Page 20 of Undercover Billionaire

The mini-golf centerencompassed a charming one-story red brick building overlooking an eighteen-course grass field, flanked by flowers of magenta, lilac and yellow, along with miniature windmills, wooden bridges and copper statues of children at play. A tiny river flowed through the lush course, providing a delightful burbling backdrop. A brass sign stated it was owned by a fourth-generation local family, and judging by the number of cars, the center served as a hub of activity.

Kaitlyn gave Cameron a soft smile as he navigated the winding road leading to the parking lot. If only he could read the thoughts behind that beautiful sea-hued gaze. He’d pay all the profit from his last two settlements for just a peek of what churned there. Maybe then he’d be able to figure out why he couldn’t get her out of his mind.

Was it because she was a challenge, not falling over him like the women he normally dated? Or was it because she wasn’t judging him by the amount of money in his bank account? Was it because she saw the real him and not the façade he showed the world? If only it could be that simple, but a deeper connection loomed, something substantial, something elemental. She was just… different.

Normally women gushed at his gifts, but not Kaitlyn. He’d been forced to take her money in the store only to slip it back in her purse when she wasn’t looking. And the funny thing was, she was the first person he wanted to shower with gifts in a long time.

Cameron inhaled the scent of gardenias and sunshine. Did she realize how much she affected him, or how deeply she invaded his senses? He tried to convince himself it was simple lust, yet it was a hopeless endeavor. Inexplicable feelings lurked, something he couldn't control, something he couldn't escape.

He was no longer certain he wanted to.

He pulled into a large parking lot, heralded by colorful flags and whimsical windmills. He tried to focus on the brightly painted buildings, to divert his thoughts from Kaitlyn. As usual, it didn't work.

"Have you ever played mini-golf, Mr. Alexander?"

"It’s Mr. Alexander now?" He gave his most charming smile at Kaitlyn’s teasing drawl. She returned it with her own. "Not since I was very, very young, Miss Owens."

“It’s great fun. We’ll actually have to play for real sometime." She winked.

“Absolutely,” he returned in good humor, yet almost immediately he sobered, amidst unexpected dissatisfaction. They were unlikely to get the chance to experience this or any of their other dates for real.

He straightened. He had not gotten this far in life by simply accepting matters. If he wanted more time with her, he would make it. More than a week, more than a month, more than… forever.

Could he seriously be thinking in terms of something long-term with a woman he’d just met?

Yes, he was.

"Your Majesty."

“I’m sorry?” Cameron snapped his attention back to the delightful woman beside him. “What did you call me?”

“Not you.” Her eyes sparkled with a dash of bemusement and a heaping of mischief. “We should have pet names for each other. I was suggesting what you could call me.”

He bit back a laugh, but kept his face stern. "Oh, can I now?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "You would let me do that? I feel…"

"Honored?" she supplied.

"No…"

"Lucky?"

"I don’t think that’s it either."

"Wait, I got it. Forever thankful. That’s how you’re feeling."

He laughed. "You figured it out. I am deeply in your debt. How can I ever repay you?"

"Now you’re getting a little corny." She skipped over a rock. "How about we just use first names?"

"You’re the boss." And in a move that seemed perfectly natural, he looped his arm through hers, grateful when she did nothing to separate them. It was… perfect.

They entered the front gate together, strolling in contented silence. A charming and homemade operation, the center sported none of the mechanical wonders of the professional million-dollar complexes, yet it held a quaint magic that somehow transcended its big city siblings. No obnoxious plastic recreations cluttered the green, no neon signs bathed the world in artificial color and even the brook that babbled through the center of the course was natural. The center was built around it, not vice versa. It was… magical.

"This is nice." He pivoted all around. "As you probably guessed, I'm not accustomed to small towns, but I can see why people fall in love with them."

Her cheeks beamed rosy with satisfaction. "They’re great. Where do you usually spend your time?"

How to explain operating a billion-dollar business, traveling the world and running an international charity organization, especially when she believed he was an actor-for-hire? "I spend most of my time in big cities. That’s usually where the job brings me." He pointed towards the line leading to the front. "Let’s get some clubs and start building our album."

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