Page 60 of Undercover Billionaire

She passed the rickety jetty that was more fit for scenery than purpose given how badly decayed it was. There were keep out signs posted the length of it and, on the sandy esplanade pathway opposite, a faded sign announced the community fund for jetty repairs.

A very phallic-looking counter graced the sign indicating the level of funds already raised. It was nowhere near the top despite every chook raffle, sausage sizzle or trivia night in Pelican Cove dedicating the proceeds to the jetty fund.

Secretly, Kelsey thought it was beyond repair and needed knocking down and starting again.

It was a twenty-minute walk along the beach and Kelsey enjoyed every minute, staring out to sea as the water foamed around her feet. Drawing level with the beach access sign that led to their cottage, she left the shoreline and headed for the row of Casuarina trees which separated the beach from the land.

Collecting sand on her feet, Kelsey ducked through the low hang of branches to the path, trying to dodge as many of the hard little cones that had fallen to the ground as possible. Those suckers were hell on bare feet.

Relieved when she stepped onto grass, Kelsey headed straight for the hose, which was mounted on the corner of the house that fronted the street. She’d just about removed all the sand from her feet and legs when an achingly familiar English accent with a slight Greek inflection froze her to the spot.

‘Kalimera, Kelsey.’

Her heart in her mouth, she glanced up to find Aristotle Callisthenes,as bold as you please, standing a few metres away, in a T-shirt that hugged his chest and board shorts that hugged his legs, his wavy hair tousling in the breeze.

Kelsey’s knees went a little weak and she was grateful to have the house to lean on as she stared. God… was shehallucinating? Had her constant fevered thoughts finally conjured him up?

‘Ari?’ She felt faint and mildly nauseated. She leaned more heavily and breathed in and out slowly. She wouldnotswoonorvomit at his feet.

He nodded. ‘In the flesh.’

Yes. She could see that. And man, he hadgreatflesh.

‘You’re looking well,’ he said.

Kelsey’s lips twisted. What he meant was, you’re looking well –considering. Considering all that had happened. ‘Well, we commoners don’t have the luxury of wallowing in our misery. We have to pick ourselves up and make a living.’

It was harsh and a little cruel but, right now, she was too flummoxed to check herself. And she didn’towehim anything.

He grunted, his mouth grim. ‘I guess I deserve that.’

Damn straight he did. ‘What are you doing here?’

It was supposed to be a demand but it came out all shaky and breathy, and that really pissed Kelsey off. She needed her anger now. Shereallyneeded it. Because it was patently freaking obvious to her that she’d gone and done the worst thing possible. She’d fallen in love with the man.

Shit. Damn.Fuck.

When he’d been on the other side of the world, it had been easy to fool herself she felt nothing other than some very understandable resentment towards him. But with him here and so close, she could take three steps and touch him. She couldn’t deny what her gut, her soul, herheartalready knew – she was in love with Ari Callisthenes.

Double, triple,quadruplefuck.

‘I live here now.’

Kelsey blinked. Oh dear Lord – this day was just getting wackier.‘What?’ she squeaked. Sheactuallysqueaked. ‘But… what about your job?’

She didn’t know where that had come from considering it was way down on the list ofwhat-the-fuckquestions crowding her mind. Maybe it was just the least fraught?

‘All I need is a laptop and an internet connection.’

He shrugged dismissively as if that was all anyone required in life. ‘I… don’t understand.’ She didn’t understand any of it. Her brain seemed to be broken.

‘Look… I know I screwed things up between us and that you probably don’t trust me, and I don’t blame you. But I’m notthatguy. I’mnotEric. And I want a second chance. I’ve thought about nothing but you in the past few months and I want a chance to make it up to you.’

Oh God. This was all too much. Kelsey was still stuck back at the beginning to unpack the rest. ‘Wait… youlivehere?’

He nodded. ‘At the caravan park.’

Thecaravan park? Aristotle Callisthenes, Greekgazillionaire, wasslumming itin a caravan park? Sure, it was a great little amenity but… it was no villa on Mykonos.

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