The Billionaire's Final Stand (2 page)

              “Maybe I should sell this car, though I love it. I don’t want to admit we’re aging, but growing old does have its advantages. I get to be a grandfather, which is better than I ever imagined it being, plus I get to watch my wife grow more beautiful with each passing day. I have too much to be grateful for to risk throwing it away.”

              “Well then, brother, I’m sure glad we’ve gotten one last ride in,” George said with laughter.

              As they approached their exit, Joseph reluctantly slowed down and departed the freeway. The wind from their hundred-mile-an-hour ride decreased as they slowed to thirty and turned a corner. Neither of them was ready for the night to end, but Katherine would be home soon, and they had to get the car parked and hurry inside, or they’d be busted.

              “There was definitely something going on between Austin and Kinsey last year, but nothing came from it. I’ve watched them since then, and there are certainly sparks flying. He’s been chasing her, though trying to be cool about it, and she’s running as if the hounds of hell are nipping at her heels. I’ve also noticed some simmering looks she’s shot his way when she thinks no one is paying attention. I think it’s time to push the two of them together. I know it’s only a matter of time before they can’t resist the temptation.”

              “What do you have in mind?” George eagerly asked.

              “Well-” Joseph began.

              “What the-” George cried out.

              Joseph turned his head in George’s direction, just in time for his heart to jump into his throat as bright lights bore down on them. He didn’t even have time to blink before a full-size truck crashed into the side of their vehicle, sending the car flying through the air.

              Joseph looked at his brother for one endless, terrifying second, time standing still as they floated high above the ground.

              “I’m sorry…” Joseph whispered, not knowing if the words left his throat, let alone registered to George.

              Their car came hurtling to the ground with a sickening crunch. Glass shattered as metal twisted in on itself, making the convertible unrecognizable. The only movement was one wheel as it spun in circles on the mangled wreck of a car.

              For a brief second silence reigned in the busy city of Seattle.

              House lights began flickering on as people rushed from their homes to investigate the noise. Several brave citizens rushed forward to see if there was any hope for the people in the car.

              Neither Joseph, nor George, stirred as sirens broke the eerie silence of the dark night. Still no movement when the ambulance arrived, paramedics struggling through the twisted remains of the vehicle as they attempted to get to the two men. They were shaking their heads as they began mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions. It didn’t look good…

Chapter One

One Year Ago

              “You’re radiant. I’m incredibly grateful for persistent reporting, an especially for snow storms in Alaska because right now I’m the luckiest man in this room,” Max told Cassie as he suddenly dipped her low to the ground, before lifting her back up, bringing her body close to his.

              “You make me tremble,” Cassie sighed, her eyes devouring him.

              “I want to drag you out of here right now,” he growled while his hand drifted down her satin wedding gown and gripped her hip, pulling her tight against him.

              “I’m not stopping you,” she purred, a seductive smile on her face.

              Max’s eyes rounded as her words sunk in and he realized she was giving him permission to haul her away. He stopped dancing and grabbed her hand, prepared to cart her to the nearest room.

              “
You
may not be stopping him, but I am. Do you know how many hours I’ve spent planning the perfect wedding for you? Joseph and I have worked night and day, and there’s no flippin’ way you’re sneaking off,” Kinsey said in a stern voice. The smile she was trying to hide was showing though, taking any bite out of the words.

              “I’ll make it up to you, Kins,” Cassie pleaded with her.

              “No way. Don’t you dare give me those
doe in the headlight
eyes. I’ve known you too many years for that to work. We have a cake to cut, toasts to make, and a bouquet to throw,” Kinsey insisted.

              “Fine, but when you’re trying to sneak off with some hunk of a man, I promise you that I’ll be there to run interference,” Cassie threatened.

              “Don’t worry, I can’t see that happening in the near future. I think I’m safe.”

              “Yeah, you never know…”

              “Hey, trust me. I really want a niece, but you have plenty of baby-making time on your month long honeymoon. I can’t believe how spoiled you are. I
really
can’t believe your job is willing to wait that long for you,” Kinsey pouted.

              “I guess I’m just worth the wait,” Cassie said with a chuckle.

              “You are, Cass. You really are,” Kinsey said, all joking aside.

              “Thanks for making this day perfect, Kins. You know I love you to death,” Cass said, no longer pouting about not getting to run off with her husband.

              “I love you, too. Let’s go cut the cake before you make me cry and ruin this expertly applied makeup,” Kinsey said.

              “Fine, but you owe me. You owe me big time,” Cassie pouted as she followed her best friend.

              The night flew by in a whirl of dancing, laughing, eating, and visiting. The Anderson family certainly knew how to throw a huge event. Yes, Kinsey had spent hours with Joseph planning, but she knew he was really the one in control.

              She’d insisted on certain things for the wedding, those special little touches she knew would matter to Cassie, but for the most part, she’d tried to just stay out of Joseph’s way. The man was a force to be reckoned with. She found it quite funny that the giant of a man liked planning weddings so much. Maybe he’d gone into the wrong business.

              “My feet are killing me. I’m thinking right now I should’ve opted for the flats instead of the three inch heels. I just like to pretend I’m taller than I really am, but that always ends up biting me in the butt,” Kinsey said to another bridesmaid as they stood on the edge of the dance floor.

              “I know what you mean. I refuse to take them off because, well, look at them. They’re stunning, but I won’t be able to walk for a week. It’s worth it though, or at least that’s what I keep telling myself,” Shelby said.

              “How many times have you been hit on tonight?” Kinsey asked with a smile.

              “About seven. I think Cassie picked out the, um, how do I say it nicely? Ah, most revealing dresses she could, for her bridesmaids. I keep double checking to make sure everything’s still covered.”

              “I know. I don’t remember the dresses being this short or low cut when we tried them on. I think she had them modified,” Kinsey said with a laugh.

              “How about you? Any offers to see the historic hotel? Come on, does a pickup line get any cheesier than that?”

              “Oh yes, yes it does. One guy came up and asked me if I was going to be in line to catch the wedding bouquet? I thought he was doing a count or something, so I told him I would. You know Cassie would kill me if I wasn’t there. Worse than that, she’d stop the proceedings and have me paged over the loudspeaker. So then he says,
Is it just me, or are we destined to be married,
as he holds up a garter belt. I don’t know where he got it because Max hasn’t even thrown Kinsey’s yet. I just walked away. Really! What else was I supposed to do?” Kinsey said as she started laughing.

              “Oh my gosh. Okay, you win. That’s freaking fantastic,” Shelby said between fits of laughter.

              They shared more lines they’d received at various weddings through the years. Kinsey didn’t understand how men ever got dates with some of the things they said.

              “Excuse me, but I noticed you looked thirsty,” a man said, interrupting the two women.

              Kinsey looked up, her body vibrating as she recognized Austin Anderson. He was gorgeous, melt-in-your-mouth good looking.

              And he knew it.

              She also knew from Cassie that he liked to date – a lot. There was no way Kinsey was getting involved with a guy like him.

              She shared a knowing look with Shelby before giving him a cool glance.

              “How nice of you, but no thanks,” she said, then turned and walked away. She was grateful she didn’t fall on her face as weak as her knees were feeling.

              She made it across the dance floor in one piece, then quickly downed the first drink handed to her. She had a few hours to go and a bit of liquid courage wouldn’t hurt.

              The rest of the men she’d turned down that night had been quite easy to walk away from. For some reason, Austin Anderson was like a magnet, trying to pull her in.

              Kinsey realized her stomach was growling. She’d been so busy trying to ensure the day was perfect in every single way for Cassie that she’d forgotten to eat.

              She found an empty table, suddenly too tired to visit with strangers, and sat down.

              “How are you doing tonight?” one of the waiters asked as he showed up almost instantly. Kinsey smiled at the young boy, thinking again about how Joseph went over the top.

              She’d been to some spectacular weddings, but none of them compared to her best friend’s.

              “I’m great, thank you.”

              “Go ahead and look at the menu in front of you to make your selection. While you’re doing that, I can get your drink and appetizers,” he offered.

              “That would be wonderful. I’ll have a Manhattan, please.”

              “I’ll be right back.”

              She looked at her choices, smiling at the five-star menu. She knew most of the people attending wouldn’t bother to eat, not when there was an open bar.

              “Here you are,” the waiter said, quickly returning. He placed her drink and a plate with a variety of appetizers, the smells causing her mouth to water. There was no way she was passing up such a delicious meal. She wanted to try something she’d never had before.

              “I’ll have the Shorthorn Beef Carpaccio with crispy fried quail’s egg for my dinner and the caramelized bread pudding with amaretto poached pear, vanilla clotted cream and spiced almonds for desert,” she said after narrowing down her options. She wanted to try a little of it all, just because some of the names were so unique.

              “Very good choices. Is there anything else you’d like to add?”

              Kinsey didn’t want to order items she knew she couldn’t eat, so she shook her head.

              “I’ll have the yellow fin tuna with vierge sauce and vegetables. Also, we’ll have the
Karat Pure Gold Ossetra Caviar
and a plate of oysters on the half shell to share,” Austin said as he took the seat next to her.

              Kinsey looked at him, at a loss for words. She knew he was overconfident, but she hadn’t expected him to be rude. She hadn’t invited him to sit.

              “Great choices, Mr. Anderson,” the young waiter said, his face beaming to be serving one of the family members.
Geese
, Kinsey thought, people acted like the Anderson’s were royalty.

              “Thanks, Tommy. Are you enjoying yourself tonight?” Austin asked, surprising Kinsey. He knows the kid?

              “Yes, Mr. Anderson. I really appreciate the job. The guests have all been so nice,” he quickly responded.

              “That’s good. How are your studies?”

              “Great. I got an A on my science project because of you,” he answered. Kinsey looked back and forth between them. The kid obviously idolized Austin, but she couldn’t figure out the connection.

              “You did it all on your own, Tommy. Be proud of that. Once you understood the basic concept, there was no holding you back.”

              “Yeah, I guess. I better go turn this in. I don’t want to make you wait,” he said before turning.

              “Oh, Tommy, can you also bring out the bottle of 1978 Montrachet white wine?”

              “No problem, Mr. Anderson,” he said before practically running inside the food area.

              “What was that all about?” Kinsey asked, momentarily distracted from her irritation of him joining her without permission.

              “What?” Austin asked, looking perplexed.

              “Ah, the whole science thing?”

              “Oh, that’s nothing,” Austin said, brushing it off.

              “Considering you joined my table without asking, it’s my right to have you either provide a decent conversation, or remove yourself,” Kinsey said, looking him in the eye.

              She was surprised when he laughed, a deep-in-your-gut-make-your-stomach-hurt laugh. When he finally came up for air, Tommy was back and silently setting his requested appetizers on the table, along with the bottle of wine.