“Oh my god! My father cut me off—everything is gone!”
“Calm down, bunny,” I murmur as we sit in the back of the town car.
Hearing her end of her uncomfortable conversation with her father made me irate. He thinks he can force her to get married to fulfill some role for their brand. Not just is that a demeaning demand, it is not an option—no one will be marrying off Brielle if I have a say in it.
Even considering her being married to someone else seems impossible.
In the past few months, I have thought of her a hundred ways. Thought of her in my bed, waiting for me to please her. I have thought of her round with my child, those stunning eyes of her shining with joy. And I havethoughtof her in white gown, waiting to promise me forever.
Her father boxing her into a corner works to my advantage.Tonight,I decided I was going to convince her to give dating me a shot. To forget about the playboypersonaI put on for the cameras. I planned to propose she be my plus one for this holiday season at the many events we will be expected at.
“How can I calm down? Brett...I was a bit spoiled for my entire life—I never worked, worked, I never had to pay bills. I just...if he cuts me off, I don’t know what to do.”
Brielle sounds frantic and it pisses me off. Her father has no idea who he is dealing with. I may not come from oldmoney,but I have powerful connections all the same. I will use them to destroy him if he tries to hurt her again.
He can cut her off from the family fortune—but I can make sure she never misses a dime of that money.
“Trust me, Brielle. Let me take care of things,” I offer gently, brushing her crimson hair away from her face. I thumb away her tears and bend my head, brushing my lips across hers gently.
Touching her, kissing her, feeling her, it’s better than money or power. It is better than winning gold. Being this close to her, smelling her perfume and her silky skin, feeling her heart thunder against my chest as I draw her close, it’s better than any feeling I have ever felt.
And I want to feel it for the rest of my life.
Leading her up the path, I keep her close as the moon lights our way. I am nervous bringing her here to my place. Not just because it’s the first time I have had a woman here. But because I am worried of what she might think. I do not livelavishly,and I wonder if it could be enough for her.
“Brett,” she breathes as we stop just beyond the porch. “This is so beautiful. And totally not what I expected,” she adds this in a wry tone, turning to grin up at me in the glowing light of the porch lights.
Turning to look over my home, I can’t help but grin proudly. When I decided to come back home to Driftwood, I knew just the place I wanted to call home. Growing up here, I always wanted a spot on the mountain, close to the lodge I loved so much. Land on the mountain was not cheap so I figured it would always be nothing but a dream.
When I first won gold and endorsement deals started coming, I put all that money away. I knew I would come home to Driftwood when I was done competing. Once I retired, I bought the biggest plot of land on the mountain I could and built the place I had dreamed about for so long.
It’s not a mansion. It’s not high on the hill with the other elite of Driftwood. It’s a cabin I designed and built. The very first place since I lost my grandfather that feels like home. To me it’s the most beautiful spot in town. And sharing it with Brielle feels special.
Letting go of my hand, she walks up the wrap around porch. In the glow of the lights lining the porch, she looks stunning. Heading for the swing at the far end, she sits down and pushes herself gently. Glancing at me, she smirks and pats the empty spot beside her. I do not hesitate to join her.
“I take it back,” she says as she turns to face me. “This place suits you. It’s perfect. Give me a tour, Ace,” she hums softly, tilting her head at the door.
Nodding, I take her hand and lead her inside. When we step inside, I find myself holding my breath. I want her to love it the way I do. Walking past me, keeping hold of my hand, she forgets about the tour. I let her wander around, not wanting to show off the big kitchen with the butcher block counters and touches of soft green. Instead of taking the lead, I follow her, and it feels as if I am seeing the place with brand new eyes.
Brielle comments on the thick beige rug in the front room, spread out by the floor-to-ceiling fireplace. It is framed by expansive windows, giving a beautiful view of the town below. Heading to those windows, she sighs as she stars out at the flickering lights of town, the gray skies blanketing everything in a soft glow.
“God it is so beautiful here,” she whispers again, shaking her head.
Going to stand behind her, I cannot take my eyes off her. It is not the view that has me speechless. It is her. Seeing her in my place, seeing her love it the way I do—the way I hoped she would. I am more convinced than ever that she is the girl of my dreams—and I intend to do whatever it takes to prove I can be the man of her dreams.
“Tell your father you do not need to go home to find afiancé. Tell him you have one,” hearing this said out loud I realize how crazy itsounds. But I don’t care. And I don’t care that I am pretending to be her hero whenreally,I am taking advantage of her situation. Whatever it takes to get me the girl.
“Pretty sure he expects me to produce saidfiancéat some point. Can’t really do that if I am faking being.... oh...oh, no. No. No way, Ace.”
“Now, did we not get past that when I made you come in my mouth tonight?”
Her little gasp as she turns to glare up at me makes my cock jerk. I step closer, backing her against the windows. Her breath picks up as her eyes darken, the pupils getting huge. And I know. I know that this turns her on as much as it does me. This dance we do. I thought her blowing me off was fun for her—thought it was the spoiled princess showing a cocky rich prick he could never have her.
Now I know better—I know she wants me as badly as I want her.
Atlast,I got past her walls and now I need to make sure to stay there. I spent months chasing her, flirting, laying all my cards out as I became increasingly obsessed with her. Until tonight I thought it was getting me nowhere. It was all self-preservation. Testing the meddle of another man who she thought would try to control her the way it sounds her father has.
Brielle is a beautiful, rich, powerful woman who could have any man she wants. But she does not trust herself or what she wants. All this cloak and dagger, all this dancing around the heat that sizzles between us was just her protecting herself. But I want to be the one to protect her—even if it means I play the bad guy for a little while.