The Billionaire Deception Read online

Page 13


  We got to the stables and checked in. I had reserved a couple of horses and a picnic basket ahead of time. I was praying that riding a horse was comparable to riding a bike and you never forgot. The people at the stables were really nice. A young man named Sam selected a soft black bay mare for me and he asked me if I wanted to saddle her myself.

  “Sure… I haven’t done it in a while. You’ll check it for me when I’m done, right?” He laughed and said he would. Seth stood and watched as I threw the blanket and then the saddle up on the horse and strapped and tightened the cinch. I lowered the stirrup and turned towards him and Sam. Sam was nodding and Seth looked impressed. I was proud of myself. Sam checked mine as his partner was leading out another horse, this one a dark gray gelding, for Seth. I heard the guide ask if he wanted to saddle her.

  “I’d prefer it if you did it,” Seth said. I had the feeling that wherever it was he rode before, he had stable boys looking out for him and doing the grunt work. I tucked a toe into the stirrup and swung up into the saddle of mine as Sam held onto the reins. I watched as Seth mounted his and then Sam attached the picnic basket and a red blanket to the strap that would normally hold on the saddle bags. He gave us a rundown of “do’s” and “don’ts” and a map of the park and we headed out in the direction he pointed us in.

  We rode along the trails that wound through the giant park. It never failed to amaze me how you could disappear into the park in one of the largest cities in the world and feel like you were a million miles from the concrete jungle. The season was changing and the harshness of summer was dying. The leaves on the trees were changing from light and dark greens to bright golds, oranges and reds. Some of them had already begun to drift to the ground and they crunched underneath our horses hooves as we pranced on top of them. After we rode for a few minutes, the skinny trail widened and Seth came up from where he had been behind to ride alongside me.

  “You look good on a horse,” he said with a smile.

  “So do you. I have to admit, I was a little worried about you back there at the stables.”

  “I’ve never saddled a horse,” he admitted. “The last time I actually rode was at our house in Martha’s Vineyard. When my mother was alive we used to go there a couple times a year. We had stables and horses but we also had staff so if I wanted to ride, mother would call out to the stables and when I got there, the horse would be ready.”

  “We didn’t have our own horses. My father used to take me riding at some stables up near where we lived whenever he had the chance. The man that owned the stables was really nice. He used to say you shouldn’t ride something you didn’t know how to take care of. He showed me how to saddle and bridle a horse and then how to cool them down and put them away when you’re finished riding.”

  “You talk about doing things with your dad a lot. You had a good relationship with him?”

  “Yeah, it was the best,” I said. I had to be careful here… I could feel the tears springing to my eyes and I had to fight them back.

  “My mother and I had that kind of relationship.”

  “But not your dad?” I asked.

  “No,” he said, simply. The trail narrowed again and he dropped back. When we came to the little pond that wound through part of the park I stopped and slid off my horse. I forgot to anticipate how numb my legs were going to be. When I hit the ground it felt like there was nothing to hold onto me. I staggered back into my horse. The horse snorted at me, but held firm thank goodness. Her bulk kept me from falling to the ground on my butt.

  Seth slid quickly off of his horse. “Are you okay?”

  Embarrassed, I giggled and said, “Yeah. My legs went numb. I just got down too fast.” I stretched and walked around as the horses got a drink of water. We had stopped in a really pretty, secluded spot. The grass was thick and green underneath our feet and the trees formed a canopy of colorful leaves above our heads to block out the late season sun. “Do you want to eat here?” I asked him.

  “Sure,” Seth said. “Are you feeling better?”

  “Yeah, the feeling is coming back slowly.” Unfortunately as the blood began circulating I could feel how sore my muscles were. We had been riding for at least an hour and it was my first time on a horse in a decade. I stood underneath one of the trees, looking into the pond and worked the muscles in the back of my neck with my fingers. I felt Seth step up next to me as I slid my hand down and began to knead the places I could reach in my lower back. Then suddenly I felt his strong fingers on my neck. He was massaging the sore muscles and sending little jolts of electricity down my spine and arms as he did.

  “Oh wow, that feels so good.” He didn’t say anything and he didn’t stop. A few seconds later I felt his hands move to my shoulders and I was practically comatose as they moved down my sides across my ribs and to my lower back. My body was like warm butter in his hands, delighting at his every touch. “You missed your calling,” I told him. “You should have been a masseuse.” I had my eyes closed when I felt him take me on either side of my waist and spin me around to face him. Then his lips came down to kiss mine and the electricity I had felt before sparked up and ignited. When we came up for air I said, “I take it back.”

  “You don’t think I’m a great masseuse?” he said in a breathless voice, still kneading the muscles along my shoulders and upper arms.

  “You’re a fantastic masseuse,” I told him. “But I think you’d make even more money as a professional kisser.”

  Seth bent down and ran his tongue along my lips. In a voice that was low and husky he said, “Unless you want to pay for it, I wouldn’t make a dime. I’ve decided that I don’t want to kiss anyone else but you.”

  My whole body shuddered and I could feel my limbs shaking with desire for this man who I was supposed to hate… who I was fated to destroy. I forced my eyes open and took a step back. With a shaky smile I said, “Do you want to have our picnic here?”

  He had his head cocked to the side and he was looking at me curiously with those sexy blue eyes. “Sure. Did I say something wrong?”

  “No, not at all,” I told him. It was me. I was feeling guilty about the one thing that had been most important in my life for over a decade. I forced another smile and then reaching up, I ran my hand alongside his beautiful face and said, “I’m just a little shaky from the horseback ride. Let’s eat and refuel. I’ll be as good as new.”

  He took down the picnic basket and the blanket and we spread it out underneath one of the trees in the soft, green grass next to the clear little pond. I sat down on a flat rock and he took a seat next to me on the blanket. We spent the next twenty minutes feasting on cold cuts, cheeses and crackers. They had even put in a couple of little bottles of wine. I hadn’t been on a picnic since I was a little girl. The weather was beautiful and the air smelled like the flowers that bloomed in the gardens not far away. There was a bird in the trees above us that seemed to be singing a serenade as we ate and talked. We kept the conversation light and when I finished eating, I laid back on the rock and closed my eyes. The sun was so warm and it all felt so good on my sore muscles.

  Embarrassingly enough, I think I drifted off for a few seconds or maybe longer. The next thing I consciously registered was the feel of Seth’s fingers gently twisting the curls around my face and then sliding them down along my jawline. I opened my eyes to look at him, squinting against the bright sun. He smiled at me and I felt my heart racing as once again he closed in for a kiss. When we broke it he smiled again and said, “Did you have a nice nap?”

  “The best,” I said. “I should come out here and nap every day and then you can come out and wake me up just like that.”

  “It sounds like a fine idea, but it’s a ways from the office. You’d need at least a three hour lunch… longer if you were going to get a good nap…”

  Closing my eyes again I said, “If I were CEO everyone would get a nap. It would be mandatory.”

  “Really? What else would you change if you were CEO?”
>
  The name of the company. Damn! I let the conversation take a turn right back to where I needed to be, but didn’t want to go. I took a deep breath and said, “I wouldn’t have to change much else. The current CEO is doing a great job.”

  I pushed myself back up to a sitting position as Seth said, “Why thank you. Our CMBO is pretty amazing herself.”

  “Did you always want to go into business?” I asked him then.

  He looked thoughtful for a few moments, like he was trying to decide how to answer that. Finally, with a pained expression he said, “I honestly never had a choice, not unless I was willing to walk away from my father.” My heart ached when he got that look in his eye. I was beginning to think that James Hunter had been as bad of a father as he was a human being. Wanting nothing more at that moment than to make it better, I wrapped my arms around him in a tight embrace. He held me like that for a long time. When I finally pushed back he said, “I’m so glad I met you, Erin Summers.” I had to wonder how glad he was going to be when he finally learned the truth.

  ~

  CHAPTER TEN

  ~

 

    The Billionaire's First Christmas - A Sweet Christmas Romance Read onlineThe Billionaire's First Christmas - A Sweet Christmas RomanceThe Tycoon's Baby Read onlineThe Tycoon's BabyThe Sheikh's Twin Baby Surprise Read onlineThe Sheikh's Twin Baby SurpriseThe Billionaire's Obsession Read onlineThe Billionaire's ObsessionHis Indecent Proposal Read onlineHis Indecent ProposalThe Billionaire Deception Read onlineThe Billionaire DeceptionThe Billionaire's Romance Read onlineThe Billionaire's RomanceMarrying The Sheikh Read onlineMarrying The SheikhHis Hired Bride Read onlineHis Hired BrideThe Sheikh's Irresistible Proposal Read onlineThe Sheikh's Irresistible ProposalThe Sheikh's Green Card Bride Read onlineThe Sheikh's Green Card BrideThe Sheikh's Triplet Baby Surprise Read onlineThe Sheikh's Triplet Baby SurpriseThe Sheikh's Secret Princess Read onlineThe Sheikh's Secret PrincessThe Sheikh's Accidental Bride Read onlineThe Sheikh's Accidental BrideThe Billionaire's Promise Read onlineThe Billionaire's PromiseThe Billionaire's Wife Read onlineThe Billionaire's WifeThe Sheikh's Captive Woman Read onlineThe Sheikh's Captive WomanThe Sheikh's Secret Love Child Read onlineThe Sheikh's Secret Love ChildThe Tycoon's Love Read onlineThe Tycoon's LoveBought For One Night: The Sheikh's Offer Read onlineBought For One Night: The Sheikh's OfferThe Sheikh's Purchased Bride Read onlineThe Sheikh's Purchased BrideWifed By The Sheikh Read onlineWifed By The SheikhFated Lovers Read onlineFated LoversThe Sheikh's Tempted Protectress Read onlineThe Sheikh's Tempted ProtectressThe Sheikh's Quadruplet Baby Surprise Read onlineThe Sheikh's Quadruplet Baby SurpriseStolen: Business or Pleasure Read onlineStolen: Business or PleasureForever His Read onlineForever HisThe Billionaire's Forgiveness Read onlineThe Billionaire's ForgivenessStolen: Meant To Be Read onlineStolen: Meant To BeStealing From The Sheikh Read onlineStealing From The SheikhThe Sheikh's Tempted Prisoner (All He Desires Book 4) Read onlineThe Sheikh's Tempted Prisoner (All He Desires Book 4)Playboy Prince, Single Dad (Love Is Priceless Book 4) Read onlinePlayboy Prince, Single Dad (Love Is Priceless Book 4)The Cowboy's All-Business Bride (Billionaire Cowboys Book 5) Read onlineThe Cowboy's All-Business Bride (Billionaire Cowboys Book 5)The Sheikh's Forbidden Tryst - A Sheikh Romance (Princes of the Middle East Book 2) Read onlineThe Sheikh's Forbidden Tryst - A Sheikh Romance (Princes of the Middle East Book 2)The Single Dad's New Twins (Billionaire Cowboy Romance) Read onlineThe Single Dad's New Twins (Billionaire Cowboy Romance)The Billionaire's Convenient Bride (Billionaire Cowboys Book 3) Read onlineThe Billionaire's Convenient Bride (Billionaire Cowboys Book 3)Her Accidental Prince - A Married by Mistake Romance Read onlineHer Accidental Prince - A Married by Mistake RomanceSingle Mom And The Sheikh (Princes of the Middle East Book 3) Read onlineSingle Mom And The Sheikh (Princes of the Middle East Book 3)Ravishing Royals Box Set: Books 1 - 5 Read onlineRavishing Royals Box Set: Books 1 - 5The Cowboy's Baby Surprise - A Billionaire Romance (Billionaire Cowboys Book 2) Read onlineThe Cowboy's Baby Surprise - A Billionaire Romance (Billionaire Cowboys Book 2)Most Eligible Single Dad - A Billionaire's Secret Baby Romance (Love Is Priceless Book 2) Read onlineMost Eligible Single Dad - A Billionaire's Secret Baby Romance (Love Is Priceless Book 2)The Sheikh's Priceless Baby Read onlineThe Sheikh's Priceless BabyMarried By Mistake (Billionaires of Europe Book 7) Read onlineMarried By Mistake (Billionaires of Europe Book 7)Million Dollar Christmas Bride - A Billionaire Romance Read onlineMillion Dollar Christmas Bride - A Billionaire RomanceAccidental Billionaire Daddy Read onlineAccidental Billionaire DaddyThe Billionaire's First Christmas Read onlineThe Billionaire's First ChristmasThe Baby Pact (Babies and Billions Book 5) Read onlineThe Baby Pact (Babies and Billions Book 5)The Sheikh's Must-Have Baby Read onlineThe Sheikh's Must-Have BabyDr. Single Dad - A British Billionaire Romance (Billionaires of Europe Book 6) Read onlineDr. Single Dad - A British Billionaire Romance (Billionaires of Europe Book 6)First Time Lucky (Billionaires of Europe Book 5) Read onlineFirst Time Lucky (Billionaires of Europe Book 5)Wifed By The Sheikh (All He Desires Book 3) Read onlineWifed By The Sheikh (All He Desires Book 3)Bought By The Sheikh Next Door Read onlineBought By The Sheikh Next DoorFake Fiancée, Bride Forever Read onlineFake Fiancée, Bride ForeverAuctioned To The Sheikh (All He Desires Book 5) Read onlineAuctioned To The Sheikh (All He Desires Book 5)The Sheikh’s American Love - A Box Set Read onlineThe Sheikh’s American Love - A Box SetThe Greek's Green Card Bride - A Billionaire Romance Read onlineThe Greek's Green Card Bride - A Billionaire RomanceThe Billionaire's First Christmas - Contemporary Romance Read onlineThe Billionaire's First Christmas - Contemporary RomanceFake Bride Wanted - A Second Chance Billionaire Romance (Billionaires of Europe Book 1) Read onlineFake Bride Wanted - A Second Chance Billionaire Romance (Billionaires of Europe Book 1)Wanted By The Billionaire Cowboy - A Second Chance Romance (Billionaire Cowboys Book 6) Read onlineWanted By The Billionaire Cowboy - A Second Chance Romance (Billionaire Cowboys Book 6)His Royal Twins (Wedded to the Sheikh Book 4) Read onlineHis Royal Twins (Wedded to the Sheikh Book 4)Christmas Treats Box Set: Books 1 - 4 Read onlineChristmas Treats Box Set: Books 1 - 4Stolen: The Billionaire Deception Read onlineStolen: The Billionaire DeceptionFake Fiancée, Bride Forever (Billionaires of Europe Book 8) Read onlineFake Fiancée, Bride Forever (Billionaires of Europe Book 8)The Tycoon's Temporary Twins Read onlineThe Tycoon's Temporary TwinsSold To The Sheikh Bidder (The Sheikh's New Bride Book 4) Read onlineSold To The Sheikh Bidder (The Sheikh's New Bride Book 4)His Beloved Bride (Wedded to the Sheikh Book 3) Read onlineHis Beloved Bride (Wedded to the Sheikh Book 3)The Sheikh's Bought Ballerina (The Sheikh's New Bride Book 6) Read onlineThe Sheikh's Bought Ballerina (The Sheikh's New Bride Book 6)The Sheikh's Small Town Baby (Small Town Sheikhs Book 1) Read onlineThe Sheikh's Small Town Baby (Small Town Sheikhs Book 1)The Sheikh's ASAP Bride Read onlineThe Sheikh's ASAP BrideThe Sheikh's Bride Bet Read onlineThe Sheikh's Bride BetSold To The Sheikh: His Indecent Proposal (An Interracial Sheikh Romance Novel) Read onlineSold To The Sheikh: His Indecent Proposal (An Interracial Sheikh Romance Novel)The Sheikh's American Baby (The Sheikh's Every Wish Book 5) Read onlineThe Sheikh's American Baby (The Sheikh's Every Wish Book 5)The Sheikh's Virgin Bride - A Sweet Bought By The Sheikh Romance Read onlineThe Sheikh's Virgin Bride - A Sweet Bought By The Sheikh RomanceSeduced By The Sheikh Doctor - A Small Town Doctor Romance Read onlineSeduced By The Sheikh Doctor - A Small Town Doctor RomanceServant To The Sheikh Read onlineServant To The SheikhThe Sheikh And The Cowgirl Read onlineThe Sheikh And The CowgirlThe Sheikh's Stolen Lover - A Second Chance Sweet Romance (The Sheikh's New Bride Book 5) Read onlineThe Sheikh's Stolen Lover - A Second Chance Sweet Romance (The Sheikh's New Bride Book 5)The Prince's ASAP Baby Read onlineThe Prince's ASAP BabyAn Heir for Alexandros: The Greek Billionaire's Baby Read onlineAn Heir for Alexandros: The Greek Billionaire's BabyBought And Paid For: The Sheikh's Kidnapped Lover Read onlineBought And Paid For: The Sheikh's Kidnapped LoverThe Billionaire's Promise (An Heir At Any Price Book 3) Read onlineThe Billionaire's Promise (An Heir At Any Price Book 3)Sold To The Sheikh Bidder Read onlineSold To The Sheikh BidderThe Sheikh’s Second Chance Lover Read onlineThe Sheikh’s Second Chance LoverThe Sheikh's Baby Bet Read onlineThe Sheikh's Baby BetSold To The Sheikh: Fated Lovers (Book Two) - Sheikh Romance Read onlineSold To The Sheikh: Fated Lovers (Book Two) - Sheikh RomanceHis Bought Fiancée (Wedded to the Sheikh Book 1) Read onlineHis Bought Fiancée (Wedded to the Sheikh Book 1)The Greek Billionaire's Marriage Matchmaker Read onlineThe Greek Billionaire's Marriage MatchmakerBig Greek Baby Secret Read onlineBig Greek Baby SecretThe Prince's Triplet Baby Surprise - A Multiple Baby Royal Romance Read onlineThe Prince's Triplet Baby Surprise - A Multiple Baby Royal RomanceSeduced By The Sheikh Doctor - A Small Town Doctor Romance (Small Town Sheikhs Book 2) Read onlineSeduced By The Sheikh Doctor - A Small Town Doctor Romance (Small Town Sheikhs Book 2)Fake Bride Wanted Read onlineFake Bride WantedThe Sheikh's Scandal Read onlineThe Sheikh's ScandalThe Sheikh's Contract Bride Read onlineThe Sheikh's Contract BrideThe Sheikh's Quadruplet Baby Surprise (The Sheikh's Baby Surprise Book 4) Read onlineThe Sheikh's Quadruplet Baby Surprise (The Sheikh's Baby Surprise Book 4)Greek Passions - A Greek Billionaire Box Set Read onlineGreek Passions - A Greek Billionaire Box SetThe Sheikh's Surrogate Bride Read onlineThe Sheikh's Surrogate BrideSheikh Obsessions - A Sheikh Romance Box Set Read onlineSheikh Obsessions - A Sheikh Romance Box SetStolen: Business or Pleasure (Contemporary Billionaire Romance) Read onlineStolen: Business or Pleasure (Contemporary Billionaire Romance)The Billionaire's Christmas Bundle Of Joy - A Secret Baby Romance Read onlineThe Billionaire's Christmas Bundle Of Joy - A Secret Baby RomanceSeduced By The Sheikh Doctor_A Small Town Doctor Romance Read onlineSeduced By The Sheikh Doctor_A Small Town Doctor RomanceThe Sheikh's Borrowed Baby (More Than He Bargained For Book 7) Read onlineThe Sheikh's Borrowed Baby (More Than He Bargained For Book 7)The Sheikh's Small Town Baby Read onlineThe Sheikh's Small Town BabyThe Sheikh's Online Bride - A Modern Mail Order Romance Read onlineThe Sheikh's Online Bride - A Modern Mail Order RomanceThe Tycoon's Triplet Baby Surprise Read onlineThe Tycoon's Triplet Baby SurpriseThe Sheikh's ASAP Baby Read onlineThe Sheikh's ASAP BabyThe Sheikh's Bride Bargain (You Can't Turn Down a Sheikh Book 4) Read onlineThe Sheikh's Bride Bargain (You Can't Turn Down a Sheikh Book 4)The Sheikh's Sextuplet Baby Surprise Read onlineThe Sheikh's Sextuplet Baby SurpriseThe Sheikh's Tempted Prisoner Read onlineThe Sheikh's Tempted PrisonerThe Sheikh's Stolen Bride-To-Be Read onlineThe Sheikh's Stolen Bride-To-BeThe Sheikh's Surrogate Bride - A Sheikh Buys a Baby Romance Read onlineThe Sheikh's Surrogate Bride - A Sheikh Buys a Baby RomanceThe Sheikh's Priceless Bride Read onlineThe Sheikh's Priceless BrideThe Sheikh's Borrowed Baby Read onlineThe Sheikh's Borrowed BabyThe Sheikh's Secret Love Child (The Sheikh's Baby Surprise Book 2) Read onlineThe Sheikh's Secret Love Child (The Sheikh's Baby Surprise Book 2)His For A Price - A Bought by the Billionaire Romance (Billionaires of Europe Book 4) Read onlineHis For A Price - A Bought by the Billionaire Romance (Billionaires of Europe Book 4)Secret Triplets Read onlineSecret TripletsThe Billionaire's Lessons in Christmas Read onlineThe Billionaire's Lessons in ChristmasBought By The Sheikh Single Dad_A Sweet Sheikh Romance Read onlineBought By The Sheikh Single Dad_A Sweet Sheikh RomanceThe Sheikh's ASAP Bride - A Sheikh Buys a Bride Romance (The Sheikh's New Bride Book 3) Read onlineThe Sheikh's ASAP Bride - A Sheikh Buys a Bride Romance (The Sheikh's New Bride Book 3)The Sheikh's Tempted Protectress (The Sheikh's Every Wish Book 4) Read onlineThe Sheikh's Tempted Protectress (The Sheikh's Every Wish Book 4)The Sheikh's Priceless Bride (The Sheikh's New Bride Book 1) Read onlineThe Sheikh's Priceless Bride (The Sheikh's New Bride Book 1)The Sheikh's Scheming Sweetheart Read onlineThe Sheikh's Scheming SweetheartBought And Paid For: The Tycoon's Sheikha Bride Read onlineBought And Paid For: The Tycoon's Sheikha BrideThe Sheikh's Secret Child - A Single Dad Romance (The Sheikh's New Bride Book 7) Read onlineThe Sheikh's Secret Child - A Single Dad Romance (The Sheikh's New Bride Book 7)The Sheikh's Quintuplet Baby Surprise Read onlineThe Sheikh's Quintuplet Baby SurpriseThe Prince's Scandalous Baby Read onlineThe Prince's Scandalous BabyFake Bride Wanted_A Second Chance Billionaire Romance Read onlineFake Bride Wanted_A Second Chance Billionaire RomanceThe Prince's Secret Baby (A Baby for the Prince Book 1) Read onlineThe Prince's Secret Baby (A Baby for the Prince Book 1)