Holiday with the Millionaire Read online

  A noise at the door startled her. She stood up swiftly and strode over to the door. A delivery guy handed her a thick envelope and asked her to sign for it. She did it without even thinking—she signed for parcels for Addison and Caleb all the time.

  But this one was different. This one was addressed to her.

  She tore open the envelope, tipped it up and a data stick fell into her hand.

  What?

  She peered inside the envelope again There was a small sticky note. She pulled it out. Watch me. That was all it said.

  She frowned and walked back to her laptop. Her hand hesitated next to the port. What if this was one of those things with a funny virus—one that would read her bank accounts and empty them?

  She gave a rueful smile. Good luck with that, then. She might have got there first.

  She stuck the stick in and waited until a message appeared on the screen, asking her what to do next. It only took a few seconds to get it to play.

  A video screen appeared in front of her.

  She blinked. Reuben Tyler. No way. What in the world...?

  He held up a few pieces of white card with black writing, one after the other.

  Her hand covered her mouth. She knew exactly what he was doing. He was imitating one of the films they’d watched together.

  The words appeared quickly.

  You might have guessed...

  I’m not too good at this stuff...

  You might even say...

  I’m the worst in the world.

  Words don’t come easy to me...

  And I’m afraid the ones that I do say...

  Will be the wrong ones...

  So I decided...

  To get by...

  With a little help from my friends.

  She smiled at the song reference as he threw the last card away.

  A few seconds later someone else sat down in front of the camera. It was a face she recognised instantly. Red Lennox, the baseball player Reuben represented.

  He held one card in front of him.

  What are we?

  His trademark smile reached from side of his face to the other. It was clear he was highly amused by this. Her ears were flooded with his thick Texas accent.

  ‘What are we? It’s a good question—particularly for a man who is used to having all the answers. But it seems that he struggled with this one. So he asked for some help.’

  Red held up a little piece of paper and held it front of him. He leaned towards the screen.

  ‘Lara Callaway, I can’t wait to meet you. It seems you’re the one that got away. The one that he made a big mistake with.’ His hands drew a wide circle in the air. ‘Massive.’ He winked at the camera. ‘But it seems you are always on my mind.’

  Red frowned at the card and glanced back at the camera.

  ‘Should I be singing here?’ He shook his head. ‘I’m not sure. Anyway, it seems that Reuben wants to apologise, he wants to tell you that he knows exactly what you are.’

  He leaned into the camera one more time and gave her a cheeky wink.

  The camera picture faded out and in again. It was a different room. A different person sat down in the front of the camera.

  Lara sucked in a breath. The tennis player Craig Robertson. He’d won Wimbledon twice. He was holding the white card too.

  What are we?

  Craig shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. ‘I can’t believe the guy who helped me propose to my girlfriend has made such a mess of things for himself. But here I am anyway. Anything to help a friend.’

  He gave a smile.

  ‘Love is a strange thing. I know. You don’t realise it until it hits you over the head—or, in my case, throws you into a strange pool in France.’

  He held up his hands.

  ‘And then, when you do realise it’s love, you’re scared. Scared the other person won’t feel the same way, scared you’ll be out there on a limb. It can be hard to put it out there.’ He winked at the camera too. ‘But apparently some of us have a better gift of the blarney than others.’

  Lara had stopped breathing. Love. These people were talking about love.

  The tennis player tossed the card over his shoulder. ‘Anyway, the point is, Reuben Tyler knows exactly what you are.’

  The screen faded again. Another one?

  Oh, yes. The billionaire footballer with the looks that had sold everyone in the world a bottle of aftershave. Dylan Bates. He had a card too.

  What are we?

  She let out her breath in one huge gasp. How on earth had Reuben managed this?

  Dylan smiled. He was known across the planet as one of the nicest guys ever.

  ‘It seems Reuben Tyler has just let the love of his life slip through his fingers because he couldn’t find the right words. It’s not that he didn’t know them—he did. He just couldn’t bring himself to say them. And now he feels like a total idiot.’

  There was a huge twinkle in Dylan Bates’s eyes. He leaned forward.

  ‘I’ve waited a long time to see Reuben slayed by the love god, and it seems that it’s finally happened. Lara Callaway, come and stay with me and my family in Los Angeles.’ He tapped the side of his nose. ‘I can give you lots of stories from years ago that you’ll be able to use as blackmail material for years.’

  He sat back.

  ‘In the meantime, give him a chance. Everyone deserves a chance. Particularly this guy.’ He held up his hands. ‘What are we? You can bet Reuben Tyler knows.’

  The screen faded to black.

  Lara looked over her shoulder. It was almost as if she expected him to be standing there. That was it. Nothing else.

  She looked back at the screen. Surely he would appear next and say something—anything?

  But, no, the screen remained blank. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

  For some reason her feet carried her to the door. She had no idea what she expected. Maybe the delivery guy would still be there with some other kind of message?

  She yanked the door open and went to step outside. But her foot stopped midway. The step was blocked.

  By a familiar shape dressed in a leather jacket and jeans. Beside him was a huge cake box. His head turned at the noise of the door opening.

  Every little hair on her body stood on end, prickling her skin. Her breath caught in her throat. She left the door open and thudded down on the step next to him.

  This was the oddest apology she’d ever had.

  ‘Hey,’ she said.

  ‘Hey,’ he replied. He gestured towards the box. ‘I brought you a present.’

  She gave a little nod and lifted the lid on the box. It was biggest strawberry cassata cake she’d ever seen. She tried not to smile. There was a spoon right next to it. She picked it up and dug right into the middle of the cake, pretending not to notice his eyebrows rising, and lifted a huge spoonful into her mouth. It was the real thing. She could almost hear the noise of the Piazza del Miracoli around her. She swallowed and waited a few seconds. It would take more than a cake to win her round. ‘That was some video. Were you trying to tell me something?’

  He threw back his head and laughed. ‘You’re not going to make this easy, are you?’

  She gave a little smile. ‘I think I’m going to make it as hard as possible.’

  He shook his head. ‘Call it like you see it. That’s why I love you, Lara Callaway.’

  Now she really couldn’t speak.

  ‘You what?’ It was more of a squeak than anything else.

  He turned on the step towards her, sucked in a breath and blew it out slowly through his lips. When his brown eyes fixed on hers she thought she would melt. ‘It’s kind of hard when you don’t know what it is. It means when it hits y
ou in the face like a wrecking ball you don’t actually know what’s happened.’ The lilt in his accent sent shivers down her spine. It must get stronger the more emotional he was feeling.

  She could see from his face how much he was struggling with all this. The easiest thing in the world would be to reach out and touch him. Run her fingers through his dark hair, feel his stubble under the palm of her hand.

  But he still hadn’t answered the question. And she really needed to hear him say it out loud.

  ‘So, what happened, Reuben? What are we? I seem to have half the planet telling me that you know.’

  He gave a nod and looked a bit rueful. ‘I might have been a bit bad-tempered for a few days and some of my clients got together to bang my head on a brick wall.’ He held up his hands. ‘When I told them how much of a mess I’d made of things they were only too happy to tell me what they thought. I wasn’t sure if you’d speak to me so I decided to ask them to help me out.’

  ‘I think I just got the equivalent of a million-pound video clip.’

  He sighed. ‘I think it might have been a bit more.’ His hand reached over slowly towards hers. ‘I’m sorry, Lara. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you exactly how I feel. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you outside the casino in Monte Carlo that I loved you and thought you were the most beautiful woman that I’d ever seen.’

  Tears prickled in the backs of her eyes. Finally, they were getting somewhere.

  She lifted her gaze to meet his. ‘Love can be a beautiful thing, Reuben. If you’ll let it in.’

  She let her words hang in the air between them. There was no need to say more. He knew exactly what she meant. He fumbled behind his back and pulled out a brown paper package.

  It wasn’t the most prestigious gift she’d ever seen. But it charmed with its simplicity. The wrapping was uneven—it seemed that Reuben had done this himself.

  His hand closed over hers. ‘I listened to what you said to me. I’ve had a few days to think about it.’ He handed her the package.

  She turned it over in her hands and released one of the edges, sliding her hand inside to pull out the gift.

  It wasn’t what she’d expected. And part of her heart skipped a few beats as the smile spread slowly across her face. It was the most perfect, personal gift in the world.

  ‘Alice in Wonderland! You found it. How did you do that? It’s exactly the same as the one I had when I was a kid.’

  His brown eyes fixed on hers as he smiled. ‘I worked out what year you were born and what edition you were likely to have had.’ He leaned forward and whispered into her ear. ‘I’ll let you into a secret. I have another three in case that was the wrong one.’

  She ran her hand over the pale blue cover of the book. ‘No. This is definitely the right one. It’s perfect. Thank you.’

  He hesitated then pointed at the book. ‘Open it.’

  She took a deep breath and opened the hardback cover. A silver key on a red ribbon was sitting on the first page.

  ‘You told me I had to let people in. And I think you were right.’ He held up the key, ‘So, this is how I start. I’d like to let you in. I’d like to give us a chance. And this is my way. A key to my house and a key to my heart.’ He gave a wary little smile that warmed her heart.

  He was nervous. He was really nervous about this. And this was what she loved. It didn’t matter about his bad-boy reputation. She knew the real Reuben Tyler. Not the guy who was the hotshot agent. Not the guy who had lots of money.

  She knew the guy who’d practically had to bring himself up. The guy who’d had no real example of what love was. She knew the truly laid-bare Reuben Tyler—that was the guy she loved.

  The key was dangling in the air. She reached out with an open palm and held it underneath. She had to push him just a little bit further. ‘So, what does this mean, Reuben? What are we?’

  It was the million-dollar question. The thing she really needed him to embrace.

  She heard him suck in a breath. ‘We’re whatever we want to be, Lara.’

  She still hadn’t taken the key. She really wanted to just swoop in and grab it. But a little part of her heart needed a little more. She knew this was an enormous step for Reuben, but she didn’t just want a little part of him—she wanted the whole thing. The real deal.

  She tried her best to stop her voice from wobbling. ‘And what do you want us to be?’

  He turned to face her, dropping the key in the palm of her hand and putting both his hands on her face. ‘I want us to be together. I want you to be the person I see first thing every day. I want you to be the person to tell me when I’m being cranky. I want you to be the person I share amazing sunrises and sunsets with all around the world. I want to know when I get off a plane I have the girl who’s captured my heart to talk to, no matter where I am. I want to look forward to coming home to you. I want to feel as if I’m coming home because I’ve got a reason to come home. I’ve found the person I want to love for the rest of my life.’ He stopped for a second, and she could tell he was trying to keep himself in check. His voice was beginning to waver.

  Tears brimmed in her eyes. She didn’t doubt that this was the most emotionally open Reuben had ever been. And it was with her. Because he loved her—just like she loved him.

  She reached up and covered one of his hands with hers. ‘I have too.’ She gave him a heartfelt smile. ‘But we might have a few issues.’

  A frown creased his brow. ‘Why?’

  She ran her fingers down the outside of his palm. ‘Because you think you’re getting a girl with a job as a nanny.’

  She saw the little light of recognition flicker in his eyes. A smile hinted at his lips. ‘What am I actually getting?’

  She couldn’t help her smile. ‘You’re getting the world’s lousiest student. I’m going to have to learn a whole heap of new skills. And for that I’m going to need a guy who is patient, understanding and who can put up with takeaways, books spread everywhere, and lots of moans and groans at exam times.’

  He pulled her into his arms. ‘You’ve applied?’

  She nodded. ‘I’ve applied.’

  His lips hovered next to hers. ‘Well, I guess we’ve got that in common. I’m applying too. For a job that I’ve no idea if I’ll be any good at—but I want to spend the rest of my life finding out.’ He ran a finger down her cheek and stared into her eyes. She’d never loved him more. ‘But I haven’t found out yet if my application has been accepted. Thing is, I think the panel pretty’s tough.’ His lips brushed against hers.

  She tried to respond instantly but he held himself just a few millimetres away, teasing her. ‘When do you think I’ll find out?’

  She ran her hand down his chest. ‘Oh, I think you can find out almost immediately. There’s just one tiny little thing.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘Do I have to share the cake?’

  Reuben threw back his head and laughed then captured her mouth with his. And as her fist closed around the shiny key in her palm she knew.

  She knew this was the man she’d spend the rest of her life loving and she couldn’t wait to start.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from HIS PRINCESS OF CONVENIENCE by Rebecca Winters.

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  His Princess of Convenience

  by Rebecca Winters

  CHAPTER ONE

  August, Monte Calanetti, Italy

  THE FLOOR-LENGTH MIRROR reflected a princess bride whose flowing white wedding dress, with the heavy intricate beading, followed the lines of her slender rounded figure to perfection. It probably weighed thirty pounds, but her five-foot-nine height helped her to carry it off with a regal air.

  The delicate tiara with sapphires, the something-borrowed, something-blue gift from the queen, Christina’s soon-to-be mother-in-law, held the lace mantilla made by the nuns. The lace overlying her red-gold hair, to the satin slippers on her feet, formed a whole that looked...pretty.

  “I actually feel like a bride.” Her breath caught. “That can’t be me!” she whispered to herself. Her very recent makeover was nothing short of miraculous.

  Christina Rose, soon-to-be bride of Crown Prince Antonio de L’Accardi of Halencia, turned to one side, then the other, as past memories of being called an ugly duckling, the chubby one, filled her mind.

  From adolescence until the ripe old age of twenty-eight, she’d had to live with those unflattering remarks muttered by the people around her. Not that she really heard people say those things once she’d grown up and had been spending her time doing charity work on behalf of her prominent family. But she knew it was what people were thinking.

  In truth her own parents were the ones who’d scarred her. They’d left her with nannies from the time she was born. And as she’d grown, her father had constantly belittled her with hurtful barbs by comparing her unfavorably to her friends. “Why is our daughter so dumpy?” she’d once heard him say. “Why didn’t we get a boy?” They’d picked out the name Christopher, but had to change it to Christina when she was born.

  His unkind remarks during those impressionable years had been wounds that struck deep, especially considering that Christina’s mother had been a former supermodel.