A Date With A Billionaire

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Beth rubbed the back of her neck and then her arms, as if she’d suddenly become aware of the bite in the air. “My life is settled, I don’t need contests and fantasy dates to make me happy.”

Interesting. Kane suspected she wasn’t being entirely honest with herself, or with him. Most people wanted something, even if they didn’t know what that “something” might be.

“Are you happy?”

She flashed him an angry look and planted her hands on her hips. “That’s none of your business.”

“Shhh.” He put a finger over her lips and motioned to the camera crew. “Some of those folks are from a local television station. It isn’t good press for them to see us fight—at least it wouldn’t make the kind of press my brother needs.”

“Mmm.” She angled her head backward and gave him a sweetly false smile. “Would it make good press if I bite your finger?”

Kane laughed. Beth was bright and sassy like one of his sisters; he only wished he could think of her that way. Like a kid sister. Nothing sexual or uncomfortable, just a nice woman who didn’t confuse his body.

Hell, it was his own fault. He’d been celibate too long, buried in his work and bored with the whole social scene. A man got to a certain age and he didn’t feel like playing games with women, watching them dance around, hopeful he’d decide they were the perfect billionaire’s wife. They didn’t realize the money wasn’t important, it was only a means to an end.

With money you could take care of your family and protect them. Without it you were helpless.

He still remembered what it felt like to be nineteen, one minute on top of the world, the next minute seeing it fall apart. Remembered the crushing pain of suddenly losing his father, of looking at his mother and brothers and sisters, fearing he wouldn’t be able to hold everything together.

A seagull swooped low and hovered for an instant, catching their attention before it swooped away again with a shrill cry.

“He’s saying we’re crazy,” Kane murmured.

“For going to Victoria, or for going together?” Beth asked pertly.

“You don’t give up, do you?” he asked, more curious than annoyed. “You didn’t want to do this, and you aren’t going to give it a chance. At the very least we could pretend we’re friendly. That isn’t much to ask, is it?”

She sighed and gathered her windswept hair away from her face. “I’m just uncomfortable. I was never very good at dating or anything, and since Curt’s accident…” Her shoulders lifted and dropped. “There doesn’t seem to be much point.”

Curt.

The fiancé who died in a mountain-climbing accident—or to be more precise, the fiancé who was killed while trying to rescue someone. It was strangely daunting to wonder about the contrast between himself and this other man. There weren’t many heroes in the world, yet Beth had been engaged to one.

Kane searched her face, trying to tell how much pain the memory brought. “How long ago did it happen?”

“Almost five years.” The distant look filled her eyes again. “It’s not like my life hasn’t gone on. I miss him, but he loved me and wouldn’t want me to stop living because he isn’t here.”

“But you don’t think you can fall in love again…or that you’ll ever get married?” Kane frowned. “That isn’t right.”

Abruptly she turned back to the water, so all he could see was her profile. “And that’s an interesting observation from a man who openly tells the press he’s not planning to get married,” she drawled.

A low chuckle surprised Beth and she glanced at Kane.

“What’s so funny?”

“Just the thought of two determined singles being pushed together like this. Don’t you see? It makes things perfect. We can do some sight-seeing, have a nice dinner and enjoy ourselves without worrying about any wayward expectations. With that in mind, you’ll be happy to know I changed our reservations from the ‘romantic attic suites’ at the Empress Hotel, to regular suites.”

Romantic attic suites?

“That’s a relief,” she said, without being entirely sincere.

Emily had told her about the Empress Hotel after staying there with her husband, and deep down Beth felt a pang at missing the “special attic rooms.” According to Emily, romantic was an understatement. They were beautiful and private, decorated with the Empress’s original antique furniture, including some four-poster and canopy beds. Beth had never slept in a genuine four-poster bed, but she thought it would be fun.

More fun for a honeymoon or wedding anniversary, but she wasn’t likely to have one of those.

“So, are we okay?” Kane asked.

Beth shook herself. He was worried about the publicity angle of their “date,” and she was still worried about him thinking she had silly expectations.

“Sure,” she said. “I’m sorry about being so sensitive. It’s just everyone has been speculating about this romantic date with you, when all along I know it isn’t the least bit romantic. I mean, if you really think about it—what’s romantic about going out with a perfect stranger?”

Kale threw back his head and laughed. “You really are innocent, aren’t you?”