The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance Read online

“Suicidal,” Alyssa muttered, the shark attack still fresh in her mind. It would be a few days before she got back in the water.

  “I promise I’ll be safe.”

  Beck rested the surfboard against the car and pulled his T-shirt off. Alyssa lost the ability to disagree with him as she studied the well-defined lines of his chest. The scars saddened her as she hated to think of Beck being in pain, but they added to his appeal. He was a fierce warrior who had been through battle and could protect her from anything. He worked his wetsuit up his legs and she almost gasped at the beauty of the muscles in his shoulders and arms. Finally, he pulled his wetsuit over his torso and shoulders and she found she could breathe again.

  “Thanks for coming to watch me,” Beck said, grinning at her as he grabbed his board.

  “Sure. I love watching warriors face certain death.”

  He arched an eyebrow at her and she blushed. Could he read between the lines and sense her imagination in overdrive with visions of him and his bare chest?

  He unlatched the trunk of his car and pulled out a beach chair. “There’s a great place to watch over here and it should be good for photos.”

  “This is my island, remember?”

  He laughed and gestured for her to walk in front. She reached for the chair, but he held onto it. “What kind of warrior would allow his lady to carry her own chair?”

  “Okay, I deserved that.” The awkward rhythm of her walk had color creeping up her face. Beck didn’t seem to be bothered by it, but she still didn’t want to be walking in front of him and having him be reminded that she wasn’t perfect.

  Beck set up her chair on a nice spot at the edge of the point then started picking his way down the steep hillside path to the rocks where surfers were entering the water.

  “They’re all nuts,” Alyssa muttered. “Beck?” she called out.

  He turned back and smiled at her. The sun glinted off his dark hair and his smile lit his bright blue eyes. She was lucky to be sitting down.

  “Please be careful.”

  “Anything for you, my lady.” He gave a sweeping bow and a wink.

  Alyssa sent up a little prayer as he disappeared from her sight and then reappeared at the base of the hill on a huge boulder. He studied the waves crashing on the lower boulders around him, then dove into a swell that was receding from the boulders and let it carry him and his board forward for a minute. A new wave rushed toward him, but Beck simply dove under it and swam with strong strokes toward a group of surfers waiting for the ideal wave.

  Other surfers picked a wave and stroked in front of it until the perfect moment when they popped up, riding proficiently. Some got tumbled pretty hard but seemed to come out of it okay. Thank heavens there were no fins visible in the water. Alyssa readied her camera quickly and snapped a lot of shots of the surfers, the ocean, and even some of the spectators around her.

  She always kept one eye on Beck, gripping her camera more tightly and hoping he would be smart and safe. She had that strange sensation that someone was staring at her. She turned quickly and saw a beautiful blonde lady standing next to a sign on the hill. Alyssa gave her an uncertain smile. The lady averted her eyes and focused on the surfers. Alyssa wondered why the obviously wealthy and, in Alyssa’s opinion, prissy woman would be watching her. She looked to be in her late twenties and wore a skin tight dress that definitely didn’t fit with the sand, surfing, and ocean.

  Alyssa turned back to watch Beck, but she was certain the blonde was looking at her again. A monstrous wave rolled toward Beck’s group. He angled his board and swam quickly with the wave until the crest was almost upon him. Alyssa set her camera down, afraid she would drop it. She leaned forward, squeezing her hands tightly together, and barely able to keep from closing her eyes, like a child watching a scary movie who just wants the terrifying part to be over.

  Beck jumped onto his board and skimmed along the wave. Riding into the tunnel, he twisted and turned until he reached the end and the wave petered out. He flipped into the water and then grabbed his board and started stroking back out.

  Alyssa jabbed both arms into the air. “He did it!”

  An older couple seated a few feet away from her laughed. She swung her gaze up the hill again. The woman gave her an imperious glare then turned and walked toward the parking lot. Alyssa smiled at the older couple and focused in on Beck again. He was too far away for her to see his features clearly, but she waved like a crazy woman at him. He lifted one hand and then went back to paddling.

  The next hour Alyssa photographed Beck almost exclusively as he caught several waves, barely restraining herself from cheering each successful ride. A gigantic swell came in and she could now sense that Beck was in the right position. He paddled hard and then leapt onto his board. The tip of his board plunged forward and flipped into the roaring surge. Beck disappeared under the churning white water.

  Alyssa screamed. She set her camera on the chair and stood, searching the water and praying she would see him pop out of the wave. A few seconds later he surfaced, but then the water took him down again. The wave angled toward the boulders where Beck had entered the water.

  Alyssa clasped her hands to her lips. “Don’t hit the rocks,” she whispered.

  She scurried toward the path down the incline before her mind registered what she was doing. It was ridiculous to imagine she could save him from the vicious waves or the rocks, but she couldn’t sit still and watch him be pummeled. Picking her way down the rocky trail, she kept searching for Beck, hoping, praying, he’d surfaced.

  He and his board flipped on top of the wave again. She caught a breath, anxious to see if he had caught one too. The wave flung him dangerously close to the boulders. Alyssa made it to the flat rock ledge and cried out his name.

  Beck lay flat on his board, and without even noticing her, he started swimming back out toward the breaking waves.

  “Beck!” Alyssa hollered. “Don’t you dare!”

  He turned at the sound of her voice. His eyes grew wide and he motioned her back.

  “Don’t you tell me to get back. You get out of that water before you kill yourself!”

  “Alyssa!” She could hear his horrified scream over the pounding of the waves against the rocks.

  Waves on the rocks? Alyssa looked up to see a wall of water hit the rock in front of her before it drove her off her feet. Her back slammed against stones and water filled her mouth and nose. The water retreated just as quickly, tugging Alyssa with it. She’d watched surfers jump into these swells and knew she’d be in serious trouble without a board to keep her afloat. She grasped for anything to stop her from being dragged into the ocean, clamping her arms around a boulder. She hung on with every ounce of strength in her arms.

  The water finally receded and Alyssa found herself sprawled on the huge rock. She wanted to just stay here and rest, but the roaring in her ears told her another wave was making its way toward her. She scrambled to her feet, intent on climbing higher, but her unreliable foot slipped on the wet, mossy rocks. She went down hard and before she had time to hold her breath, water rushed over her again, pushing her toward the hillside before grabbing her in its power and trying to yank her back out to its depths. Alyssa scrambled for something solid to hang onto, but only liquid swished through her grasp. She was certain the water was going to claim her when a strong hand clasped around her arm and held tight. The water receded and she filled her lungs with salty air. Beck lifted her to her feet and ushered her toward higher ground. Alyssa shivered and clung to him as they climbed over several boulders until they were back on the trail up to the ridge.

  She pushed tangled hair from her eyes and looked up into the bright blue gaze that sent warmth throughout her freezing limbs. “Oh, Beck, you’re okay.”

  “I’m okay?” He barked a short laugh. “You almost drowned.”

  “I almost drowned? You were the one who almost drowned.”

  Beck shook his head, his eyes burning into her with a tenderness that pushed all th
e fear of the water taking her or anyone hurting her away. He gently lifted the hair from her cheek and then stroked his hand down the side of her face. “I was fine, sweetheart.”

  Alyssa’s stomach fluttered at the endearment. “It scared me,” she admitted, leaning closer to him.

  Beck pulled her in, his strong arms chasing away any lingering fear. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

  “You’d better be,” she muttered against the squishiness of his wetsuit.

  Beck chuckled. “Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?”

  She glanced up at him. “What you’re doing right now seems to be working pretty well.”

  His grin made her wobble. He pulled her closer for a few more seconds before sighing. “We’d better get you back to Ellie. She’s going to kick my rear for endangering you.”

  Alyssa smiled up at him. “We’ll just tell her I jumped in because I couldn’t stand to be away from you.”

  He laughed and took her hand. “She’ll love that.”

  “Yes, she will.” Almost as much as I love being with you. Oh, my, she was falling too hard and way too fast.

  Beck wasn’t thrilled with the tongue-lashing Ellie gave him, but he was certain he deserved more than that for not getting to Alyssa quicker. What had she been thinking going down to the boulders and crashing waves, to try to save him? It had felt worse than a body slam on the ice when he saw she was in danger. After he rescued her, she’d been so relieved that he wasn’t injured. The thought made him smile. She cared about him enough to try to rescue him, even when he wasn’t in any real danger.

  “What are you smirking about, young man?” Ellie snapped. “My granddaughter almost drowns and you think it’s funny?”

  “No.” Beck wiped the smile off his face and leaned forward in the wicker chair in the courtyard. Alyssa was still upstairs taking a shower. He’d rushed through his shower and went to find Granny Ellie, knowing he had to talk to her before she got too upset. “I was smiling because…” He cleared his throat and looked down at his clasped hands. “She cares about me so much, she put herself in danger for me.”

  Granny thumped him on the chest. Hard. “Exactly! And if you knew what she’d been through with her weasel of a father and weak mother and all those awful men who have tried to take advantage of her.” Granny tsked.

  Beck’s neck tightened, wanting to pry Granny for details but at the same time not wanting to know. He wished he could find some of those awful men and wallop them. He hoped with everything in him that no one had succeeded in taking advantage of his Alyssa. His Alyssa? It felt right.

  “Trust is hard for her,” Granny continued. “You treat her like a china doll. Got it?”

  Beck met Granny’s indignant blue eyes. “I promise.” He meant this vow as strongly as anything he’d ever promised in his life. He would happily take care of and protect Alyssa. He was falling for her quickly and it was better than any win on the ice.

  Granny straightened her thin shoulders and gave him a satisfied nod. “I’ve been waiting for you a long time, Beckham Taylor.” She smiled. “If I croak tomorrow I’ll know my Alyssa is in good hands.” Granny paused and then admitted on an irritated sigh, “I’m dying, Beck.”

  He banged his back against the chair, shuddered out a long breath, and had to take a few moments to compose himself. He could barely resist the urge to hug the frail older woman as she looked frustrated enough to rip his head off if he showed any compassion. “Soon?” His voice cracked and he had to clear it. “I mean, not from natural causes? You aren’t that old, Ellie.”

  “I know I look good, but I am eighty-two.” She blew out a breath and shook her head. “It’s the darn cancer. Took my last two husbands and now it’s got me. Started with breast cancer eight years ago.” She gestured to her chest and gave him a ghost of a smile. “Where do you think I got these beauties?”

  Beck couldn’t hold in a surprised laugh. “But you beat it.”

  “The first time. But I’m not willing to go through surgery and treatments again. Besides, this time it’s stage four and through my entire body.” She glanced up at him and shook her head as if guessing his thoughts. “Don’t you give me that compassionate look and don’t even think about saying sorry. I’ve felt fine and now the docs tell me that it won’t be too long until I’m gone. All my husbands and lots of friends and family are up there waiting for me.” She pointed toward the blue sky and smiled happily. She wasn’t seeing Beck anymore, but a host of angels.

  Beck gulped, at a complete loss for words. He’d lost his parents and brother to tragic accidents and hated the thought of death. Granny not only seemed to accept it, but be excited about it. “You’re not going to do chemotherapy or radiation or, or, anything?”

  “Why? No reason to be miserable when I’d rather enjoy the days I have left and then I can slip into a morphine-induced coma and wake up on the other side with all my handsome husbands waiting for me.” She smiled coyly.

  “But… what about Alyssa?”

  Her blue eyes clouded. “That’s the rub. I came here to visit her right after I found out, but I don’t know how to tell her. All she’ll have is Maryn and that girl isn’t too reliable sometimes.” She squeezed his arm. “Take care of her for me, will you?”

  “What if she doesn’t want me to take care of her?” Wow. Had Granny really just gone there? He was definitely enthralled with Alyssa and taking care of her sounded great, but the reality was he’d only known her a few days.

  “She will. Give it some time and don’t give up.” She eyed him perceptively. “Even if things get hard. Don’t give up.” Granny patted his arm and smiled. “And please don’t tell her we had this little chat. I’m trying to find the right time to tell her I’ve got to leave this old Earth, but it’s going to be hard on her.”

  Beck nodded, unable to look away from Granny’s trusting stare. A few days ago someone entrusting a beautiful woman to his care would’ve had him running for a fast motorcycle. Today it seemed perfectly logical, if a bit premature. Especially when a pair of long, olive-skinned legs came down the stairs with the slightly halting, but to him charming, walk that was all Alyssa. She smiled at him, her dark eyes full of promise and he knew he had finally found a woman worth caring about.

  Beck, Alyssa, and Granny drove around the northwest side of the island early the next morning.

  “The rental company told me my insurance would be void if I drove this road,” Beck said, grinning.

  Alyssa smiled into his twinkling blue eyes and then glanced over the sheer drop off with no guard rail on the narrow, windy strip. “Can’t imagine why, I’ve never felt safer.” She clutched the door handle and hoped Beck wouldn’t notice.

  “Don’t worry.” Beck reached across the console and took hold of her left hand. She released the door handle and relished the feel of his large hand encompassing hers. “I’ll go slow.”

  Alyssa’s breath hitched. Was he talking about driving or their relationship? She hadn’t made a decision about going with him as his photographer and now her mind was a muddled mess. Was it smart to try and do a professional endeavor with a man so attractive that all she could think about was when she could get the next kiss? Beck’s lips were more tempting than her chocolate stash.

  “Beck!” Granny screeched.

  Beck released Alyssa’s hand and steered the car against the mountainside as a Jeep careened around the corner in front of them and almost plunged off the edge swerving to miss them.

  Alyssa’s heart thundered in her ears.

  “Stop flirting and start driving,” Granny commanded. “I don’t mind dying, but I don’t want to be mangled and live to suffer through it.”

  Beck gave a nervous chuckle and kept both hands on the steering wheel. They drove through gorgeous scenery, lush green mountains, and scenic drop-offs showcasing the ocean. Stopping in the quaint village of Kahakuloa, they bought a few loaves of Julia’s banana bread and the villagers were great about Alyssa snapping some pictures of them.
It was always a struggle to get natural pictures of people, where they weren’t posing, but these people were without guile and made it easy for her.

  They hiked down to the blowhole and then decided to try the Waihee Ridge Trail. Granny made it partway up the severe incline before she tottered and then sank to the ground, thumping onto her rear.

  “Granny!” Alyssa cried out, bending down to steady her grandmother, amazed as always at how small she felt in her arms.

  Beck hurried around and reached for Granny.

  “I’m old, not a baby. These things happen to us wrinkled farts,” she snapped, allowing Beck to help her to her feet then pushing him away.

  Beck and Alyssa exchanged a glance over Granny’s head.

  “Let’s go back down to the car and head to the hospital,” Beck suggested.

  Granny glared at him before pivoting on her heel and marching, slowly but determinedly, down toward the car. They both followed along helplessly.

  “I. Am. Fine!” Granny said. “I got a little lightheaded and that is all.”

  There was silence as Alyssa tried to think of what to do to help Granny without offending her. Was she really okay or just trying to act tough?

  They reached the car and Granny held out her hand. “Give me the keys, Beck. I’ll roll down the windows and just sit here in the car, read my book, and eat banana bread. You two have fun.”

  “I don’t want to leave you here alone,” Alyssa said.

  “Don’t you waste your time worrying about me, I’ll be perfectly happy.” She shooed them with her hands. “Now go, so we can finish this crazy drive and get to Mama’s Fish House in time for lunch. You owe me the market fish for making such a silly fuss over a spell of lightheadedness.”

  “Why don’t we head there now? We’ll come hike this trail another day,” Beck tried.

  “Do you want to tick me off?” Granny asked, raising her perfectly arched brows. “I didn’t think so. Now you two were all excited to hike and you are going to hike. I will be fine. Got it?”

  They studied each other for several charged seconds before Beck nodded slowly. “Got it.” He held out his hand to Alyssa. She took it and they started up the asphalt trail. Alyssa kept sneaking glances over her shoulder at the parked car.