Page 24 of Billionaire Unexplained: Kaleb

Any pop star who had been as well-known as she had been for years should be earning a fortune.

“So tell me you’ll come back to Crystal Fork with me,” I urged.

I didn’t give a damn if she was Annelise to everyone else. She was still Anna to me, and she was even more vulnerable than I’d originally thought.

I really would be throwing her to the wolves if she had to go back to that kind of madness.

Anna needed time, and I knew exactly where she could find respite.

“Okay,” she agreed readily. “I only have one condition.”

“Which is?” I prompted.

“You have to agree to take some time off work and I want you to spend that time with me. I’m not saying we have to spend every moment together. But you came here for a purpose, too. I want this to be beneficial for both of us. I’m more than willing to let you know if you’re going back to your workaholic ways. If you don’t mind, I’d like to find a guitar or a piano somewhere so I can work on some of my songwriting. I’m really behind schedule on my writing for my next album.”

“Will a grand piano work?” I asked.

She shot me a startled look. “You play piano?”

I grinned. “Not much, but my brother Devon plays, and my house was built way before they even broke ground on his. He talked me into a music room a long time ago, and I’ve never gotten around to redecorating that room.”

“That would be perfect,” she said on a long, satisfied breath.

“Then I agree to your terms,” I said as my body relaxed.

I hadn’t realized how tense I was until she’d finally said yes.

“Thank you for this,” she said gratefully. “You’re right. I think I need a little more time. Just thinking about going back to California right now makes me edgy.”

Honestly, I probably should be thanking her.

I was calmer, more relaxed, and coming to terms with the idea that there was no way I could have foreseen my father’s death or Shelby’s kidnapping. I’d also been nightmare free since she’d arrived. Maybe I’d just needed to talk about things with someone going through some of the same issues.

Anna continually reminded me that I was human.

I’d definitely evaluated my priorities during this brief stay at the cabin.

And…my priorities had changed.

My top priority right now was protecting Anna for as long as she needed me, and that priority wasn’t going to change until she felt strong enough to go back to her old life again. No matter how long it took for her to get there.

Anna

“Your place is enormous,” I informed Kaleb the next day as we sat in his gigantic kitchen in Crystal Fork. “I almost got lost coming back downstairs. But it’s beautiful here. I understand why you never want to leave.”

The plows had cleared the main roads near the cabin early this morning, and the caretaker had plowed the ridiculously long driveway. Soon after the snow had been cleared, he’d arranged to have my rental car returned, and his helicopter had arrived to take us to Crystal Fork.

The man had a private helicopter, a private jet, and he and his brothers had built their own private airport close to their properties to handle their arrivals and departures.

I’d discovered that when Kaleb Remington wanted something, he got it almost instantly.

I’d understood that he was rich and powerful, but seeing that wealth and power in action was a little overwhelming.

When he gave a command…things just magically happened without question.

Helicopters arrived.

Rental cars got returned.

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