Page 18 of The Bride's Billionaire

“Okay then we’re even.”

They rounded the pedestal to catch up with the others.

Kayla hurried to stand beside them. “Thank you for sharing this with me, with us. I’ve always wanted to see it.”

Tyler watched her, watched Mr. de Santos defer to her, studied Rogerio’s reactions to her. She was a stunning woman, even without any sleep.

Perhaps winning this bid wouldn’t be as easy as he had assumed.

Chapter 7

Back in the car, going down the mountain through the beautiful trees, Kayla was overwhelmed. Too many emotions ran through her, too many thoughts. “I loved the view.”

Tyler nodded. “I as well. Some of Brazil’s finest views can be had up there.”

She watched him. He would be hard to beat. He was charming, and she knew all about his bottling company. They were ruthless, huge, and smart. They swallowed up competitors instead of letting them win. They out-bid, out-spent, and saved their clients’ money.

But she cared about Brazil’s infrastructure. She cared about potential fallout. Her company could appeal in other ways, she was sure of it.

Her mind still swirling, she scrolled through the images she took on her phone. “We were so blessed to get a clear day.” She held up one of her photos. “Just look at this.”

They took it from her and seemed pleased that she cared. She really did care. She loved Brazil and its crisp blue water, the rocks that seemed to rise up out of the ocean in the bay, the greenery on the hills around them. The houses upon houses everywhere she looked. The pulse, the heart of Brazil. She loved it all.

“You have an appreciation for our country.” Rogerio smiled.

“I do. I think your country is beautiful and your people some of the best in the world.”

Mr. de Santos’s eyes lit, and Rogerio nodded, pleased. She loved to be able to help warm their hearts and be completely sincere while doing so. Her gaze travelled to Tyler, as she knew it would whenever they were together. He crossed his arms, and his devilish eyebrow wiggled just a little. Did he doubt her?

She tipped her head and looked away. She had nothing to prove to him. No matter how much fun they’d had or what kind of connection she had experienced with him, this pitch mattered. She couldn’t give it up even if she wanted to; it was out of her hands.

The limo pulled up in front of her hotel. She was surprised when everyone exited. Rogerio reached for her hand. “I know we are doing things differently than you expected?”

“True. I had a wonderful day.” She smiled.

“Tomorrow we will see Sugarloaf before our other meetings?”

“I would love that.” But her heart iced over, and her throat threatened to close up. She had seen the cable car travel precariously from one hill to the next, dangling on what could only be called sketchy cables across a huge expanse of homes and then out over the bay. Heights. Her other fear. She hadn’t dared mention it to Tyler because she found it impossible to face. “What time should I come in?”

Tyler stood beside her.

“We’ll come by the hotel and pick you both up here. Ten A.M?”

“Us both?” She turned to Tyler.

“I’m staying here as well.”

Her mouth dropped open. He had come to the same hotel last night?

His eyes lit with amusement but glanced away. “I’ll look forward to it as well.”

They shook hands with the men from Antar and watched the limo pull away. As soon as it was out of sight, Kayla groaned. “I want my bed.”

His chuckle started low, and then he reached for her hand. “So many things I could have said in response to that. But let’s get you inside.”

They made their way through the lobby. “And you were here last night as well?” she asked him.

He nodded. “I was.”

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