Seducing the Billionaire's Wife(23)

His dimple appeared again. “But Paris is. Or London. Amsterdam. Rome. You pick, I’ll provide the transportation.”

He was serious. “I don’t have a passport, and you can’t get me one quickly enough—billionaire or not. The government has rules.”

“I break them.”

“Pretty sure people go to jail for that.”

“Not those rules—our company can hack into any US government database. Foreign governments, too. It’s why we provide protection for their top-secret projects.”

“You know how to do that?”

He shook his head. “No. I pay people to do that.”

“Then how do you know if they’re doing a good job?” she asked, a little worried for him. Her grandparents had always stressed that a good manager should be able to perform any job at the resort.

“I pay people to oversee them.”

“Who oversees those people?”

“I do.”

She frowned. “Looks like we’re back to my original question—how do you know if they’re doing a good job or not?”

“Feedback from our clients,” he said. “Hannah, I surround myself with not only the best, but also with people I trust, and I pay them accordingly.”

“That makes sense,” she said. “But I still think it would be a good idea to learn what they do.” She was probably overstepping by giving him advice, and he probably didn’t appreciate it. Drew had been running a company for years without her help.

“I’ll take your advice under consideration.”

Tilting her head to one side, she asked, “You’re not mad at me?”

“For what?”

“Sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “I happen to like your nose, and I think that good advice can be found in the most unexpected of places.”

She sighed dreamily.

“I don’t know why you’re so happy to see me,” he said, and she gave him a quizzical look. “It’s been years.”

“Haven’t you ever just clicked with someone in your past and when you got to see them again, the years you didn’t know one another faded away? Because that’s how I feel when I’m with you.”

Nodding slowly, he asked, “No second thoughts?”

She gave him a sheepish grin. “I had fourth thoughts. Then fifth thoughts. I mean, I married you. It’s not what normal people do when they reunite after years apart.”

“I’d like to say that you can change your mind, but this marriage is final.” His dark gaze turned hard, but she caught a glimpse of the hurt and vulnerability before he turned away from her. “At least until our five years are up, then you may leave as quickly as you want.”

Taking a step toward him, she wrapped her arms around his unrelenting form. “Oh, Drew. I wasn’t trying to be mean. I was only trying to explain, and doing a poor job of it, why I’m genuinely happy to see you. Why us being together makes me feel happy and scared and excited and nervous.”

Finally, his arms came around her, and he buried his nose in her hair. “Actually, I reacted poorly. I never envisioned marrying like this, or entering into any relationship with a demand hanging over my head. I’m afraid that you’ll feel bought. Like you’re a commodity I needed.”

You do need me. “You haven’t made me feel that way.” She pulled away slightly. “Let’s go for a walk on the beach, okay?”


Drew allowed Hannah to lead him outside through the back door. The briny scent of the brackish waters of the Pamlico Sound immediately started to soothe him, but the heat made him break out into a sweat.

“Just a minute,” he said, shrugging out of his coat. He pulled his shirttail out, and then removed his shoes and socks. Glancing at Hannah’s cutoffs, he smiled. “I should probably roll up my pant legs, too.”

“Guess you didn’t pack for the beach?” she said with a laugh. “That’s okay. We’ll get some clothes for you.”

“My suitcase is in my car, but I can get it later,” he said as he straightened and held out his hand. “Ready?”

With a nod, she took his hand and laced her fingers through his. “That’s a hot look, Drew.”

“Glad you approve.”

“You’d look better in board shorts.”

“You’d look better in a bikini.”

She snorted and bumped him with her hip. “Don’t make me throw shrimp at you.”

“You started it.”

“Fine. I’ll stop teasing you,” she said with an over-exaggerated roll of her eyes.

Her yard gave way to sound-front property. “How long have you lived here?”