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

Forget that Beck was handsome and fabulous, this was a very bad idea.
    “It’s okay.” Beck reassured Alyssa with a smile and a nod. He tilted his head to the side and focused on Granny. “I manage real estate and charitable foundations.”
    Granny pursed her lips. “So you’re basically independently wealthy. I knew it.”
    Beck shifted uncomfortably and looked at his menu.
    “Do you realize, young man, that you have never told us your full name?”
    Beck’s gaze lifted again. Alyssa felt bad for him and wished she knew how to call Granny off without embarrassing him more. He obviously didn’t want people to know who he was and she’d known all along because of Maryn, and Granny was going to rip it out of him whether he wanted to share or not.
    “Why is that?” Granny asked. “You one of those who wants women to like him for who he is before they find out he’s wealthy? I can promise you we aren’t gold miners.”
    Alyssa groaned and Beck’s true smile came out. “You know what, Ellie? I believe neither of you are after me for my money. My full name is Beckham Taylor.”
    How did he believe they weren’t after him for his money? Alyssa wanted him to keep believing that because she really wasn’t, but she knew that wouldn’t be the case if he ever connected the dots that she had sold both of their souls years ago for money.
    Granny’s mouth twisted. “I don’t keep up on the celebrity rags. Why are you famous?”
    “I’m not famous. I had a decent career in the NHL and now I manage my family’s businesses.”
    “Why didn’t you tell us your last name when we first met?”
    “Some people recognize it and you’re right, I’d rather avoid those who are after me for my family money.”
    Alyssa felt bad for him. Her dad had money but she’d distanced herself at eighteen and fought through life on her own, no matter how many times her dad tried to reenter her world. With Beck’s parents’ deaths, that wasn’t an option for him. She shuddered at the thought of being involved in her father’s businesses. Hopefully there was a world of difference between the underhanded deals her father made and Beck’s real estate and charitable foundations. She’d place money on it.
    “So you’re rich, but you stay at a cheap bed and breakfast and drive a piece of shmack Hyundai to remain humble?”
    Beck laughed. “Something like that.”
    “So you’re telling me to order the market fish?”
    “Order whatever you like.”
    The waiter arrived with their waters and Granny did order whatever she liked. Alyssa exchanged a secret smile with Beck. She’d met few men who could deal so well with her Granny. Even though he was affluent, Beck didn’t try to flaunt it or control others because of it and from what Maryn had told her, he was managing the family business because of his family’s need of his business sense and level head. Once again, she was impressed.
    Dinner passed quickly and even Granny had to admit the mahi-mahi was worth the price, which finally brought a discreet smile to their waiter’s face.
    They stood to walk out and Granny declared, “I love walking by the water at night. Will you two walk with me?”
    “Sure,” Beck said.
    Alyssa wondered what Granny was up to, but she also loved to walk by the water at night and rarely dared to do it alone. She caught Beck’s gaze over Granny’s head and smiled. “That sounds great.”
    They walked casually down to the beach, passing a huge Tongan man. Granny batted her eyelashes and called out, “Hello, Handsome.”
    He grinned back at her. “Hello, Beautiful Lady.”
    Granny sighed and turned to watch him go. “Makes me miss my Hubba Bubba.”
    Alyssa smiled. She missed Hubba Bubba too, he was the closest thing to a grandfather she’d ever had and always had a huge smile on his face.
    Beck didn’t question Granny checking out men half her age and they continued along the sand. The sun had set but a half moon reflected off the water and the