Winning the Billionaire (Seattle Bachelors Book 2) Read online

  Winning the Billionaire

  JM Stewart

  New York Boston

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  I dedicate this one to all the authors out there. For taking your dreams, your fantasies, your hearts and souls, and being brave enough to send them out into the world. Without a love for getting lost in your stories, I’m not sure I would’ve started writing. Thanks for your inspiration.

  Chapter One

  Christina McKenzie tried to close her mouth, to force herself to blink. Common courtesy said she ought to at least turn around. She needed to do something other than stare. Staring was rude. So was drooling. She was pretty sure she was doing both. Her limbs, however, refused to obey. The sight before her had her Jimmy Choo’s glued to the hardwood floor beneath her feet. The heat in the private vestibule she stood in ramped up a thousand degrees and perspiration prickled along her skin.

  God almighty. Since she was fifteen she’d fantasized about this. On the other side of the threshold, Sebastian Blake stood with his arms folded, wearing a pair of stark-white snug-fitting boxers.

  And nothing else.

  It didn’t help that his dark brown hair stuck up at odd angles. He looked like he’d just rolled out of bed, completing the fantasy running a loop in her head. The one starring him, having just rolled out of her bed.

  She’d known Sebastian for over twenty years, since that fateful day on the playground in first grade when he’d bumped her out of the way to get to the monkey bars. He and her twin brother, Caden, had been joined at the hip since. Oh, she’d seen him with his shirt off plenty of times over the years. She’d never seen him quite like this, however, one tiny little scrap of fabric from being stark naked, and her imagination filled in the gaps fine, thank you very much.

  She bit her bottom lip. God bless America. “Baz,” as she’d been calling him since somewhere around second grade, had to be the finest specimen of the masculine form she’d ever seen. Six foot four inches of lean, sculpted muscle. A broad chest and wide shoulders tapered to lean hips and long legs. Every inch of him toned to perfection. She knew from experience he worked out religiously, because she went running with him on occasion. Sebastian lived by his routines. Standing there, soaking in every luscious inch of him, she was suddenly grateful for it. The man had well-defined pecs and a washboard stomach she ached to smooth her hands over.

  “For the love of all that’s holy, Tina, do you have to come over so damn early?” Sebastian leaned on the door frame.

  The deep scowl etched into his forehead snapped the fantasy shut with the recoil of a rubber band, yanking her back to reality. One where hell would freeze over before he ever looked at her with anything more than feigned tolerance. Never mind she and Caden were fraternal twins or that, technically, she was older than both of them. Caden by thirteen minutes and Sebastian by four months. Sebastian tended to treat her like an annoying kid sister or at most a friend. Today, apparently, it was annoying sister.

  One would think she’d be used to that look by now, but it grated her nerves every time. She was a woman. Damn it. Just once she wanted to see him acknowledge it.

  Not that the desire was logical or that she had any intention of following it. Sebastian was a well-practiced playboy. He loved women. And often.

  Soft fur brushed her ankle, announcing the presence of Spike, Sebastian’s three-year-old tabby. Using Spike as an excuse to distract herself, she bent and scooped him off the floor. “Well, at least someone’s happy to see me.”

  Purring loudly, Spike rubbed his face against her chin, and she stroked his head, pretending nonchalance as she turned her back to the door. If she didn’t at least feign decorum, she’d lean over and lick Sebastian. God, how she longed to follow the trail of soft, dark hair straight into those boxers.

  Desperate to save face, she shot a scowl over her shoulder. “It’s eight a.m., Baz. You’re usually up by now, and you could at least put pants on before answering the door. Where’s Lupe?”

  Lupe was Sebastian’s housekeeper. She was a round little woman with a sharp mind and a soft heart. She was also the only person who could tolerate Sebastian’s surly mood in the morning. Baz had had four housekeepers quit in the last two years alone. His crankiness, though, didn’t seem to faze Lupe.

  “I gave her the day off, and you’re lucky I put anything on at all. It’s been a long damn night. I’ve only been asleep for about an hour, and I hadn’t intended to leave my bed until I have to get up for work tomorrow.” He released a heavy breath. “Look, I’m exhausted. Is there something I can do for you?”

  In two seconds flat, the meaning in his not-so-subtle words sank over her. Either Sebastian slept naked or he had a date, neither of which was a pleasing possibility. The former did nothing for the not-so-dry state of her panties. The latter made her chest ache for all the things she’d never have with him. Growing up, he’d spent so much time at her parents’ estate in Redmond that her mother had practically adopted him. Every Christmas and Thanksgiving. Even the once-a-month family dinners on Sundays her mother insisted on. Sebastian was essentially family, like another brother.

  She’d never gotten used to seeing him with other women, however, and her heart couldn’t seem to accept he’d never see her as a woman.

  She swallowed past a desert-dry throat and feigned indifference. “Hot date?”

  Whatever good mood she’d started with this morning evaporated. The reaction rose every time she ran across Sebastian and one of his “groupies.” Sebastian was a sworn bachelor, and his relationships were little more than a series of meaningless flings. His smile, though, could charm the pants off a hobo. Women flocked to him the way people did movie stars.

  Christina bit her lower lip. Was one of those women still asleep in his bed? Was that the reason he’d answered the door in his underwear? What she wouldn’t have given once upon a time for him to look at her the way he looked at one of his groupies. A part of her still did.

  “Work, Tina. It’s the beginning of May. Summer is the busiest time of year for the resorts. The new couples’ resort we opened in Italy isn’t going according to plan, and it’s been a really bad morning. Is there a reason you’re on my doorstep this early or do you just enjoy coming over to annoy me?”

  Tina. Nobody but Sebastian called her that. Caden called her Chris. Her parents called her by her given name. Sebastian had always called her Tina. When they were kids, he’d taunted her with the name, used it as a weapon. Now, every time he called her Tina, her heart clenched. Oh what she would give for him to whisper the nickname in her ear like a sweet nothing.

  Annoyed by how easily he got to her, she shot a glare over her shoulder. “Pants, Sebastian.”

  He released an exasperated breath filled with barely contained restraint. “Fine. I’ll protect your delicate sensibilities and go find some pants if you’ll make me coffee. Aren’t you usually at the office by now?”

  The soft tap of his bare feet on the hardwood floors moved away from her, and Christina turned. He s
trode with casual ease farther into the condo, and her gaze set on the flex of his ass as he walked. God, he had the finest backside she’d ever seen, firm and round, and his boxers did nothing but showcase the length of his muscular legs.

  Setting the thought aside with a sigh, she stepped across the threshold and closed the door behind her, then put Spike on the floor. He brushed her ankle again before trailing after Sebastian, and Christina followed him inside.

  “I have a meeting with my director of sales and marketing at ten, but I had some things I needed to do this morning.” Namely, convince the city’s favorite bachelor to participate in the auction again this year. “You know, you really need to learn how to make your own coffee, Baz.”

  The short entry hall she emerged from opened up into the main room, and she headed off to the kitchen on the left. Sebastian owned the penthouse in a premier condominium tower in downtown Seattle. The place was beautiful, modern extravagance without being overly flashy. Dark gray marble countertops and polished hardwood flooring. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined the far wall, allowing a spectacular view of the city, and a gorgeous stone fireplace separated the living room from the dining room. The décor had a distinctly homey feel to it, rich fabrics done in warm, earthy tones, but the place was too large for her taste.

  They were different in that regard. Having grown up in a house big enough for twelve people, she preferred something a bit more quaint. She owned a modest-sized home away from the city. Her one luxury was her BMW. Okay, and her shoes. She had a love affair with designer heels. Half of her closet was filled with them.

  Extravagant was all Sebastian, though. He was proud of his wealth and wasn’t shy about showing it off, and he wanted the best of everything. Right down to his penthouse.

  “Why? I’ve got people who do it for me.” Sebastian shrugged halfheartedly, moving with the long, smooth strides of a lanky cat as he strode toward the back of the condo.

  To distract herself from the overwhelming desire to stand there and watch the flex of his ass again, Christina moved to the coffeepot on the far counter. As she set about brewing a pot of coffee, her thoughts went to her upcoming meeting with her director of sales and marketing at McKenzie Inc. She and Bob needed to discuss pricing for the next month’s software release, especially since their closest competitor had been undercutting them lately.

  By the time the hot liquid sputtered into the glass pot and the earthy aroma filled the air, Sebastian emerged from his bedroom. He now wore a pair of dark gray pajama bottoms that hung low on his hips. He hadn’t put on a shirt, though, leaving her with a view of his spectacular chest.

  She still had an insane desire to lick him. She’d long wondered if he had sensitive nipples and what sounds he’d make if she ran her tongue over one. So, she turned to the coffeepot, distracting herself with pouring him a steaming cup. She set the mug on the center island counter as he entered the kitchen.

  Hair still sticking out at odd angles, he lifted the cup to his lips and took a sip before meeting her gaze with a weary sigh. “What do you need from me?”

  Remembering the reason she’d come over in the first place, Christina put on her sweetest smile and clasped her hands together. “The bachelor auction’s next month.”

  As head of a local charity foundation for breast cancer research, she tried using the high-end auction to add a little fun to an otherwise heart-wrenching topic. Having lost more than a couple members to the disease, her family invested every year. Three years ago, she’d decided to try a fund-raiser a bit off the beaten path, something that would be sure to draw a crowd. What better way than gathering Seattle’s hottest bachelors? The first year the auction ran, she’d invited friends, well-to-do women she knew liked to let loose a little. The evening turned out to be a huge success and the event had taken on a life of its own. More often than not, the women called wanting to know when the next one was.

  Baz was an auction favorite. As CEO and minority owner of Blake Hotels and Resorts—a family-owned company catering to relaxing but affordable vacations—he’d been labeled one of Seattle’s most eligible bachelors three years in a row. A local celebrity magazine did a spread ever year and had nominated him. The article was what had spurred the idea for the auction, and Baz had participated since its inception. He put on a flirty, playful act, and the women ate him up. His bid alone last year brought in two million. Christina had been getting calls for months wanting to know if he’d be participating this year.

  “Of course it is.” Sebastian rolled his eyes, irritation crossing his features. He pushed away from the counter and rounded the breakfast bar, taking his coffee with him as he crossed to the windows lining the far wall.

  She blinked, surprised by his reaction. He usually agreed with a pleasant smile and of course. “I’m sorry to ask last minute, but one of my guys had to drop out, and I’m short one bachelor. Are you busy?”

  “I’m always busy.” He waved a flippant hand over his shoulder, but his voice held little enthusiasm. “Whatever. I’ll make time.”

  The odd, dispassionate tone of his voice nudged at her. Something was definitely off. This was cranky even for him. “If you’re busy, I can find someone else…”

  He spun to face her, eyes blazing. “I said I’d participate, all right? Are we done? I’m exhausted, my head is pounding, and I’d really like to go back to bed.”

  His harsh words hit that painful place inside, the one where she stuffed all those things she shouldn’t be feeling for him anyway. The longing, the hurt…and the hopeless, unrequited love she couldn’t let go of. Deep down, Sebastian was a good man. He worked hard. The resorts he and his father owned were the success they were because of him. He could always be counted on whenever she or Caden needed something.

  Once again, though, he’d relegated her to the position of annoying kid sister. She wanted to scream at him. Or kiss him. Or take his hands and put them on her breasts. Maybe then he’d finally see her as a woman, flesh and blood and real. Goddammit.

  She set her hands on her hips. “You know what? This is cranky even for you. Whatever the hell your problem is, take your bad mood out on someone else. I’m not your punching bag. Forget I asked. I’ll find someone else. Grayson Lockwood owes me a favor anyway for saving his computer servers last year. Go back to whoever’s waiting in your bed. If you had company, you could simply have said so.”

  Of course, she was rambling. He’d unseated her, the way he always did, and she’d snapped. Since grade school, Sebastian seemed to get a kick out of pushing her buttons, teasing her until she got mad. Having seen her through puberty and acne and her geeky college days, he knew every damn thing about her, which meant he knew every single hot button she had. And damn it, it always worked.

  She snatched her purse off the counter, pivoted, and stalked from the kitchen. Outside of Caden and her father, Sebastian was the only man who held enough of her to break her heart. She’d fallen for him in high school, and hard as she tried to squash them, the emotions had only gotten stronger as the boy became a man. All because she’d seen his soft side when he thought nobody was looking. She’d watched him pluck his guitar and croon lonely ballads that brought tears to her eyes. Watched him lure Spike in off the street with a kind hand and patience. He had a heart in there somewhere, for all his infuriating cantankerous attitude, and it always managed to fill her with that schoolgirlish hope.

  She firmly kept him in the realm of “delicious fantasy,” though, and there he’d stay. She’d already fallen for one playboy’s charms. Four years ago when she discovered she wasn’t the only love of Craig Lawson’s life. That was a mistake she would not be repeating. Sebastian held too much of her already.

  Sebastian let out a heavy sigh behind her. “Tina, I’m too damned tired for this. Jesus. If you must know, I spent last night in the hospital in Everett and most of the morning with my father’s lawyer. I only got home about an hour ago.”

  His words stopped her cold halfway to the entry hall. His father live
d in Everett. Her irritation evaporated as alarm skittered up her spine. She spun to face him. He stood at the edge of the kitchen, free hand in his hair, holding the long bangs back off his forehead. His eyes, now that she’d stopped to really look at him, were red-rimmed and bloodshot. They filled with something resembling grief. She knew that look. It meant Sebastian’s walls were crumbling. He’d had a very similar expression when his mother left all those years ago.

  What on earth could shake him like this?

  She stepped toward him, moving once again to the edge of the kitchen. “Something happened.”

  He dropped his arm to his side, his shoulders rounding with defeat. “My father had a massive heart attack Sunday night. We hoped he’d recover, but he didn’t. He passed early this morning. So, whatever you need, add it to the list and go home. I’m not in the mood to fight with you. My only goal for today is to sleep.”

  Her heart clenched in sympathy. Sebastian and his father had never gotten along. Though he always brushed the tension off with rebellious dismissal, she’d seen the hurt in his eyes whenever the two men exchanged words. Sebastian coveted, but had never gotten, his father’s approval. Suddenly his bad mood made all the sense in the world. He could be surly when he wasn’t feeling well. If he fought grief on top of exhaustion?

  She strode in his direction, depositing her purse on the kitchen counter. “My God, Baz. Why didn’t you call one of us? Even Mom or Dad would have come in a pinch. Are you all right? What can I do?”

  Alarm scattered across his features right before his brow furrowed and his jaw tightened. He jabbed a finger in her direction and backed away from her like she held a hand grenade and had just pulled the pin. “Don’t. Don’t go all mother hen on me. I’ve got a lot of shit to deal with right now, and the last thing I need is you smothering me.”

  Sebastian hated when she “mothered” him, as he called it. She’d gotten the compulsive habit from her mother. Mom was a worrier, to the point she drove them all nuts sometimes. It had rubbed off over the years, if only because the constant attention to detail had always given Christina a sense of being cared for. She and Caden had always known that despite their parents’ sometimes overwhelming demands for perfection, they were, above all, loved.