Page 23 of Untouchable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #1)
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Fort Rucker, AL
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Leaving the flight line, I check my iPhone for any new messages, but there aren’t any. Beverly’s weekly update is late.
Walking back to debrief my students, I wonder if no news is good news. It’s been over a month since Seary vanished.
Back in hardcore survival mode, my heart is on lockdown until the gorgeous golden goddess returns. I finally find a woman who makes me feel alive, and I’m not letting her go. It’s not a matter of if I will have her, but when.
My phone vibrates as Dos Gringo’s song, "Has Anyone Seen My Wingman?" announces a call from Dirk Sam. I hit ignore and let it go to voicemail. I know why he’s calling. The British babe he married has decided on which apartment complex she wants to live in. I’ll handle it on my way to work in the morning.
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Live Oak, AL
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The next morning, I pull into the parking lot, turn the key in the ignition, and shut my truck down. My eyes scan the landscape. It’s a nice, high-end apartment complex. Upscale and quiet.
Dos Gringo's sing. My wingman is calling. I pick up my phone as my eyes focus on the office building. "Moore speaking. Yeah man, I'm at Dogwood Court now checking on the apartment for you...."
The office door swings open. A bolt of lightning shoots through me and I stare dumbfounded. "What the hell?"
My hand lowers the phone and I grip the steering wheel as I stare at the most beautiful girl in the world as she casually walks across the parking lot right in front of me. I hear Sam talking and lift the phone back to my ear. "Let me call you back."
I can't believe it! Seary! Seary is here. Right there!
My eyes follow her like a hawk hunting its prey. She looks professional, but there is no hiding her curves. Her breasts pushed up by her bra, strain the buttons of her white shirt, and the cut of her black skirt hugs her nice ass. There is no hiding a body built like that. She IS simply stunning!
She stops next to a customized Shelby GT500, and accidentally drops her keys.
With her back to me, I watch as the flexible dancer slowly bends over her stiletto’s.
Her skirt sliding up to hug her perfect ass as she reaches down to them.
She takes a small step to the side to balance herself as she reaches under the car to retrieve them, and she flashes me.
She is panty-less! I laugh out loud at my view. "This girl is perfect!"
Another lightning bolt jolts me, and the word 'perfect' echoes around in my mind, taking on a completely different context as I watch her pull her skirt down then lower her voluptuous body gracefully into the car.
She glances my way as she eases out of the parking spot and a ray of sunlight highlights her face.
"She is simply stunning" falls off my tongue and out my mouth again as I watch her drive away.
When she vanishes out of my sight, my gut tightens, I have to have her.
I close my eyes and lean my head back, absorbing what just happened.
I see her dancing on the stage. I feel the fire she lights within me, scorching my soul.
Her golden tips, swaying so hypnotically.
I stare at the ceiling. My heart has come alive with feeling again and my whole body fills with longing for her.
I need her like I’ve never needed a woman before.
Grandpa Al’s voice echoes in my mind. "You will find someone, Maximus, who can handle your secrets." Then Grandpa Moore’s, "Your grandmother completes me, son. She makes me whole."
What if this woman, who has this extraordinary effect on me, is the one who not only can handle my secrets but who will complete me?
I look down the drive where Seary vanished.
And what are the odds that our paths would cross right here, right now? They are truly astronomical.
I grip the steering wheel and hang my head, struggling to think logically. "She's on my turf. I'll take her on my terms. I am going to make this happen right now! I am not waiting for her to return to Vegas.”
I open the truck door and get out. As I walk to the apartment building, I call Dirk back. "Sam-I-Am, sorry about that, but the girl of my dreams just walked by."
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A few days later.
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Siri
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The belt moves, sliding my items to the cashier. The little old lady in front of me smiles sweetly and apologizes for taking so long.
Instantly, my impatient mood changes. It is not that big a deal to be a few minutes late. Mrs. Smith, my landlord, will not be upset.
I nod, "God bless you too, ma'am."
Once in my car, I hit the gas to make up for the lost time on the highway. The speed relaxes me. I turn on my tunes, and Pharrell Williams sings "Happy." My hands begin tapping the steering wheel as I rehearse the video in my mind.
I can't wait to tell Cat I intend to do "Happy" for my return performance. She will come unglued.
Once I work out the details of breaking my lease with Mrs. Smith this morning, I will be able to set a return date. The thought of seeing my team again puts a smile on my face.
Parking and grabbing my bags, I hurry. I have just enough time to put my groceries away and get back down to Mrs. Smith's office on time.
I turn my back at the door to push it open and notice a badass truck in the visitor's spot—a Tuxedo Black Metallic Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition.
Ooo, what a sweet ride! A real 'man' truck. I wonder if a badass drives it? I laugh. Probably not. Probably just a want-to-be, but hey, at least he has good taste .
Rushing through the lobby to the elevator, I glance toward the office and see Mrs. Smith talking to a young man.
In my line of work, sizing men up is part of the job. My instant impression is a stud! He looks to be my age, athletically built, 6' tall, plus or minus. He is wearing a pale-blue shirt with distressed blue jeans and could go over 200 pounds depending on his muscle mass.
In the elevator, I whip around to hone in on the man-target. He has a military-style haircut that's buzzed on the sides with dark roots, but the top is long, thick, 'dirty blonde' hair streaked with natural sun highlights. It is sleek and moving gently as he talks.
As I press #9, Mrs. Smith looks around him and waves. He turns to look also as the doors begin to close.
My breath catches in my throat.
My heart stops beating.
Golden tan skin.
Perfectly symmetrical features.
Dark hawkish brows.
But it's his piercing light eyes that rock me to my core.
He is beautiful!
The doors close.
My heart jolts back to reality.
I gasp, "Sweet Zeus! What just happened?"
My hand touches my pounding heart, and I feel the wild chaos inside. "Fuck, he is fine!"
I laugh at my response. "Woo! That look!"
The elevator stops on my floor, and I sprint to my apartment, 9A, at the end.
Stuffing my grocery bags in the refrigerator, I rush right back out, hoping to get back down to the lobby before the stud leaves.
Pressing the down button, I wait impatiently. As soon as the doors open, I slip through the gap and push the close door button twice to force the doors closed.
I ride down, standing in front of the gap, ready to exit as soon as there is enough space.
When the elevator bounces to a stop, the phone alarm I set the day before and forgot to turn off blasts the confined space with "When I Grow Up" by The Pussycat Dolls.
"Shit!"
As the doors slide open, I stretch my torso and shove my hand deep into my front pocket. Trying to pull it out as I step through the gap proves to be a mistake. I stub my toe and stumble, snatching the phone clear of my pocket and losing my grip on it.
As it sails away with the song blasting the entire lobby, I stagger and flail until I regain my footing, somehow managing not to bust my ass.
I walk to my phone and bend over to pick it up. As my fingers grasp it, the weight of my thick mane shifts, and the clip that tamed its mass slips. Reaching up, I release it, and my long hair engulfs my face.
Out of habit, I flip it up and over my head as I roll up with the flare of the stripper I am.
The song is almost over when I finally turn the music off.
"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Everyone knows I am all grown up."
Squaring my shoulders, I turn toward the office, but the step I was about to make, balks.
The stud is leaning on the threshold of the door, completely relaxed, watching me with a sexy as fuck smirk.
Oh … Holy Hades!
My heart and my breath collide in my throat.
My view shrinks.
The rest of the world falls away.
Our eyes lock.
But this time, there are no elevator doors to interrupt the connection.
This time, I stare openly into the most intense gaze on the most handsome face of the sexiest man I have ever laid eyes on and witness his beautiful face smile.
SWEET ZEUS! He looks like a Golden God!
My abs tighten, and my Kegel muscles flex so hard they lurch. It feels like I did a backflip off the high dive, and my phone slips out of my fingers.
His smile turns to a smirking grin as he pushes off the wall and takes a step toward me. His eyes ... boring into mine.
Rooted to the spot, captivated by his manliness, embarrassed by my response, a shy smile spreads slowly over my blushing face.
"Hi." His voice is deep and sends shivers through me.
"Hi." My breathy voice responds.
Just then, Mrs. Smith comes bustling out of the office, and the golden god stops advancing but doesn't release my eyes.
As soon as she sees me, she asks, "Miss Wright, do you mind waiting a bit? This young man wants to see the available apartment."
I respond with the only word that forms in my mind, and it comes out barely above a whisper, "Perfect."
His light eyes twinkle at me, and I can't tell if they are blue or green.
She asks the legit stud, "Shall we?"
He turns and nods to her. His profile is beautiful too. Straight nose. Strong jaw, but not hard. The curve of his neck, proud and regal.
She takes off for the elevator, but he turns his attention back on me and walks over.