“Because, there’s more in store,” he replied, his eyes twinkling. “Trust me.”
Her lips twitched in surprise, but she took his hand and let him help her out the door. It didn’t take long for recognition to light up her face. The familiar scene of the rooftop garden of Linex Investments waited for them, except it had been recently strung with hundreds of warm lights. As the helicopter powered down, the soft tinkling of music drifted toward them. Michael led her toward the table where they often met during busy work days to reconnect. A white sheet had been laid over the top and a single vase with a rose adorned it.
“Michael, what is this?” Emily gazed at the romantic scene, her eyes growing wide.
“This is where I first told you that I loved you,” Michael said with a smile. “And you said it back. I thought it would be the perfect place.”
She turned toward him, her cheeks pink. “The perfect place for what?”
“For lovers, of course,” called a deep voice with an Italian accent.
Lorenzo appeared from behind the stairway access, holding a tray in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. He placed two glasses on the table, along with two slices of his famous tiramisu. With a flourish, he pulled the cork out of the wine bottle and poured it for them.
“Sit, sit,” he insisted with a wave of his hand. “I did not climb all those stairs for you both to stare at me.”
Emily rushed to take a seat and Michael followed. He thanked Lorenzo with a small nod of his head and got a sly wink in response from the old man. Lorenzo quickly disappeared the way he’d come, leaving them to gaze out at the glorious city bathed in lights.
“I can’t believe you did all this for me,” Emily said, chewing on her bottom lip. She looked up at him through her lashes. “This is the most wonderful date I’ve ever been on. And lately I’ve been on some amazing ones.”
“I’d do it all a thousand times over,” he said, reaching across the table to cover her hand with his. “Emily, you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I never expected to be so happy. And I certainly never expected to find love. You’ll always have my heart.”
Her cheeks blushed as she smiled into his eyes. Michael could never remember her looking so beautiful. He was so caught up in the moment, he almost forgot what he was supposed to do next.
“Where is it?” he mumbled, dropping her hand to pat his suit coat. His hands worked their way down to the pocket of his pants where he found the small box he’d been looking for. “Oh, yes.”
He dropped to his knee in front of her as she inhaled sharply and pressed her hands to her mouth. Opening the light blue box, he held it up for her to see in the soft glow of the lanterns.
“Emily Sevenson, would you make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife?”
For a long moment, she stared at the ring. Michael was almost starting to think that maybe he’d picked the wrong design. It hadn’t been the biggest ring in the store, but it certainly sparkled and it would probably add a lot of weight to her hand. The thing had called to him the moment he saw it, Emily’s name practically stamped on the band.
But that doubt vanished as soon as her warm gaze swept up to meet his. She had tears in the corners of her eyes and an elated smile on her gorgeous pink lips.
“Michael Knight, nothing would make me happier,” she said, her voice thick with tears.
He shifted on his knee. “So, that’s a yes?”
“Yes, yes, a million times yes!” she yelled, throwing her arms up. “Do I have to scream it any louder?”
He grinned and plucked the ring from the box, sliding it onto her slender finger. Then, fed up with holding himself back, he pulled her into a toe-curling kiss that set his head spinning.
Never in his life had he imagined this as a possible future for himself—delirious happiness. Emily Sevenson had chased away the cobwebs in his soul and brought light into the deepest recesses of his heart. She had fixed his broken parts. He couldn’t be more blessed.
All the money in the world couldn’t buy that kind of love.
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Thanks for reading The Billionaire and the Matchmaker! Now, you MUST check out The Billionaire and The Waitress. When ex-pro baseball player and billionaire Logan Madison is matched to work with waitress Rachel Knight, sparks fly. Too bad she’s his best friend’s little sister and totally off limits. Turn the page for an excerpt or get it here.
SIGN UP FOR MY MAILING list to be notified when more books in the series become available. You’ll want to take a bite out of this fun romance!
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There are many more books planned in this series, so if you loved it and can’t wait for more, please leave a review. The more reviews a book receives, the more attention I can spend on the series.
Love Always, Lacy
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The Billionaire and the Waitress Excerpt
Book 2 in the Billionaire Matchmaker series
Chapter One
Rachel Knight would give anything to be back in Paris at that very moment, sashaying down the catwalk in a pair of glittering diamond heels and a crimson silk dress, but fate had other plans for the wannabe model. She tied her apron strings around her waist and glanced warily into the dining room, where she was expected to start her next shift in less than a minute.
“Watch out, girl,” a fellow waitress whispered to her as she entered the kitchen, carrying a tray full of dirty dishes. “He’s in a mood today.”
Rachel made a face and ducked when the cause of her apprehension came into view. Tony Moon was tall, thick around the waist, and loved to flash his extra-white veneers at the waitresses. He had a head full of straight black hair and thick eyebrows to match. He thought he was heaven’s gift to women.
The women knew otherwise.
“Alright, Rachel,” she muttered to herself, pulling her sleek chestnut hair off her slender neck and into a low ponytail. She’d been dumped back into her home town of San Jose, California, with nothing but an empty bank account to keep her company. Pep talks were common nowadays. “You can do this. Just until you finish school.”
Not even her optimistic nature could wipe the disgust off her face when Tony came through the door, pinning her with a leer.
“You’re late,” he said, his lecherous gaze roving slowly over the curves of her slender body.
“Not yet.” Rachel looked down at her nickel-plated wristwatch. “My shift doesn’t start until five...four...three...two...one. Now, I’m on the clock.”
Tony wrinkled his long nose and then held the door open for her. “After you.”
She resisted the urge to shudder as she brushed past him. It had only been a month since she’d taken the waitressing job at La Fete in her hometown of San Jose and already she was regretting it. But rent had to be paid and as of today, her skill set only included posing in expensive clothing and bussing tables.
Since she couldn’t seem to burst onto the modeling scene, waitressing would have to do until she got her associates degree at the local community college. The alternative was to go to family for money, but the idea was more revolting than Tony Moon’s advances.
Rachel Knight would make it on her own. Money certainly wasn’t everything in this world and she was out to prove it.
“We’ve got a special reservation coming in at four,” Tony said, following her into the dining room. He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward a fake pair of potted ferns. “I have it on good authority that it’s two baseball players for the LA Suns. Sit them at your table. I don’t want any of them walking away unhappy. If news gets out about them dining at La Fete, this could really put us on the map. I need you to do what you do best.”
Rachel’s lips curled into an overenthusiastic smile as she looked up at him. “Which is, provide great customer service?”
“Yeah.” He trailed his hand up her arm and played with the cuff of her sleeve. “Among other things.”
She shivered with disgust and turned toward the door. At that mo
ment, two tall men in their early thirties came strolling through the entrance. Immediately, she could tell these were the athletes Tony had been spouting about.
Both of them had been blessed with broad shoulders, thick arms, and tapered V-shaped waists. Although they wore t-shirts and jeans, Rachel could recognize expensive brand-names when she saw them. Even their Nike tennis shoes had to be worth more than the average person’s car. They looked like the kind of guys who left generous tips. She could only hope.
Rachel jumped toward them, picking up two heavy hard-backed menus. “Good afternoon, gentlemen,” she said with a sweet smile. “Care to follow me? I’ve got our best table ready for you.”
They nodded and followed her to a small, round table set into a window alcove at the back. Soft sunlight streamed through the window and lit up the table with a golden shimmer. Rachel handed each man a menu after they had chosen a seat.
“My name is Rachel and I’ll be your waitress this afternoon,” she told them. “May I ask what brought you to our tiny little corner of the world today?”
The guys laughed as if they shared a private joke, and then grinned up at her.
“The L-train here is moving up in the world,” said the redhead. His orange-red hair was cropped close to his head and a spattering of freckles had sprouted across his nose. He picked up a sugar packet from the table and tossed it at his friend. “We’re here to check out the finer side of dining, since fast food is no longer good enough for his billions of dollars. What do you say, beautiful? Shouldn’t a guy stick to what he knows?”
Rachel narrowed her eyes. Dropping hints at his friend’s riches was not a way to impress her. She’d had enough of people like that during her twenty-six years of life. Money certainly didn’t buy her a happy childhood.
“What Aaron means is I’m in the middle of opening a fine dining restaurant and he’s jealous he didn’t think of it first,” said his friend, pulling the dark sunglasses off his face and running a hand through his shaggy, blond hair.
He had a slight bend to his nose and a tiny scar on his upper lip, but that did nothing to detract from his strong jawline and good looks. There was something strikingly familiar about the man, but Rachel just couldn’t put her finger on it. Maybe, she’d seen him on TV. He certainly had the face for it. Companies would love to have a man like that representing their brands.
He looked up at her with startlingly blue eyes and smiled warmly, making Rachel’s stomach do a little flip. “I needed to scope out the competition. Don’t tell your boss, okay?”
She made a zipping motion across her lips and fought back a smile. Tony would be livid if he knew the athletes he was hosting were scoping out his business. All the more reason to really give these guys a great meal and cash in on the fabulous tip.
“You guys take a few minutes to check out the menu and I’ll be back with water,” she said, leaving them to peruse the daily specials.
As she filled up two glasses at the water station, Rachel allowed herself a moment to consider her business teacher’s latest assignment: to intern at a local business. The very thought made the muscles in her temples throb. Between classes and work, how was she supposed to find the time to do an internship? Not to mention, finding an internship that paid would be like striking gold in the middle of the Sahara desert. It just wasn’t going to happen. As if life couldn’t get any more complicated.
“What do you say, after this shift, you and I check out that new club on first street?” Tony cooed, coming up beside her. She hadn’t even heard him approach. His brown eyes lingered a little too long on her chest, before flicking up to her face. “What do you say, gorgeous?”
“I’d say that’s entirely inappropriate,” Rachel answered in a monotone voice, trying her very best to keep it civil. As much as she hated it, she need a job. “You’re my boss. You shouldn’t be asking me out anywhere.”
“Come on, Rach. Who’s gonna care?” He slid closer to her until she was trapped between the soda fountain and the wall. “Your one month review is coming up. I’ll bet you could sure use that raise. I’ll put in a good word for you.”
She glowered at him, heat rising to her cheeks. “You’re the one who decides the raises, Tony.”
He grinned, flashing his veneers. “That’s true. So, I’ll put in a good word to myself, if you’ll come with me to the club.”
Rachel hesitated, feeling like a bug under a magnifying glass. She really could use the raise, but going anywhere with Tony was asking for trouble. If she said yes now, he’d forever be hounding her for dates. She’d better put a stop to it while she could.
“I’m only going to say this once, Tony, so listen carefully.” She lifted her chin and fixed him with a steady scowl. “I’m not going on a date with you. I will never go anywhere with you. I’m not interested, so please, stop making me uncomfortable and let me do my job.”
Tony’s cocky grin melted from his face. Anger took root in his eyes and he stepped even closer, until she could smell the hint of garlic on his warm breath.
“I’ll have you know, you wouldn’t have a job without me,” he spat, eye-to-eye with her. “You’re not the hot stuff you think you are, sweetie.”
“Get away from me,” Rachel grunted, gritting her teeth. He’d pinned her against the wall with his massive bulk. She splayed her hands on his shoulders and tried to push him, without success. “Leave me alone, Tony. I said no.”
She should’ve known Tony wouldn’t leave her alone for long. She’d had a bad feeling during her interview with him when he kept leering at her blouse, but she’d tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. Here she was, being punished for his lack of self-control. It wasn’t worth it. All the money in the world wasn’t worth working around this excuse of a human being one minute longer.
“Is there a problem here?” a low growl of a voice asked behind them.
Tony backed off just enough for them to both turn and gaze at the baseball player with the blue eyes. He was standing just a foot away, hands curled tightly into fists and his jaw clenched. His challenging glare never left Tony’s face.
“I believe she told you to leave her alone,” he continued, inching closer so that he could look down his nose at Tony. “I’d suggest you do that.”
“What are you doing here?” Tony sputtered, his face turning red. He looked wildly around the dark hallway. “Customers aren’t allowed back here.”
“I was looking for the restroom.” The baseball player didn’t blink, his impressive scowl sending a jolt of adrenaline through Rachel’s chest. He looked like the kind of guy who followed through on his silent threats. “But it seems I found myself a situation here.”
Rachel let out a low breath as Tony backed away, giving her room to breathe. Her face felt hot to the touch, as if she’d just finished running a marathon. She sent the stranger a grateful smile, but waved him away. As much as she enjoyed watching Tony cower under the man’s hulking figure, she could take it from here.
“It’s okay. We were just finishing up here.” She untied her apron and pulled it over her head. Turning toward her boss, she shoved it into his hands. “I quit.”
Tony’s face fell and he stuttered. “But...but you can’t. Your shift just started. Who’s going to cover the tables?”
“Maybe you should get off your lazy behind and cover them yourself,” she said, snatching the ponytail holder from her hair, allowing it to cascade down her back. “I can’t work with you a minute longer. You’re a piece of scum, Tony. No self-respecting woman would ever go out with you, no matter how much you threaten or throw money her way. I hope you know that.”
She felt the baseball player’s gaze heavy on her face while she finished up her speech. Looking up at him, she felt her breath catch as their eyes met. The protective scowl was gone. Instead, his lips had curled into an approving smile that made her face warm. He nodded slowly, his blue eyes twinkling with humor. She returned his nod and then marched past him, their shoulders brushing.
&n
bsp; “Do me a favor and put this restaurant out of business,” she said, turning around to give him one last look.
He smiled again and quirked an eyebrow. “I’ll certainly do my best.”
“Good.”
She marched off down the hall and out into the dining room, making a beeline for the exit. It felt good to be free. It was as if a she’d just shrugged off last season’s heavy canvas jacket and slipped into a charmeuse kimono. She could get used to that feeling.
Too bad this feeling couldn’t pay her rent.
-Get The Billionaire and the Waitress here-
LACY ANDERSEN is the author of several series, including the Billionaire Matchmaker, the Monstrana Paranormal Romances, the Aya Harris Collection, and the Dark Angel Wars series. When not writing or dreaming up stories to tell, Lacy is busy running after her daughter, watching Netflix with her husband, or reading the latest releases. She has a serious addiction to cotton candy, loves to compete in any type of game, and is currently planning her next trip around the world.
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