Billionaire Bachelors 8 : Unexpected Treasure(61)

"Done. I'll clear out the candy shop and have a poet flown in tonight."

She wished she knew whether he was kidding or not.

"How about you just surprise me with a large Dove Bar and we don't stalk writers," she replied while his hands slid down her back. Then he took hold of her head and turned her gentle caress of the lips into a full-scaled attack on her mouth. It looked as if she'd done a good job of distracting him; she didn't know, however, whether to be happy at her success.

When his phone rang just then, Haley felt a mixture of relief and frustration. Her body had just begun to warm up again, but she was glad that she could escape this awkward conversation.

"You take your call, and I'll go for a swim," Haley told him. Fire was just starting to flare in his eyes, so she retreated several feet, to keep temptation from winning her over.

She'd made it to the door before his voice stopped her. "Haley." He paused while she turned. "This conversation is far from over."

As she left the office, she felt fear battle with hope. The hope was more terrifying. If she let herself think of a real future with him, she'd be swimming without a life jacket in the middle of a stormy ocean, and it would probably be easier to just give in and let the water drag her under.

With a shake of her head, she suppressed her confused tears and made her way to their suite to change. A good swim and workout would put her mind back on track. That was all she needed, she convinced herself.

*****

Crew got off the phone, and then rested his head in his hands. He knew and understood her fears of the future, but he'd hoped she'd have a bit more trust in him by now. He would give her a week or two to work through her emotions, and then he'd pounce.

Haley had changed his life for the better; he couldn't possibly let her go now. Did everyone have a one perfect mate out there somewhere? He only knew that without her, his life would be emptier.

The two of them could have a good life together. Her insecurity still held her back, but over the last couple of months, he'd watched as she'd come alive, opened up and faced so many of the demons that littered her past.

One by one, she was slaying her dragons, and he vowed to be there fighting by her side.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Crew ended up giving Haley a break for only a day. He'd planned to give her more time, but he had news, and he couldn't wait to tell her.

His lawyers and those hired by the buyers had pushed through the paperwork, and he needed to let Haley know that at the end of the month it was time to move on. He hoped she wouldn't mind going off with him to a new location. Though she had her schooling to finish, she was taking this semester off, and he'd find her the best school possible. What was important to her was important to him, too.

Crew had decided that his next business venture was going to be in Oregon. There was a great resort on the beaches of Tillamook, and he wanted to restore it. He'd be closer to his newfound family and get to know the cousins he'd never met.

Haley should love it there. The weather was almost identical to that in Seattle, plus she'd still be on the beach, he reasoned.

This kind of news required a candlelit dinner with at least a few dozen roses, and a lot of chocolate. Women, he'd theorized, were a lot more likely to listen if they had good chocolate in their hands. Haley had certainly proved that often.




 

 

A flashback to one night when they'd experimented with chocolate syrup and whipped cream flooded his memory, and Crew lost his train of thought. Dammit. Shaking his head, he got back to work. There was a lot to plan, and it needed to be just right.

"Mr. Storm."

"Mr. Storm."

Crew turned to find the Stanther twins wobbling toward him. The two old ladies were in their eighties and full of life, though doubtless a bit slower than they'd been in years gone by.

They must have been true beauties in their day. Knowledge and laughter glowed in their eyes, and he'd delighted in having them at the resort for the past week. He rarely became attached to guests, but he'd made an exception with the two spitfires.

"How can I help you beautiful ladies?" he said as he gave each woman a kiss on the hand.

"Oh, you're such a charmer. If I had the energy that I used to," Bertha Stanther said, "I'd drag you up to my nice big suite with me. It's just too bad age has caught up to me."

"Ah, age has made you only more striking," he said with a wink.

The two ladies giggled, and soft blushes stole over their cheeks. Penelope now spoke: "We just wanted to say goodbye. Our grandnephew is picking us up today and taking us back home. We've so enjoyed our time with you, Mr. Storm. I do hope to see you again in a couple of months."

"Sadly, I won't be here, ladies. But when I get my next resort up and running, you have a free week on me," he promised, handing them each his personal business card.