The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance Read online

  She shook her head. “I’m a mess, Beck. Maybe you don’t want to deal with my insecurities.”

  “Alyssa,” he breathed her name. “I can deal with a lot if I can be with you.”

  Alyssa focused on his blue eyes. There was so much truth in them. Would he really be there for her, even when she got scared and wanted to run? “You can?” her voice pitched up too high and she cleared her throat.

  “Yes.” He raised his hands like he wanted to touch her, but wasn’t sure if she would welcome it. “So, where do we go from here?””

  She wanted to yank his head down and kiss the daylights out of him, but she had to ask. “Um, can you tell me about you and Belle?

  “Please don’t worry about Belle,” he said. “I’d much rather be with you.”

  “You would?”

  “I’ll prove it to you. I would never do this to Belle.” He crossed the small distance between them and wrapped his arms around her back. “Is this okay?”

  Alyssa nodded. “I love when you touch me.”

  He grinned then lowered his head and gently caressed her lips with his. Alyssa couldn’t hold in a sigh from the sweetness of his touch.

  “Beck,” she whispered. She shook her head to clear it and pulled free of his arms. Shame filled her. She was a distrusting brat, but she wanted him to know. “We followed you last night and spied on you and Belle. Granny forced me.”

  Beck chuckled. “Only Granny.”

  “You aren’t mad?” Her dad would’ve been furious if her mom would’ve done something like that. Then he would’ve calmed down and talked her back into loving him.

  “No, because that gives me the proof I need.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Did you see me do anything with Belle?”

  Alyssa paused and thought. “Well, you smiled at her.”

  Beck grinned. “Was it anything like the smile I’m giving you right now?” Again he was in her space and she was having a hard time breathing.

  “I guess not. It was more… practiced.”

  “Exactly.”

  “And she was cuddled against you.”

  “What?” His eyebrows almost met his hairline.

  “When you ordered.”

  “Oh, no. That’s not fair. She pressed against me, but I moved as soon as I could.”

  Hmm. She could believe that. “And you checked her out when she dropped something.”

  “Whoa.” He held up his hands. “I absolutely did not check her out. I was checking my phone and hoping you were texting me.” He grinned. “Oh, and I was looking at the pictures I snapped of us when we were snorkeling with Captain Aaron.”

  “What? I looked horrible in those.”

  “You always look beautiful.”

  “You didn’t check her out?”

  “I promise I didn’t. Did it look like I was?”

  “Actually, I didn’t look at you. I was too busy noticing everything she was displaying.”

  Beck grimaced. “She has a horrible habit of showing off too much.”

  “Every man likes that.”

  “That’s not fair. Come on, Lyssa.”

  She warmed clear through at his tender use of the nickname Stockton had given her.

  “I’m not some scumbag who just wants to check out a woman in tight, revealing clothing. If you want to see my face when I check a woman out I’ll show you.” He held out her arms and rested his hands on her hips. He turned her to one side and then the other. His eyebrows lifted, he grinned, and his eyes roamed over her. “Now that is a shape worth checking out.”

  Alyssa didn’t want to, but laughter bubbled out of her. She knew she couldn’t compare with a team of plastic surgeons shaping the perfect body, but she loved the admiration in Beck’s eyes. “You’re trying to convince me you don’t want to be with her?”

  He wrapped his arms around her. “I made it through dinner, but it wasn’t fun. I realized when I got back to the bed and breakfast that I hadn’t smiled or laughed for real all night. I should’ve gone to your room and begged you to go for ice cream. I wanted to smile with you, Lyssa. I assumed when you didn’t answer my texts you were already in bed.”

  “So you didn’t give her real smiles?” Alyssa shook her head at how silly this was. She was jealous of Beck giving out his smiles?

  “I don’t give real smiles to anyone but you.” Beck slowly lowered his head to hers, stopping a breath away from her mouth. “Except for my nieces and nephews.”

  “Okay, I’ll make allowances for them.” She wanted him to cross those centimeters separating them.

  Beck smiled against her mouth and whispered, “And I’m not doing this with anyone but you.” He kissed her with just the right amount of pressure, wrapping his strong arms around her back and pulling her in full contact with his body. Alyssa moaned in delight and matched the passion in his kiss with her own fire. She’d never been so consumed by someone’s touch. Beck continued to work his magic on her mouth and her body molded itself to his.

  Much, much later, Beck and Alyssa found Granny and took her to dinner at the Mixed Plate. Beck actually spit some water across the table, laughing at Granny asking the sweet Chinese lady if her chicken was real or was actually dog meat. The language barrier didn’t stop the woman from being severely offended, but Granny had remained convinced it was actually dog. “Chicken isn’t stringy like this,” she muttered.

  Granny begged off walking on the beach after dinner, saying she needed to rest. The mischievous twinkle in her eye wasn’t missed by either of them when they dropped her off at the bed and breakfast.

  They walked along Ka’anapali and watched for whale spouts as the sun set.

  “Tell me about the rest of your family,” Beck asked.

  Alyssa shrugged, squishing sand between her toes with each step. She didn’t even feel unsteady with her foot, not with Beck’s arm around her waist. “Not much to tell. Just my mom. No siblings that I know of.”

  “That you know of?”

  She took a long breath before admitting, “My dad’s a piece of work. He never married my mom, but insisted I take his name. The only good thing he gave me, besides financial support, is Granny Ellie.”

  “She’s great.” Beck grinned at her and Alyssa wondered if the sand shifted or if her blood sugar might be low. She swayed and his arm tightened around her waist. “You feeling okay?”

  “Better now.” She smiled stupidly at him.

  Beck pulled her closer and they continued their stroll. “Where are your parents now?”

  “Mom’s current house is in Pelican Shores.”

  “Oh.” The lifted eyebrows said he knew exactly how much it cost to live in the exclusive southern California neighborhood. “And your dad?” His voice was cold like he already didn’t like her dad. She thought he must be a good judge of character.

  “Who knows? He floats through houses and women and he travels a lot.” She swallowed. “My mom is a very beautiful lady, relocated from the Philippines when she was a teenager. She was so poor as to be starving at times. Dad found her and offered her security and…” It was so embarrassing to admit this to him. “Granny claims my mom is co-dependent. It’s messed up. Granny taught me to be strong and never rely on a man for anything.” She smiled. “I used to think Granny Ellie was a hypocrite marrying all the wealthy men she did, but then I realized that she really loved each of her husbands and she had her own career too, ‘Top realtor in Franklin County’.” She grinned, thinking of all the times Granny had bragged about that and how few realtors there actually were in Franklin County, Idaho.

  “Pretty cool lady.”

  “Thanks. I’d be lost without her.” She studied the waves and tried to shift the focus of the conversation. “What about you, any siblings?”

  “Two sisters. They’re both older and happily married.”

  “Nieces or nephews?”

  “Anna has three boys. They’re wild little monkeys and just crack me up. Shelby adopted two girls from Chi
na. They’re really cute and give the best hugs, but they’re kind of prissy. It’s funny to watch them react to Anna’s boys.”

  She smiled wistfully. “I want a whole houseful of boys to wrestle with.”

  “Really? No girls for you?”

  “Not sure I could relate to playing Barbie’s and princesses, but I’m sure a girl would be a lot of fun too.” She looked up at him and blushed. “What?”

  “Nothing. I just like what I learn about you.”

  They walked in silence for a few minutes then Alyssa dared to ask, “Do your brothers-in-law help you run your business?”

  “Anna’s husband, Peter, is a real estate attorney. He’s great to offer pro bono work for Jordan’s Buds. Shelby’s husband, Ross, is a plastic surgeon, so he travels with me quite often to provide medical care to the orphanages. He’s done over a hundred cleft palette repairs. Both of my sisters married well. Dad insisted upon that.”

  “Are they happy?”

  “Ecstatically.”

  “That’s what’s important.” She looked askance at him. “Did your dad have someone in mind for you to marry well too?”

  His eyes darkened. “Yeah, but he died too soon to force me into it.”

  “How did they die?” She couldn’t believe she’d just asked that, especially since she knew from the article Maryn had done years ago. When he found out she knew so much about him and had taken paparazzi pictures, he was going to think she was a liar. She didn’t know how to bring that subject up, but she needed to do it soon. Beck was supposed to be leaving the island in just a couple of days. She also wondered who his dad had been planning on him marrying. Belle? That was a horrible thought. “You don’t have to tell me about it if you don’t want.”

  “It’s okay. I’m doing a lot better with it. Dad loved showing off his money almost more than I like hiding the fact that I have money. Fast motorcycles were his thing. They were on a Dodge Tomahawk racing along Highway One, close to Big Sur.”

  She sucked in a breath.

  “You know that spot?”

  “Yeah. It’s so pretty, but scary to drive.”

  “They were driving way too fast. Went off an edge and…”

  The beautiful sunset was lost on Beck as he studied their feet.

  “Have you forgiven him?”

  “Hard to blame him when I understand.” He sighed and clenched his fist.

  Alyssa tilted his chin up. “You… understand?”

  His eyes filled with sadness.

  “Can you tell me about it?”

  Beck tugged her toward a privacy wall for one of the resorts. They sank down into the sand and rested their backs against the wall.

  “My scars aren’t all from hockey and I don’t just have two sisters.” He took a long breath and released it. “I had a little brother, Jordan.” He half-smiled. “Loved that kid. He idolized me and we had the best time together. When I was a senior in high school he was eight. We both loved dad’s motorcycles and I’d take him on rides all the time. One day we were on Laguna Canyon Road. I was going too fast and I hit some gravel. We took out a guardrail, went down hard...” Tears squeezed out of his eyelids and he didn’t finish.

  Alyssa wrapped both her arms around his strong shoulders and held him close. He buried his head in her chest and it about ripped Alyssa’s heart out when he stifled a sob. Alyssa knew as he clung to her that she would do anything for this man. Tomorrow she’d find the right time to tell him about the pictures and Maryn. This definitely wasn’t that moment, but right now she could tell him she’d made a decision. She’d go with him and they’d start a new life together. She’d capture the children’s suffering and their happiness and together they would change lives because she’d be with Beck.

  “Beck,” she whispered.

  He lifted his head and cleared his throat. “Wow. Sorry.” He managed a smile then leaned in and kissed her. Alyssa forgot everything she wanted to say as she savored his touch and the passion in his kiss. He broke away and trailed his hands through her hair.

  “I’ll go with you,” she said.

  He arched an eyebrow.

  “I’ll be your photographer. Let’s travel the world and save some cute kiddos.”

  Beck laughed and shook his head. “Let’s do it. But first…” He tilted her chin up and proceeded to take advantage of her mouth for several wonderful minutes. When he stopped they were both breathing hard. “Can that be part of the arrangement?” Beck asked.

  “I wouldn’t go without it.” Alyssa grinned and kissed him again.

  “Good morning, Beckham. It’s Gary, Alyssa’s father.”

  Beck froze. His hand gripped his phone tightly. How had he gotten this number? Linli’s paranoia seemed to be warranted, for once. “What do you want?”

  “I want you to take care of my little girl.” He gave a nasty chuckle. “And since you wouldn’t agree to using my title companies, I’ll settle for five million dollars.”

  Beck laughed shortly. “Just stay away from Alyssa and I won’t have to come find you.”

  “Look under the door, Beckham.”

  Beck strode to the door and picked up a glossy magazine that had been slid under. The front page had a picture of him and Alyssa strolling arm in arm down Ka’anapali Beach. “What is this?” he growled.

  “Read the article, Beckham. Then you’ll realize what I’m capable of and there’s much more where that came from if you don’t think you can afford my fee for staying away. I’d also like your reassurance that my Alyssa is going to be very, very happy. I’m sure you don’t want your sisters or nieces and nephews exposed. I’ll be in touch with wire transfer instructions. If I don’t see the money by tomorrow at this time, another story about Alyssa selling herself to my friends and you murdering your little brother will go live. This one is pretty complimentary in comparison.”

  The line went dead before Beckham could tell Alyssa’s dad exactly what he thought about his threats. He’d happily take care of Alyssa, but where did the guy get off trying to blackmail him? He ripped the magazine open.

  Alyssa felt her world light up as Beck strode to the table where she was enjoying her breakfast of papaya and cottage cheese in the bright morning sun. The light started to dim when she saw the raw hurt and anger in his eyes.

  “Beck?” She stood. “Wh-what happened?”

  He slammed a magazine onto the table, glowering at her. “You happened.”

  “What?”

  The front cover was a picture of the two of them walking on the beach with his arm wrapped around her. “Billionaire ex-NHL star Beckham Taylor falls in love with the photographer who stalked him.”

  “But you can’t think I…”

  “Read the article and then try to tell me what I think.” He shook his head. “And to think I trusted you. You can’t blackmail me, Alyssa. You’re worse than the women who I knew were just after my money. What a scheme, eh?” He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Ellie, your dad, the druggie. How long did it take you to plan it all?”

  “What? I didn’t—” Her dad? What did her dad have to do with any of this?

  “It just kills me that you and Granny Ellie could do it.” His blue eyes lit up with fire. “She’s not really dying, is she? That was all part of your scheme too!”

  “Granny, dying?” Alyssa sank into the chair, terror ripping through her. It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be.

  “Don’t act so innocent, Alyssa, I’m done believing the act.”

  Anger seared into her as pieces started snapping into place. Granny was really dying. Beck knew and he hadn’t even told her. Who cared about some article Maryn had included them in? “Granny told you she was dying and you didn’t tell me?” She leapt to her feet and hurried around the table, coming up into his face.

  “Well, it doesn’t seem to matter now as it was all an act,” Beck snarled.

  “Granny would never lie to you!” Alyssa shrieked. Her entire body trembled. She didn’t know which fear to tackle first, losing Granny or l
osing Beck, so she held onto her anger.

  “But you would?” Beck’s voice lowered and quivered slightly.

  “No!” She backed away as she realized she hadn’t told him the entire truth. Maryn and the pictures came to mind. What did this article say?

  Beck jerked the magazine into his hand, opened it to a page filled with pictures of the two of them and slapped it back down on the table. “I can’t believe anything you say anymore, Alyssa. Read that and try to lie to me again.” He whirled and stormed across the courtyard.

  Alyssa started reading, unable to comprehend what Maryn had done to her, to him. Tears leaked out of her eyes and rolled down her face. Almost a dozen pictures of her and Beck together. Someone must’ve been stalking them, but they claimed Alyssa had been stalking him for years, starting with taking photographs of him and his sister after the funeral. The article claimed Alyssa had a fatalistic kind of crush on him and was trying to fulfill the Billionaire Bride Pact she’d made as a twelve-year old by snaring Beck. They claimed she needed money because she’d rejected her, oh so concerned parents. What a crock. Some truth was there, but of course they’d twisted it and made her look like a black widow spider stalking her prey. Maryn was listed as the writer.

  Alyssa groaned and buried her head on the table. “Oh, Maryn.”

  Then the thought of Granny dying slammed into her gut. It couldn’t be true. She’d lost Beck. She couldn’t survive without Granny.

  Luckily it was his brother-in-law, Peter, who picked Beck up at the airport. Beck had chartered the fastest jet he could find and was home within hours of his fight with Alyssa. He fought his way through the paparazzi, ignoring questions about his relationship with Alyssa. Someone called her a gold-digging tramp and it was all Beck could do to not punch the reporter. How could he honestly want to break down and run back to Maui every time he heard her name?

  Peter swung open the door of his Maserati. “Let’s go.”

  Beck slid in gratefully. “Thanks for coming. I couldn’t handle one of my sisters right now.” He loved them, but being the younger brother of overprotective women got old, quick.

  “I know, man. I know. Don’t worry about Mr. Armsworth printing any more articles. We’ve already bought the majority shares of the magazine, informed the editors what will happen if they print any more articles about you, and we would’ve fired the writer, a Maryn Howe, but she’d already quit. We’ll devalue the stocks and make sure Mr. Armsworth loses a lot of money before we run him out then we’ll go after Miss Armsworth.”