How to Kiss a Billionaire: Billionaire Beach Romance, #5

By Cami Checketts

Sassy meets swoon-worthy in this fast-paced contemporary romance. 
Miriam Salisbury escapes to Oregon to avoid a boyfriend who won't take no for an answer, killing her beloved cat to prove it. When her father sends Clay Browning to protect her, she's certain he's lost his mind. As far as she's concerned Clay's experience is limited to posing for the camera, charming women, and making fun of her. He's been teasing her since they were children and she's never gotten over the way he threw crawdads at her at church picnics.
Clay retired from the military and entered the world of private security. When he gets the call to protect Miriam he's excited to be around his lifelong crush. As expected, he teases her nonstop and the only thing he takes seriously is her security. He knows she'd never give him a chance and he can't help but give her a hard time. After Miriam is dumped in the freezing ocean on a crabbing expedition and Clay saves her from drowning and freezing to death, she takes a second look at her hired gun. But opening up to him is more terrifying than facing her stalker. As events escalate to a frenzied climax, Miriam and Clay must put aside past grudges in the hope of finding a lasting love for their future.
Don't miss the rest of the Billionaire Beach Romances: Caribbean Rescue Cozumel Escape Cancun Getaway Trusting the Billionaire How to Kiss a Billionaire Onboard for Love Shadows in the Curtain Thanks for reading!

 

Fans of Christy Barritt, Lisa Phillips, Jessie Gussman, and Sariah Wilson will love Cami Checketts' clean romantic suspense with a side of comedy.



Don't miss Cami's other sweet and fast-paced romance novels.

Quinn Romance Adventures
Devoted & Deserted
Conflicted & Famous
Gentle & Broken
Rugged & At-Risk
Too-Perfect & Stranded
Rejected & Hidden

Billionaire Protection Romances
Matchmaking the Singer and the Warrior
Matchmaking the Duchess and the Commander
Matchmaking the Entertainer and the Firefighter
Matchmaking the Model and the Beast
Matchmaking the Spy and the Heiress
Matchmaking the Bodyguard and the Philanthropist

Summit Valley Christmas Romance
His Perfect Match for Christmas
His Ski Resort Overrun for Christmas
His Cabin Invaded for Christmas
His Unexpected Wedding for Christmas
Delta Family Romances
Deceived
Abandoned
Committed
Betrayed
Devoted
Compromised
Endangered
Accepted
Returned
Devastated

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cami Checketts
• Release date: Sep 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223349310

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Hello fellow readers,

Let me begin by saying that’s it’s an honor to write the introduction for Cami’s Billionaire Beach Romance Series. Before I met Cami and she and I became close friends, I knew her as a writer. Way back when I read Cami’s first book, I was impressed with how quickly she got me into the story and had me feeling the same emotions as the characters. Cami has a wonderful way of capturing the heart of the story and weaving it into a heart-pounding finish. Not only is she a great suspense writer, but she writes romance that has me swooning. I’ve eagerly awaited the release of every one of the Billionaire Beach Romances, and let me tell you, they did not disappoint! I devoured every word and kept wanting more. I can’t think of a better combination for a series—exotic beaches and billionaires!

I’m grateful for Cami as a writer but also as a friend. Cami’s the kind of person you want in your corner. She’s always the first to offer a word of encouragement and genuinely cares about those around her. I’m blessed to have Cami in my life!

I know you’ll love The Billionaire Beach Romance Series as much as I do. Just make sure you get comfortable and clear your schedule because you won’t be able to put them down.

Hugs,

Jennifer Youngblood, author of the Hawaii Billionaire Romance Series

CHAPTER ONE

Clay Browning grinned at the gorgeous redhead across the table. She was a wicked-smart assistant to some politician and they’d had fabulous conversation so far, which always made a woman more attractive to him. When she fluttered her eyelashes, he knew it was going to be a good night. It didn’t matter how smart his dates were; they always fell for him—usually blaming his Southern charm and blue eyes.

His phone rang, startling him. Neither of his brothers and none of his friends would dare bother him on a Friday evening. They knew better. So that left his mama, one of his feisty sisters-in-law, or a new security job opportunity.

It’s okay, you can get it. Carol—or was it Caroline?—cut a bite of her salmon and licked the fork seductively as it left her mouth.

Okay, he’d get it quick. Thank you. Probably just Mama making sure I’m coming for Sunday dinner. He winked.

Carol … Caroline smiled sweetly. I love mamas.

She might love his mama, but she’d never meet her. It would be a cold day in Hades when he’d take a girl home to Mama. He’d never even written home to Mama about any woman he had dated, and he wasn’t about to start now.

He pulled the phone out, glanced at the display, and nearly dropped it. Lowell Salisbury. Miriam’s dad? He’d grown up with Miriam and been half in love with her since he was twelve. Those feelings would never be reciprocated, but he still couldn’t resist any opportunity to hear about her.

He stood and set his napkin down, muttering, Excuse me, please. Without noticing how or if his date responded, he wandered to a semi-private alcove of floor-to-ceiling windows. The exclusive steakhouse overlooked Mobile Bay, granting a view of boat lights that sparkled on the water. He swiped to accept the call. Hello?

Clay! She’s gone and you have to find her.

Clay’s brow furrowed. Miriam’s father was never one to mince words, but Clay had seen him and Miriam last month at church and everything had seemed fine. He’d teased her about still being a daddy’s girl, and she’d fired right back at him that he was a mama’s boy. Clay loved how she did that.

Lowell could obviously only mean one her, but Clay had to clarify. Who, sir?

"Miriam. I need you to find her and protect her."

Clay had to lean against the window. Was it his stupid heart arrhythmia acting up, a gift from fighting leukemia throughout his teens, or was it the simple thought of seeing Miriam Salisbury? My apologies, sir, but I don’t know why you’d be calling me to protect … His mouth went dry and his stomach muscles tightened at the thought of Miriam being in danger. Why does Miriam need my protection?

I know all about your special ops training and that you hire out for private security, Lowell said. "I don’t care what the cost is; you are going to protect my girl."

Clay bristled at that. Nobody told him which jobs to take, and money didn’t mean a whole lot to him. He was a silent partner in his brother’s health food stores and Nixon worked hard to make them both more money than any man needed. But this woman meant a whole lot to him, no matter how many times he told himself he didn’t care about her. Miriam Salisbury. Her smooth, tanned skin, long, silky hair, and sparkling dark eyes got him every time, even though those eyes were usually snapping at him. He smiled just thinking about her feisty personality and how she was the only non-related woman who regularly put him in his place, but the smile quickly disappeared. She was in trouble.

Clay? Can you fly out tonight?

Sir, can you please calm down and explain what is going on? Clay looked out the windows at all the boats lit up in the bay. Thanksgiving was barely over and they were already decked out for Christmastime.

Lowell blew out a breath. Where to start? You remember that dipshmack, Greg Riker?

Clay flinched, closing his eyes briefly. How could he forget? The two-faced loser Miriam had chosen instead of him for junior prom and then dated on and off throughout the past eight and half years. Last Clay heard, they were still together. Clay wouldn’t have eaten a steak tonight if he’d known he was going to hear that name. Yes, he said shortly.

Well, she finally got away from him about a month ago.

Okay. At least there was some good news if she’d finally realized what a pathological liar Greg was—the type of guy to shake your hand with a grin while he was paying someone to rip the rug out from underneath you.

He started stalking her, doing all kinds of stupid pranks.

Such as? He gripped the phone tighter.

Threatening notes and putting flour in her car engine and killing her cat, stuff like that.

The steak was not going to stay down. Did she report it?

Of course she did, but you know what a politician Greg is … filthy lawyer, anyway. He denies everything, and the man could sell a heater to the devil himself.

Yeah. Clay had actually been friends with the loser back in middle school. He’d read through the deception earlier than the rest of their friend group, and it’d made things pretty miserable until some of his other buddies figured out Greg was a backstabber. Most of the high school kids never caught on and thought Clay was just being competitive.

So we could never pin anything on him, Lowell continued. And two days ago, Miriam just disappeared.

Clay leaned against the wall. Had Greg … He wouldn’t put anything past him, but if he had hurt Miriam. Clay’s free hand tightened into a fist.

She kind of alluded to me that she was going to hide. I begged her to let me hire protection and get the proof to nail that idiot with the police, but I think she’s running scared.

Do you think Greg …? He couldn’t even say it. The clatter from forks on plates and murmured conversations disappeared behind him.

He’s still in Mountain Green. I saw him yesterday and he had the nerve to try to talk to me, try to ask me how Miriam was since their breakup. Lowell’s voice faltered. I want you to find her, Clay, and then I want you to protect her.

Do you have any idea where she’d go?

A few.

It was a big world. Miriam could be anywhere. He closed his eyes and pictured her smile, which was rarely cast in his direction. She was always ticked at him for teasing her nonstop, but he’d still been pathetically devoted to her his entire life.

A hand on his arm brought an end to his memories. Clay? the Carol/Caroline girl asked.

Clay gave her a brilliant smile and lifted his hand, palm up. I’ll find her, sir, he said into the phone. Send me any information you have.

Bless you, son.

Don’t start blessing me yet. Pray for me, though. Clay hung up and turned to the redhead. I apologize, but I need to cut our night short. Let me get an Uber for you.

She scowled at him. I thought we were having a great time.

One of the best first dates I’ve ever had. Clay winked at her. But duty calls. Clay tapped the Uber app, his mind already spinning with what he would say and do when he found Miriam Salisbury. He’d had to watch her date Greg for years, and now the loser had finally shown his true character. No way was he letting the guy hurt the woman he’d had a crush on since he was a teenager.

CHAPTER TWO

Miriam checked the locks on the doors for the fifth time. She glanced out the side-door window at the copse of trees closest to the house. It was almost full dark outside, but up here in Coos Bay, Oregon, all the trees surrounding the house made it seem murky and dark even in the daytime. She’d only been here a couple of days and it had rained off and on the entire time, making her question her wisdom almost every hour. She should’ve escaped to the Caribbean or Maui, full of bright sunshine to chase the shadows of Greg away. Instead she hid in a forest of pine trees and redwoods, wishing she dared go outside and explore and hike.

To pass the time, she’d buckled down and gotten to work. The sound of her own voice recording audiobooks kept her company, though it was a little eerie. The closeness of the flimsy foam walls of her portable sound booth made her feel claustrophobic, something she’d never felt before Greg started his threats. The sound booth at her cottage in Alabama was her sanctuary. This collapsible one was much smaller, but it was all she had right now.

She walked into the kitchen. A cup of cocoa might help her relax, but she’d hardly dared sleep since she came here. Hopefully no one knew where she was. She felt bad not sharing her escape plans with her parents, but she didn’t know to what lengths Greg would go to in order to find her, and she wasn’t going to put her parents in danger. This house was in her mom’s best friend’s name, a connection she didn’t think Greg would find. Her family had come here a few times when she was in middle school and thankfully Miriam had always been good with directions. She knew her adopted aunt, Judy, wouldn’t mind her staying here, and Miriam also knew Judy’s family spent Christmastime in St. Thomas so she would have the place to herself. Thank heavens the key had been hidden in the same spot under the wraparound porch and the power and everything was