The Billionaire's Club: Secret Billionaire's Club, #6

By Tracey Pedersen

Flat on his back at the mercy of the most honest woman on the planet...

 

Merek Rummer had plans to win Danny's silly dating game. He organised a woman, carefully laid out his story and set the scene for an entertaining weekend to claim his triumph. Those plans vanished when an industrial accident landed him flat on his back, needing assistance for the most basic of tasks.

 

Then his mother chose his nurse, insisting he not be left alone for a second.

 

Mindy Cox had settled in to write. The resort brochure promised blissful silence, punctuated only by birdsong. What it left out was the eight weeks of renovations that steal her every creative thought from sun up to sundown. With a deadline looming, she needs a new plan.

 

Merek's estate is the perfect writing environment—quiet and spread out. When Mindy lands in his bedroom, it's the result of a giant lie she just can't maintain. With a crotchety billionaire to contend with, her book is surely a lost cause.

 

Can Merek woo a woman from his sickbed to win the bet? Or will her direct approach to life derail his plans, his heart, and cost him a million bucks?

 

The Secret Billionaire's Club Books:

The Billionaire's Heart
The Billionaire's Luck
The Billionaire's Treat
The Billionaire's Duty
The Billionaire's Spark
The Billionaire's Club
The Billionaire's Scare
The Billionaire's Feast
The Billionaire's Gift
The Billionaire's Surprise

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daring Online Adventures
• Release date: Sep 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9780648584056

Tracey Pedersen

Tracey Pedersen is an Australian USA Today Bestselling author who has finally accepted that she is meant to write, write, write! In 2016 she released her first romance novel and hasn't looked back. Now writing full time, and fighting the urge to write every second of the day, she loves travel, crocheting, replying to reader emails and spending WAY too much time on Facebook!

Book preview

Chapter One - Cole

I s 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 then 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