Someone steps out from the back of the limo as I try to keep balanced. A mere second later, I’m in the handsome stranger’s arms. I brush my hand to his chest for stability, and he’s shirtless. I dart my eyes up and release a sigh. Perfectly made, strong chin, just a hint of dark facial hair, and suddenly I feel weak.
Chapter Two
Micah
I woke up this morning, resolved to find some relaxation while in Miami. So far relaxation has been elusive. After a quick run in the hotel gym, my assistant appeared with a list of things she had issues with, including her room at the hotel.
The moment I step outside, I regret wearing a full suit and tie as the sun gives off a ridiculous amount of heat down here. Suddenly, Chicago’s winters were feeling much more welcoming.
Winston holds the door open to my limo where my assistant is already waiting. The rental company allowed Winston to install tiny cameras at my behest. I have a feeling my assistant is not to be trusted. This is the first time she has accompanied me on a business trip, and she has shown why I need a male assistant instead.
I look around the back of the vehicle and see something vital is missing. Before I can address the serious oversight, she begins her chastising. “This meeting is critical to landing the contract, Mr. Ryan.” Making my company another fifty million dollars does sound important, but so does my sanity, which I feel is slipping. Not that I’m going crazy, but my temper and frustration have doubled in the past month. At thirty-five, I’ve worked my ass off to become a billionaire.
In the past decade, I can’t remember having a single vacation. My mother reminds me of it all the damn time, along with the ever-important question of “When are you going to give me some little ones?”
Fuck if I even knew the answer to that one. I want kids, but I never met a woman I wanted to spend a lifetime with. I’m not the kind of guy to fuck around and have a baby mama without her saddled to my ass permanently. That idea disgusted me. My father had been that guy, abandoning my mother and me before she even gave birth to me. That life was out of the question for me.
“I know it is, and yet my coffee isn’t in the fucking limo.” Of all the days for her to ruin my fucking morning. What is the point of an assistant that can’t do her job? I need a break, and Miami might be the place to do it. I’m supposed to be in town for the meeting, but I’m tempted to extend my stay.
“Sorry, sir. The director at Initial Inc said they would have coffee prepared.” I’m not in the mood for her mistakes this morning. After working for me for six months, she should be well aware of what I like, at least when it came to the job. Her attempts to seduce me were becoming obvious. First she claimed her shower was broken and asked if I would let her use mine. Instead, I got her one on another floor. Then it was the accidental touches, falling in my arms twice in twenty-four fucking hours. I’ve no interest in her, but like many assistants, they all dream that the boss is going to fall in love with them.
“Is it in my limo? No. Well, then I don’t give a fuck about their coffee.” I had a damn headache, and caffeine usually did the trick in the morning. “I’m not concerned about being late.”
She checks her phone and then presses the button for my driver. “Winston, please stop at the Starbucks up ahead. Mr. Ryan would like his usual.”
“Yes, Ms. Jones.” Winston has been with me for years and is a good man. He even installed cameras in my personal limo to protect me from gold diggers.
He pulls off the main street and rushes out to get my coffee. “So, after looking over your schedule, you still haven’t given your RSVP to the Children’s Hospital Fundraising Gala,” she reminds me for the twentieth time. She thinks I’ll take her, that’s why she brings it up. The gala isn’t a big deal to me at all. It’s not why I donate to them. I don’t need to be rewarded.
“I don’t need to go. I give the foundation the money they need, so I don’t have to show up.”
“It’s better for your image.”
“My image is just fine,” I lie. I’m known for being an asshole, an unsociable asshole. The last time I spoke to a female, she walked away in tears. They come to you flaunting all their goods, and when you don’t respond, they put their damn hands on you. It pissed me off, and I let her know that I didn’t want a slut for a wife so she could go find another rich cock to hook her claws into. She might have cried that night, but two weeks later, she was married to a man twice my age who’s a billionaire as well.
I’m so fed up with my life, I want to retire. Shit, I think I might sell my company and find some other profession that’s not as demanding of my time. I don’t ever have to work again if I don’t want to, but I’m not sure I have it in me to just do nothing.
Winston opens the door and hands me my drink. “Thank you, Winston. Please let’s get moving before I’m actually late.” I try to take a sip, but the fucking coffee’s burning hot and scalding away my taste buds. Souring my mood even more. It’s funny how the little things can piss you off when you’re already on edge.
I open it to let it cool off quicker. As I’m about to put it in the cupholder, the limo screeches to a halt, sending steaming hot coffee all over me. “Son of a bitch.” My skin’s burning as I jerk my arms out of my jacket. I tear the buttons on my shirt, but the damage is done. I’m sitting in my limo, shirtless, ready to fire Winston for trying to send me to the hospital when I hear him jump out of the limo and shout.
Fuck, I hope a kid didn’t run in the damn street. I step out, forgetting that I had no shirt on when I see him freaking out on a petite beauty he helps to her feet. I’m so fucked.
I’m dashing toward Winston and to a young woman who has my heart doing flips. I want to say it’s because she’s hurt and I’m worried, but no, there’s more. My chest aches, and it’s not from the burn.
“I’ve got you,” I grunt, scooping her up in my arms, cradling her to me. She’s tiny, barely weighing a thing, but I feel like I’m holding onto my entire world. Something about her soothes the angry lion with a thorn in his paw. It’s as if she pulled it out and suddenly made it better. She has a couple of scraps on her knees from hitting the ground and I feel like a bastard for being the one responsible for her injuries.
I jump back into the seat, sitting down with her in my lap. I brush her long dark brown hair out of her face so I can see those gorgeous eyes. They’re a shade of blue that I can swear has a hint of purple in them. “Talk to me. Tell me your name.” She sighs for a moment and I’m worried that she’s hurt worse than she looks.
Chapter Three
Violet
“Let’s get her to a hospital. Fuck. So sorry, love,” he shouts as the driver closed the door. I’m sure he’s said something else, but I can barely hear him with the pounding of my heart in my ears.
“Oh my goodness. Is she okay?” I turn to see a beautiful woman in a tight fitting business suit looking too sexy for a meeting. Then my eyes move back to my shirtless beast, trying to gather my wits. When I steal another glance I know the concern is just an act. The woman’s worried expression is faker than the cubic zirconia ring I usually wear to dissuade drunk men at work. I look down to see that I left without it, but apparently my brother snatched that too. He’s gonna be pissed when he finds out it’s not a diamond.