The Billionaire's Birthday Love Read online

  What inspires you? Adventure.

  Do you have a pet? Why or why not? No—and I’m not sure why.

  How would you describe your dream vacation? Just being away from it all…

  What’s your guilty pleasure? Sitting in the sun, overlooking the water, and dreaming for something I can never have in my world.

  What song lyric moves you the most?—skip

  Do you have a deserted-island book or favorite quote?—skip

  What’s your number one film?—skip

  How do you want to remember your experience? I want to feel alive and the memory of this adventure will have to sustain me for the rest of my days because I will be trapped in a world I was born into.

  What have you seen at other birthday events that you did or didn’t like? Yes, for the love of all that’s holy—can we please not have forty cousins, aunts, uncles, and other family members around singing and trying to set me up in an arranged marriage again this year? Last year was a nightmare…

  “The man has daddy-issues,” Jolie said, rolling her eyes as she read the mysterious Billionaire’s responses to the questions they had sent him. She wadded up the paper as she read the instructions. She couldn’t believe the amount of money that this mysterious company was throwing her way to babysit some rich brat on the ocean.

  She’d received the unexpected invitation as she was removing her boat from the dock, getting ready to set out. Her plan had been to check the buoys off the coast and set a few nets. She loved the freedom that came with being her own boss. She used the excuse of being a fisherman as a cover for her genuine love – diving for buried treasures off the coast of Florida.

  Jolie was born in the wrong time, the wrong era.

  To her, the movies offered an idealist view of what a pirate’s life was like back in the 1700s and 1800s. She knew for a fact that it was long hours on a ship, the threat of betrayal by members of your crew, and danger around every corner. She preferred to work alone, searching for doubloons or other trinkets on the ocean floor just before the ocean shelf dropped off into deeper, harder to manage, waters.

  The amount of money that had been wired to her was staggering and would pay for a brand-new ship, if she chose to purchase one, or keep her living comfortably for the next two years. Three days of work for two years of freedom seemed like an insignificant price to pay – and she’d agreed immediately.

  Today she was supposed to set out with her client and be a ‘host’ and ‘teacher’ for an adventure. In her book, searching for buried treasure was just the adventure that some spoiled brat would enjoy—and if he didn’t? She’d disconnect his air hose and leave him in the ocean to fend for himself.

  She would not be some nursemaid to a twerp nor cater to some guys every whim no matter how filthy rich he was. He was probably some sexist, macho, horrible creature that tossed money about like it was nothing. Well, Jolie was just the type of person to scoop up those bucks, smile sweetly, and push him away. If he got too forward, she’d slap charges on him and splatter it across the Enquirer.

  He wouldn’t be the first man she’d dumped for being a fool, nor would he be the last. It seemed that all men were the same and wanted the same things. The more gorgeous they were, the more stuck on themselves they ended up being. Rich men were horrifically cheap—and that is how they ended up rich! Nice guys were already taken, and that left the mean ones with issues.

  Sighing, she checked her watch again.

  They were supposed to head out early, and it was getting close to seven in the morning. Her version of early was to leave when the sun was rising so they had a full day, but apparently Maximus-Rich-As-Sin-Georgas ran by a different clock.

  Who named their kid Maximus anyway?

  That was like the cartoon Richie-Rich.

  Comical and a very poor joke.

  The twerp probably got beat up at school and was butt-ugly on the outside as he had to be on the inside. She’d met some filthy rich people that ran in circles she no longer wanted to be a part of. They were awful, cold-blooded, business-like, and had no clue as to be nice to another person.

  A single car pulled into the parking lot of the docks where she waited impatiently. A Porsche? It figures, she thought, shaking her head. The sleek pearlescent Porsche gleamed in the sunlight and she steeled herself, plastering on a fake smile.

  “Three days, Jolie. You can put up with this jerk for three full days,” she muttered, raising her hand in acknowledgement as the driver’s door opened. A tall, dark-haired, Greek god unfolded himself out of the vehicle, causing Jolie to swallow hard.

  Simply beautiful meant horridly ugly on the inside, she reminded herself, and got ready to put up with whatever came out of his mouth. If he was utterly abrasive, she could throw the boat in reverse and back out as a mistake. After the last person she took out had thrown up for five hours straight, cursing her the entire time, she realized that excursions were just not her thing unless she went alone.

  “Good morning,” the man said politely as he smiled at her. “I am so sorry I’m late. I didn’t realize there would be an accident on the road. I even left early so we could catch the sunrise on the horizon. You are Jolie Murray, correct?”

  He hopped onto the small gangplank with no hesitation whatsoever. Most guests hung on to the railings, looked down at the water as they crossed, or simply went ‘whoa’ at the feeling of the large ship rolling with the waves.

  Not this man.

  “Is anyone else joining us?”

  Jolie shook her head, stunned at how polite he seemed to be. This man had been on a ship before, she realized. He turned, unhooked the rigging like he was born to it. She immediately went over and took over, practically yanking the rope from his hands.

  “Stow your gear so we can shove off. You are welcome to take the cuddy down below,” she said, looking away, her mind racing. She straightened up immediately and turned to look at him, realizing he would not understand that the cuddy was the interior cabin just below deck.

  The man was gone.

  Putting away the ropes and small gangplank against the side, she circled the cockpit to see him reappearing from below.

  “Mr. Georgas have you been sailing before?”

  His bright smile widened as he looked at her, nodding.

  “Oh yes. You could say I was born into this life,” he replied. “And please—call me Max. What’s our bearing today? Where are we heading?”

  “We are heading for the Treasure Coast.”

  “As in sunken treasure?”

  “Yes.”

  “Wonderful. Is there an island nearby?”

  “It will be near the Keys, if that is what you mean by an island. There are several islands near the area we are headed towards. I have one reserved.”

  “Could we stop and explore, I mean, look around at what you are calling a ‘Key’? I’ve never been to the United States before, and it’s utterly fascinating, so far. I had a cheeseburger yesterday that could make the angels weep. We don’t have Jack-in-the-Box in Greece. Mr. Jack must be a mysterious man to wear that mask and keep such divine foods in a box. Can you purchase these boxes here? Could I get one shipped back home?”

  “Seriously, dude?”

  “Seriously, Miss Murray,” he repeated happily, nodding.

  Greaaaaat, Jolie thought sadly.

  Not only was she going to be babysitting the most handsome man she’s ever seen? He was obviously still wet behind the ears, a little slow, and about as green as could be. He might know his way around a boat, but it was glaringly obvious this gorgeous man fell off the turnip truck last night while it was driving over an overpass.

  She’d met no one lacking so much guile or duplicity for someone so filthy rich. Perhaps he grew up locked away in a dungeon and this was his first real outing? Like a beyond sexy Quasimodo that didn’t understand just how ugly the world could really be? No one was this nice and naïve.

  …And they certainly didn’t stay this way.

  Chapter 3<
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  Max couldn’t believe the strange world around him.

  It was as if everything was new, tasted better, and smelled terrific here. Greece was breathtaking, but it was nothing compared to the outrageousness of America. There were glaring neon signs nearby. Everyone was so polite when you went to pay for things, and willing to bend over backwards to help him along the way. The people reminded him of his home, but the environment was definitely different.

  Breakfast was part of the reason he was a little late this morning.

  Someone was selling ‘breakfast tacos’ on the street near the hotel. He’d never heard of a breakfast taco and was stunned to discover how delicious they were! The little tortilla had eggs and potatoes inside of it, causing him to turn around and pick up several more for his trip.

  His uncle, and a woman with the Billionaire Birthday Club by the name of Marilyn, had arranged for a car very similar to his own to be waiting for him at the hotel. Marilyn had called him and offered assistance from someone local, but Max had declined. He was grateful for the consideration as the roads were similar but very different. He didn’t want to get lost or get into an accident.

  The clerk at the hotel had told him to download an app to his iPhone called Waze. He never needed directions back home, as he’d never been away from Piraeus. Now, he was in a foreign world with strange currency and even stranger customs. He saw martis on people, the bright red braided bracelets from home, but when asking about it, they shook their heads.

  And Jolie Murray?

  She was as beautiful as any displeased goddess with just as stern an expression. She reminded him of statues of Hera, making him wonder if her husband or significant other had mistreated her. He wasn’t a fool. It took time to develop such a callous disregard for people around you. She didn’t like him and it was obvious, but he wouldn’t let that get him down. He would enjoy every single moment of his freedom while he could.

  Jolie stared at the man leaning on the handrail near the forward hatch of her ship. His profile was stunning as he simply stared at the water as they glided through it. Part of her understood the urge to be on the bow of the ship as it was her favorite place to stand and watch the swells of the ocean when she picked a spot to dive. She often had lunch on the bow.

  Blinking, she watched as her client suddenly yanked off his t-shirt and stood there in the sun. It was obvious he just how much he liked the sun as his entire back was golden brown. She couldn’t help but admire the lean lines of his waist and torso.

  “Hey! Put that on or you’ll get a sunburn,” she called out.

  “I’m Greek,” he chuckled, glancing over his shoulder at her, “we don’t sunburn easily.”

  “We’ll I’m American and we don’t run around half-naked like that without permission. Put your shirt back on until it’s time to dive—and I mean it, buster!” she sputtered as he turned to retrieve his shirt off the bench nearby. The man was chiseled, and she did not want to notice his abdomen.

  “I have seen some of your television shows and know this to be untrue, Miss Murray, but if you would feel better with me being clothed appropriately, I will happily wait until we are getting in the water.”

  “Hmph!” Jolie scoffed, ignoring the heat in her face as she glanced at him again. This was absolutely insane to be so attracted to him when he was so… so… weird! “Tell me about your home?”

  “There’s nothing to tell,” he mumbled, his smile disappearing.

  Oh ho! Apparently there was something there, but her Greek-smiley-boy didn’t want to share it, she mused. Glancing around, she realized they were nearing the spot and cut the engines to the ship. Max hopped down eagerly, joining her near the cockpit of the ship.

  “We’ll be diving here. Have you ever done ‘snuba’ before? I like it because it’s easier to move about without the heavy tanks strapped to you.”

  “I will be fine with whatever you choose, Miss Murray.”

  “Stop with the Miss Murray stuff—just call me Jolie.”

  “Yes… Jolie.”

  “Now, I asked if you have ever been ‘snuba’ or scuba-diving before? Are you PADI certified?”

  “You ask this of me now?” he smiled wryly, and Jolie felt her face flush with embarrassment. She should have asked long before now and was a little distracted by this entire thing—and him!

  “Just answer the question.”

  “Yes, I am PADI certified and I have been diving several times.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  “Adventure,” he said easily. His blue-green eyes held hers for a moment before he looked away.

  “Well, we are about to dive for buried treasure, Max, so I am hoping this is the kind of adventure you are looking for,” she said, pulling the tanks from the hold where they were stowed. “Now, we will have a quick lesson on how to do this, so we are on the same page…”

  Jolie explained about the weights, the mouthpiece, and how to clear his mask when below water. She could see that smirk on his face and it was a little irritating, but if he had been, then he understood that it was her responsibility to make sure he could use the equipment before they were fifty feet under water.

  “…And we’ll have tethers, so if you need something you can yank on the line to get my attention,” she finished.

  “May I remove my shirt now?” he teased, smiling at her.

  Jolie rolled her eyes.

  “Go below and throw on your trunks. I’ll change afterwards.”

  When she came up from the hold, she noticed that she didn’t see Max anywhere. Glancing over the stern, she saw he was already in the water.

  “You don’t listen, do you?”

  “I thought I would save your delicate sensibilities by getting in before you,” he said with a grin.

  “My what?”

  “You disapproved of me removing my shirt, I figured you would be displeased at my swimsuit as well.”

  “Why? Is it one of those gaudy yellow Speedos?” Jolie snapped, and then stood ramrod straight as it hit her like a ton of bricks. “It is one of those Speedos-things, isn’t it?”

  “It’s black, not yellow.”

  “Are you teasing me or trying to make me mad?”

  “I might be teasing you a bit,” he admitted quietly, smiling at her. “Are you getting in?”

  “I ought to throw a tank right at you,” she snarled, not sure if he was telling the truth or not. His slicked back hair and golden skin made her get goosebumps.

  Jolie felt like a prude right now in her one-piece swimsuit with a tank top over it. She hated wearing swimsuits but loved how she felt graceful in the water. The tank top was an easy compromise between the two, allowing her to swim while keeping herself decent. This gorgeous billionaire could use a heaping of decency or two himself.

  “I can get out and get the tanks for you,” Max offered.

  “NO!” she balked, immediately. “Stay right there!”

  Jolie ignored his chuckle and smile as she easily lifted the tanks over the edge of the ship and dropped them into the water. She yanked two masks onto her hand, along with a set of weights for Max. She sat on the edge strapping on her own ankle weights before swinging her legs over, allowing herself to fall into the water. The warm water felt wonderful, cradling her immediately, and caressing her skin with bubbles from her hopping in. Breaking the surface, she slicked back her hair, handing Max a set of goggles and weights.

  “Let’s slip on our tanks and see what we can find. We’ll search for a bit, break for lunch, and then dive again later.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  Yanking her mask on, she quickly slipped into the harness holding the tank and clipped it around her waist. She plopped the respirator into her mouth and took several breaths, testing it. She watched silently as Max was doing the same thing. Normally, this would be done on the ship, but the ornery man had jumped in the water before she was ready… although, she couldn’t blame him. The sea was calm and the perfect temperature. She would have be
en tempted for a swim too.

  Max gave her a thumbs up, and she handed him the end of a bright yellow rope. Yanking out her mouthpiece, she reminded him.

  “Tether.”

  He nodded, clipping it to the strap of his tank without question. Jolie put her mouthpiece in, fastened her own tether to her strap, and gave him a thumbs up. At once, the pair dove into the cerulean waters. The surrounding silence was calming with the bubbles from their tank slipping past them in a rhythm every time they exhaled. She loved diving. The simple act of being alone in this blue paradise made her feel otherworldly.

  Fish darted by underneath them and she saw several other shadows off in the distance, recognizing them as other creatures at home here in the waters of the Gulf. She gave the tether a light tug, looking towards Max and glad there was silence between them.

  Her heart skipped a beat as she realized he wasn’t joking about the Speedo. Good gravy! His lean, tanned body was enough to turn anyone’s attention, much less a red-blooded-woman’s eye! They might do things differently from where he came from, but it didn’t mean that the reaction here would be much different. Mercy!

  Regaining her composure, she quickly pointed down underneath her, seeing the fragile remains of what was once a bow of a vessel. Rotted, ancient boards looked almost like wicked pieces of coral growing up out of the sand. She dove here several times before and knew that if you peeked around, dusted away the ocean floor, sometimes you could find a doubloon or two still lurking. Most of the treasures had been found already over time, but there were still items to be discovered for a patient person.

  Descending to the ocean floor, she couldn’t help the smile that touched her lips around her respirator as she saw Max’s own grin. She gave him a thumbs up again and nodded emphatically in approval. He returned her nod and made a gesture at the bow. Jolie pointed at her eyes and then at him, a silent order for him to watch her. Dipping down, she slowly fanned her hands, pushing back the silt and sand. Looking at Max, she saw he understood as he moved away from her slightly and mimicked the same movements. The silence around them was only interrupted by the rain of bubbles from their exhalations drifting towards the surface. She caught herself watching him several times, admiring him. He was a spectacular specimen of a man. Glancing at her gauge, she saw that the tank was about halfway gone. Just as she was about to tug on the tether, she felt it move against her chest.