The Dashing Groom (Holliday Islands Resort Book 1) by Jo Grafford

Author:Jo Grafford [Grafford, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, Forever Love, Christian Stories, Faith Based, Inspirational Reads, Love Inspired, Bachelor, Single Woman, Hearts Desire, Clean & Wholesome, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Small Town & Rural Area, Beautiful & Feisty, Nine Billionaire Playboy Sons, Alaskan Resort Empire, True Love Connection, Inc., Christmas Holidays & Celebration, Christmas Time, Holiday Whimsy, Festive Season, Winter Weather, Holliday Islands Resort
Publisher: JG PRESS
Published: 2019-11-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4: A Ghost Revealed

Dash

“Why?” she choked when she could finally speak again. “Why me?”

He smiled and poured her another glass of wine. “Because you’re the best.” A flick of his wrist brought a pair of waiters rushing forward to clean up the shards of crystal.

“You don’t know me.” She held on to the fresh goblet of wine he handed her like a lifeline and took a shuddering gulp that made Dash fear she was going to choke on it.

He tensed, ready to leap in her direction, if needed, to pound her between her shoulder blades. He didn’t breathe easily again until he saw her throat muscles constrict in a swallowing motion.

Perceiving she was recovering from her shock, he allowed himself the luxury of being entranced by her burning need to know. To make sense of things. To understand what was happening between them. It wasn’t enough for her to have a billionaire bachelor sit in front of her and all but admit he’d been obsessing over her for the past five years. He could tell his wealth and reputation didn’t phase her, at least not in this context.

He lazily toyed with one of the pink roses spilling onto the table. “Call me crazy if you feel differently, but I thought we connected the night of the charity ball.”

“Connected?” She shot him an incredulous glance. “We exchanged a few pleasantries.”

“We did.” He nodded. “About the loss of our mothers and how hard it was to smile for the cameras afterwards for our respective jobs.”

“It was crushing,” she agreed sadly. “You learn to get very good at pretending.”

“But neither of us had to pretend that night, did we? Not with each other. We had a real conversation like two real people, and it felt good.” He glanced away from her. “Considering both our names and reputations.” Boy! If Bull and Raj could hear him now, they’d be laughing up a storm at his severe lack of conversational prowess. “You were just so…nice to me.” Yep, he sounded about all of sixteen right now.

“It’s hard sometimes, isn’t it?” she said quietly. “Always playing a part. Always having to keep up appearances. At least I didn’t have to start doing it until I was sixteen. That’s when I competed for my first World Cup. It was also when the paparazzi first discovered me.” She sighed. It was a soft feminine sound that cut straight through his defenses and nestled deep in his heart. “But it started much sooner for you, didn’t it?”

“The day I was born.” He waggled his brows at her. “The first son of a billionaire hotel and resort tycoon?” He gave a long low whistle. “My parents basically had to hold a press conference at her bedside in the hospital. Her name was Lorelei, by the way.” His voice fell to a hushed and reverent tone. “She was the most wonderful person.” He shook his head. “I know that sounds cliche, but it’s true. Everyone loved her. Even our butler, and that’s saying a lot.

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