The Billionaire's Club: Secret Billionaire’s Club Book Six Read online

  The Billionaire's Club

  Secret Billionaire’s Club Book Six

  Tracey Pedersen

  Daring Online Adventures

  The Billionaire’s Club

  Copyright © 2019 Tracey Pedersen

  All Rights Reserved

  * * *

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying, scanning or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the author. This includes transmission by email.

  Reviewers are permitted to quote brief passages for the purpose of reviewing only.

  The Billionaire’s Club is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locations is purely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized by, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  The entire Secret Billionaire’s Club series is dedicated to my fellow authors. Who knew such a fun, supportive community existed in an industry many consider to be ultra-competitive? For all the romance authors who gave guidance, shared their publishing secrets, let me into their Facebook groups, and laughed at my crappy jokes, these books are for you. To remind you that we really can go further together.

  Contents

  Chapter One - Cole

  Chapter Two - Melody

  Chapter Three - Mindy

  Chapter Four - Mindy

  Chapter Five - Mindy

  Chapter Six - Merek

  Chapter Seven - Merek

  Chapter Eight - Merek/Mindy

  Chapter Nine - Merek

  Chapter Ten - Merek

  Chapter Eleven - Merek

  Chapter Twelve - Mindy/Merek

  Chapter Thirteen - Merek/Mindy

  Chapter Fourteen - Merek/Mindy

  Chapter Fifteen - Mindy

  Chapter Sixteen - Mindy

  Chapter Seventeen - Merek/Mindy

  The Billionaire’s Scare

  The Steamy Sensations Books

  Also by Tracey Pedersen

  About the Author

  Before you go…

  Chapter One - Cole

  “Is he awake?” My eyes jump from face to face, hoping for the answer I’ve flown eight thousand miles to hear.

  “Nope.” Wyatt and Kent answer together, ruining the anticipation.

  “Damn. Where’s Susan?”

  Sayer points toward double doors at the end of the corridor. “She’s with him. They said she could go in because she’s family, but they won’t let us in unless he wakes up. Maybe not even then.”

  “Wouldn’t it be typical if he woke up today?” Danny sits off to the side, Tina clutching his hand. “Right when the great messiah, Cole Grant shows up.” His words could be bitter, but, as usual with Danny, he’s joking, his wide smile leaving no doubt.

  I flop down in a chair, then remember I’m not alone. “Everyone, this is Melody. Melody, everyone. I’m sorry, I’m too tired for introductions.” I lean back and close my eyes. “I had no idea you were all here.” I sense Melody sit beside me, and she reaches over and wraps her hand around mine. It’s exactly what I need.

  “Where else would we be?” Everett asks. “Cross is here. He and Jessa went to get us coffees.”

  “They managed to get an earlier flight. How about Sam?” I drag my eyes open and stare at Everett, just a tiny bit jealous of the shoulder rub he’s receiving from Jillian. “He around?”

  “Yep. He parked his car in a two-hour zone, so he’s moving it and he’ll be straight back. A few of us have been here ever since we heard.”

  “And his girlfriend?” It’s not lost on me that Becky is nowhere to be seen. “Did they let her in?”

  “They didn’t and she’s butt hurt about it. Susan specifically asked them to keep her out. No doubt you’ll hear about that soon. Becky muttered something about a phone call, and we haven’t seen her since.”

  “Hmm.” I scratch my neck, needing a shower after the long flight and the mad dash to the hospital. “She seemed more interested in who I was than in how Merek was doing. Where’d they meet?”

  “We have no idea. Danny is the only one Merek even mentioned her to and that was by accident. You should have been here when Susan met her for the first time.” Everett’s eyebrows are in his hair. “She crooked a finger and told Becky she wasn’t long for Merek’s world. Becky was not happy.” He laughs, and I do wish I’d been here to see that. Susan can be a formidable opponent at any time—I can only imagine how she was when confronted by a girlfriend she didn’t know existed. Everett continues, “It was just like that time she caught Merek and me smoking in the pool house over Christmas break. I’ll never forget her finger pointing, while I panicked and considered eating the cigarette just to hide it. She terrified me back then and not much has changed.”

  Cross and Jessa wander through the double doors carrying two trays of disposable coffee cups, Sam right behind them. “Hey Cole. Hey Melody. Long time, no see. Sorry, we didn’t get you a coffee.”

  “It’s fi—” I don’t get to finish my sentence because Susan appears behind them.

  “He’s awake.” Her voice is strained, her face pale. I haul myself out of my seat and put my arms around her. She gives me a quick hug but pulls away. “I’m okay, Cole, but he’s asking for all of you.”

  A shrill voice corrects her. “Not all of you.” The ward nurse has stern features, her mouth set in a tight, thin line as she glares at our entire group from a nurse’s station in the corner. “A few of you at a time.”

  “How about you boys go, and us girls will wait out here?” Jillian suggests. The other women nod, and our group moves toward the door.

  Our reduced numbers don’t make the nurse any happier, judging by her scowl, but she says nothing, and we set off to locate Merek’s room. We find it tucked into a corner, Merek sitting up requesting a bucket of water.

  “How about we start with a jug?” The nurse laughs as she pushes past us, then sticks her head back into the room. “There’s a lot of you. Please don’t stay too long this first visit.”

  “Jesus, man. What happened? That’s two of us in the hospital this year.”

  “The details are a bit hazy, but apparently a concrete slab fell on me. This is the result.” Merek waves his left arm, showing off his plaster. He wiggles a finger in the direction of his left leg and we all turn our heads to the end of the bed. The sheet only covers one leg and we can clearly see he’s plastered from ankle to thigh.

  “Pissing must be fun,” Danny says, and we all laugh.

  Merek presses himself into his pillows with a short grunt. “Thanks for reminding me. You have no freaking idea. I have a couple of broken ribs, and I broke these three fingers.” He holds up his right hand. “Who ever heard of broken fingers?”

  “Better than a broken neck,” I remind him, staring at the bandage on his cheek. “And your face?”

  “They say there’s a risk of infection because the cut is deep.”

  “We’ll have our very own Frankenstein,” Sam laughs, and Wyatt smacks him with the back of his hand. “Sorry. If that was me he’d be giving me shit, though.” Sam pats Merek on his good leg and the patient sighs.

  “Forget my various broken bits. While Mum isn’t here, I
need one of you to get me some information about the accident. She’s keeping the details to herself. Says I have to concentrate on my recovery.”

  “Which is excellent advice,” I say.

  “It is, Cole.” Everett nods. “We shall ignore it, though, just like we always do. What do you need, Merek?”

  “Someone needs to contact my foreman. I want to know if anyone else is injured and if they’ve shut the site down.”

  Cross leans against the bed. “A Workcover investigation could shut your site for months. That’ll cost a bomb.”

  “I don’t care what it costs and if you talk to him and it’s not shut down, get him to do it.” Merek shifts and groans. “I don’t want anyone else to go through this. Or worse. Can you do it, Cross? Get the number from my phone. His name is Mal Christy.”

  Cross shakes his head. “Your mum says Becky has your phone.”

  “She does,” I confirm. “I face-timed her yesterday trying to wish you a happy birthday. Hang on. Was it yesterday? Or the day before?” I run my hand over my face and frown at the bed. “I don’t even know what day it is. Anyway, she told me you were in hospital from your phone.”

  Merek closes his eyes. “Damn,” he mutters under his breath.

  Danny clears his throat and looks around the group. “What a bitch for this to happen on his birthday, huh? No dancing on tables for you this year.” He chuckles and Sam laughs.

  “Nurse Becky will make it all better for you. I’m sure we could convince her.” Kent frowns at Sam’s comment, but Sam laughs again. “Come on you guys. Merek is alive. He’s got all his fingers and toes.” Sam glances down. “Well, kinda. Anyway, he’s going to make a full recovery and have a scar on his cheek to help him pick up more women. We should be cheering him up, not standing here all mopey.”

  “I’m not moping,” I say. “I’m waiting to hear the Becky love story. Merek?” We all stare at him and he finally opens his eyes.

  “You don’t need to look at me like that. I didn’t keep anything from you. We had one date and she’s been hanging around ever since.”

  Danny frowns. “Last week you told me you were a thing.”

  “Yeah, a thing so you’d think I did my part to win the bet. Not a permanent thing, or even a good thing. She’s too high profile on all the socials and we didn’t really click, despite her best efforts. She’s a little young for me. But she messaged me yesterday morning and said she’d meet me for lunch. I hadn’t had a chance to cancel and completely finish it with her, then this happened. Somehow, she ended up with my phone. I’m yet to work out how.”

  Danny rolls his eyes. “The idea was to have a date on Labor Day weekend, not to make sure you were taken before then.”

  “What can I say? I like to beat all construction deadlines.”

  “Can we make Becky and Susan jokes, or is it too soon?” Sam interrupts again. For some reason he’s dealing with this situation by being an insensitive ass.

  The patient glares at him. “Way too soon.”

  “So, when do you get out?” Wyatt hasn’t said much until now. He’s been staring at Merek’s leg this whole time.

  Merek shakes his head and flops against his pillows with a grimace. “They’re saying as early as tomorrow, which is insane. What do you have to do to get a long stay in hospital these days?”

  “Maybe have a baby? Though I hear even the ladies are sent off early for home detention.” Danny laughs at his own joke.

  “Home detention. That’s exactly what it will be like. Mum’s insisting on a live-in nurse to be there to wipe my bum and the hospital is backing her up. I’d just rather stay here until I get the hang of this leg. I can’t even breathe without it hurting. How can I go home?”

  “Umm, Merek.” Kent holds up his phone. “Your non-girlfriend is posting on your Facebook page.”

  “What?”

  “It says,” he snickers to himself. “You’re in a relationship.”

  I can’t help but laugh as Merek grimaces. It really is too funny that he’s got himself in this situation. He never did learn to say no to beautiful women.

  Chapter Two - Melody

  “Well, ladies, I hope you don’t mind if I don’t hang around.” Merek’s mother has the most amazing sense of style. She’s dressed in an immaculate pants suit that looks out of place in the sterile environment of a hospital. “I have to find a nurse for Merek. This insane place is talking about sending him home as early as tomorrow.” She holds up a hand and shakes her head, “I can’t even.” Before any of us can speak she sweeps out the door.

  The blonde woman sitting against the wall says, “Wow. She’s like a whirlwind.”

  “I hope I look as fashionable as her when I’m her age,” the cute redhead who was massaging one of the guys says.

  “Umm. You all know I’m Melody, but I didn’t get any of your names.”

  I’m so far from my comfort zone right now. I’ve been in Australia a few hours; I need a shower and I have no idea who anyone is. The cold reality of following a guy I hardly know halfway across the globe is starting to sink in. Panic over the consequences isn’t far away.

  “Oh, sorry,” the redhead says. “I’m Jillian.” She points at the blonde. “This is Tina. Kendra.” Kendra lifts a hand and waves. “And you know Jessa, I hear.” Her tone changes on that last introduction and I frown, as does Jessa.

  “Umm, did I do something I don’t know about?” Jessa jumps straight in and I do my best to act normal as tension fills the air. I am an actress, after all.

  Jillian shrugs. “We’re hearing stories.”

  “About?” Jessa squares her shoulders and stares Jillian down.

  “We heard you were determined to prosecute Cross. After you tore his business apart to find a reason to ruin him.”

  To my surprise, Jessa laughs. “Oh, is that all? You can relax, then. I didn’t find what I thought I would. I was also fired from my job.” She waves her hand as though her words should clear the air and restore peace. Instead Tina and Kendra frown at her.

  Tina speaks next. “Look, we don’t want to jump to conclusions, but we just figured once you’ve been through his interests, the other guys will be next. Everyone knows how the tax office works. You dig and dig until you find something to latch onto.”

  “I’ll ask you the same thing I asked Cross, then. Do any of them have anything to hide?”

  “Of course, they don’t.” Kendra scowls as she answers.

  “Then why are you worried about me? Like I said, I don’t even work there anymore.”

  “Investigations don’t go away just because there are staff changes.”

  It’s Jessa’s turn to frown. “Let me get this straight. You’re holding a grudge against me, who you’ve never met until today, because someone I used to work with might start an investigation into your boyfriends? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”

  “Nope. You’ve been a major distraction. Cross had things to attend to but instead he stayed in Vegas. With you.” Tina shrugs and glances at Jillian, as though seeking backup.

  “Yes, with me. Because we like each other. We clicked. It was an accident, trust me. I hadn’t even thought about him like that until after they fired me. Once I didn’t have a job to do, I let my eyes be opened to all the potential that was Cross. You should have seen him the day he handed medals over to the family he went to visit. We had an amazing day and he really let me see the real him.”

  “That’s nice.” Kendra’s tone clearly says she thinks Jessa’s story is anything but nice.

  Jessa stands and swings to face the three women. “It was nice. It helps that he also let me see his company records not long after, so I got to see the real him on paper. I’m not sure I could have gotten past it if I’d found something. Job or no job, I can’t respect someone who’s dishonest. I hope we can be friends. I hope you’ll give me a chance since I’ve been encouraging him to come home. Cross seems really close with the others, so I’d guess we’ll see a bit of each other.”
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br />   Jillian sighs and leans her head against the wall. “I think you’re right. We were supposed to go to Merek’s for a party for his birthday but since he had the accident, no one is sure. A party is not fun when you’re stuck in bed.”

  “Yeah, but it sucks to miss it when he might be down about the accident. Maybe we should have it anyway.” Tina watches Jillian as she speaks. “You’re a nurse, Jillian. Do you think he should go home so soon? Is that normal?”

  “Well, it’s a good sign. It means his injuries aren’t that serious and they mustn’t be worried about a head injury.”

  Jessa sits beside me and gives me a relieved smile. I squeeze her hand and wonder how she’ll win these women over. I’m self-conscious, worried about them grilling me about how I came to be on this trip with Cole. How will I explain that I invited myself? They’re a protective bunch from what I’ve seen—what’s to stop them turning on me next?

  I don’t have long to wait to find out.

  “So, Melody, are you an actor? Is that how you met Cole?”

  “Yes. We’re filming a movie together. That’s how I met Jessa. We were in Vegas for the first week on set.”

  “Is there a break in filming?” Tina asks.

  I blush and shake my head. “No. Cole just told them he was leaving because his friend was hurt. They shut down everything and Cole wasn’t going to be there for the party, so I tagged along.”

  “The party?”

  “I’m not sure if you’ve heard of the Fourth of July ball that Chase Magazine host. Cole had an invite and he asked me to be his date.” I glance at my watch and do a quick calculation. “We are missing it right about now.” I sigh. As soon as I can get on the internet I want to look for some pictures.