His Secret Request: Billionaire Secrets - Book Three by Drew Sinclair Page B

Mayweather."
    "Just threw away."
    "Just threw away."
    "The opportunity of a lifetime."
    Her breathing was harsh and rapid as she listened to his words. She was hurt, badly and unprepared to give an inch to man who had rocked her world in more ways than she knew how to understand.
    "The opportunity of a lifetime." She finished his words with a spiteful stare and then waited. "Is that it?"
    He nodded. "You're free to go. I'll pilot you back to New York and then Candy will see that you get back to Oregon by the shortest route possible. The full resources of Mayweather Services are at your disposal."
    "I'll take a taxi. I don’t need you to fly me."
    He nodded again. "I'll have a car take you."
     
    That had all happened some fourteen hours ago and in the intervening time she had been driven to an airstrip in Long Island and then flown all the way back to Portland by private jet. A car had been waiting there to take her home but she had refused it and rented her own car instead. She didn’t want to risk any Mayweather surveillance technology landing up in her home.
    She was out on her feet from the intensity of the previous four days, the jetlag back and forth across the continent and the long, long journey of the last fourteen hours, but she couldn't wait to see Redmond. He was, after all, her closest friend and the only male currently in her life that she could trust.
    No head games, no lies and secrets and most of, no crazy sexual tension.
    Her neighbor opened his front door and for a second he hardly recognized the woman in front of him, but then he raised the hand he was holding a sports drink in as recognition flashed through his head. He was dressed down in training gear having just been out for a run on the beach and looked incredibly handsome in a way totally different to Ruben Mayweather; relaxed, normal, easygoing.
    Everything the Earl of Quicksand isn’t. She thought.
    "Hey Redmond buddy, guess who came back? It's Suzy Tuesday."
    Redmond came skittering out across the living room to the door, covered in sand, leaving big messy paw prints everywhere and then leaped up against her, licking her face.
    "Oh my God, oh my God boy, it's so good to see you."
    She tried to hug him and calm him down but it was no use, he was far too excited. No-one, but no-one could be as happy to see her as her trusty old mutt Redmond. She tried hard but before she knew it tears were beginning to stream down her face.
    Suddenly sexy beach-jogging-heart-of-gold-neighbor guy became serious.
    "Hey Suzy Tuesday, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
    She looked up through her tears and saw the guys big brown eyes staring at her, so expressive, so full of concern, so unlike Ruben fucking Mayweather.
    "I... I…" She looked around and the room seemed to be spinning. "I'm sorry." She said, "I'm just very tired." She felt her legs begin to go but her neighbor was there, one sure tanned and muscular arm gathering her up.
    "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold it there. Come on Red, back up and let your mommy come through, she needs to sit down."
    "No really, it’s okay."
    "Ah, ah. No way. You’re not passing out on my porch and make me have to lift you up and carry you inside. Sit down right here and I'll get you something. I just made some herbal tea, I'll get you some."
    He led her to the couch and then settled her down carefully before disappearing into the kitchen.
    This was going to be a good day after all. He had noticed Suzy out jogging on the beach for weeks but she had never acknowledged him, always wrapped up in her own world with her headphones on. Then when she had dropped off the dog a few days ago he hadn't thought twice. Put up with the mutt for a few days and the deal would be done.
    Now he had tears and herbal tea on his living room couch? This was a sure thing.
    He returned to the living area with two cups, making an effort to stop himself from smiling but when he saw the empty couch his face dropped.
    The couch was empty. Sexy Suzy Tuesday and her dog