A Date With A Billionaire

Beth asked. “Everyone has been speculating about this romantic date I’m going to have with you, when all along I know it isn’t the least bit romantic.”

Kane threw back his head and laughed. “You really are innocent, aren’t you?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Most people are strangers until they get to know each other…which is usually through dating.”

An embarrassed warmth crept up Beth’s neck. “You know what I mean.”

“Do I?”

He was being difficult, which should have annoyed her. Unfortunately, she was much too aware of Kane at the moment to be annoyed.

“I mean a date between two people who have never met and have no basis for attraction,” she said.

“Ah.” Kane leaned close until his arm touched hers, sending a startling warmth through her. “There’s no basis for attraction, then. Between us?”

Dear Reader,

With summer nearly here, it’s time to stock up on essentials such as sunblock, sandles and plenty of Silhouette Romance novels! Here’s our checklist of page-turners to keep your days sizzling!

Be sure to come back next month for our list of great summer stories.

Happy reading!

Mary-Theresa Hussey

Senior Editor

A Date with a Billionaire

Julianna Morris

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To my nieces and nephews.

JULIANNA MORRIS

has an offbeat sense of humor, which frequently gets her into trouble. She is often accused of being curious about everything…her interests ranging from oceanography and photography to traveling, antiquing, walking on the beach and reading science fiction.

Julianna loves cats of all shapes and sizes, and last year she was adopted by a feline companion named Merlin. Like his namesake, Merlin is an alchemist—she says he can transform the house into a disaster area in nothing flat. And since he shares the premises with a writer, it’s interesting to note that he’s particularly fond of knocking books on the floor.

Julianna happily reports meeting Mr. Right. Together they are working on a new dream of building a shoreline home in the Great Lakes area.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Dear Reader

Title Page

Dedication

About the Author

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

Copyright

Prologue

“You’ve just won a date with a billionaire, Miss Cox,” said the cheery voice on the phone.

Beth blinked and took a long look at the receiver, before putting it back to her ear. “Excuse me?”

“We’re KLMS, the radio station for Your Country Music. And you’ve just won a weekend in romantic Victoria, British Columbia, with Kane O’Rourke, Seattle’s most eligible bachelor!”

Stunned, Beth started to sit on a chair, missed it entirely and landed on the floor. “Ouch,” she yelped.

“Are you all right, Miss Cox?”

“I just fell…on the floor.”

A cheerful chuckle came over the line. “Hear that, folks? We should have told our prize winner to sit down first. Can you believe you just won, Miss Cox?”

“No. I…no.”

“She’s speechless, folks. Well, practically.” The man chuckled again, apparently thinking he’d cracked a great joke.

“Uh, am I on the air?” Beth asked cautiously.

“Yes, ma’am. We just drew your name from the prize barrel.”

Beth wasn’t certain luck had anything to do with it, and she was even more certain she’d never entered the contest. She knew about it, of course. Half the town worked for Kane O’Rourke; he was one of Crockett, Washington’s most prominent employers. And he was sinfully attractive. The contest was the only thing people had talked about since it was announced on the radio station.

“Do you have anything to say to our audience, Miss Cox? We’re waiting to hear how you feel about your exciting prize.”

“I think I’m…” She peered through her open door and saw her neighbor run up the walkway, waving a radio in the air.

“Oh, my God, you won,” Carol shrieked as she darted inside the house. She snatched the receiver from Beth. “Hello? I’m Carol Hoit, one of Beth’s best friends.”

While Carol chattered away, Beth tried to sort things out in her head. Carol must have entered her in the contest. Two weeks before her neighbor had bemoaned the fact she couldn’t qualify—being married—and had urged Beth to enter herself.

Lord…Beth rubbed her throbbing temples. She didn’t want to go out with anyone. She’d lost her fiancé in an accident several years before, and if her heart wasn’t exactly buried with him, there was still an empty ache in her chest.

Ignoring the thrilled chatter of her friend, Beth grabbed an old newspaper that had advertised the contest. Kane O’Rourke’s handsome features and level eyes gazed back from a publicity photo. Irish eyes, she thought idly, direct and accustomed to getting what he wanted.

The whole town would think she was crazy, but there was no way she was going on her “prize” date.

Chapter One

Local Woman Says “No” To Date With Billionaire.

Kane O’Rourke stared at the bold newspaper headline with something close to horror.

“I’m going to kill him,” he growled.

“Kill who?” asked his public relations manager as she walked into his office.

“Your brother.”

“He’s your brother, too,” Shannon said flippantly. “But which one, and what has he done to annoy you…this week?”

Kane glared. “Patrick. He conned me into that damned contest for his radio station. I didn’t want to do it, I told him I didn’t, now look at this.” He thrust the paper at Shannon.

His sister lifted an eyebrow. “You’re the one who said ‘anything you want’ when he asked for a favor. When you found out what he wanted you should have just said no. But instead, you still think we’re children you have to manage.”

“That isn’t it at all, but I know the station isn’t doing well,” Kane said, exasperated. “So when Patrick asked me to…oh, forget it.” His family was always accusing him of playing daddy and interfering with their lives, but he was the oldest and he was only taking care of them. “Just read the article.”

She looked down at the paper. “You’ve been turned down? She seemed more amused than offended, and he glared again.

“Not funny. Do you realize how embarrassing this is for both me and Patrick’s station?”

“You could propose to the lady, maybe that would make her reconsider.”

His eyes narrowed. “That isn’t funny. I’m not getting married, period—I’ve got enough problems. And you aren’t helping. Brat,” he added.

Her lips still twitching, Shannon tossed the newspaper back at him. “Go talk to her. She looks nice enough. Maybe she just got engaged or something and the newspaper thought it was a better story this way.”

Kane glanced down at the picture of Bethany Cox. He couldn’t tell much from the grainy photograph, but she didn’t look like a kook or fanatic, and she had a sweet expression. From what the article said, she appeared to be the kind of woman who could understand how important this was for his brother. Patrick had made some mistakes in the past, and now he had a real chance for success…a success he wanted to earn for himself without the help of someone else’s money.

“I’d probably blow it,” Kane muttered. “You should go.”

Shannon laughed and shook her head. “In the first place, you’re the one who always thinks he can fix everything, so fix this. And in the second place, any woman worth her salt would be furious if you sent a flunky, instead of coming yourself.”

“You’re not a flunky, you’re my sister.”

“Same thing in a case like this.” After a moment Shannon leaned forward, her face growing more serious. “Kane, be careful. You’re right about it being a public relations problem for the radio station. If she’s getting married, I can use it to our advantage. If not, you better talk her into going. Be charming. What single woman would turn down a date with a charming billionaire bachelor?”

Kane folded the newspaper into his briefcase. The picture of Bethany Cox gazed up at him and he grinned ruefully. “I don’t know, but I think I’m going to find out.”

Beth dug her hand trowel into the soil of her flower bed, her free hand tugging at a particularly stubborn weed. Not a weed, she thought silently. A lovely wild buttercup, which just happened to be in a place she didn’t want it.

A car pulled up to the curb, but she wasn’t expecting anyone, so she kept pulling at the pervasive plant.

“Miss Cox?”

The roots gave way abruptly, peppering Beth with dirt. Brushing it away from her T-shirt and shorts, she turned her head and saw a pair of legs wearing an expensive pair of suit trousers. She looked higher and her eyes widened.

Kane O’Rourke.

She’d seen him from a distance, of course. On podiums, giving speeches, accepting awards, that kind of thing. But never this close.

“Uh…yes?”

Kane extended his hand. “How do you do? I’m Kane O’Rourke, and we’re supposed to go on a date together.”

Date?

Together?

Beth blinked. Hadn’t he seen the headlines? She hadn’t meant it to be such a big deal, but a reporter from the local newspaper had blown everything out of proportion. Honestly, what was so earth-shattering about turning down a date?

“Miss Cox?” He was still holding out his arm and Beth groaned silently. Her fingers were grimy from working in the garden, she couldn’t possibly shake hands like a normal human being.

“Sorry, you don’t want to touch me, I’m a mess.” She wiggled her fingers in the air and started to get up.

“That’s all right.” Without warning he caught her hand in a firm grip. “Let me help.”

He was strong. She had barely enough time to gather her legs under her before being swept upward, and Beth caught her breath as she found herself eye level with Kane O’Rourke’s chin. At nearly five foot eight inches she was accustomed to being close in height to most men, but O’Rourke obviously wasn’t most men.

She tipped her head backward again.

There was no doubt about his magnetism—intense blue eyes, black hair, an unmistakable air of command, and an underlying sensual quality to his mouth. Beth swallowed, more aware of Kane O’Rourke than she’d been of any man since Curt had died.

“Is there something I can do for you, Mr. O’Rourke?” she asked, trying to pull her hand free.

“It’s warm here in the sunshine. Some water would be nice. And a chance to talk.”

Talk. Beth could guess what he wanted to “talk” about. Okay, maybe she should have told him personally that she didn’t want to go on the date, but you couldn’t just call up a well-known billionaire and chat with him. Lord knew, she’d tried.

“Okay,” she said cautiously.

“Shall we go inside?”

“Sure.”

He finally released her hand and Beth turned quickly. Her skin tingled and her breath was a trifle short, which annoyed her. She wasn’t a child to go weak-kneed at the sight of an attractive man. She was a grown woman of twenty-six and had a reasonable amount of experience with the opposite sex—at least enough experience to teach her better sense than she was currently showing.

O’Rourke followed her up the steps and into the house. It was cool inside, the windows open to allow a cross breeze from Puget Sound.

“This is nice,” he murmured from behind her.

Beth shrugged. She knew the house was small and old and must seem insignificant to a wealthy man like Kane O’Rourke, but it was more than she’d ever dared dream about having when she was a kid growing up in foster homes. It was hers, not someone else’s, and that made all the difference in the world. “It suits me.”

“I mean what I say, Miss Cox.”

The quiet statement startled Beth and she turned. He watched her steadily and she realized he must have sensed her disbelief.

“Of…course,” she said. For the first time in years, warmth burned in her cheeks, though she couldn’t have explained why; she didn’t have anything to be embarrassed about. So she didn’t want to go on a date with him. Big deal. She motioned to the breakfast nook. “Please sit down. Would you like a glass of sun tea? I made some fresh this morning.”

“That sounds good.”

Her heart was still beating unevenly and she drew a breath to regain her composure. Nothing had prepared her for Kane O’Rourke or how perceptive he seemed to be. She should have realized he’d be like that; a man didn’t make a mountain of money by being dull-witted.

Trying to appear outwardly calm, Beth scrubbed her hands before getting the pitcher and a tray of ice from the freezer. She carried two glasses to the table. With efficient motions she filled the glasses with ice and poured the tea.

“Sugar?” she asked, and congratulated herself on that single, cool word.

“No, thank you.” He was still watching her and amusement flared in his blue eyes. “You don’t trust me, do you?” he asked casually.

Beth nearly dropped the pitcher. “What?”

“You distrust me. Do you distrust everyone, or am I special?”

“I trust plenty of people,” she snapped, shooting him a look of active dislike. “And I don’t have any reason to distrust you. I’m sure you’re a very nice person.”

“But you don’t want to go on a date with me.”

Whoa. He certainly believed in being direct.

“Look, I’m not dating anyone right now, so it isn’t you. I just…”

She lifted her hands, then dropped them helplessly. It was too personal to explain that she’d only dated a few times since Curt’s death—each one a complete disaster. She’d had the great love of her life; things like that didn’t happen twice, and she wouldn’t take second best.

Sighing silently, Beth handed Kane a glass. “I hope you like mint in your tea, Mr. O’Rourke. I grow it in the backyard.”

“Sounds great.”

Kane kept his gaze fixed on Bethany Cox. She had one of the most expressive faces he’d ever seen. Not really beautiful, but expressive. Her entire body was expressive, from the tilt of her head to the defensive posture of her shoulders.

She was slim and leggy, with small, high breasts and a fall of dark blond hair, gathered together in a messy braid. Not his type, but appealing in her own way. And her eyes were glorious—the shade of warm, gold-shot brandy; he could spend hours watching the play of emotions in those fascinating eyes.

And he knew without a doubt that Bethany Cox wasn’t going to be easy to deal with. Between her stubborn chin and the way she’d instantly tried to retreat behind a polite facade, she practically screamed “difficult.” He normally avoided difficult women in his personal life—it was complicated enough without the aggravation.

Damn. Why couldn’t she have said she was getting married instead of “not dating”?

“Please…call me Kane,” he said, trying to give her a charming smile. At least, it was the smile his youngest sister said was charming, though it didn’t seem to be having any impact at the moment. “And may I call you Bethany? Or do you go by Beth?”

“It’s Beth, but I don’t see any point to being on a first name basis since we’ll never see each other again.” Her chin lifted an inch.

Patience. That’s what he needed.

Beth Cox might be royally stubborn, but he didn’t think she intended any harm; there was something straightforward and honest about the way she looked at him.

“Who knows, we might end up being friends,” he said slowly.

“No, I don’t think so.” Beth shook her head.

Kane lifted his eyebrows. He’d practically invited her to become part of his life and she was saying no. No seemed to be the woman’s favorite word, he thought with wry annoyance.

No to a date.

No to friendship.

No.

He’d gotten spoiled over the years; he wasn’t used to hearing no. From anyone.

But why was she saying no? Beth Cox was young and apparently unmarried, surely she must have been interested in the prize to enter the contest. And he’d recognized a healthy flash of awareness in her brandy eyes when they’d first met, so she wasn’t completely disinterested, no matter what she might say.

“You sound pretty sure about that. Is there something you don’t like about me?” Kane asked.

“N-no.”

“Then why?”

Her shoulders lifted a scant inch, then dropped. “Let’s just say I’m not in your league. Look at you, wearing an expensive suit on a warm Saturday afternoon. I mean, it’s Saturday for heaven’s sake, and you look like you’re going to a funeral.” All at once Beth bit her lip. “Uh, sorry. It’s a very nice suit.”

“A funeral? That’s a fine thing to say.” Kane scowled, trying to decide why he was still sitting in a strange woman’s kitchen, getting insulted. Okay, so he was wearing a suit. The fact that his own family had taken to calling him a stuffed shirt did not mean he needed someone else accusing him of the same thing.

Still, he had to admit that compared to Beth, in her comfortable T-shirt with the Mariners’ baseball team logo on it, he must seem pretty stuffy.

“I’m really sorry,” Beth said, sounding genuinely penitent. “But you asked, and I didn’t think before I opened my mouth. Curt used to say it was my biggest fault.”

“Who’s Curt?”

Her eyelids flickered, almost imperceptibly. “My…fiancé. He died several years ago in a mountain climbing accident. He was part of a search and rescue team, and things went bad.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Anyway,” Beth said quickly, “I’m sure I look like a wreck to you. It just shows we live in two different worlds.”

Accustomed to feminine wiles and not-so-subtle demands for compliments, Kane’s gaze narrowed thoughtfully. But if Beth was fishing for a compliment she had to be the greatest actress in the world. He couldn’t help being intrigued—it had been a long time since he’d met a woman who wasn’t trying to impress or beguile him.

“You look fine. In fact, you have the right idea.” Kane unbuttoned the jacket of his suit and shrugged out of it. He heard her swift intake of breath and cocked his head. “Something wrong?”

“Of course not,” she said quickly.

The color in her eyes shifted, turning dark, all traces of gold erased, and Kane sighed. She seemed to be in her mid-twenties, which made her ten to twelve years younger than himself. Perhaps he made her nervous, and that’s why she’d decided to refuse her prize. Or it could be the loss of her fiancé, though it had happened a while in the past.

“Miss Cox—Beth,” he said after a moment. “If you’re worried about the arrangements for the trip, I can assure you there have always been plans for separate hotel suites. It’s very respectable and aboveboard. Both KLMS and I have a reputation to maintain.”

“Heavens, I never thought that,” she said quickly. “I’m the last woman you’d ever be interested in…in that way.”

I’m the last woman…

Frowning, Kane shook the ice in his glass. He didn’t understand her vehement denial. Most of the women he knew had an invincible confidence in their ability to attract a man.

“Why do you say that?” he asked finally.

She lifted her shoulders in another small shrug. “Your taste in women isn’t any secret.”

“You don’t seem the type to read the society page, or what passes for it around Crockett.”

“No, but people talk.” Beth looked down at her faded T-shirt and shorts. She wasn’t the “type” for a lot of things. She didn’t really mind, but she was realistic—she was far from pretty, and even Curt had looked at more generously endowed women with appreciation. Kane O’Rourke was accustomed to dating the most beautiful women in the world; she’d look ridiculous standing next to him.

Kane lifted her hand and she shivered. Her skin was stained and rough from working in the garden all morning, yet compared to his hard fingers, she felt small and delicate. It was an ironic contrast, especially with a man she’d expect to have professionally manicured nails and soft hands from pushing paper for a living.

“Maybe I am a little stuffy, but I’m a decent guy,” he said quietly. “My family will vouch for me. You can phone them if you’d like. Of course, my brothers and sisters will probably claim that I boss them around too much.” Kane gave her a self-deprecating smile. “I’m the oldest child, so it’s an occupational hazard. My sister, Shannon, says I’m not always right—I just think I am.”

I’m the oldest.

Beth’s heart gave an odd lurch. She would have loved being part of a large family—youngest, oldest, or in the middle, it wouldn’t have mattered. “How many in your family?” she asked.

He grinned. “Four brothers and four sisters. And my mother, but she thinks I’m perfect. Naturally.”

“Naturally,” Beth echoed, though she’d never known her own parents, never known what it was like to have a mother think she was perfect. But she was compelled by the warmth in Kane’s face and voice, a voice that held a trace of Irish brogue. She remembered his parents had immigrated from Ireland shortly before he was born, which probably explained the accent.