The Betting Billionaire: A Sweet Second Chance Romance

By Ann Hardy

In this sweet second-chance romance, Dalton is determined to rekindle his romance with the only woman he's ever loved. On hiatus for Christmas break, he heads to Port St. Austen, the small beach town he grew up in. The woman he intends to fight for is as beautiful as ever.

Lydia has a great job working for the exclusive Port St. Austen country club and is focusing all of her attention on getting back on the financial track she set for herself. But when Dalton shows up, all of her best-laid plans and her determination to lay off the sweets fly right out the window. Still, she refuses to let him see how glad she is to have him nearby. He hurt her when he left college and joined the pro football league.

But every time he's near her heart flutters, and her pulse quickens. The man knows how to push all of her buttons, and soon enough, she's craving him more than her sweet snacks, especially his kisses.

Except, is he playing her again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Booklover Legion
• Release date: Jan 6, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215694503

Book preview

Chapter 1

Dalton Ruff admired the bright lights of Denver. They glittered by as he stared out the window into the night. The landscape was different from the small-town sandy beaches and balmy weather he’d grown up in, but between the snow and the Rocky Mountains, he’d fallen for his new home, and he loved the state of Colorado. 

One of his best friends and teammates on the Colorado Cowboys, Tim, sat beside him, his eyes closed, his head resting against the seat. Dalton shook his head mirthlessly, unsure whether Tim was sleeping or praying. Both sounded like great ideas. Dalton was tired. Exhausted really. And not just because he’d spent the last several hours in jail. 

The past few years playing football had been a whirlwind, each day blurring into the next like the lights outside the car window. Not that he hadn’t enjoyed it. He had. Football saved him in more ways than one since his parents died. Without it, he shuddered to think where he might be instead. But he was eager to have the week off. Christmas was six days away, and then he had to be back to check in with the team the day after that. It would be a nice opportunity to rejuvenate his mind and possibly his heart. 

Will you wake me up when we reach the hotel? Dalton asked the driver. 

Sure thing, buddy. The elderly gentleman with twin caterpillar eyebrows scrutinized him in the rear-view mirror. 

Thanks. Dalton’s permanent residence was situated in Denver's upscale suburb, more than a forty-five-minute drive from the town’s epicenter. Since he had the Christmas charity dinner for the Denver Pediatrics Hospital earlier that night and had to catch a flight to Florida early the next morning, he’d decided to stay at a hotel near the airport. Tim had done the same thing since he was flying out to Montana for Christmas. 

Preach, he whispered, using the nickname the whole team had given Tim over the years since he’d been with the team. The running back murmured but didn’t respond.

It was better that way. Dalton had a lot to think about. He closed his eyes, resting his head against the chilly window. It was soothing against his hot skin. God, help me do some good, he prayed silently. He couldn’t help thinking about the trouble he and his friends had gotten into earlier in the evening. The night started out great. He went to a formal charity dinner with every intention of finding the most beautiful woman in the room and flirting the whole night. But then his best friend, Oliver James, the team’s quarterback, had gotten into a verbal tussle with an irritating paparazzi. Dalton had gone to defend his friend, and somehow, he and four of his teammates wound up in jail. 

Jail! 

Not a great way to start his break. His role as wide receiver had been taking its toll—on his body and his mind. Time away from Denver and his football team was precisely what he needed. Besides, when the team’s owner found out what happened tonight, someone would pay. Dalton had no desire to be in the same room with Mr. Hobbs when that happened… which brought his thoughts around to the bet. 

Oliver, who was the quarterback, suggested a friendly Christmas wager. After some deliberation, all five jailbirds agreed. The bet was simple. Find their first love or the girl who got away, ask her out on a date, and kiss her before Christmas. The loser had to tell the team’s owner, Mr. Hobbs, what happened with the jerk paparazzi. 

At the thought of breaking the news to the owner, he winced. 

Dalton refused to fail. That wasn’t an option. 

The details of the bet sounded easy enough in theory. But they weren’t. At least not for him. The love of his life was a woman named Lydia Landon. They met their freshman year of college, and as soon as he’d seen her jogging around the college track during his first football practice, he’d fallen head over heels. By the end of their sophomore year, they’d talked about marrying after graduation. Lydia was everything he wanted in a woman. She was beautiful, inside and out—blonde hair, creamy skin, and brown eyes that changed color according to how she felt. Her eyes were like mood rings. Sometimes they lit up with flecks of gold. Other times, when they were kissing, they would turn to caramel. 

At thoughts of her, he gritted his teeth. She dumped him when he decided to go pro instead of finishing college. She hadn’t supported him and his dreams. Instead, she’d believed he would play his little game until school ended and then get a real job. A jolt of pain shot through his heart at the memory of their last fight before he left. It boiled down to one thing. She hadn’t believed in him. 

Since that day, Dalton had spent most of his time focusing on the game that’d saved him from himself. He believed football was life. Keeping his eye on the prize had served him well. Any downtime was spent dating, clubbing, exercising, or tinkering with cars.

We’re here, the driver said. 

Thanks. Dalton paid the driver, giving him a generous tip. Merry Christmas.

Uh-huh.

The night was chilly, a brisk bite in the air that nipped at his ears and nose. 

Come on, man. Dalton clapped Preach on the back as he stumbled tiredly out of the car. 

They went through the hotel lobby, rode the elevator, and walked to their doors, which happened to be across the hall from each other, in silence. When Dalton had his door open, he turned to his teammate. You’d best be thinking about what you’re going to say to Mr. Hobbs because I’m winning this bet. The corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled. He had zero ideas about how he was going to win. Sure, he was flying to Florida, and Lydia only lived two hours away from Port St. Austen, but could he make the call? And what if she was married? That seemed highly probable. Any man would be lucky to have a woman like Lydia as his wife. She probably even had kids. That thought sent an ache through his heart. Was it worth it to him? Like the roar of a lion came a resounding yes. He would find her. He just wasn’t sure where to start. But if she were available, he would find a way to win her back. 

Preach chuckled. Don’t be too sure, Ruff. I happen to know my girl is recently single and, if she’ll have me, I’m going to crawl back into her life and beg her to be my wife. 

Dalton studied his friend’s face. The man was determined. Without a doubt, he knew Preach meant what he said. We’ll see, bro. Night. 

Night. Have a good week.

You too. 

***

The flight to Florida had been turbulent, but thankfully it was over, and he was driving in his high-end rental car to his brother’s place. It wasn’t a long drive, about forty minutes, but it gave him time to develop a plan to approach Lydia. Should he drive to Gainesville and demand she see him? Or contact her via social media? That seemed the easiest. At least then, if she was married, he wouldn’t have to see her with him or the beautiful children she created with someone else. 

And what if she was married? Then what? There wasn’t another woman he’d loved like her. He’d barely liked his last girlfriend if he were honest. Sure, he’d bought her a car, but that had been a last-ditch effort. A way to make something out of their relationship that wasn’t there. The fact that she’d cheated was a blessing though her rejection still stung, especially since his teammates continually harassed him about it.

Dalton took the Port St. Austen exit. To his left was the ocean and his pulse immediately picked up. He was home! It would be good to see his brother Tristin again. It’d been a year since they’d met up in person, though they spoke on the phone once a week to discuss finances. Tristin was his accountant, and Dalton was beyond grateful. He’d helped Dalton set up his retirement fund, invest his money wisely, and recently they’d discussed Dalton’s desire to start a nonprofit program, though he wasn’t sure what he wanted it to be yet. He knew most families didn’t have the kind of relationship he and Trist did, but then most families hadn’t gone through what he and his brother had. It still cracked him up that Tristin had changed his last name to Collins after Dalton started playing pro ball. It’d happened after Dalton won Offensive Player of the Year. Tristin had been engaged to his now-wife, but at the time, she’d nearly broken things off with him because of all the girls she had to contend with. Dalton liked to tease his brother that he was hot by association. Tristin hadn’t found it funny.

Up ahead and off to the side of the road, Dalton noticed a family standing beside an old car. The hood was popped, and smoke swirled out of it. The man was on the phone, pacing back and forth.

Glancing in the rear-view mirror, Dalton flipped on the blinker and pressed the brakes, slowing the oversized SUV. The mom noticed his car and rounded up her children like a hen gathering her chicks and gave his car a cautious glare. He didn’t blame her. The dad ended his call and stood in front of them in a warrior stance. 

Dalton smiled as he rolled down the window. Hey. He spoke kindly, giving them a friendly I-am-not-a-serial-killer wave. At least that was what he hoped. Can I lend a hand? 

The man took a step toward him, and Dalton got out of his vehicle. You know anything about cars? the man asked. 

A little. He knew a lot about cars. His father had been a mechanic. As a kid, he and his dad had spent hundreds of hours under the hood. Even now, tinkering with engines was his favorite pastime outside of football. Want me to take a look?

The man sighed heavily. That would be great. He shook his head. I was driving. There was a noise, and the car stopped. We pushed the car off the road, but… He paused, shaking his head again. I’m at a loss.

Dalton followed the man over to the front of the car. I’m Dalton Ruff, he said, extending his hand.

Eric Garvin. The man shook his hand. That’s my wife Isabel and our children, Ashton, Carla, and Evie.

Dalton waved, hoping to ease their wariness. Nice to meet you all. Thankfully, the weather in Florida was nothing like the weather in Denver. He’d gone from freezing temperatures there to the high sixties here. He took a deep breath, realizing how much he’d missed Florida weather. Beyond the smell of burning car fluids was the scent of the ocean. Later, he intended to take a run along the beach. There was something altogether amazing about running alongside crashing waves while birds screeched and danced above the water.

Hey, are you, Ruff, as in Dalton Ruff of the Colorado Cowboys? Eric asked, awe in his voice. 

You follow football? Dalton asked, twisting one of the tubes in the old vehicle. The car needed a new radiator belt, but he wasn’t sure how to break the news. While they appeared happy, the family didn’t seem well off, and fixing the car would cost a good chunk of money. Dalton remembered what it was like to have to choose between eating lunch at school or skipping dinner. After his and Tristin’s parents died, Tristin had agreed to be Dalton’s guardian. They’d received enough money to pay for the funeral and pay off their parents’ house, which Tristin still lived in, but that was it. Tristin had gotten a full-time job while going to night school. It’d been a rough couple of years until Dalton received a full ride to Gainesville College on a football scholarship, and times had been beyond tight. It was one of the main reasons why he was mostly frugal with his money now. Other than the car he’d bought for his ex-girlfriend, he liked to save. 

He loves it, Isabel said, coming over to them, the children in tow. The oldest was the boy who crossed his arms, trying to appear tough. 

You’re something of a local hero. Eric crossed his arms and watched while Dalton worked. Getting out of this small town and making a name for yourself. That’s something. The man seemed impressed, and that warmed Dalton’s heart. He knew he was blessed, receiving millions for throwing around a football, and he tried not to let it go to his head.

I don’t know about that, but thanks for saying so. Dalton came around the car and noticed the frayed ends of Isabel’s shirt and clenched his hands into fists, making another split-second decision that might get him into trouble with his brother slash accountant, but it would be worth it. "So, listen, this isn’t something