Barefoot Bay: The Billionaire's Convenient Secret (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Leigh Duncan Page A

pulled her laptop out of its case. Her fingers flew over the keys in search of ownership and sales records for mom-and-pop stores, facts and figures to back up her ideas. She kept at it for hours until, as the first rays of a new day struck the wide deck outside her villa, she shut down her computer and collapsed into bed.
    In a few hours, Josh would arrive, expecting them to spend the day relaxing on the beach and making love. As much as she wanted to do exactly that, as much as she hated to disappoint him, their plans would have to wait. Because, right now, the only things that mattered were saving the Super Min and protecting Josh’s dreams of the future.

 
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Whistling, Josh made his way down Casa Blanca’s flower-lined path to the Rockrose. Whistling because he couldn’t believe how lucky he’d been to be standing behind the counter when Charlie walked into the Super Min. He’d never clicked with someone like he had with her. Had it really been only two days ago? It felt like he’d known her forever. Like a part of his soul had been searching for hers his entire life. Now that he had her, he didn’t want to ever let her go.
    His footsteps slowed. The tuneless whistle died on his lips. Did he really want to spend the rest of his life with Charlie?
    A shaft of sunlight arrowed down through a gap in the canopy of plants and bathed him in warmth. He nodded. He couldn’t imagine living without her. At some point, he’d fallen hook, line, sinker, rod and reel for the willowy blonde. No doubt about it, he was in love. Yet, the change had snuck up on him. He rubbed his forehead, trying to pinpoint the exact moment when he’d gone from being deeply in lust with a girl he liked to falling undeniably in love with the green-eyed beauty.
    He was pretty sure it hadn’t been while she shared stories from her childhood over lunch yesterday. When she recalled how excited she’d gotten about the hand-me-down outfit she’d worn on her first day of school, his gut had actually twisted. But that had been sympathy, not love. Later, when she admitted she’d been in college before she realized that not everyone shopped at Goodwill, he’d nearly given in to an urge to buy out an entire shopping mall for her. As powerful as that urge had been, however, it hadn’t been love.
    Nor had he fallen for her when they visited the property near the harbor. He’d wanted that piece of land in the worst way. Wedged between the highway and the water, the busy site made an ideal spot for The Grape, but not for a vineyard. Still, he’d considered purchasing the site until he noticed the frown that bunched Charlie’s eyebrows and pursed her delicious lips. It had been refreshing to hear someone disagree with him, refuse to back down until she’d voiced her concerns. Salt blowing off the water would stunt the vines, she’d insisted. And wouldn’t diesel fumes from the boats taint the grapes? She was right, of course, and, from that moment on, he’d looked at her with a new respect for her intelligence and knowledge. But that alone hadn’t been enough to make him fall in love with her.
    Maybe he’d lost heart and soul to her when they kissed.
    He shook his head. As amazing as that experience had been, as responsive as Charlie was to his touch, as much as he ached for her, this wasn’t his first dance. He knew it took more than lust to form the basis for a lifelong commitment.
    So, no. He couldn’t say when he’d fallen for Charlie. But he had. Completely. His heart in his hand, he rapped on the door, eager to get the day started. He wanted to fill the next twenty-four hours with sun and sand. With long talks and room service. With promises that led to a night of passion. He couldn’t wait to confess his love and hear her whisper the same words in return.
    But what if she didn’t?
    He stilled. Silently, he let his hand fall to his side as doubt shook him to his very core. He was so used to having women throw