Flash of Passion: The Billionaire and the Beauty, #1

By Deborah Cole

Crissy Beaumont is starting over. She barely escaped an abusive relationship and now her sole focus is on finding a way to heal. Her life revolves around serving customers at the coffee shop. Simple. Uncomplicated.

... Until Douglas walks in.

There's something about him. Powerful. Exciting. Mysterious.

But when demons from her past threaten to drag her back into the hell she endured before her world changes forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Deborah Cole
• Release date: May 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781539971436

Deborah Cole

Deborah Cole believes that chivalry is not dead. Strong men are men of character, refinement, and unwavering support. She also believes that woman can be just as strong. In their beliefs, convictions, and pursuit of happiness.

Book preview

Chapter 1

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I never want to see you again, Jake. Get the hell out of my place and my life!

Come on, Crissy! Things will get better with us, I promise.

Yes, Jake. Things will get better. As soon as you get the hell out of here and I don’t have to see you or think of you ever again!

I’ll leave, Crissy, but I know we’ll work it out. We just need to take some time off. You’ll see.

The door slammed shut behind Jake and I saw it as a painful chapter of my life ending. I fell to the floor in the middle of the living room weeping, completely drained. I had been manipulated, abused, and treated like shit for the better part of a year and a half and now it was over.

No more calling me, emailing me, texting me, or communicating with me in any way – ever.

The illness was gone, but I knew it would take a while for the symptoms to subside. That’s just how I am. When I fall for somebody, it’s all the way in so coming back up and starting over is going to be difficult.

I’ll take some time to get better and live again. Whoever wrote that love hurts is a genius. I’ll be smarter, much smarter about who I get involved with.

Never again!

Six months later ...

Large Caramel Macchiato, the woman’s voice called from across the counter.

Like a robot obeying a command, I instinctively prepared the drink. The same way I did almost every day for the past six months.

There was an extra spark in me today though as it was the first really nice day of spring after a dreadful New England winter. College Hill was teeming with students after a long winter’s hibernation.

This spring and summer would be different for me, I promised myself. I was finally on my own after wasting a year and a half of my life with Jake. As hard as it was cutting the cord with him, I knew that it was the right thing to do and that it happened about a year too late.

Never again!

I spun toward the tall, blonde woman and asked, Did you say you wanted whipped cream on your Macchiato?

No whipped cream, thanks.

When my shift was over at 4:30 PM, I left with an iced coffee and walked up College Hill to Benefit Street. Providence College had just won the national championship in Men’s Hockey a few days earlier and there were remnants of the celebration still scattered in Kennedy Plaza.

Black and white streamers blew in the brisk wind and a faded sign from last night’s rain was hanging gingerly on the old Hospital Trust building’s façade.

I joined about a dozen other people enjoying the late sun below the outstretched arm of the magnificent Roger Williams’ statue in Prospect Terrace Park. I thought it ironic that Roger Williams, the purveyor of religious freedom was standing over me as I had considered my own freedom from persecution at the hands of Jake. My thoughts were sprinkled intermittently with remembrances of our time together.

The warm sun shining on my exposed skin reminded me of his gentle caresses and how we would spoon together in front of the fire after a passionate love-making session. Unfortunately, those tender moments were trumped by his dangerous obsession with me.

The more I thought about his controlling, even stifling jealousy, the more uncomfortable I felt. Suddenly, the warm sun was no longer comforting and beads of sweat spilled down my face. My nerves danced and my breath was heavy.

No! He’s gone and he’s never coming back.

My therapist would say, You’re on a new journey, Crissy. You took a fresh and safer path to your destiny. There’s no need to revisit the road that you’ve already travelled.

I really liked working with Dr. Sarah. She was a strong woman and she helped me to forget him. Each day, I feel more like my old self. Happy, strong – alive.

Chapter 2

Taking the job at Starbuck’s was great for me. At first, it was difficult and I was upfront with my manager about the situation I was in, but she was extremely supportive. In the first four months, I became an excellent barista and I didn’t have much direct contact with the customers.

As I became emotionally stronger, I interacted more when customers engaged with me.

On a slow Tuesday, as I was wiping down the oven before my shift ended, I noticed a handsome man enter the café alone. He was wearing a finely tailored suit that appeared to be custom made as it fit perfectly over his perfect body.

He was about six feet tall with light brown hair and beautiful blue eyes. He also had a strong jaw-line that accented the features of his face. His appearance was a stark contrast to Jake’s five-foot-six inch, overweight frame and disheveled appearance.

I stared at him as he sauntered to the counter.

Tim was at the counter as the attractive stranger ordered, I’d like a double espresso to go, please.

I know people often say that others look familiar to them, but there was something eerily familiar about this man in the suit. My head bobbed up and then down every few seconds between my cleaning and following his movements.

Tim handed the man his espresso and he walked toward the door to leave. I went to the back of the house, but something told me to glance his way one last time. I expected to see the back of this superbly dressed man as he was leaving Starbuck’s.

I almost tripped when I noticed he had stopped and he was looking