.” She refused to think about her earlier lapse.
“As did I while we were at the baggage carousel. Will you join me?” he asked.
She didn’t know him and she was taking a chance. But her gut feeling said that he would not harm her.
“Yes. I will join you.”
“Good,” he said. He raised his hand and Megan saw a black limousine inched its way forward until it stopped before them.
“Nice,” she smiled.
“I always opt for comfort,” he replied. “Where are you staying?”
“The Tropics.”
“Perfect. So am I,” he smiled.
The driver got out of the car and hurried to open the trunk. Drake rolled their bags to the rear of the limousine and he and the driver lifted them into the trunk. Drake then opened the car door and assisted Megan into the car. She was impressed with his courteous behavior. It was something that Douglas had stopped doing long ago. Megan was always left to open and close doors as though he wasn’t there. It grated on her nerves but he would only laugh it off should she speak of it. Drake entered the car and the driver shut the door. Within seconds, they were on their way.
*****
“I’m waiting,” Megan prompted.
“For what?”
“You promised to tell me about your work,” Megan reminded him.
He raised a skeptical eyebrow at her.
“I don’t recall promising.”
“You said you would tell me about your work,” she retorted.
He laughed.
“And you fell for that?”
Megan looked at him in outrage.
“Stop the car. I’m out of here.” Megan fumed.
He controlled his laughter and grasped her hand. As much as Megan liked the feel of his hand on hers, she snatched her hand away. He looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes.
“I’m kidding you. You are so easy to tease and I enjoy your reaction,” he grinned. “But I’m happy to tell you about myself.”
Megan wrinkled her pert nose at him then brushed her thick, copper-red hair behind her ear. Drake watched as she crossed her slender legs clad in white capris. She wore a royal blue sleeveless blouse that was tucked inside the waistband of her pants. She looked to be about 5’4”with dimples in her lovely face. It had been a stroke of luck that she was still waiting for a taxi when he’d left the terminal. He knew he’d had to think fast to stay in her company; it was a good thing he was quick off the cuff. He smiled crookedly at the thought.
“Why are you smiling?” she asked suspiciously. She wondered if the lopsided lift of his mouth could be considered a smile.
“I’m happy to be in your company,” he answered.
“Wow! He’s smooth,” Megan thought. And she really liked it.
“Talk to me,” she said quietly.
He turned in his seat to face her and she did the same, leaning back into the corner.
“I am a real estate developer. I buy resorts that are in need of a facelift and renovate them. I’m here in Oahu to check out a resort to see if it fits my criteria,” he explained.
“The Tropics?”
“Yes,” he answered. “My research has suggested that the resort requires upgrading. After reading all of the reports, it was time that I took a first-hand look at the establishment.”
“Are you saying that we picked the wrong place to stay?”
“Not at all. From all reports the resort has a solid, four-star rating. I’m merely interested in making it a five-star establishment,” he replied.
“And how would you do that?”
He shrugged casually.
“I would buy the resort.”
Megan was speechless. It wasn’t often that she encountered wealthy men. And obviously this man had very deep pockets. It would take a tremendous amount of money to purchase such a large resort. But he seemed unfazed by it. Money was so obstacle for him. She had noticed the nice clothing he wore while they spoke at the terminal. His attire was casual chic in beige Tommy Bahama linen slacks and a navy shirt. Now she understood how he could dress so stylishly and expensively. He looked like he was ready to go sailing.
“What a fabulous job you have. What company do you work for?”
“Hanover Developers.”
“Hanover. That’s your last name,” she said thoughtfully. “It’s your company.”
“Correct. I worked a while on Wall Street after graduating from college but found that I hated it. I ran into a buddy from high school and he suggested that I work for his dad who owned a construction company. I took the job,” he explained. “I worked as a laborer at first then the owner paired me up with a senior electrician. I took to it like a fish to water. I liked the work and went back to school to be formally trained as an electrician. The rest is history.”
“So you’ve built an e
mpire from nothing,” she marveled.
“In a manner of speaking. Although I had no money, I did have skills, ambition and determination,” he said. “When I started my own construction business, I worked my men hard. But no harder than I worked myself. I’m proud to say that I still employ all of the men I started out with twelve years ago.”
“They are loyal to you.”
“And I am just as loyal to them,” he said quietly.
She looked out of the window and saw the lovely foliage and blooming flowers that ran along the roadside.
“So, are you only here for business? It’s hard to imagine one not taking advantage of these beautiful surroundings.”
“I think I can be persuaded to enjoy the environment if the company is right.”
She looked at him thoughtfully.
“I hope you find the right company.”
“Perhaps I have,” he returned.
The limousine turned onto a street that was lined with overhanging trees. It felt like they were driving through a long, dim tunnel. They emerged to drive along a half-moon driveway, then stopped under a canopy in front of the hotel entrance. Drake exited the car, then turned to offer his hand to Megan. She laid her hand onto his warm palm and allowed him to assist her from the car. She looked around.
“It’s beautiful,” she said in awe. There seemed to be flowing water everywhere. There were waterfalls and fountains, manmade brooks and creeks at every turn.
“I like all of the water features,” he observed.
“It’s said that water is good Chi.”
“You’re into Zen and Feng Shui?” he asked.
“Absolutely. You should see my house,” she grinned. “It’s filled with crystals and elephant figurines.”
“Both are for good luck and protection,” he murmured.
“Yes. Are you metaphysical?” She looked at him closely.
“A bit. Let’s go inside.” He took her hand and led her into the hotel.