Only A Kiss With A Billionaire (Only Us Billionaire Romance Book 1) Read online

  Then two-point-five, it rattled her to see so many women fawning over him. Yes, he was good-looking, but half the woman at the party kissed him, stroked him, embraced him, and clearly wanted him. She was supposed to be his date. He'd hardly said a word and certainly hadn't hugged or kissed her hello.

  She huffed.

  Not that it mattered.

  Not that she wanted him to.

  She didn't.

  No. She told herself.

  Definitely not.

  No way.

  Then problem number three, she had a party to run with live dogs and hopefully, live music. If the band didn't show up soon, she'd have problem three-point-five, which was how to get rid of Romeo or Ricco or whatever. She only flirted with him to irritate Will, who'd been surrounded by every woman in the room at one point or another except for her.

  Short on time, she'd pulled off the dog themed party, called the shelter, promising exposure at the premier New Year's event in the city, which she hoped translated into donations and adoptions. She'd called upon her creativity and came up with ideas to incorporate dogs into the party—from drinks to food to songs for the DJ to play to items for the swag bags. Then she scoured the internet for dog-themed vendors. It was the job of a team and she pulled it off on her own.

  Now, she wanted to make sure the evening's surprise entertainment showed up on time. It was nearly eleven. Mostly though, she wanted to get out of Ricco's clutches because she was afraid she was giving him the wrong idea. Although, he was an excellent dancer.

  After she endured another song, someone called her name. The accent was American and her spirits lifted.

  "Excuse me, Ricco. My friend is here, all the way from America." She did an awkward curtsy and then rushed off the dance floor. The truth was Clara hadn't come all the way from the US just then. She was touring with L Ryder, the famous musician, after pulling off a Christmas miracle and falling in love with the guy in the process. They were in France and even though she didn't want to rob her friend of the romance of the evening, she asked if they'd do a special favor and perform at the New Year's Eve bash.

  The two friends hugged. "I missed you so much," Emma said.

  "You have a story to spill," Clara said.

  "I could say the same for you, although Penny gave me a few details. But we'll get to that later. I'm so glad you came."

  "I couldn't say no to you or the dogs and as it turns out Logan couldn't say no to me."

  "Logan?" Emma asked.

  "L stands for Logan." Clara nudged her chin toward the stage where the famous rock star took up his guitar.

  He welcomed everyone, said a few words about the important work shelters do for dogs, and then broke into song with one of his biggest hits.

  Emma and Clara sang along like two fangirls. Penny was going to freak out when she found out and probably be jealous because she was a major L Ryder fan.

  Despite the refined crowd, it seemed everyone enjoyed the performance. While they clapped and cheered after the last song, Will jumped onto the stage.

  The two men hugged as if they knew each other.

  Emma looked on curiously, as Clara filled her in on her whirlwind romance. The clock ticked down, getting closer and closer to midnight. It wasn't jealousy that filled her at hearing about how in love Clara and Logan were. It wasn't concern that the kiss was going to fail either.

  Sadness swept over Emma like a great wave.

  When would she get her real Romeo?

  She was kind and sweet and a good person.

  When would a guy fall for her, truly, madly, deeply?

  Not because he was using her to get ahead in his company like Everett or in his career like Will.

  "Emma, are you okay?" Clara asked.

  "Yeah. Fine. It was a lot of work to pull this off."

  "I bet." Clara went on to compliment her on all the fun doggy details. "Oh, I better go find Logan for our midnight kiss." Clara gave her friend's hand a squeeze and rushed off.

  The clock ticked down. It was up to Will to find her if he wanted his staged kiss. But maybe she just wanted a kiss. A real one.

  Several people shouted it was almost midnight.

  Some tooted horns and noisemakers.

  Emma stood in front of the stage, in the middle of the dance floor, alone. Lonely.

  People said Will's name, congratulating him on the party, and wishing him Happy New Year. She turned as he strode over to her, not stopping for them to fawn over him.

  Then they started counting down. "Ten, nine, eight…"

  He wore a cocky smile on his lips. But his eyes told a different story. Resignation? Sadness? Determination? She couldn't be sure.

  "Seven, six, five…"

  She wished the situation were different. That he wanted her.

  But did that mean she wanted him?

  "Four, three, two…"

  He took her in his arms and tilted her back, dreamily, swooningly.

  "One."

  His lips landed on hers. They were soft and warm. He tasted like mint and man. He directed them both back to standing and his hands gripped her jaw as he continued to kiss her.

  Her thoughts raced nearly as fast as her heart. Perhaps the cameras weren't in position. Maybe there was some kind of delay.

  His fingers tangled in her hair as he pulled her closer.

  The butterflies in her belly went from fluttering to full on frolicking.

  Will's mouth demanded of her and she gave back, fully, completely. She pressed her lips to his and locked her hands around the nape of his neck.

  Cheering surrounded them and Emma realized it must be after midnight by now but they didn't stop. The kiss deepened and the noise faded away. It was just Will and Emma. His lips and hers. Two hearts filling, pulses racing, desire growing…

  When they finally parted, Emma looked into his eyes. They were big and blue and bold. They told her she was wanted.

  Then the flashes popped, blinding her.

  Will wrapped his arm around her waist, not letting her go.

  The lines between a posed kiss and whatever they'd done blurred. She wasn't sure where Emma his fake girlfriend began and Emma, his assistant who was in charge of the shindig ended.

  But her eyes must have also been blurry because she thought she saw Everett again. She drew a deep breath—it must have been fatigue, stress, and the emotions rocketing through her.

  The man in slacks and a button-down approached her. He had curly, dark, short-cropped hair like Everett. He had a pit in his chin like Everett.

  "Emma." He sounded like Everett.

  It was him.

  "What are you doing here?" Her voice was thin.

  "I thought I'd ask you the same question." Everett eyed Will with contempt.

  There was no contest: Will was more handsome, stronger, and hadn't betrayed her. Then again, they weren't in a real relationship.

  "I wanted to talk to you."

  "You could have called."

  "I did. You didn't answer."

  "Can we not do this here?" Emma asked. She wanted to be home on New Year's Eve with a good book, some cookies, and maybe a puppy. Not here, involved in this mess. Then she realized she didn't have a home and it was because of Everett.

  No, she stopped that thought in its tracks. It was also because of her poor judgment of character. She wouldn't make that same mistake again.

  "Can we talk somewhere privately?" Everett asked, casting another scornful look at Will.

  "Emma." His British accented voice was low, questioning.

  "It's fine. You got what you needed, right?"

  "Emma," he repeated, but Everett had already swept her into the crowd. He directed her toward a quiet nook.

  "What did you come here to tell me, Everett? Did you finally come to your senses and realize you owe me half the money for the wedding debt? Or did you come to apologize for duping me and confessed to the investors, clearing my name."

  Everett opened his mouth but Emma shot across
him.

  "In either case, I'm not interested."

  "Why? Because you have a big hotshot billionaire boyfriend?"

  Emma crossed her arms in front of her chest. This was not how she wanted to start the New Year.

  Everett's eyes narrowed. "Let me tell you a thing or two about him. He left a girl at the altar."

  "Ironic because so did you."

  "Well, maybe you have a thing for guys like me." He snorted.

  "I do not have a thing. Certainly not for you." As soon as the truth was out of her mouth, she realized how true it was. All the sadness that flooded her, which had practically drowned her in the previous months, rushed out in an angry wave. Words, like powerful water crashing into a rocky shore, poured out of her mouth as she let Everett have it. "You are a liar, a cheat, and a coward who preyed on my skills for your own benefit. Nothing you say or do would change my mind about you."

  "Emma, I just want to look out for you." He softened his tone.

  "How considerate. Perhaps you should have thought of that when you ruined my career, humiliated me, left me in debt, and rushed off with Sydney. Where is she anyway?" Emma wanted to give Everett's girlfriend a piece of her mind too. Wouldn't it be ironic if she were the same Sydney Will was seeing?

  Everett paled.

  "Wait. She left you didn't she."

  "High and dry."

  Emma shook her finger. "You came back here to—"

  Everett lowered onto one knee and held out a box. "To ask you to marry me."

  "Again?" Emma laughed. She didn't hesitate. "No, Everett."

  He wiped sweat from his brow and then gripped her wrist. "Emma, I'm warning you. Don't get involved with him."

  Will still stood to the side but now stepped forward. "Excuse me." Will fussed with something in his pocket. "Emma, I have a question for you. It's personal, but I truly hope you'll answer."

  She nodded.

  "Do you want me to knock him out or would you like to go home?"

  Chapter 20

  Will

  Emma shook her head. "Goodbye, Everett. I never want to see you again."

  Will took her hand in his. She lifted onto her toes and whispered in his ear. "I’m hungry."

  He smirked then turned to the crowd. "Thank you, everyone, for joining us tonight. Happy New Year."

  They paraded down the red carpet, decorated with puppy prints, and into the waiting SUV, dotted with rain.

  "Benson, Emma would like something to eat." His phone beeped but he ignored it.

  "Pick up or delivery?" Benson asked.

  Will looked at Emma.

  "Am I eating this on my own again?"

  Will shook his head and patted his stomach. "All of those people at the party tonight pay for these."

  Emma sighed. "I'll just take delivery. It's late."

  They were quiet as the car drove along the damp, glistening London streets. People spilled out of pubs and revelers traveled in pairs and groups.

  Will's phone buzzed in his pocket. It was probably Jared who was sure to congratulate him on the kiss even though he hadn't faked it. Will had poured everything he had into that kiss, wanting Emma to feel what he was afraid to admit, express, or know how to handle. When his lips stayed on hers, going well beyond the time it took to snap a few photographs, she didn't protest. Perhaps she wanted it as much as him. He could only hope. His agent would likely also have something to say about the wrong guy proposing to Emma so publically, but he didn't want to deal with any more drama.

  "That was some party," Will said, edging closer to her on the long seat. "Thank you."

  "I had a lot of help. By the way, how do you know L Ryder?"

  "Logan? We're old friends from our school days. By the way, how did you know that I knew…?"

  "I didn't. I'm friends with Clara."

  "Ah, yes. I heard about their happily ever after."

  Emma shivered and nudged a little closer.

  "Cold?" he asked.

  "I didn't think my winter coat would go with my dress. And my hat would've ruined my hair."

  His smile dipped. "Emma, I failed tonight."

  "What do you mean? We got the photo. The guests seemed happy enough. No dogs went to the bathroom in public…" She rambled.

  "No, Emma. I failed to tell you—" He drew a breath and rubbed his thumb across her cheek. "You looked dazzling." He narrowed the space between them.

  She sat up. "Well, thank you. No one has ever said that to me before."

  "Clearly your ex-fiancé thought so too even if he wasn’t brave enough to speak the words."

  "No, he's just a jealous leach. His girlfriend broke up with him and he must've seen us splashed across the tabloids. He never could deal with my aptitude in college. I scored better on tests, was given opportunities by our professors."

  "I would've punched him for you."

  "Thanks for being my knight in shining armor."

  "Ah, so I do have a heart after all."

  She brushed her hand against his chest. "One I noticed beating very hard earlier."

  Their eyes locked, but the car stopped in front of Will's building.

  Emma reached for the door handle. Will drew her hand back to his.

  "I got what I wanted."

  "What's that?" she asked.

  His answer was a kiss on her forehead, her cheek, and her nose.

  Emma's stomach growled.

  Will chuckled. "Food should be here anytime." His phone buzzed yet again.

  They went inside to the warm flat. Emma kicked off her shoes and plopped onto the couch. "If it doesn't get here soon, just wake me when it's morning. I'm exhausted." She yawned.

  Unmoving, Will stood in the doorway.

  "Everything okay?" she asked, craning her head.

  He stared at his phone. He couldn't speak. Sydney was gone.

  Will dashed back out the way he came. Benson still idled in front of the flat so he had him go directly to the hospice.

  The dim light and warmth inside the building, intending to comfort was false. The nurses offered their sympathy. They'd tried to contact him earlier.

  He'd ignored his phone much of the day, wanting to avoid Jared and the mess he'd made by going along with a fake relationship. Recently, he'd been ignoring his mobile, thinking it was more of the same. He felt stark, alone.

  Will sat in the room next to the bed that cradled his mentor, his best friend, his father figure. He stayed for hours, his mind blank, empty until a hand swept across his shoulders.

  It was his sister. Obviously, she couldn't arrive sooner because she didn't want to wake her daughter and couldn't leave her alone. The two held each other and shared the sadness that came with the loss.

  It was early New Year's Day. The sun hid behind rain clouds. Will walked home, not caring that he was drenched. Not caring that the raindrops mingled with his tears.

  He kicked off his boots and Emma roused from the couch, still in her gown and still looking beautiful.

  "Will, are you okay?" she asked, getting to her feet.

  He simply tossed off his jacket.

  "Listen, if now isn't a good time, I understand. But we have to talk."

  He stared blankly, still unable to speak.

  Emma drew a deep breath. "Last night was great and I think the kiss we shared meant something. But I can't do this." She gestured between them. "Everett said you left a girl at the altar. I know your version of the story, but then you go running off late at night whenever your phone beeps."

  As will sat down, still in his tux and with the top of his shirt unbuttoned, the ring box dug into his hip.

  She got to her feet and started pacing. "You probably have a booty call or a mistress…"

  Will dropped the box containing the ring from Jared on the table more forcefully than he intended. "I certainly didn't leave anyone at the altar. I made a difficult decision when Veronica's motives became clear. It upset me and broke my heart, but I couldn't live her lie. I wasn't enough for her to love wit
hout my wallet so I walked away. To your comment, a mistress would imply that I'm married and I certainly am not."

  Emma winced. "You said that so strongly. I'm just trying to figure out where I stand. Is this just a setup or—"

  His gaze locked on hers. "I'm not sure what it is either. But if we were to be married, I wouldn't ask you in front of all the cameras. I might take you to a private island. We'd leave our baggage behind: our fears, heartbreak, hang-ups… It would be just you and me and the future. We'd fall asleep to the sound of the lapping waves and wake to the sunrise. I would treat you like a queen and when I fully trusted myself and knew that you trusted me, I'd ask you to spend the rest of your life with me."

  Emma's lips parted. He wanted to kiss her right then, whisk her away like he'd described but his chest ached and his grief was too raw.

  "Speaking of trust, that's built upon honesty and you still haven't told me where you run off to in the middle of the night."

  "To see Sydney."

  "For your information, that's the name of the girl Everett left me for so I'll need a little more info." She was still on her feet and had one hand on her hip.

  "Well, what about Ricco?"

  "Who?"

  He knew it was childish but couldn't stop himself. "The handsome Italian you were dancing with last night?"

  Emma rolled her eyes. "You and I both know that didn't mean anything. But this Sydney person obviously does."

  Sydney meant so much. Will's chin shifted toward his chest and then he took a deep breath. He lowered her down to sit beside him. "Sydney Harcourt was my guardian. He was like a father to me and he died last night. He'd had a stroke and then was in a coma. He—" Will got choked up so he pulled out the phone and played the mysterious message. His chest tightened at the sound of the old man's gravelly voice.

  "'William, I'm going to miss you. I think I already do. I'll be leaving soon. I think you know that. You've done so much for me, taking care of me like this. Evelyn has been gone a long time now, but she brought me the greatest joy. I have one request to make of you. I want you to have the same happiness. Settle down with Emma. By the sounds of things, she brings that same smile to your lips as when you were a little boy, when you were free. Remember those hikes? I always knew it was good to get you out of the city." Sydney coughed. "You were strong then. You grew into a man who's even stronger than I could've hoped. But strength doesn't only come from pumping iron and fitness. Inner strength. And it doesn't only come from surviving something. Getting through a difficult situation. Sometimes strength comes from being brave and doing the things we're most afraid to do. Sometimes that thing is love.'"