Committed to a Billionaire

By Marie Higgins

In the aftermath of a painful divorce, Christine McKenna dedicates herself to guiding others on their journey to recovery as a physical therapist. Little does she realize, she's the one in need of healing. Enter Aedan, whose charming demeanor sparks a glimmer of hope in Christine's wary heart. But her past wounds run deep, leaving her hesitant to trust again.

 

Aedan Donovan is no stranger to chasing after the wrong women, often finding himself ensnared in complications. Yet, when fate leads him to Christine's care, he discovers a rare connection he can't ignore. Despite her reluctance, Aedan is determined to break through Christine's defenses, convinced that their bond is worth the risk.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marie Higgins
• Release date: Aug 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9798223653332

Marie Higgins

Marie Higgins is a multi-published author of romance; from refined bad-boy heroes who makes your heart melt to the feisty heroines who somehow manage to love them regardless of their faults. Visit her website / blog to discover more about her – http://mariehiggins84302.blogspot.com Since Marie Higgins was a little girl playing Barbies with her sister, Stacey, she has loved the adventure of making up romantic stories. Marie was only eighteen years old when she wrote her first skit, which won an award for Funniest Skit. A little later in life, after she’d married and had children, Marie wrote Church roadshows that were judged as Funniest and Best Written. From there, she branched out to write full-length novels based on her dreams. (Yes, she says, her dreams really are that silly) Marie has been married for twenty-six years to a wonderful man. Together, they have three loving daughters and several beautiful grandchildren. Marie works full time for the state of Utah, where she has lived her entire life. Marie plans to keep writing, because the characters in her head won’t shut up. But her husband smiles and pretends this is normal.

Book preview

As a physical therapist, Christine McKenna is committed to helping her patients find their healing path. Coming off the end of a nasty divorce, however, she may be the one in need of healing. When she meets Aedan, it’s clear he’d be happy to help her in that regard, but her heart isn’t ready to trust men again. With the skeletons hiding in her closet, she may never open her heart to another again.

Aedan Donovan has a bad habit of pursuing women that he can’t – or shouldn’t – have. His penchant for unavailable women has a tendency to land him in a lot of trouble, and this time it’s gotten him hurt and in for a long haul of physical therapy. The moment he lays eyes on his therapist, he’s smitten, and for once, the girl he’s attracted to is available. Unfortunately, she doesn’t seem to feel the same way about him. Despite her initial rejection, Aedan can’t deny that there is something in Christine’s eyes that tell him she’s worth fighting for.

ONE

Aedan Donovan shifted uncomfortably on the hospital bed, his body screaming in pain because he refused to take pain pills. This wasn’t a good way to start his new career after being in the military for eight years.

He watched his older brother’s expression warily. Knowing Drew, he was going to say something that would make Aedan feel three-inches tall. Maybe smaller.

Drew stood in front of Aedan’s bed, smoothing his trimmed dark brown facial whiskers and shaking his head. A gleam of humor lit up his eyes as his mouth pulled into a grin.

You’re definitely a special kind of klutz, dear brother. He chuckled. I can’t believe you messed up your legs as badly as you did. You’ve always been athletic, so what did you do this time?

Inwardly, Aedan groaned. Well, you see –

Oh, no. Let me guess. Drew’s eyes widened. You were jogging in the park and you weren’t watching where you were going so you tripped over some guy’s dog. He paused and then shook his head. No, better yet – it was a beautiful woman’s dog, and since you had to make yourself noticeable, you did a couple of cartwheels and ended with the splits.

Aedan rolled his eyes. Wrong... and wrong. He shifted on the mattress again, gritting his teeth against the pain. All I was doing was playing racquetball and I lunged for the ball, but I crashed into the wall... literally.

Drew arched an eyebrow. Did you break the wall?

Yeah. I almost broke my back, too. See if I ever make a bet when it comes to sports.

Then you deserve your pain. Haven’t you learned not to bet? And you really shouldn’t act like you’re better than others.

I don’t act like I’m better.

Drew folded his arms and cocked his head. And how many other guys do you know who lunge for the ball and crash into the wall?

Aedan shrugged. I thought I could beat him. In fact, if I hadn’t hit the wall like I did, I could have won. Come to think about it, he laughed, I was one point ahead.

Drew shook his head. Yeah, right. He paused briefly. So, what’s next on your recovery agenda? How long will you be lying here, looking like the hunk-of-the-month on those trashy women magazines?

Aedan laughed lightly over his brother’s comparison. The doctor said that I will have to stay this way just until the swelling goes down. Then he wants me to go to a physical therapist three times a week.

Drew pulled at his tie that matched his three-piece-suit to perfection. Of course, Drew was a billionaire and so must play the part. Aedan hadn’t quite earned the billions his brother and father had, but he was on his way.

Aedan, you’re just one unlucky man, aren’t you? He shook his head sadly.

Yes, dear brother, I am. I really am.

Even though Drew didn’t say the words, Aedan knew what his brother was thinking. It seemed like Aedan’s whole life had been one mistake after another. Actually, Aedan had only done two things right in his life. The first had been when he joined the military to fight for his country. He served eight consecutive years as a Military Policeman and had been given an honorary release four months ago.

The second thing he’d done right was invest in a computer software business that was selling well. He predicted the future would bring him to making as much money as his old man and younger brother.

But those other things in Aedan’s life had been miserable and had definitely brought him bad luck. It all started when he found out that his wife of three years, whom he had loved and trusted with all of his heart, had been cheating on him. Not with just one man, but several. She even had the nerve to hit upon his own brother, Drew, two years ago.

The memory still made his gut churn with disgust. At the time, he’d thought Drew had been the instigator, but it didn’t take long for Aedan to see how unfaithful his wife really was. After their divorce, most of his close friends had become distant, treating Aedan like he was a social disease. It made him wonder if she had been with his friends like that, too.

When he finally started dating again, he noticed that the women were only after him because of his father’s wealth. They treated Aedan like a military trophy, and not the man he really was.

Six months ago, he’d thought he had met the woman of his dreams – one he could live the rest of his life with, in fact. She was beautiful and kind and had also been through a painful divorce, so they related quite well. Unfortunately, she’d already given her heart to someone else by the time he met her. She was having problems with her relationship, so he stepped in as a friend to help her get her boyfriend back. But he was just her friend, and she eventually worked out her problems and married the other man.

Once again, Aedan struck out with love.

At twenty-eight, he was too old for life’s heartaches. He’d been kicked down so many times, he was tired of pulling himself back up again. Maybe that was why he wasn’t watching himself when he tripped over his own two feet as he crashed into the wall, ripping and damaging the muscles in his legs. Maybe he was just tired of trying so hard.

Yeah, well nobody could be as lucky as you and have the perfect wife and child, big brother, Aedan told Drew.

His older brother smiled wide, his deep blue eyes sparkling with fulfillment. Yes, I was one lucky guy when I met my Tynell.

How is little Charles?

Drew beamed all over. He is growing like a weed. Can you believe he is starting to crawl now?

Yeah, they don’t stay babies for long.

No, they don’t.

How is... Aedan really shouldn’t have started the question, but he just had to know about the woman he’d once loved and couldn’t have. How are Bridget and Zack and their little girl?

They are doing great, and little Rebecca is as pretty as an angel.

She takes after her mother, then. Aedan frowned, thinking about the beautiful redhead.

Drew nodded. Yes, and she even has the same curly red hair, too.

Oh. Aedan replied, his spirits sinking a notch. He hadn’t seen Bridget since she married Zack Lovett –