The Billionaire's Lover

By Eve Gaddy

Summer St. Croix hates weddings. But when she meets hot-as-sin Luke Vanetti at her oldest friend’s ceremony, he promises to give her a reason to like them.

It’s all sexy fun and games until Summer realizes that Luke is none other than her new boss. Summer refuses to continue to have a fling with her superior, even though the passion between them still runs wildfire hot. But the billionaire private investigator doesn’t see the problem, especially since he knows that one night with Summer won’t be enough.

When Luke’s cousin sends an SOS asking for help in stopping a ring of jewel thieves from robbing his luxury hotel on the Amalfi Coast, Luke agrees. And Summer’s first assignment will be posing as his very sexy, rich, and bejeweled fiancée at the Hotel dei Fiori Isola del Sole.

Playing the happy couple is hard enough during the day, but the nights… will those romantic Amalfi nights turn the charade into more than just a job for both Summer and Luke… for good?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tule Publishing
• Release date: Sep 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781943963232

Eve Gaddy

“Eve Gaddy is the award winning, national bestselling author of more than twenty-seven novels and novellas. Eve is a member of Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll for Bestselling authors. Her books have won and been nominated for awards from The Golden Quill, Romantic Times, Bookseller’s Best, Holt Medallion, Texas Gold, Daphne Du Maurier and more. She was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Innovative Series romance as well as winning the 2008 Romantic Times Career Achievement award for Series Storyteller of the year. Eve’s books have sold over a million copies worldwide and been published in many foreign countries. Eve loves her family, spring and fall in east Texas, the Colorado mountains, dogs, chocolate, books, and electronics. She enjoys cooking except when she is writing, and has been known to tell her husband that is what takeout was created for. Eve also loves a happy ending. That's why she writes romance.  

Book preview

Author

Dedication

This book is for Katherine Garbera, Nancy Robards Thompson, Mimi Wells, and Kathleen O’Brien. Because you rock!

Dear Reader,

When my friends asked me if I wanted to join them in writing a series set off the Amalfi coast, my first thought was you bet! My second was, I get to research luxury resorts, incredible settings, romantic islands, the Mediterranean and jewel thieves. How much more fun could it get?

Then I added in Summer St. Croix and Luke Vanetti, a couple who spend a magical first night together before finding out the next day that Luke is Summer’s new boss. So then I sent them to the island paradise, posing as an engaged couple, looking for jewel thieves and with Summer determined to nix any romance.

Watching Summer and Luke try to keep their hands off each other, and doing a mighty poor job of it, has been a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy reading about them. I had a great time writing this book.

Eve

Chapter One

Summer St. Croix considered weddings a torture of the damned. She avoided them whenever possible. This time she was SOL, though. The wedding of Sally Fontaine and Jeremy Fitzgerald was the Houston wedding of the year, if not the decade. And Sally, unfortunately, was one of Summer’s oldest friends.

The wedding and reception were beautiful, held at the historic Hotel Lantana in downtown Houston. Attended by the upper-crust of society, the crème de la crème, it was exactly what she’d expect for two people from wealthy families who were both active in Houston’s elite social circles.

The ceremony itself took place in the gardens. Gorgeous, tropical flowers of every variety abounded. The bride and groom said their vows in a beautiful, white gazebo covered in blooms, with their attendants fanning out on either side.

The ceremony. Images she couldn’t stop flooded her mind. No, she wouldn’t do this now. She counted to ten and drew in a deep breath.

You look like I feel, a deep voice said.

Summer turned and saw one of the groomsmen holding out a glass of champagne. Exactly what she needed. Thanks. How is that?

Wondering when you can cut out.

Summer laughed. She’d noticed him. In a group of surprisingly good-looking men, he stood out. Tall, dark, and sinfully, deliciously gorgeous.

Probably before you can. I’m just a friend of the bride’s. You’re in the wedding.

Jeremy would be the first to understand if I left early. Especially if it was with you.

No doubt about it, this guy was hot. Dark brown, wavy hair, the kind that made her itch to run her fingers through it. His eyes were dark, too, a deep brown, almost espresso-colored. Normally, she wasn’t a fan of stubble, but on him it looked good. So, he looked great but would he say something unexpected or would she hear the same thing she heard from nearly every man she met?

You’re trying to decide if I’m going to tell you that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Or at least in the room tonight. He took a drink.

Appreciating his candor, Summer couldn’t help smiling again. The music swelled and she waited a minute to respond. Something like that. She sipped her champagne and asked, Are you?

He shook his head. No. I figure you’ve heard that refrain a time or a thousand. I’ll just admire you silently.

She gave him points for originality.

She offered her hand, saying, Hi, I’m Summer St. Croix.

He shook her hand and said, I’m Luke—

Thanks to the music picking that moment to crescendo, she didn’t catch his last name. Dan? Ban? Fan? Fantasy? No, that couldn’t be it. Seriously, though, did she really care?

They smiled at each other. Damn, he’s even better when he smiles. If I were the type, I’d swoon.

Do you like to dance? he asked as the band struck up a new song.

Not really. Dancing at a wedding. Uh, no. That also reminded her of things she’d rather forget. Not to mention, she was a terrible dancer.

Great. Neither do I. Would you like to go somewhere and talk?

What did you say? I can’t hear you.

He laughed. My point. Does the hotel bar work for you?

Sure. Why not?

They found a booth in a corner of the bar. Would you like another glass of champagne or do you want something else? Luke asked.

It seems a shame to pay for drinks when there’s free champagne and beer at the wedding.

But then we’d have to go back. I like it here.

I do, too, Summer said, looking around. The bar, like the rest of the hotel, was elegant, tastefully decorated, and it whispered money in dulcet tones. I’d like a mojito.

Luke signaled the waitress who came over instantly. After he ordered two mojitos, he said, Are you staying at the hotel or are you local?

Staying. I’m from Dallas. What about you?

Staying, and I live in Dallas, too.

While a coincidence, it wasn’t much of one. Summer imagined a good third of the guests lived in the DFW metroplex.

They talked some more and the waitress brought their drinks. To your eyes, Luke said and touched his glass to hers.

If you say I have eyes the color of jade or emeralds, I’m outta here.

He studied her, then tipped her chin up with a finger and looked into her eyes. Summer stared back, words deserting her as she fell into the depths of his gaze.

No, your eyes are an unusual shade. If I were to describe them, I’d say they look like malachite. He dropped his hand and added with a wicked grin, With some jade and emerald swirling around.

You’re very smooth, aren’t you? And he was revving up her heartbeat with a look and a touch.

She took a sip of her drink to steady herself. It didn’t help.

I try, he said modestly. How am I doing?

You’re good and you know it. Okay, what color is my hair? She was curious how he’d describe it. Lots of men had tried, so she’d heard a gazillion variations of redhead and red.

Luke picked up a strand of hair and rubbed it between his fingers. A thousand shades of wildfire.

Summer’s breath caught in her throat. They were playing a game, but my, oh my, he was good with words. She wondered what else he was good at.

My turn, she said.

You want to describe my eyes and hair?

No, although I’d describe your eyes as espresso.

I like that.

But what I really want, she said, moving closer, is to touch your hair.

He looked surprised, then gave a deep, hearty laugh. He tilted his head toward her. Feel free.

Not like that. She slid her hands over his very broad, very firm shoulders to loop behind his neck. Like this. Summer threaded her hands through his hair. It was as soft and silky as it looked. Their faces were close together, so close she could kiss him if she wanted. And she wanted.

I don’t think I’ve ever been seduced by a woman playing with my hair before. Although, I can’t say I haven’t tried it the other way around. He wrapped one arm around her pulling her closer and put his other hand on the back of her head, his fingers gently sliding through her hair.

Is that what I’m doing? Seducing you? she murmured.

Like a siren.

And then he kissed her.

She tasted hot, sexy, spicy, and somehow, mysterious. Luke moved his lips over hers softly, slowly, teasing them open and flicking his tongue into her mouth. He wrapped his hand in her hair, which really was a thousand shades of wildfire, and as soft, silky and seductive as the rest of her.

Her tongue met his, then retreated. She did it again, retreating but asking him to join. He slid his tongue inside and knew without a doubt that this was the sexiest first meeting he’d ever had with a woman. Luke couldn’t remember a kiss quite like this. Her hands were in his hair, her fingers playing with it, her body and his getting closer by the moment.

Luke! an outraged feminine voice said. Oh, for God’s sake, Luke, come up for air, she insisted.

Damn, he knew that voice. What was his sister doing tracking him down? Take a hike, Lori. My little sister, he explained in an aside to Summer.

Summer had been looking pissed, but her brow cleared a little at that. Not to mention, he and Lori were male and female copies of each other. He and Summer were still tangled up in each other and she let go of him and scooted away, but not too far. He still had one arm wrapped around her and it wasn’t going anywhere.

You need to come with me. The whole wedding party is supposed to be in on this and you’re not dodging this picture.

Picture? Why do they want a picture now? Half the people in it will be blitzed by now.

I’m not in charge of that, she said, tossing her head. Thank God. But I’m not having my brother be the only one missing in the picture. So come on.

Go away and I’ll be there in a minute.

Hands on hips, she narrowed her eyes, looking at him suspiciously. Do you promise?

I promise. Now beat it.

Pinky swear?

Lori, he said in his most threatening voice. Which, as usual, had no effect on his sister.

Lori laughed and said to Summer, I’m sorry to drag him away but he can come back after they take the picture.

Don’t worry about it, Summer said.

Lori waved and left, saying over her shoulder, Don’t make me come back.

Luke squeezed the bridge of his nose. Sisters were a pain in the ass. Do you have siblings?

Luckily, no. I’m an only child.

I can’t imagine. I have four. Two sisters, two brothers.

And you’re the oldest.

You got it.

Do they all look like you?

Not as much as Lori and I do, but you can tell we’re family. Regretfully, he moved his arm from around her waist and stood. Will you be here when I come back?

She gave a slow smile. Probably. Depends on how long you take.

If I had my way I wouldn’t be leaving at all. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. See you later. He hoped.

If he didn’t Lori was in a shitload of trouble.

Summer stayed in the bar for a short time but after the third guy came over wanting to keep her company, she left. She should, if she had sense, go to her room and just remember as perfect a kiss as she’d ever had. Apparently, she had no sense.

Unwilling to go back to the reception, she wandered out into the gardens. Off to