The Billionaire's Big Birthday Bash

By Barbara Barrett

Architect Keegan Bock has it all: celebrity, money and a job that takes him to the world's most fabulous hideaways. But this sumptuous lifestyle has gotten old. He yearns for more, to feel whole again, the way he did before Drew broke their engagement. He has a chance to stabilize his life, but his plans are shattered when he runs into his former fiancée at Casa Blanca Resort & Spa.

Ever since her business partner claimed Drew Honeywell's work as her own, Drew's fashion sketches have been sub-par. She put her life and career on hold, became her mother's caretaker and called off her wedding to Keegan, the love of her life, in an attempt to shield him and his political family from scandal. When she's confronted with the overwhelming emotion of seeing Keegan again, can she figure out not just why her designs are running on empty, but how she can reclaim her chance at happiness? 

 

This story is set in a world created by Roxanne St. Claire as the Barefoot Bay series, and this work has been published with her permission. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barbara Barrett
• Release date: Sep 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9781948532112

Barbara Barrett

Barbara Barrett is a Midwestern woman who prefers her winters without snow or ice. Since her retirement, she spends her winters in Florida and returns to Iowa for her summers (which can get just as hot and humid as Florida at times). After graduating from college with a B.A. and M.A. degree in History, she spent several years as a human resources management analyst for the State of Iowa studying jobs and working with employees. She is married to the man she met in floor counselor training at the University of Iowa. They have two grown children and eight grandchildren. When not planted in front of her laptop, she is playing mah jongg, having lunch with friends or watching cooking or interior decoration shows on TV. Sign up for her newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/BBContempRom Website: www.barbarabarrettbooks.com Email: [e-mail] Twitter: http://twitter.com/bbarrettbooks Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/barbarabarrett7/

Book preview

A Message from Roxanne St. Claire

Dear Reader:

Welcome to Barefoot Bay World, a place for authors to write their own stories set in the tropical paradise that I created!  For these books, I have only provided the setting of Mimosa Key and a cast of characters from my popular Barefoot Bay series.  That’s it! I haven’t contributed to the plotting, writing, or editing of The Billionaire’s Big Birthday Bash.  This book is entirely the work of Barbara Barrett, a skilled author who I’m delighted to welcome back to Barefoot Bay.

This time, Barbara treats readers to that beloved trope of a billionaire romance but this one is planning a mah jongg birthday tournament for his mother. Yep, you read that right. Since he’s obviously in over his handsome head on this one, he takes some help from a beautiful event coordinator he knows from his past. Secrets and passion threaten to rock their carefully constructed lives...but it doesn’t take long for them to know love is the one game they both might win.

Roxanne St. Claire

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Barefoot Bay Series

www.roxannestclaire.com

About this Book

Iam so pleased you chose to read The Billionaire’s Big Birthday Bash . I hope you enjoy reading Michaela and Tobias’s story as much as I enjoyed creating it. This is the first time I’ve written a story about the girl-next-door running into her adolescent crush years later and discovering the fire is still there. This is the second novella-length romance novel I’ve done for the Barefoot Bay World, my first being Paradise by Design . What better place for them to discover their mutual attraction than Barefoot Bay, with the balmy breeze off the Florida Gulf Coast and the jewel box splendor of Casa Blanca Resort & Spa lend their charms to their romance.

Barbara Barrett

This story is set in a world created by Roxanne St. Claire as the Barefoot Bay series, and this work has been published with her permission. Information and links to Roxanne St. Claire's Barefoot Bay books can be found at 

http://www.roxannestclaire.com/barefoot-bay-series/.

Acknowledgements

Thank you Roxanne St . Claire (Rocki) for opening your world of Barefoot Bay where other authors like me can explore the lives and loves of its residents and visitors. I appreciate the time you took to answer my numerous questions about characters, setting and the history of the BB series.

I am grateful to Chris Kridler at Sky Diary Productions for her invaluable assistance as editor/proofer and cover artist and Maria Connor, My Author Concierge, for her willingness to answer questions and keep things coordinated and on time. I also appreciate the sharp proofing eyes of Sharleen Newton and Harriet Sawyer.

As always, I am grateful for the support and love of my husband, Veryl.

Barbara Barrett

Chapter One

T obias? Why didn’t you let me know you were coming? Bea Henson extricated herself from her easy chair to embrace her thirty-five-year-old son.

Last-minute decision. A hole developed in my schedule, and I decided to hop a plane to visit my mom. He held her away from him, surveying her face, discovering new lines that had appeared since the last time he’d seen her a month ago. She appeared to have lost weight too, and her salt-and-pepper hair looked saltier.

Hop a plane, my eye. You flew that new baby jet down from Atlanta. But that’s OK. I’ll take a visit from you any way I can.

She was right about his flying himself down to see her. He loved that plane and used whatever excuse he could to put his projects aside for a day. But Florida wasn’t just a convenient destination. He needed to be here, wanted to be here. He’d failed this woman once before, and he couldn’t let it happen again.

Sit. Let’s talk. He dragged a nearby straight chair next to where she’d been seated.

She gripped his hands. Is this bad news? Is that why you came in person?

He shook his head. Good grief, no, Mom. Can’t a guy just drop in to see his mom on occasion?

I’m not going to die, am I? My doctor reassured me I’d be fine after my bout with pneumonia. I just have to rest more. Which is what you caught me doing.

I don’t know anything more about your health than you do. I’m here because, well, because I missed you.

We could always video chat, she said. She squeezed his hands. But this is much better.

He needed to distract her from further sentiment. My room still available?

Of course. How long can you stay?

Overnight. Long enough to enjoy one of your delicious breakfasts before I have to leave. Before then, let’s talk about your upcoming birthday and how you want to celebrate.

She rolled her eyes. It’s just a number, Toby. Since you made it big flying those drones these last years, you’ve showered plenty on me. I don’t need anything else.

Please, Mom. Let me do this for you. It’s not like I have a dad or other siblings. You’re all I’ve got. When you turn sixty-five, I want to do it up big. What will it take? I was thinking a trip to Hawaii. Maybe a cruise around the islands so you can see volcanoes and rainforests and coffee plantations, the whole shebang.

Would you be going with me? She was baiting him, because she already knew the answer.

Thought you’d rather go with your mah jongg friends.

"I’m sure they’d love a trip like that. Why don’t you give it to them instead in my name?’

Clever ploy, but he wasn’t about to let her best him on this one. I want you to celebrate. How about a week in New York City for four of you? Front-row tickets to all the big shows. Dinner at the trendiest new eating spots.

She shook her head. Once upon a time seeing a New York show was at the top of my bucket list but not so much anymore.

What about this house? You’ve made it clear I can’t build you a new one, but what about an update? New flooring, new furniture, new windows.

I like things the way they are. She stopped, considered. Wait. This chair is about to fall apart. I could use a new one. One that swivels and rocks. Get me one of those, and my birthday will be complete.

She swiped her hands together like she’d checked one off his list.

He rose. One easy chair that swivels and rocks. OK. But there’s still a couple of months before your big day. I haven’t given up on a big celebration. He’d let it go at that for now. I left my bag in the car. I’ll be right back.

He was about to open the front door when it swung in on him, almost hitting him on the nose. Bea? Oh, hello, Tobias. A young woman of about thirty with shoulder-length black hair and luminous brown-black eyes stood before him.

Michaela? Michaela Imperato?

She stepped back, eyed him like he was eyeing her. It’s Tierney now. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I moved back to Mimosa Key almost two years ago after my, uh ... 

Your husband was killed on the job. My condolences. I was sorry to hear about it.

She forced a smile. Thank you. Phillip was a wonderful cop and a great dad to our son.

I didn’t know you had a child.

Jeremy is five. He barely remembers his father, but he knows someone is missing from our lives.

Michaela? Is that you? his mother called from the living room.  

Michaela, with Tobias following, moved into the living room. Mom sent me over to say she’d drive you to your mah jongg game today. She glanced at Tobias. Although with Tobias here, you probably want to skip.

He’d been so anxious to check on his mom, he’d forgotten about her weekly game. Go ahead, Mom. I’ve got plenty to keep me busy while I’m here. If I get bored, I’ll walk the beach. One thing I don’t have in Atlanta.

Bea gazed from her son to Michaela, apparently trying to decide between her two favorite things. Are you sure you’ll be OK?

Mom, I’m a big boy. I’ll settle in, help you make some lunch before you leave, and then I’ll take a walk.

Uh, well, actually, our group now has lunch together and then plays. But I’ve got plenty of sandwich fixings in the fridge. I’ll be back around five.

Can I take my favorite girl out to eat tonight?

Maybe. But wouldn’t you rather have one of my lasagnas? There might be one in the freezer just waiting for you. All you have to do is defrost it this afternoon. Do you remember how to do that in your cushy new life?

He chuckled. I’ll see if it will come back to me.

Bea turned to Michaela. Why didn’t your mom just call or text about driving?

A slight pink tinge crept up the young woman’s neck. I, uh, saw the car in front and thought Tobias might be home. Just wanted to pop by and say hi.

As delectable as the girl next door—or, more accurately, the girl next door to next door—had grown up to be, a tiny warning bell went off in his head. Since he’d applied his IT engineering skills to developing various applications for drones, which had brought in his first millions, he’d grown leery of gorgeous women just popping by to see him. Nonetheless, he remembered with fondness the girl who used to conveniently be reading on her front porch whenever he cut the grass.

His mother tilted her head. That’s right. You haven’t seen each other since you moved in with your mom and dad. Her eyes flickered. Why don’t I get ready and leave the two of you to catch up? If you play your cards right, Toby, maybe she’ll even join you for lunch.