The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance by Cami Checketts, Jeanette Lewis Read Free Book Online

“Fabulous.”
    “I knew it! I knew it! Can you send me a pic?”
    “If you promise not to use it for some stupid article.” Alyssa hated that she worried. Maryn was her best friend, but she was also a voracious magazine writer and Beckham Taylor was prime writing material.
    “I promise. Sheesh. What do you take me for?”
    “I feel awful about taking those pics of him, Mar.” She ran a brush through her hair, tugging at a knot.
    “I know, but he’ll probably never know it was you.”
    Him not discovering the truth didn’t make Alyssa feel much better.
    A pounding at the door announced Granny Ellie, dressed in a silky pant suit, looking classy and beautiful. “Hang up the phone and get ready,” she instructed. “Beck is taking us to Kimo’s.”
    “I gotta go,” Alyssa told Maryn. “I’ll send a pic soon.” She hung up amidst much protest. “You talked him into taking us to dinner too?”
    “Didn’t take much talking.” Granny winked. “What have you got to wear?” She started yanking dresses out of Alyssa’s closet.
    “Wait. I don’t want you pushing him into dating me.”
    “Who’s granddaughter are you?” She held up a knee-length floral dress and tossed it at Alyssa. “A fine-looking, intelligent, fun-loving, and possibly wealthy—I’m still doing a little sleuthing to determine that one—man is interested. And wow if he isn’t a lot of man. You push, drag, beat him over the head if you have to, but you do not play hard to get. Got it?”
    Alyssa barely hid the rolling of her eyes. At least Granny hadn’t called Maryn yet and found out the whole scoop. She darted to the bathroom to change, put on some minimal makeup, and see what she could do with her hair. “Give me ten minutes.”
    “I’ll see you in the courtyard in five.” Granny Ellie slammed the door on the way out.
    Alyssa laughed as she slipped on her dress. “‘Who’s granddaughter are you?’” Then she sobered as she looked in the mirror at her dark skin and hair. She loved being Granny Ellie’s, but sadly she was a product of her mother too and her mother had taught her that men, especially wealthy ones, only make you miserable.

    Beck paced the courtyard waiting for Alyssa to appear.
    “Calm it,” Ellie commanded. “She’d be an imbecile to not want a taste of you tonight. Raar.” She batted her eyelashes and smiled coyly at him.
    “Ellie.” Beck stopped walking and shook his head at the older woman. “I barely know her and she’s your granddaughter. Shouldn’t you be protecting her from me?”
    Ellie met his gaze, her blue eyes full of mischief. “You know everybody has talents?”
    “Sure.”
    “I have a talent that I’ve honed to perfection throughout the years—knowing if a man is worth his weight in gold… or not. Four different husbands and they were all worth it, even though it about killed me to lose them.” She glanced up and down his frame. “You’re a big one, but I still think I’m dead on that you’re worth every pound.”
    Beck chuckled, wondering for a second if Granny knew how wealthy he was. He weighed over two hundred and fifty pounds and when he first took over his family’s business it had been worth two hundred and fifty million dollars. The analogy would have worked then though he’d grown his net worth considerably in the past couple of years buying and building a considerable amount of commercial real estate in Orange County. “Thanks, I think.”
    He heard a light tread and turned to see Alyssa descending the stairs in a flowing dress, the bright colors accentuating the beauty of her dark coloring. Her shapely calf muscles were on fine display, but he noticed she wore a sturdy, but feminine shoes instead of a sandal like most women would. He loved that she’d entrusted him with her birth defect. He loved each minute he’d spent with her today. Thanks to her hilarious grandmother their time was going to be extended.
    He didn’t appreciate shallow women, the kind