Stranded With The Billionaire by Brynn Paulin

Chapter Two

~ Lily ~

Just after eight the next morning, I walked out of my parents’ house with my purse and a small, rolling travel bag. I’d left behind a few things in my old room, but I didn’t need more than was in my single piece of luggage. Most of my belongings had already been shipped from my dorm at school to Blue Water Plantation.

I’d left my parents a note explaining I would not be marrying Kyle or any other man of their choosing. I was starting my new job.

“Ms. Lily,” Marta whispered just as I stepped onto the front porch. She rushed toward me, eyeing my case. I hugged her quickly.

“You haven’t seen me,” I pleaded. “As far as you know, I’m still in bed. In a few hours, you can check on me and discover I’m gone. Okay?”

“Why?” she asked in sorrowful disbelief. “You just got home.”

I glanced toward the steps, afraid to see my mother there. I’d hoped to get out of here without an issue. “I have a job. I’m not marrying that man. He’s the one who…”

I trailed off. After Kyle had attacked me, Stella had freaked out. Not knowing what to do, she’d called my parents’ house. They’d been out of town, but Marta had come to take care of me.

Her eyes hardened with understanding. “Go.” She hugged me tight, so much more my mother than my own had ever been. “I’ll miss you so much. You’d better let me know you’re okay.”

“I will. I’ll email you; I promise!”

With that, I rushed down to the cab that waited in the circular drive. I knew Eleanora should sleep until nearly noon and my father was at his office, miles away, but I didn’t want to take any chances with one of them acting out of character then catching me on my way out. I was an adult, but they still held too much power over me. I intended that to change right this moment.

My nerves didn’t settle until I was safely on the plane. I knew they wouldn’t fully calm until I got to my final destination. Yesterday, the determination in Kyle’s gaze had scared me—that look as well as my past history with him. His expression had more than told me he hadn’t changed. If anything, he’d grown into his psycho behavior and gotten worse. Perhaps, that was my imagination and my hatred of him, but I wasn’t taking any chances.

After fastening my seatbelt, I powered off my phone, not just putting it on airplane mode. I wouldn’t put it past my father to have a tracer on my cell, just to be sure I stayed where they put me. Maybe, I should have left it behind, but I didn’t want anyone getting their hands on it and hacking into my information. Thank goodness, I’d been careful about my email address and set it up so it wasn’t easily associated with me.

I closed my eyes and sighed. Twenty-two years old and running away from home.

Ridiculous.

Unfortunately, it was the situation my family had thrust me into. I knew if they stopped me during my journey to freedom, they’d strong arm me into exactly what they wanted. Definitely not happening! I’d waited too long for freedom and autonomy. I’d worked too hard for it. Nothing would stop me now.

My fingers tapped nervously on my thighs as I stared at the time on the fitness tracker on my wrist. I tried to take deep breaths like I did in my yoga practice. Each inhale carried the faint scent of jet fuel. Usually, that excited me. I liked to travel even if I didn’t often get the opportunity. This time, it didn’t rev me up—not in a positive way, anyway. Every moment we sat on the tarmac, I expected a member of my dad’s security team to thunder onto the craft and drag me back to my parents. Unlike with the house staff, I had no sway with the security detail. They were completely in my father’s pocket, doing whatever he wanted, no matter how sketchy.

My breath whooshed from me when the doors shut and were secured. Through my window, I saw the gate pulling away from the side of the plane, then we started rolling. Still, I only calmed a little once the engines roared, we hurtled into the air and the wheels clunked up inside the belly of the aircraft.

Relaxing and feeling safe for the first time today, I finally appreciated the first-class seat David had booked for me. The generous leg and elbow room. The cushy seat. The white wine, fruit and cloth napkin placed before me once we leveled out. Usually, I was sardined in with those in the rear section. My parents were wealthy, but I’d never—never!—flown anything but coach. Glancing around, I saw there weren’t very many people up here, just a businessman immersed in something on his laptop and another man with his eyes closed as if trying to sleep.

The attendant smiled at me as she came down the aisle. “Can I get you anything?”

Though I had the wine, I ordered a Diet Coke because I could.

With nothing else to do, I pulled my Kindle from my bag, noting I could charge it in the seat outlet if needed. That’s when I remembered the envelope Marta had given me at dinner before Kyle had arrived. In my distress last night, I’d forgotten about it, and this morning, I’d shoved it into my purse before rushing out the door.

Opening it now, I’d teared up. The card was from the staff to celebrate my graduation. My parents had said nothing, not even given me a cheap card, but their staff had all signed this one, with touching well-wishes for my future and a generous gift to Amazon. Their thoughtfulness moved me.

My chest tightened. I’d miss them so much. Pulling out my notebook, I wrote them a heartfelt thank-you note. I’d transfer it to stationery and mail it during my layover in Minneapolis. I might not care about the blood family I’d left behind, but I loved each of these people. They were my real family.

Thinking of my layover, my nerves ramped up again. Minneapolis was too close to my parents’ home in Michigan. Was this how people on the run felt? Heart palpitations, jumpy, shortness of breath, sweaty hands… I’d be a wreck before I landed in Micronesia. If I didn’t relax, I might not make it through the day.

Despite this plane appearing light on passengers, David must have had considerable difficulty getting me to fly today. Overall, my travel had several layover stops and would take nearly twenty-four hours. Besides Minneapolis, I’d have a stop at LAX before heading to Hawaii then Guam. From there, he had me routed to an airport on one of the Micronesian islands, Pohnpei. Then yet another plane—a hopper, I was told—would shuttle me to an even smaller island before Silas picked me up and took me by boat to Blue Water Plantation.

The number of flights was exhausting just to think about. And from the sound of things, I’d truly be shut off from the world. It would take quite the maneuvering to get back to “civilization”. I didn’t mind at all, and I wasn’t worried. Stacy had spoken highly of Mr. Rutherford and the island. My professor had spoken just as well of his younger brother, Jeff. I wondered if that was short for Jeffery. Jeffery Rutherford. Jefferson Rutherford… It didn’t matter what his first name was. I couldn’t imagine calling him anything but Mr. Rutherford, just as Stacy did.

Still, as I closed my eyes, trying to relax for a few minutes, I couldn’t help but wonder what the mysterious billionaire looked like. At thirty-two, my teacher was mouthwatering with dark-brown hair, light-blue eyes and muscles no teacher should have. I couldn’t imagine his sibling would be any less stunning.

I should have researched him on the internet to see what he looked like. Actually, I’d intended to look him up during the original preparation weeks we’d planned. With all the personal references I’d gotten for him, I hadn’t seen the need to investigate him further. Now, I was just left to my imagination of a slightly older version of my sexy instructor.

* * * *

How was this teeny building and airstrip classified as an airport? My plane had landed here, and they had a tower, so I supposed it was. I’d been traveling for over twenty-four hours, with little sleep. Fatigue threatened to flatten me at any moment. Feeling shaky from all the caffeine I’d ingested, I prayed for my tenth wind to kick in. Even the coffee and Diet Coke weren’t helping to keep my eyes open at this point.

My flight had been delayed in Hawaii. For several hours, I’d paced and constantly looked over my shoulder, afraid to slouch into a corner seat and relax for fear I’d fall asleep and miss my departure. It had been morning before I’d flown to Pohnpei, the island before this one. Even that airport had looked large compared to this one. I’d taken a hopper here, and now, I knew why it was called that. The plane had been tiny! The craft was just big enough to “hop” between islands. It had been only the pilot and me aboard, with three other unoccupied seats—and that was full capacity.

Strangely, the minuscule plane hadn’t frightened me. In fact, boarding it had heralded barely leashed excitement over my oncoming adventure. At last. At last, I was free.

Or maybe, that was the caffeine speaking.

Didn’t matter. A huge smile had stretched my lips from the moment I’d buckled into the hopper until we’d arrived here.

Even now, I couldn’t stop grinning. My hair stuck to my neck as I looked around. I couldn’t bring myself to care about that. I was so damn happy. I hadn’t counted on this humidity, though. I blindly fumbled in my purse for something to tie back my long tresses. The thick air seemed heavy around me, and I foresaw plenty of days ahead with my hair up in a ponytail or messy bun. My students probably wouldn’t mind or notice, and I certainly wasn’t out to attract anyone. I’d just escaped my overbearing parents. I had no intention of hitching myself to anyone else for a long, long time. For years, I’d looked forward to when I’d complete school and venture into my life of freedom. Now that it was finally here, I planned to revel in it. I was in charge of my destiny now. Not my parents. Not my school and teachers. Not some man—definitely not Kyle Ewing.

Gathering my hair into my hands, I twisted it then clipped it back as I continued glancing around. I’d arrived a lot later than expected, which likely explained why my ride wasn’t here. Aside from the guy manning the desk, I didn’t see a soul around, and he probably couldn’t tell me where to find this Silas person since before he’d been at the desk, he’d been my pilot. He looked at the clock then went back to flipping through a magazine. I got the feeling he was only here until I left.

I dropped into one of the molded-plastic chairs, almost too tired to function. I had the phone number for the plantation, as well as an email address, but using either would require turning on my phone. It was possible David had sent me a new message, though. Using the plane’s Wi-Fi, I’d logged into email through my Kindle earlier and hadn’t seen anything. The tablet was dead now. I’d have to chance using my phone. I pulled it out and wondered if the island had cellular service.

“Lily?” a deep voice asked before I could power it up. A shiver thrilled down my spine.

Relieved, I shoved my cell in my purse and craned around. My eyes widened at the muscular man standing there. Had I thought my professor was hot? This guy made him look downright homely. A zing of electricity went through me as his blue eyes bored into mine, seeming to devour me. Was that my imagination? Me being way overtired? His gaze was ocean blue, his dark-brown hair sun-streaked and his skin golden from hours outside. This had to be my escort, Silas. It certainly wasn’t Mr. Rutherford. And why would Jeff Rutherford be here, anyway? David had never indicated his boss might meet me; the billionaire had just monopolized my thoughts for the last day as I’d wondered about him.

“Silas?” I breathed.

His windblown hair was close-cut on the sides, longer and quite wild on top, complementing his tanned features. Light stubble covered his angular jaw, and I itched to trace my hands over his cheekbones just to feel the bristles against my skin, feel the sharp cuts of his features. No guy should have such beautiful bone structure. Seriously, he was model perfect. He should be on magazine covers, not ferrying people between islands. Of course, those muscles… He had too many to be a model. I didn’t think they were from a gym. I’d bet these were built from hard work in everyday life. And I swore the guy was a giant—a good foot taller than me. On one arm, a dark tattoo rounded his bicep and added to the rugged, bad-boy perfection before me. Mouthwatering…

“Yeah,” he drawled, his amusement clear. Because obviously, I was staring like I’d never seen a man before now. I guess I hadn’t. Not like him, anyway. And yes, damn it, my mouth was open in shock. I snapped it shut and jumped to my feet, stumbling slightly.

His full lips pulled back into a smirk. He took a step forward, his hands reaching out to steady me, but I righted myself before he could have caught me since he’d been a good ten feet away. Now, he’d stood within arm’s length, and I detected the scent of sea and his spicy male musk, the combination almost intoxicating. Had I ever felt such an attraction to a man? No. Sure I’d had crushes, but this immediate, compelling need to know him, to get close to him? It was entirely new.

And…I was definitely over-exhausted. I needed sleep before I believed anything I felt—or saw. That stare still ate me up as he ran it along my body, taking me in from head to toe. I guess I was doing the same to him as I watched his thighs clench, his fingers curling at his sides, his chest rising and falling as if he couldn’t get his breath…

Good God, I wanted to fall into him. My legs pressed together as a strange wetness invaded my core. Oh wow…this was what they talked about in books.

Get it together, Lily.

I thrust out my hand. “Nice to meet you. Thank you for taking me to the island.”

His lips quirked again as he stared at my hand. “My pleasure, sweet Lily,” he replied. His fingers wrapped around mine, and my knees buckled a little. There was that zing again, like the universe confirming a bond.

Yeah…I was overtired and thinking stupid crap.

I pulled my hand away, breaking the connection. My fingers curled at my side as if wanting to hold in the sensation of that touch.

His head jerked forward in a single nod. “That your stuff?” he asked and pointed at the solitary suitcase beside the chair I’d vacated.

“Yes.”

“That’s all?”

I straightened my shoulders and took hold of myself. “Yeah. I shipped most everything else ahead.”

Okay, good. That sounded like my regular, composed voice. Better. Much better.

“There wasn’t very much of that, either,” he growled, making me suspect he’d ferried my things to the island last week. Good to know my boxes had made it. At least, half of it was my books and the few mementos I’d kept over the years.

I shrugged. “I don’t need a lot. I’m pretty low maintenance, which makes this job a good fit for me.”

He made a sound that came out a bit like a huh-and-hmm combo of disbelief. Well, what did I care what he thought, anyway?

“I hope you either shipped or packed essentials. It’s not like you can run on over to the mall to pick up shit.”

My back went rigid. I frowned, glaring at him.

Had I thought I was attracted to him? Yeah, he was hot. Maybe, if he didn’t speak, I could maintain the illusion of his magnetism.

“I know that. I’m not stupid.”

“Didn’t say you were.”

“Didn’t you?” I sniped.

He sighed. “Look… Do you need to pick up anything from the general store here before we head out?” he asked slowly as if I were indeed lacking in sense.

“No.”

“Good. Let’s get your shit on the boat and get you where you belong.”

He yanked up my suitcase then pivoted and stalked toward the door, leaving me to stare after him. Realizing I might get left behind if I didn’t move it, I sprinted after him. All the while, my exhaustion-clouded thoughts tumbled over his words: Get you where you belong.

What the hell did that mean?