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Chapter Twenty-Five
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Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Twenty-Six
CassieThe rest of the day was a nightmare.The press kept the lobby filled and nearly caused a car accident when they saw Wyatt's SUVs leaving the parking lot. Even after they learned he was no longer staying at the hotel, many of them refused to leave.They'd figured out that Cassie was the mystery woman from the night before. The press figured out why Wyatt Landers would be staying in a regular business hotel faster than Lenny did. It wasn't long before they were trying to sneak into her office and were calling her work phone non-stop.She couldn't leave her office. Every time she stepped out to check the linen supplies or go to the employee areas to post the schedule, some reporter was hounding her for information.Where had Wyatt Landers been hiding? How did she know him? Were they in a relationship? What was he doing back in the states? Was he going to disappear again? What did this mean for his company?She didn't have answers for any of them. She didn't even have answers for h
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Twenty-Seven
Wyatt“You can stay here as long as you need,” Wyatt promised Cassie.She sat on the couch with her feet curled up underneath her like a cat. He handed her a cup of iced tea that she carefully sipped on. Cold drinks seemed to be favored in Arizona, no matter the season.“Thank you,” she told him with a small smile.“Do you need anything?” Wyatt asked, taking a seat next to her on the couch. He made sure to give her an appropriate amount of room. “I can send someone out to get you a toothbrush and anything else you might need.”She smiled up at him. “I stopped and picked up some essentials on my way here. Luckily, the paparazzi don't know where I shop yet. I still had my suitcase from the trip in my car, so I have some clothes if I can use your laundry machine.”“Of course. Maria will be happy to clean them for you.”“Maria?” A hint of jealousy crossed her face, and it gave hope to Wyatt's heart.“My housekeeper,” he quickly explained. “She makes sure everything is taken care of for me
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Twenty-Eight
WyattWyatt hated being back in the public eye.He hated knowing that if he looked out the window, someone might photograph him. He hated that he couldn't just go to the grocery store without bodyguards. Heck, he couldn't even go get the mail without Thor or Odin watching his back.He missed his simple life on the island. He missed the freedom of anonymity. He missed talking to strangers without them knowing his entire life because they'd read his Wikipedia entry.But he loved having Cassie.Cassie made it all worth it. To wake up and find her sleeping in his bed or sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee, was like living in a dream. Time didn't matter when they were together. He would suddenly find that the sun had set and the only thing they'd done all day was snuggle and talk about their favorite jobs growing up.He found that they really could just talk for hours, or that they could simply sit in comfortable silence. Just being near her felt right, like a missing part of him
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cassie“Have fun,” Wyatt said as the SUV came to a halt. “I'll see you at the ball.”Cassie nodded, kissed him on the cheek, and got out of the car.In front of her was the most expensive salon in the state. She'd heard amazing things about the services, but she'd never even tried to book anything. She couldn't seem to justify spending that much money on just a haircut. Since her hair was usually pulled back for work, it never seemed to matter who cut it.She swallowed hard and stepped inside. Tranquility washed over her like water, just by stepping through the door. The soft sound of water, the smell of clean linens, and welcoming, comfortable-looking furniture all greeted her.“Ms. Turner?” the woman at the front desk asked. She smiled when Cassie nodded. “We're so glad you're here. If you follow me, I'll take you to your private room."Cassie had never heard of a private room for a haircut before, but she happily followed the woman into a beautiful room with hardwood floors. A sing
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Thirty
CassieCassie bounced her knees with excitement and just a little bit of nervousness as the SUV drove up to the ball. The hotel looked like a castle as they approached, and Cassie couldn't help but stare out the window.She'd been here once before for a conference. The hotel was a legend with eight pools, two golf courses, spa, and stunning mountain views. The ballroom was the biggest in the state and usually booked out for months. She'd peeked into the rooms during the conference, and the hotel manager in her had fallen in love.This was bigger than anything she wanted to run. While she enjoyed working at a major hotel, she preferred a more intimate experience. She liked interacting with guests and making the experience personal to them. That was hard to do in a huge hotel.Still, she loved this hotel. It was like going to Disneyland. It was a chance to see how things were done on a bigger scale with a larger budget. Cassie's hotel only held business events, so getting to see a socia
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Thirty-One
Cassie“Look who I found on my way in,” Lorna announced as they arrived at the table. “I'm so glad I found her. Otherwise, I would have been sitting at the wrong table all night. Here's where the party is, right?”Lorna wore a poison-apple-green skin-tight dress. The mermaid tail flared out at the knee, but the rest was practically painted onto Lorna's body, highlighting her trim figure. While stylish, it was also loud and over the top, much like Lorna.Brianna smiled weakly.“You sit next to Kyle, and I'll sit at this spot here,” Lorna said, practically pushing Brianna at Kyle. Lorna took the empty seat next to Wyatt.Cassie tried not to bristle. She decided not to let her anger and jealousy rise to the surface. She could be the bigger person. Tonight was for charity after all.“Brianna, I'm sure Cassie wants to catch up with you. Trade me seats?” Wyatt asked, looking innocently at Brianna.“Sure.” Brianna hopped up, and the two switched seats. Cassie felt a surge of smug pleasure at
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Thirty-Two
CassieApplause filled the room. Lorna sauntered from the table and up to the stage to get her certificate. She posed for the camera, flaunting her curves and wealth as they praised her for her generous donation to charity.Only it wasn't generous. It was selfish and cruel. Cassie could have dealt with just about anyone else winning a date with Wyatt. But Lorna?Cassie wanted to punch her in the face.Wyatt hoped down from the stage and came back to the table. Lorna tried to follow him, but she was diverted to follow Olive to write the check for the date. At least Cassie got a bit of satisfaction from the annoyed look on Lorna's face as she was forced to hang back.“We'll think of something,” Brianna promised. “Let me talk with Janessa. We'll come up with a plan. It'll be okay.”The sentiment was sweet, but Cassie knew there wasn't much her friends could do for her. Brianna gave her a quick hug and then got up and went to sit next to Janessa to hopefully plot something out.“I'm so so
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Thirty-Three
Wyatt“Well, other than the auction fiasco, I think the night was a success,” Wyatt announced, kicking off his shoes at the door of his apartment.Cassie followed him in, adding her heels to his shoes. He liked the way they looked tumbled together.“I had fun,” Cassie said, walking into the kitchen and pouring a glass of water. She grinned at him. “Thank you for inviting me. I don't know if I want to do it again, but once was fun. It was definitely different.”“You want to live the billionaire lifestyle all the time now?” he asked, loosening his jacket and tie.“Hell no.” She shook her head. “I'm exhausted mentally, and I didn't have to do anything. All those people? I just want to curl up with you and not move for a week. My brain is totally and completely fried.”He thought about asking her to come to the islands. Now was the perfect time, only... she just said her brain was fried. Asking a huge decision right now was going to end poorly.Maybe he was just afraid of rejection, or pe
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Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Epilogue
WyattWyatt stepped out onto the deck of his new boat and stretched in the morning sun.Life had never been this good.Wyatt couldn't imagine how he'd once thought being a bartender had ever been enough. He couldn't believe that he'd ever been happy without Cassie.They were home here. Blue Caribbean waters were a balm to weary souls. The white sand called to them, and the warm sunshine banished worries.Cassie and Wyatt didn't go back to the resort. Wyatt didn't have a job there anymore, and after hearing how he'd been treated, Cassie had refused to go to such an establishment. Besides, Wyatt didn't need to tend bar and live a bachelor lifestyle anymore. He didn't want that life.So they bought a sailboat. It wasn't the biggest or flashiest boat in the world, but it was comfortable, and it got them where they wanted to go.Today, it was taking them to a very special island.Wyatt checked the rigging and made sure his route was plotted in the computer. The island wasn't far, but he wa
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Thirty-Nine
CassieCassie hoped she was doing the right thing.Doubts assaulted her. Had he gotten the note? Had he understood? She should have been clearer. She should have left better instructions. She should have waited at the apartment.But she'd been afraid if she waited she would chicken out. She would change her mind or that he wouldn't want this anymore. She was afraid if she stayed at the apartment, things wouldn't work out the way she hoped.Besides, she wanted to do this here. She needed to show him she was serious.She paced nervously in front of the airplane hanger. Her packed suitcase sat by the entrance. She'd spent nearly all the money in her bank account. The flight left this evening. There was no return flight scheduled.What if he didn't come?She tried not to think about it. She tried not to think about how she was about to change her life completely. Change terrified her. She liked knowing what was going to happen, but this had two very different endings. If he came, her life
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Thirty-Eight
WyattWyatt walked in the front door of the apartment ready to apologize to Cassie. He had reservations made at a fancy restaurant. He had flowers in hand and jewelry was set to arrive later this afternoon.The business meeting this morning had been long and arduous. He thought he'd escaped the corporate world by moving to the island. Being a peon for a holiday resort was easy. He just had to do what he was told and pour drinks. Now he was back to being the boss and he hated it. He had less freedom at the top of the chain than he did at the bottom. He was beginning to think that he would always be stuck with corporations telling him what to do with his life. It didn't seem to matter where he went.He'd spent his entire miserable meeting thinking of Cassie and how he could fix things between them. Of how he could give her what she wanted and what she deserved. He was willing to do whatever it took to keep her.The longer Wyatt stayed in billionaire mode, the easier it was to stay here
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Thirty-Seven
CassieTires squealed as Cassie slid into a parking space in front of Brianna's apartment. She barely had the engine off before racing up the stairs to Brianna's apartment. She needed to do this before she lost her nerve.Cassie banged on the door. Brianna opened the door, looking surprised. She still had her pajamas on and Cassie could hear Netflix in the background. It was Brianna's day off, so she was at home relaxing. Ian was at school.“What's up?” Brianna asked. “Are you feeling okay?”“I just got fired.”Brianna's eyes went wide. “I'm so sorry, Cassie. I really am. Come on in. I've got ice cream.” She ushered Cassie inside, shutting the door behind her.The apartment was dark but comfortable. Brianna hadn't done much to the space to make it her own, yet it still felt like Brianna. The paintings were simple and bright. Books covered nearly every surface and at least three mugs sat half-filled with tea in the small kitchen. Toy cars littered the floor in front of the TV and kid d
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Thirty-Six
CassieCassie's neck hurt the next day, and her back had a cramp that she couldn't stretch out.The couch was not nearly as comfortable to sleep on as she'd expected. After a few hours, the once soft couch became too soft to be supportive. The blanket was too light, and every time the air conditioning kicked on, she got cold. The pillows were too small and decorative to be useful for actual sleep.She'd nearly gotten up and gone to the bedroom several times, but each time her pride and spite got the best of her.The fact that Wyatt would call Lorna her friend rankled. His dismissive attitude toward her job infuriated her. Sure, she wasn't a billionaire. She was just a hotel manager, but she had worked hard at it. She'd followed the rules. Didn't that mean something?Why did she have to give it all up?It wasn't fair. She wanted to be with Wyatt, but she didn't want to give up her life to do it.She pretended to be asleep when Wyatt left the bedroom in the morning. He came out wearing
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Thirty-Five
WyattFifty-seven minutes later, Wyatt was beyond relieved that dinner was over. They'd had their meal. They'd had dessert. They were done.He'd started counting the number of times Lorna made an inappropriate sexual comment but stopped counting after thirty-seven. He told her several times that he wasn't interested, but she ignored him.Lorna was not kind to Cassie. The insults were never blatant, but there. “I bet Cassie doesn't do this” or “Cassie is too busy to do that” and even “you can do so much better” came out multiple times during the conversation.It only made Lorna look spiteful. The woman was beautiful with her trim body, large breasts, and shiny hair, but her soul did not match the outside. She was shallow and cruel. She was willing to throw Cassie under the bus for a chance at a billionaire's heart.He sighed with relief as soon as the check came.“Thank you for this date,” Wyatt said, setting the check down and standing up. “And thank you for your kind donation.”It wa
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Thirty-Four
WyattThe ride to the restaurant didn't take long, but Wyatt moped the whole way there. He knew it was childish and that he was a full grown man, but since no one but Thor would see him, he pouted.When the car door opened to get out though, he wore a polite smile.Lorna was waiting for him at the table. She wore a tiny black dress that showed massive amounts of cleavage and left little to the imagination. Wyatt had to admit that she was very beautiful, but he much preferred Cassie's simple but elegant style. He liked having something left to the imagination.“Hi, Wyatt.” Her voice was low and breathy. She stood up sensually and stepped toward him.“Hello, Lorna,” he greeted her. He held out his hand and made it a point that he was shaking her hand, not giving a hug.She stared at his hand for a moment and then shook it with a surprised smile. “How professional.”He was a perfect gentleman. He had a plan to get through this. He pulled out her chair and helped her sit before going to h
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Thirty-Three
Wyatt“Well, other than the auction fiasco, I think the night was a success,” Wyatt announced, kicking off his shoes at the door of his apartment.Cassie followed him in, adding her heels to his shoes. He liked the way they looked tumbled together.“I had fun,” Cassie said, walking into the kitchen and pouring a glass of water. She grinned at him. “Thank you for inviting me. I don't know if I want to do it again, but once was fun. It was definitely different.”“You want to live the billionaire lifestyle all the time now?” he asked, loosening his jacket and tie.“Hell no.” She shook her head. “I'm exhausted mentally, and I didn't have to do anything. All those people? I just want to curl up with you and not move for a week. My brain is totally and completely fried.”He thought about asking her to come to the islands. Now was the perfect time, only... she just said her brain was fried. Asking a huge decision right now was going to end poorly.Maybe he was just afraid of rejection, or pe
Second Chance Romance for the Retired Billionaire Chapter Thirty-Two
CassieApplause filled the room. Lorna sauntered from the table and up to the stage to get her certificate. She posed for the camera, flaunting her curves and wealth as they praised her for her generous donation to charity.Only it wasn't generous. It was selfish and cruel. Cassie could have dealt with just about anyone else winning a date with Wyatt. But Lorna?Cassie wanted to punch her in the face.Wyatt hoped down from the stage and came back to the table. Lorna tried to follow him, but she was diverted to follow Olive to write the check for the date. At least Cassie got a bit of satisfaction from the annoyed look on Lorna's face as she was forced to hang back.“We'll think of something,” Brianna promised. “Let me talk with Janessa. We'll come up with a plan. It'll be okay.”The sentiment was sweet, but Cassie knew there wasn't much her friends could do for her. Brianna gave her a quick hug and then got up and went to sit next to Janessa to hopefully plot something out.“I'm so so
