Page 4 of Billionaire's Surprise

“Whatever you say,” Luke acquiesced, still sounding as he he might sneak me into the psych ward. He wasn’t wrong, though.This was out of character for me, but he’d understand when he met his woman, just like all the stories we’d been told about our older relatives. One look and…lightning.

“Okay, the ship departs tonight at three p.m.,” he sighed. “The jet’s ready, so you should probably get going, so you can get to JFK. You know Midtown traffic will be a bitch.”

I opened my credenza drawer and pulled out the engagement ring I’d purchased the day after that night atBradford’s. Slipping it into my pocket, I grabbed my briefcase and stepped around the desk.

“My bags are on the plane?” I asked. My brother rolled his eyes, probably annoyed I’d ask him and not my assistant.

Luke stood, rather than giving me shit, and intercepted me on the way to the door. He straightened my tie while he shook his head. “Yes, everything is set, your staff took care of it hours ago. Though I still have no clue why you had the crew contact me, instead of you.”

“I was in a last minute meeting with Brothers Construction about the solar installation for the Grammer and Brixton condos.”

He shook his head. ”You’re a crazy person. We have people for that.”

“I’m in love, man,” I replied, rather than address my perceived insanity. My gaze pleaded with him to empathize with my plight. “You’ll understand it someday. When you meet yourone, you just know. Emerson is it for me. I knew it in a moment.”

“Well, I hope you can convince her of that,” Luke said.

“Christmas miracles happen, Luke,” I told him. “I’ll call you from the ship to check in on things.” I wasn’t exactly running off to woo my woman at an optimal time, but in our business anoptimal timedidn’t exist.

“Yeah, yeah. That’s the least of what you need to worry about.” He slapped me on the back. “I’ve got things covered. Go get her, champ.”

* * * *

I made it to the ship with plenty of time to spare, which was both good and bad. I definitely didn’t want Emerson to see me until we were already out to sea. Not that I was worried she’d be unhappy about my arrival. But I figured it would be more romantic to have the ocean on all sides while we enjoyed champagne on the balcony and celebrated our good fortune to be reunited.

At least, that was the story I was sticking to. In all honesty, part of me was nervous she’d be angry I’d foisted this surprise on her. For that the reason, I’d insisted on dual beds in the room. I wasn’t interested in forcing her into bed with me, to sleep or for any other reason. That wasn’t how I operated.

I’d earn her trust first. Which could be tricky. I’d been a little hasty in the details of the trip, so the subterfuge might work against me at first. But I was convinced the ends justified the means in this case. She’d see reason once she realized she was in love with me, too.

My future on my mind, I killed time at one of the bars, nursing a scotch to calm my nerves. Once the noise level from the on-deckbon voyage party subsided and people started wandering inside again, I figured it was my chance to reveal my presence and my plan to Emerson.

My bags had already been taken to the room, so if Emerson had done any exploring, it was possible she was already aware something was amiss. My heart pounded as I made my way toward the door to our cabin. I couldn’t hear anything on the other side, so I steeled myself, pressed the keycard to the reader, and when the lock disengaged, I pushed open the door.

Emerson stood in front of the flowers I’d sent. The Christmas tree was behind her, positioned right in front of the wall of windows facing the ocean. The sight took my breath away. I couldn’t have arranged a more perfect reunion than the scene before me.

“Emerson,” I said, meeting her stunned gaze.

“Fraser?” Her chest heaved as she visibly struggled to catch her breath. “What the hell are you doing in my room?”

Three

Emerson

My heart slammed against my chest wall, and I could barely breathe as I stared at Fraser Cassel, the man who’d consumed my thoughts, over and over, for the past three months.

“Our room,” he corrected.

My head tilted, and I probably looked like a confused puppy. “What?”

“Ourroom.”

“I don’t think so. I won this…” I trailed off when he grinned, and things started clicking into place. Just like spotting an error hidden deep in a line of code, I realized the situation wasn’t what I’d been led to believed. “What do you have to do with this?”

He shrugged. “I wanted more time with you, so…I arranged more time with you.”

I glanced at the king-sized bed then looked pointedly at him, a brow lifted. My hand flung out toward the offending item of furniture that had looked so comfy just moments ago. “I’m not sleeping with you.”

Even if I really, really wanted to. I wanted to kiss him and have him follow through on that all too-brief-caress of my cheek. I needed to feel his lips against mine, his weight on me, all those hard muscles—

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