His Beautiful Billionaire Distraction (Billionaire Bachelor Cove Book 6)
Page 2
Waylon pressed on as the rain ceased and the autumn sun warmed him. He’d visited his brother’s home a couple times since he’d moved to Washington, but for some reason, today’s visit to The Cove left Waylon extra itchy. That was the way he described the turmoil in his body. An uncomfortable situation triggered his mind to send thousands of impulses to his body, creating pain and a need to medicate himself. The commotion was like an irritated itch he had no way to scratch. He’d excused himself to take a walk, claiming to need air, but reciting the tools he’d learned in rehab in solitude was the only balm he had to ease his hurt. Even that wasn’t enough to completely wipe out his desire to numb himself.
He listed his blessings as he meandered down the street: a job framing for a contractor and a little apartment he’d found on his own. A pathetic sound interrupted his thoughts and drew his eye to the middle of the road. Waylon looked up towards the heavens and cocked a brow, before he jogged over to the little fur ball standing in the street.
“Hey, little one.” He knelt, and the pup cowered. Large, hooded eyes gazed up at him. “It’s alright, I won’t hurt you.” Waylon felt the promise soothe his soul, knowing it was the truth as he scooped up the pup. If only he felt strong enough to say those words to his brother. A quiet but menacing voice whispered in his ear: You’ll always be an addict, and you’ll always hurt the ones you love.
The pup cozied into his arms, trusting Waylon immediately. No, Waylon wasn’t ready to promise anything to Jamon just yet, but he was working on it. He grinned down at the pup’s wagging tail as hope quieted his fears. Waylon glanced back up at the sky. “So just like that, you grant me my wish.” The pup licked his face. God did move in mysterious ways.
* * *
Tayla panicked. She definitely wasn’t ready for motherhood. Twenty minutes with her new charge and she’d already lost him.
The home tour had been put on pause when Charlie began to wiggle and squirm in her arms. Misty had advised Tayla to take a short intermission for the pup to go outside. Five seconds—the time it took for Tayla to take her phone from her pocket, swipe the screen, and read a short text—was all the time it took for the little stinker to disappear. The entire front yard was visible from where she stood, and Charlie was nowhere around. There were two choices: the back yard or the street. Worry tied her stomach in knots. How was it possible to care about something so quickly? Truthfully, this was the reason she’d avoided getting a dog; they were destined to break her heart. Her mind quickly weighed her options, and she dashed off towards the street. If Charlie had gone to the back yard, he was more than likely safe, but out on the road was a different story.
She hustled, wishing she’d worn something more sensible than heels, but when she’d dressed that morning before her flight to Seattle, her new home and business meetings had occupied her mind, not chasing down a puppy. Tayla emerged onto the road, glancing to the left first and then to the right. Relief washed over her, followed by a quickened pulse, at the sight of Charlie wrapped up in the arms of a ruggedly handsome man.
A lump formed in her throat as she walked towards the captivating stranger. He wasn’t dressed like someone she’d expect to find living in The Cove; he wore a flannel shirt and worn jeans with a hole in the knee. He wasn’t much taller than she was, and his hair was the color of damp sand. The way he held Charlie and stroked his head rattled the cage she’d long ago locked romantic feelings in. She slowed as his musky scent floated through the air, making her lose focus.
“Does this little guy belong to you?” His voice was deep and throaty and dipped in a Texan drawl.
Tayla tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. His dark eyes were like a midnight storm. The intensity startled her like a flash of lightning, or was she just imagining the spark? What was going on with her? She rubbed her forehead. Maybe she was coming down with something. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had affected her this way.
“Are you okay, miss?”
“Uh … uh … yes.” Tayla drew in a breath and straightened her shoulders. “He … he’s mine.”
“Cute pup.” His eyes darted from hers as he scratched Charlie’s head before he handed him to Tayla, and their eyes met once more. With the pup in her arms, Tayla sighed, until she saw the man smile. There was a slight quiver to his lips as dimples pooled in his cheeks. A woman could drown in dimples like that. He rocked back and forth on his heels as he put his hands in his front pockets as if he were uneasy. He must have thought she was a lunatic, gaping at him the way she did while struggling to speak.
Her face burned with embarrassment. “Thank you for picking him up.” Tayla turned her head just in time as Charlie popped up and licked her cheek, just missing her mouth.
The man laughed, yet his eyes were cautious. “You’re welcome.” He turned away without another word. An introduction would’ve been appropriate, but who was she to judge after the way she’d stared at him? She forgot all about manners as she watched him walk away. She’d have to call Saige and tell her she was right: The Cove did have the best view she’d ever seen.
Tayla snuggled Charlie closer as a car with the Bravo Security logo passed by. The same man she’d met earlier at the gate smiled and waved at her through the open window. She returned the gesture until she heard the security guard call out to Charlie’s rescuer a few feet ahead, “Hello, Mr. West.”
Her heart skidded to a halt, and frustration mounted in her chest. She saw the hunky hero wave back at the guard before he crossed the road and turned in to the drive of Mr. Jamon West. That was Jamon West? Oh, great. For the first time in her life, she’d felt an instant attraction, and of course the guy was engaged to someone else. She’d caught glimpses of the tabloid photographs of him and his beautiful fiancée.
Tayla pivoted around as she kept the pup close. “Well, Charlie, it looks like you’re the only boy for me.” Dang it. She’d looked forward to her meeting later this afternoon with Mr. West, but that was before she’d wanted to kiss him. Now she didn’t know what to do.
Two
“I’m fine.” Waylon gingerly set the glass down on the counter. His body zinged from his head to his feet just thinking about the pretty girl and her puppy. He wanted to reassure Jamon that pills were not involved and his mood was nothing but a woman who had him feeling high, but the idea scared him. His reckless reaction to her, the way his heart took off and his mind spun in circles, told him she couldn’t be good for him. The sensation reminded Waylon too much of being buzzed. He couldn’t even ask her name; he’d had to get away. Wasn’t that what he’d learned in rehab? To avoid situations and temptations he knew he couldn’t resist, and that girl was tempting …
“Are you sure?” Jamon smiled, but Waylon looked up and noticed the hesitation in his brother’s eyes. Not that he blamed him after all the difficult years between them.
Waylon nodded. “I’ve got a couple things to do before I get to my meeting.” Errands weren’t on his mind, but he wouldn’t admit that to his brother. He’d become distracted by the black-haired beauty, and Waylon had to focus on recovery. He needed transparency and truth in his life, and now he’d lied by omission. The woman was no good for him.
“Yeah, alright. I’ll call you later tonight.” Jamon crossed his arms and leaned back against the chair.
“Okay, I’ll see you later.” Waylon headed to his truck, reciting the first several steps to recovery, and by the time he gripped the handle, he had a smile on his face. Talk about overreaction. One beautiful girl and he was worried about a relapse. He swung the door open and hopped in, realizing she was the first time he’d felt out of control since he’d been on his own, and he’d survived. Waylon used the steps to put himself back on track, and pride filled his chest. Someday, he might be in a place where he didn’t have to freak out over an instant attraction to a woman, but he wasn’t there yet. He put the key in the ignition and started the truck. Yeah, he’d done alright, but catching an early meeting might not be a bad idea.
&nb
sp; * * *
“Are you sure you’ll be okay with him?” Tayla stared at the reflection in the hallway mirror and smoothed her bangs to the side. Her pixie cut was easy to manage. Misty stood behind her with Charlie snoozing in her arms. “I wish I didn’t have to leave him so soon.” Tayla gave the girl a regretful smile, baffled by her innate desire to protect her little charge. An image popped into her mind, a memory from long ago. Her mother stood at the front door with a suitcase in her hand. “I wish I didn’t have to leave you,” she’d whispered to her daughter as tears fell down her cheeks.
Tayla’s chest constricted and she pushed the image aside. She focused on Charlie and her plan to get back home as quickly as she could. Funny how since she’d first held the pup, her priorities shifted from furnishing her house to delving into puppy training.
“We’ll be fine.” Misty smiled. “Don’t worry about him.”
Tayla nodded. “I’ll be back as quickly as I can.” She glanced down at her watch. She needed to get going if she was going to be on time for her appointment with Jamon West. Her pulse raced thinking about him. That had to stop immediately. Tayla was not the kind of woman to pine after someone else’s man, no matter how drawn she’d felt to him. She hoped her feelings would fizzle out just as quickly as an afternoon rain shower, but even if they didn’t, she’d ignore them.
“Tom is just outside, ready to drive you to Prevail.” Misty stepped back as Tayla turned towards the door.
“Thank you. I guess one of the first things I need to do is buy a car and hire a driver.” Tayla picked up her purse from the table in the entryway. “I’m glad I’ve got Tom for today, although I’m not sure if he’s available full time.”
“I’d be happy to find out, and if you’re wanting a car of your own, I can also look into that for you.” Misty’s smile widened.
“Thank you, I’ll think about it.” Tayla opened the door and stepped out into the autumn air. She was glad for Charlie and her busy schedule to occupy her mind so she wouldn’t have time to dwell on what she was about to do. Coming face-to-face with Jamon West, her investment partner, and appearing professional after the way she’d eyed him like he was a Diet Coke with a pink-frosted sugar cookie on the side made her stomach feel queasy.
Get it together, Tayla chided herself. She was the CEO of her own business chain; she could do this. She tugged on her fitted jacket, straightened her shoulders, and walked tall. It was time to get to work, and her plan was perfect—until the moment it wasn’t. The moment when Jamon West walked into the recovery center and seized her every thought.
* * *
Waylon walked through the doors of the rehab center and did a double take at the woman he’d tried not to think about, the same woman he’d come here hoping to forget.
What’s she doing here?
She stood beside the front desk, her silhouette like an hourglass; his thoughts drifted like sand. He tried not to stare, but the attempt was futile. Her cropped black hair, the slight swoop to her nose, and her wide-set eyes fascinated him. A childhood book came to mind, a tale of mythological creatures, and the woman’s fine features were reminiscent of the fairies he’d seen in his imagination.
His brow furrowed. “Hello?” Was she here for a meeting?
“Mr. West.” The woman smiled. Her crystal-blue eyes shone beneath a fringe of dark lashes. “It’s a pleasure to formally meet you.” She held out her hand, and her long, slender fingers clasped around his. Her soft skin contradicted her confident handshake. “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you from your photographs earlier today.” Her cheeks blushed and she bit the corner of her lip.
Her sweet floral scent filled his head, and Waylon couldn’t think straight. She occupied his senses: the sight of her, the feel of her touch, and the soft melody to her voice, all while her fragrance floated in the air. All that was left was to taste her. Whoa. Waylon took a step back. “Ummm …” He shook his head. “That’s okay.”
She drew back her hand. “Thank you again for rescuing Charlie.”
“You’re welcome.” Waylon racked his brain. Obviously this woman knew who he was, but he didn’t know how or why. There was no way he’d met her before, because she was impossible to forget, unless he’d been high, but even then, he doubted any drug could make him forget a face like that or the effect she had on him.
“I guess we should get to work, right?” She gave him a smile and then quickly looked away.
Joyce, the receptionist, walked in and took her seat behind the desk. She glanced from Waylon to the woman and then back to Waylon again. “I see you’ve met Ms. Mills.” Joyce gave him a coy smile, and his stomach tossed like he was the punch line to a practical joke. Ms. Mills? The name wasn’t familiar. Maybe she was one of the new counselors they talked about in last meeting.
“Yes.” Ms. Mills scooped up a tablet from the edge of the desk. “We’ve met, and we’d better get going, right, Mr. West?”
Waylon’s voice hitched. “Uh, yeah.” He gazed up at the clock on the wall. Ten minutes before the group session was supposed to begin. No one else was here yet. “Should we wait for others to get here?”
Her black brow arched. “No, it’s just you and me.”
He’d assumed the numbers might be lower since the meeting was in the middle of the afternoon, but he’d never expected to be the only one. So much for his effort. He couldn’t share his feelings, not with her, anyway. The scenario played through his mind. “Hi, my name is Waylon, and I’m an addict. I came to an early meeting because I met a hot woman who spun my world in the opposite direction, and by the way, she’s you.”
“Mr. West, are you alright?” Ms. Mills interrupted his daydream.
He cleared his throat. “Yes, I’m fine.” Beads of sweat peppered his brow. There was no way he could sit in the same room with this woman and not dwell on her every breath. He’d never been so instantly attracted to someone, and he didn’t care for the feeling. He should come up with an excuse, but leaving was like running away from his problems, and that was something he’d vowed never to do again. No self-medicating, no burying his feelings or putting the blame on someone else. “I’m ready.”
“Good.” She smiled, but Waylon thought he saw something else in her eyes—an emotion he would’ve called anger if she’d been anyone else and not the woman whose puppy he’d saved earlier that day. Before, she’d appeared appreciative, and now he wasn’t so sure. He’d been right to be wary of his unpredicted response to her presence. Uneasiness slowly rose in his gut. Counselor or not, if she was as capricious as he believed, she was the last person he wanted to take advice from. That would be like asking the drugs to help him get clean. Ridiculous.
* * *
Tayla drew in deep breaths and prayed her face didn’t reveal her true emotions. She’d almost convinced herself Mr. West’s magnetic pull earlier today was a fluke. The man had saved Charlie, and her situational vulnerability made her more susceptible.
But now, her heart fluttered unevenly and her knees were weak, which horrified her, knowing he was engaged to another woman. She trusted herself enough to know she’d do anything it took to ignore her impulses. She didn’t lie, cheat, or steal candy from children, although she couldn’t confirm that about Mr. West, judging by the way he watched her. Platonic wasn’t the word she’d use to describe the gleam in his eye, and she had no control over him.
Disappointment laced with anger consumed her. Tayla had heard so many wonderful things about Jamon West, and when he’d sought her out to be an investor of the center in the Seattle location, she was thrilled. Now, she wasn’t sure what she thought. “Right this way, please.” She stepped through the door and into the wide hallway, where motivational quotes were hung in ornate wooden frames. She drew back her shoulders and walked tall, committed to her purpose. Mr. West was an investment partner, and she would conduct herself like a professional and not mislead him in anyway. “My office is the first door on the left.” She paused and motioned to the open door.
Her chin jutted back. “Of course. Where else would we go?”
He stopped next to one of the two leather chairs in front of the large mahogany desk. “I assumed we’d meet where we always do for group.”
She shook her head as she took the seat behind the large desk. Tayla wasn’t aware Mr. West had attended any meetings. The idea impressed her even though she didn’t want to like him. From a business standpoint, she could appreciate his commitment to his investment, and maybe liking him as a person wasn’t necessary. “There’s a meeting scheduled to start in a few minutes. If you’d like, after we finish up in here, we can join them.”
“I’m sorry.” A notch appeared between his eyes. “There must be some misunderstanding. I didn’t make an appointment. I came for the meeting.”
Tayla studied the man’s perplexed expression and wondered why he seemed so confused. They communicated like they spoke different languages. “You and I corresponded through email and set this up weeks ago.”
“What?”
Knock, knock. Tayla glanced up to see a man standing in the doorway. Her breath caught as she took in the taller, slightly darker-complexioned version of the man in her office. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I think you mean you made the appointment with me.”
Tayla’s stomach flipped.
“Hey, bro, what are you doing here?” Mr. West responded.
Tayla’s eyes darted from one man to the other. What in the heck was going on?