The Billionaire's Secret (The Tycoons, #4) Read online

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  The Billionaire’s Secret

  The Tycoons Series Book 4

  (Previously Published as It Must Have Been the Mistletoe)

  Copyright © 2013 by Marie Higgins

  Editing by Lynda Floyd and Veronica Mesia

  Cover Design by Sheri McGathy

  Edition License Notes

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  The Billionaire's Secret (The Tycoons, #4)

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  EPILOGUE

  OTHER BILLIONAIRE STORIES ON AMAZON & KINDLE UNLIMITED

  Other published stories from Marie Higgins

  Author’s Bio

  Justin Monroe's future father-in-law wants him dead. Running for his life, Justin escapes from his wedding rehearsal and heads for the hills. A January snowstorm and a stowaway are the last things he needs.

  Brooke Cavanaugh awakens in the back seat of the wrong car and is confronted with more than a blizzard. Although leery of men, Justin captures her interest ... and her heart. But she’s not prepared for his secret and how it might change her life.

  ONE

  “HOW DO YOU WANT IT done? Clean or really messy?”

  “Clean. My daughter doesn’t need to see blood.”

  Justin Monroe paused in the hallway of the semi-empty church as he heard his soon-to-be father-in-law talking to someone with a gruff voice. The voices were low, and they came from around the corner. The tone of the men’s voices left a bitter taste in Justin’s mouth.

  He glanced up the hallway. People were starting to arrive for the wedding rehearsal, and Justin had wandered the halls, looking for his soon-to-be father-in-law. Being a busy man, time was important to Justin. In less than three years, he’d turned his father’s oil company into a billion-dollar business, and keeping it successful took up most of Justin’s day.

  He pulled out his cell phone to check the time. The rehearsal was already running five minutes late.

  “I’ll wait until after their honeymoon in Fiji,” the man with the brusque voice said.

  Justin’s attention snapped back to the conversation he was eavesdropping on. He was going to the Fiji islands for the honeymoon.

  “Actually,” Tony Pierpont’s voice lowered slightly, “I want you to follow them on their honeymoon. Cut the air tank to Justin’s scuba gear or something, but I don’t want my daughter returning home with a husband.”

  Bile rose in Justin’s throat and his stomach churned. Taking quiet steps away from the murderous men, Justin turned down another hallway in the church. From down the hall, walked Justin’s best man, Brad Young. Justin motioned toward the closest room before walking in first. Once Brad was inside, Justin closed the door.

  Brad’s eyes widened. “Monroe, your face is as white as a ghost.”

  Slowly, Justin nodded. “I just overheard Robin’s father plotting my murder.”

  As he told Brad what he’d heard, the other man’s face turned pale, too.

  “Get out of here, Justin. Now!” Brad pointed toward the window that overlooked the parking lot of the church. “I’ll stall everyone at the rehearsal. But you need to get out of here before Pierpont ropes you into marrying his daughter in two days.”

  Confused thoughts jumbled around in Justin’s head. He couldn’t think straight. He actually didn’t know what to believe. It wasn’t every day that someone threatened his life.

  “I... just don’t know, Brad.” He stared at his friend. “You don’t know Robin’s father like I do. I don’t doubt he is connected to the mafia. If I leave right now, they’ll find me one way or another.”

  Brad’s lips thinned in frustration as he ran his fingers through his blond hair. “But you can’t stay here, either. Marrying Robin will only pull you deeper into the family’s clutches. If you don’t escape now...”

  “I know, I know,” Justin muttered as he rubbed the ache in his forehead. Slowly, he moved to the window of the church – the same church that was built to protect people from the sins of the world and make them feel saved. Yet right now, Justin felt far from being saved and it had nothing to do with his faith.

  The late morning light gradually dimmed as storm clouds grew thick in the sky, preparing for the upcoming snowstorm. If he left right now, would he reach the airport that was two hours away before the blizzard hit? He doubted it. And of course, he didn’t have any place to hide in Montana.

  Justin Monroe had recently claimed the status of a billionaire – something he’d worked very hard at accomplishing – but this was the first time he’d felt so helpless, knowing that his money wouldn’t do him any good now.

  “I can’t go, Brad.”

  His friend groaned. “Seriously? Are you trying to tell me that you’re madly in love with Robin and you can’t leave her?”

  Justin swung away from the window and aimed his glare at Brad. “You already know the answer to that.” He shook his head, not believing his friend would use that excuse. He and Brad had been best friends for years. They’d been through many things together. They’d played the dating game – actually they controlled it for a while, in fact. Both men had broken women’s hearts and had been hurt in return. They told each other everything. And more importantly, they watched out for each other, as close brothers would.

  “What I meant to say was,” Justin continued, “if I leave right now, I’ll have no place to go. There’s no way I’ll make it to the airport before the storm hits.”

  Brad grumbled as he dug into his pants pocket. “You’re right. The airport is too far. Besides, once Robin’s father discovers you’re gone, the airport will be the first place he’ll look.” He withdrew a set of keys and tossed them to Justin. “You’ll have to stay at my cabin. Nobody will find you there. Now get going, Monroe. The clock is ticking.”

  Justin nodded as he grabbed the keys and rushed out the door. He hurried down the hallway of the church, his heartbeat hammering out of control. Voices carrying through the corridor made him step into an empty room to take cover. Flattening against a wall, he held his breath.

  Heavy footsteps came near then faded as they passed down the hallway. Whoever it was took quick steps toward the back of the building to join the energetic crowd awaiting the wedding rehearsal. Once silence settled over the hall, Justin sighed and peered around the panel. Empty.

  Swift and sure of his getaway, he hurried to the nearest exit and crept out of the church. The icy January wind whipped around him, and he zipped up his black aviator jacket, pulling the sheepskin collar closer to his neck to shield him from the elements.

  Dark gray clouds had thickened over the city in just a few minutes. The big snowstorm that the news had predicted would be here sooner than the weather meteorologist predicted. According to the weather report, Montana was getting at least two feet of snow. Justin doubted he’d make it to Brad’s mountain hideaway before heavy white flakes blanketed the ground, but he’d try his best.

  He surveyed the vehicle-laden lot and spotted his silver Corvet
te Coupe sandwiched between two trucks that had parked too close for him to get inside. His heart sank. He wouldn’t be getting out of there anytime soon. Besides that, he didn’t know how far his Coupe would take him in snow-packed conditions.

  Panic tightened his chest as he glanced around the field of cars once more, this time looking for his best friend’s Jeep. Brad had arrived at the church late this afternoon, so there was a good chance he’d parked on the street.

  Lady Luck seemed to be on Justin’s side as he spotted the red Jeep Cherokee parked alone. He glanced over his shoulder. Nobody followed him yet, but he needed to hurry to make sure they didn’t.

  As he reached the Jeep, the first frigid blade of snow stabbed his cheek. Cursing the weather, he climbed in and closed the door. Keeping a keen eye on the church’s front double doors, he groped under the seat for the key. Not there.

  His mind drifted back to his wilder days when he could hot-wire a car in less than a minute, but before the memory broadened, keys already in the ignition brushed against his hand.

  Whew. You’re one lucky man, Monroe.

  He started the Jeep and took off, switching his focus between the street and the rearview mirror until he reached the freeway. Nobody followed, and hopefully his friend had been right when assuming they would guess where to find him once news broke out amongst those gathered inside the church.

  Justin glanced at the clock on the disc player and swiped his fingers through his hair. He heaved a sigh. Within five minutes, everyone would know, especially the people who wanted him dead.

  Letting out a mock laugh, he shook his head. I must be crazy. Yet, a death threat was no laughing matter.

  Most men dreamed of having Robin Pierpont to claim as their own. Although Justin had been dating her off and on for the past two years, he really hadn’t known her at all. She acted as if she just wanted to be friends until she discovered how much was in his bank account. It didn’t take long before his meddlesome mother did her best to join the two families.

  Each mile closer to his destination, the tightness around his chest lessened. And with each jolt from the rough, slippery climb up the road as he entered the canyon, he breathed a little easier. He hadn’t thought about what he’d do once he settled himself at the cabin. How long could he stay there before someone discovered his hideout? Then where would he go? He couldn’t run forever. But Brad promised he’d collect the information needed to get Mr. Pierpont and the hit man arrested. Hopefully, that wouldn’t take too long. Justin had a billion-dollar company to run.

  Pulling away from his thoughts, he stopped at a gas station to purchase some food before he made the trek up the snow-covered mountain. Knowing Brad, he probably wouldn’t have a lot of food stocked at the cabin.

  By the time Justin left the store, the storm had arrived in full-blown fury. He switched the Jeep into four-wheel-drive and began to climb. At least he could anticipate his weekend alone in the cabin. The relaxation and solitude were dearly needed, but he wouldn’t be able to unwind until he figured out how to save his hide.

  Why hadn’t he seen the signs of Robin’s father being involved with bad people? Of course, Justin was too busy running his own company to worry about other people’s mistakes. Dating Robin had been one of his worst mistakes.

  An unexpected sound whispered through the vehicle, and Justin’s thoughts ground to a halt. He switched his gaze to the disc player but knew it hadn’t come from there. Strange as it seemed, it sounded like someone sighing.

  He shook his head, dismissing the improbable noise, but within seconds he heard it again. It came from the back seat. He glanced behind him. A brown blanket covered the lumpy seat.

  Then the blanket moved.

  Grumbling, he maneuvered the vehicle to the side of the road and stopped. He turned in his seat and touched the blanket. From beneath came another sigh.

  “What the...”

  Justin jumped out of the Jeep and yanked opened the backdoor. The fierce wind blew the snow against him. Whipping the blanket away, he stared in disbelief. Sleeping curled on her side was a petite woman with waves of white-blonde hair streaked with gold cascading down the middle of her back. A fur-lined jacket wrapped around her shoulders, and a black miniskirt stretched tight around her hips. Black heels hooked onto shapely bare legs. Curious, he ran his gaze up and down her curvy form.

  The woman sighed again and rolled to her back, stretching her legs on the seat, brushing against him. Her face was delicate with high cheekbones, full lashes and heart-shaped lips. Crap! He didn’t need this right now. And why was she in Brad’s Jeep? His friend was happily married – and not to this woman.

  He shook his head, grumbling under his breath. What was he supposed to do with her? Darkness was nearly upon them. Traveling back down the slick mountain roads to return her to civilization was out of the question, especially if someone noticed him and informed Robin’s father. The storm was already too fierce. Yet, Justin didn’t want to take her with him to the cabin, either. He needed time alone to re-evaluate his life and to think of a way to save his neck.

  The woman sighed again, and her eyelashes fluttered. Justin closed the door before throwing himself behind the wheel again. After slamming his door, he turned and glanced over the seat. The noise must have jerked the woman out of her sleep and her eyes came fully open. As he waited for her to attain full consciousness, he mumbled a curse at Lady Luck for messing up his weekend.

  TWO

  I MUST BE DREAMING.

  The strange man in Brooke Cavanaugh’s dream pierced her with his angry stare. Closing her eyes, she tried to make him disappear.

  The uncomfortable lump resting against her hip roused her further out of her prescription-drug induced slumber. Awareness gradually surrounded her, sending a loud ring through her ears. She stretched the aches out of her limbs, and her arms bumped into an object above her head. Her fuzzy mind tried to recall what surface she’d rested upon. It certainly wasn’t a soft bed. Her stiff muscles were positioned on some type of cushion with a texture like leather. Groggily, she tried to remember why in heaven’s name she would sleep on leather.

  Her memory returned in broken pieces – a wedding rehearsal she hadn’t wanted to attend, a reoccurring migraine, and two instead of one-prescription pills had caused her to slip from the boring proceedings of the rehearsal to seek refuge in her sister’s car.

  Yawning, she forced her eyes open. The darkened sky gave evidence to the evening hour. She blinked and mentally shook the fuzziness from her head. Immediately the strange man appeared again, sitting in the front seat of her sister’s car, twisting around with his eyes narrowed on her. The scowl furrowing his brow made her gasp. She slowly straightened to a sitting position, fright causing her heart to pound out of control.

  Although his angry stare sliced right through her, his good looks were also very disturbing. Hair as black as midnight, loosely brushed his jacket collar. A square jaw emphasized his stern expression and gave him a natural male ruggedness. Lips were full, yet thinned at this moment, and from what she could see of his shoulders and neck, he looked to be very muscular. His trimmed goatee let her know he was a well-groomed man who cared about his appearance.

  He was too handsome to be real – which meant he wasn’t real. The whole thing seemed a little odd. She had no desire for a man in her life, conjured or otherwise. He must be in her nightmare... one she couldn’t wake up from. She rubbed her eyes and looked again, but the man was still there.

  “Hello.” Irritation laced his baritone voice.

  Her heart skipped at the sound, and a shiver of anxiety swept over her. What was he doing in her sister’s car? She prayed he wasn’t trying to car-jack the vehicle with her in it!

  “Who are you?” she asked softly.

  “Justin. Who are you?”

  Justin. The name didn’t sound familiar. “Brooke Cavanaugh.”

  “Miss Cavanaugh, let’s skip the formalities and get to the major question. What are you doing in this
Jeep?” The scowl came back, stronger this time, making his whole face hard.

  Her heart accelerated from his belligerent tone. “Jeep? This isn’t a Jeep. This is my sister’s car.” Panic welled inside her as she quickly surveyed the inside of the vehicle.

  He laughed harshly. “No, this is not your sister’s car. This is a Jeep. How else could I have driven this far in the snow and in four-wheel-drive?”

  A breath caught in her throat. “Oh, I’m so sorry, you see, I had a terrible headache... I must have gotten into the wrong car... um, Jeep.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, the falling snow pulled her attention to the window. From what she could tell, she was in the mountains. The amount of snow covering the road led her to believe they were at a high altitude. “Where in the blazes are we?”

  “We’re still in Montana but close to the border. I was on my way to a cabin to spend some peaceful time relaxing and enjoying myself – by myself.”

  Blood rushed to her cheeks, turning her face hot. “Why... why did you bring me all this way if you wanted to be alone?”

  “Because I didn’t know you were there. Believe me, if I’d known you were in the backseat, I would have gotten rid of you sooner.”

  Gotten rid of me? He didn’t have to make it sound like it was the end of the world. Humiliation swept over her, twisting her stomach into knots. “I said I was sorry. Can’t you just turn around and take me back?”

  He shook his head and pushed his fingers through his hair. “Didn’t you hear a word I said? We’re in the mountains, little lady, which is three hours from the parking lot you thought you were in, and I was on my way to a peaceful retreat. You’ve spoiled everything.”

  “Yes, I heard you.” She lifted her voice. “But as you can see, I can’t exactly get out and hail down a taxi, now can I? So, the way I see it, if you don’t want any company during your little retreat, then I suggest you take me back.”

  He glared at her for one last second, then turned in his seat and gripped the steering wheel. His white knuckles testified to his anger, so she hesitated to say any more. Periodically, his gaze clashed with hers in the rearview mirror, but he quickly looked away.