30 Nights With The Billionaire

Chapter 1

SAMPLE CHAPTERS

Jean closed her eyes as she tried to get comfortable on the plane. She had spent the last few weeks filling in as a secretary for another firm while they were short-handed. It was chaotic and exhausting, but finally she could return home for a much-deserved break.

She felt the seat move next to her, and she opened her eyes to see a man sitting down. He was on his phone, and he moved his fingers intricately as he texted someone. She closed her eyes again, not wanting to stare at the gorgeous specimen. He had thick, dark locks of hair that seemed perfectly set in place. His eyes were such a warm brown that they looked golden.

He was probably texting his girlfriend, letting her know that he was on his way home. Lucky woman. It must be nice. She had many flings in high school and had been out on plenty of dates as an adult, but with no one who caught her interest. Lately, she was so busy with work that she didn’t have time for a relationship. It was something she wanted, though. To have a family again.

She swallowed the lump down that formed in her throat as she thought about her parents. It had been fourteen years since the accident. She was ten years old at the time, but it still haunted her. She could still hear the sounds of tires screeching and glass shattering. She vividly remembered seeing their lifeless bodies while she screamed in the back seat of the car. They had both been killed instantly. Her life completely changed after that. She moved in with her Gran Gran, who didn’t have much but showered her with all the love she could. She lost her two years ago and was now all alone in this world.

What she wouldn’t give to hear their voices one more time. She opened her eyes and swatted away the tears that threatened to escape.

“Afraid of flying?” a rich baritone voice asked.

She turned her head to meet with the amber-brown eyes of the man next to her. His brows were knitted together as he looked at her with concern.

“No. It’s just been a long few weeks. I’m happy to be going home.” She watched as he nodded his head curtly and returned to his phone. Guess he wasn’t much of a talker.

They heard a few trills, and then a voice came over the speakers. “Attention all passengers, this is your captain speaking. Due to the nearby cluster of storms, all flights have been canceled for the next two days.” The rippling sounds of disappointed groans filled the air as people began to make their way off the plane.

Jean sighed as she reached above her to get her carry-on luggage. Luckily, it was all she had, but she was struggling to undo the compartment latch. The man next to her stood up, flipping it open with ease. She grabbed her bag and turned to thank him, but he was gone. She could just barely see the top of his head before he faded from her sight.

She made her way off the plane and opened her cell phone to call nearby hotels for a room. She went down the list and was beginning to feel desperate. They had all filled up due to the canceled flights.

“Towering Heights Hotel, can I help you?”

“I need a room,” Jean said, holding her breath.

“We do have one room available—”

“I’ll take it. My name is Regina Newman, and I’ll pay with a credit card.”

“But I need to tell you it is the—”

“Doesn’t matter. Please book the room for me. I’m on my way there now.”

Lucky! She managed to get the last room at the final hotel on the list. She didn’t care if it was smoking or non-smoking. It was a room and she needed one. It wasn’t like she had anything or anyone to rush home to. She had a few weeks off before returning to work, so she would take the next couple of days to relax.

She took the shuttle to the hotel and walked up to the counter.

“Hi, Regina Newman, I made a reservation just a little bit ago.” The receptionist punched away at the keyboard and then nodded his head.

“Yes, Miss Newman, I have you right here. That will be $5550.00 a night. How would you like to pay?”

Jean almost choked on air as her eyes bulged out. It had to be a mistake. “I’m sorry, how much?”

“For the Presidential Suite, it is $5550 a night. It comes with two rooms, a mini refrigerator, a small home theater, a luxury spa and—” The man continued to ramble as she felt sick to her stomach. She needed a room to sleep, but at that price, she simply couldn’t afford it.

“I don’t care about the price. Just give me any room available.” A familiar tone sounded next to her.

“I’m sorry Mr. Cross, but we do not have any rooms available. I am checking across our system and I am not seeing any rooms anywhere,” the receptionist said apologetically.

“Perfect.” The man from the plane let out a frustrated groan.

Jean chewed on her inner lip for a moment as she thought about the situation. Even splitting the room would be expensive, but it would be better than full price. And there were two rooms in the presidential suite. Would it be really weird to ask him if he wanted to split the room with her? And was she asking for trouble, sleeping in the same room as a man that looked like he came out of a magazine? She thought about the price of the room again and went for it.

“Uhm, excuse me,” Jean whispered as she turned to look at Mr. Cross. His golden eyes met with hers and she offered him a weak smile. “I have the presidential suite. It has two rooms. If you want to split the cost with me,” she started to say, as she scrunched up her nose and shrugged. “Honestly, it’s too expensive for me alone, but I can manage if we split it. I was told there are two rooms, so if you’d like—” she trailed off as the man stared at her. It looked like he was studying her, looking for an ulterior motive. What was he thinking about right now? Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything and lived off of dirt for the next year. She was about to say never mind when he looked over at the receptionist and pulled out his gold card.

“Put it on my card. I will pay for it in full.”

“You don’t have to do that—” Jean watched as the man raised his hand, shaking his head.

“It’s done. Thank you, I appreciate your kindness—”

“Regina, but you can call me Jean,” she said, extending her hand.

“Benjamin, but you can call me Ben,” he said, as his lips twitched up in a smile.

“If you two will follow me, I’ll take your luggage to your room,” the bellhop said, as he led them down the hall.

“Thank you,” Jean said quietly as they stepped into the elevator. Ben looked up from his phone at her. “For paying for the room. That would have set me back a lot.” He nodded his head and returned to looking at his screen. Okay, it felt a bit awkward. He seemed very disinterested in talking with her. Well, at least things shouldn’t be weird about sleeping in the same suite.

They arrived at the top floor, where there was only one door in the hallway.

“Where are all the other rooms?” Jean asked as the bellhop turned to smile at her.

“The presidential suite is the entire floor of this wing. You are the only ones up here.” The man’s eyes wandered over her as she stepped past him. He was admiring her beauty openly until the man next to him cleared his throat.

“Careful,” was all Ben said. The man fidgeted, fumbling with the card key in his hand before opening the door.

Jean remained oblivious and walked in, looking around in awe. This was something she had only ever dreamed of—a luxurious and spacious living area greeted her with open arms. A well-equipped kitchen stood off to the side, beckoning her with its promise of delicious meals to come. In the center of the room, a massive television sat atop a plush brown leather couch, inviting her to sink into its comfort. The ceiling was adorned with sparkling crystal lights that cast a warm glow over the space, while large bay windows offered a stunning view of the city below. It wasn’t just a hotel room; it was more like an elegant and sophisticated apartment. It was more glamorous than anything she had ever imagined. The sound of the door shutting brought her attention back to her companion for the next two days.

“Which room do you want?” Ben asked as he grabbed her luggage.

“I don’t have a preference. Any place with a bed is fine for me.” She watched as the man sighed before heading off to the far right.

“This room has a walk-in jacuzzi tub attached to the bathroom. Women tend to like those sorts of things, so you can have this room.”

Women... she wondered if this was going to be a difficult situation to explain to someone. “I’m sorry if this arrangement causes any problems for you with anyone.” Ben stopped and turned to look at her. Amusement flickered in his eyes as his lips curled up into a smile.

“Is this your way of asking if I’m single?” His voice was full of mirth. He watched as her face turned crimson red, her mouth gaping open.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about how that would sound. I didn’t even realize it. You’ll have to forgive my lack of eloquence.”

“Not at all. Your words are honest, and it’s something I appreciate.” He smiled at her for a moment before leading the rest of the way into the room. “No, this situation isn’t going to bother anyone. I’m unattached. I don’t really have time for dating. You?” he asked casually, resting his golden-brown eyes on her.

She shook her head as she ogled over her luxurious surroundings. “No. One day, maybe. I mean, I want a family, but I’ve kept so busy that I haven’t made time for dates. Besides, the bad ones I had were set up by my friends. They mean well, but I wish they’d let me do my own boyfriend shopping.” Just then her stomach grumbled loudly, reminding her that she was close to starvation. She rushed to the plane without dinner and planned to snack during the flight. She glanced up at Ben who chuckled lightly.

“I’ll order us something to eat.”

“You paid for the room. I can—”

He picked up his phone and walked away, not allowing for any objection. He turned to look at her as he stepped into the doorway. “Why don’t you get freshened up? Dinner should be here within the hour. Are you allergic to anything? Anything you don’t like to eat?”

“Not that I can think of,” she answered as he closed the door. What an interesting guy. She grabbed her clothes and walked over towards the bathroom. He seemed to have been familiar with the layout of the room. Perhaps he stayed here before. She wondered what he must do for a living. He didn’t even bat an eye at the cost of the room. The price for staying in this room for two nights would cover her apartment rent for almost the whole year.

With a flick of her wrist, the room suddenly illuminated, and a plethora of light revealed the shiny new fixtures within. An impressive, beveled-glass shower filled the far corner of the bathroom, and in front of that was a large walk-in jacuzzi tub with sparkling jets. In its presence, she could almost feel the warmth and comfort of a long day’s bath. She would never see an expensive room like this again in her lifetime, so she might as well make the most of it.

Even if Ben didn’t have time to date, she was surprised he was unattached. He seemed kind, financially secure, and devastatingly handsome. Through his shirt she had noticed his well-toned physique. She wondered what the bellhop thought as he escorted them to the room. He probably wondered what a guy like that was doing with someone like her. Though, she wasn’t exactly ugly. In fact, she considered herself attractive even despite being a harsh critic of her appearance. At first, she wondered what skeletons Ben had in his closet to be single, but on second thought, it wasn’t fair to think like that. Maybe he was really busy and didn’t want to settle for just anyone.

After she soaked herself longer than she should have, she finished with a quick shower. She put on a camisole and shorts, since she didn’t really have clothes for company besides her work outfits. She left her room and was greeted with a heavenly aroma of food. Gosh, she really was starving. Her gaze shifted towards the kitchen where Ben had just finished placing their food on the table. She was relieved to see he was wearing a pair of shorts and a black tank top, though this gave her a much better view of the chiseled muscles that decorated his body. It was as if he had been sculpted to perfection. She realized then that she had been openly staring at him.

He glanced up and she put on a smile, making her way to the table. “The food smells delicious.”

“I ordered Italian. I figured that was a safe bet. There’s salad, garlic rolls, fettuccini alfredo, and tiramisu for dessert,” Ben said as he took a seat.

“Perfect, I love Italian. It’s my favorite.” She looked at the food as she excitedly took her place at the table.

“Mine too,” he murmured quietly as he began to eat.

“So... what do you do for a living?” she asked bluntly as she twirled her noodles.

“I’m a businessman,” he said simply, not wanting to elaborate more than that. “You?”

“I’m a secretary for a law firm. I was helping out a sister firm for a few weeks while they launched.”

“They couldn’t just hire someone for that?”

“No, they’re using the same system, and it’s complicated. They needed someone to go and train the new secretary as well as work. I was the lucky one who was voluntold to go.” She laughed, letting out a sigh. The other secretaries had families and she didn’t. She was the obvious choice to be sent away. At least she was getting several weeks off with pay to compensate her. They quietly ate their food for a few moments. He seemed perfectly content to not talk. She decided to try to start up a conversation again. “Do you travel a lot?”

“Sometimes. It just depends on the circumstances.” He listened as she giggled and he glanced up at her, raising his brows questioningly.

“Sorry.” She pursed her lips together with a smile. “It’s just that you never elaborate. As if you’re part of a secret organization and can’t let your secrets slip.” She watched as his lips curled up into a smile.

“Maybe I am.” He chuckled as he lifted his head to look at her fully. “I’m sorry. I’m not always the best company. My mind is often racing over things that need done.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, waving her hands. “I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. Please, don’t take it personally.”

“I’m not. It was a reminder that I need to decompress at times too. I often don’t even realize I’m doing it. It causes me... problems.” His voice grew quiet, and she decided not to pry further.

“I’ll clean up the mess here since you bought dinner.”

“You don’t have to clean up. Housekeeping will do that.”

“Well, I can make their job a little easier then. Just because someone will clean up the mess doesn’t mean we have to be pigs about it.” She winked and stuck her tongue out at him.

A warm chuckle reverberated in his chest as he began to help her pick up. “Don’t you think you’re being a bit feisty with a stranger you barely know? No one has ever stuck their tongue out at me before.”

“I’m sure they have, just not to your face.”

“Perhaps, but most wouldn’t dare.”

“Okay, Godfather,” she teased, placing the garbage next to the door and brushing her hands together. “Thank you for dinner. Tomorrow, I’ll take care of our food.” She lifted her fingers to cover her mouth as she let out a yawn. “I hate to eat and go straight to sleep, but I am exhausted.”

“Have a good rest.”

“Are you going to bed?” she asked as she walked towards her room.

“I need to get some work done first. Good night.”

“Nighty night.”

She shut the door and ran to her bed, plopping on it like a child. It felt as if she were lying on a cloud. Her body felt completely weightless as she hugged a pillow tightly. She closed her eyes and began to think about her roommate. He was not at all how she expected him to be. He was mentally preoccupied, but he wasn’t stuffy like she imagined a wealthy man would be. He seemed really nice, but he looked tired. Even looking tired, she could get lost in his eyes. Why couldn’t she find a man like that?

“Jean? Jean, wake up?”

She sat up quickly, her fists gripping the blanket, as she panted heavily. She blinked several times as she tried to gather her senses. Ben was next to her, his eyes full of concern.

“Jean, are you okay? You were having a nightmare.”

Only it wasn’t a nightmare. Jean reached up to brush the damp tears from her face. “I wish it was a nightmare. Sometimes reality is worse.” She shook her head and then offered him an apologetic smile. “Sorry, that was a bit dark and deep for a stranger.” She glanced over at the clock to see it was four in the morning. “I’m sorry, did I wake you?”

“No, I was out in the main room doing work. I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I might as well get things done.” He opened his mouth for a moment as if he was deciding what he wanted to say. “Let’s see what’s on TV. I could use the company.”

It wasn’t like she could go right to sleep after that. She knew her Gran Gran used to come to her at night, but she never knew she yelled in her sleep. It must have really startled Ben, because he was looking at her like she was about to break.

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

A few moments later, they were both sitting on the couch. He was flipping through the channels as he glanced over at her. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Her gray eyes flipped over at him as she quietly thought it over. “There isn’t anything to talk about. It was just a memory of when my parents were killed. It’s been fourteen years, but sometimes the memories still haunt me. I can’t help but wonder, why didn’t I die with them? Why was I the one left alive?” She gave him a weak shrug.

“There are no answers to those questions.” He watched her nod her head as she stared back at the television. That was his cue to drop the topic. “Anything in particular that you want to watch?”

“Something light-hearted and funny. Cartoons would be great.” She watched as he opened an app on his phone and cast his screen to the television. Soon a big Looney Toons emblem popped up on the screen. “Perfect!” She smiled as she settled into the back cushion of the couch.

COPYRIGHT JM SNAP

She was warm, as if she was wrapped up in a cocoon. She nestled her head into... something warm but breathing! Her eyes popped open. She was lying against Ben’s chest. He was lying at a slight angle on the couch. His well-defined arm was wrapped around her protectively, keeping her captive. She could see his head leaning back on the couch awkwardly. He had to be very uncomfortable. She lifted her head to see his eyes flutter open, apparent confusion on his face.

“I am so sorry. You must be so uncomfortable.” She straightened up as his arm slid away from her. His warmth was comforting, and she instantly missed it. It was wrong to have those thoughts since he wasn’t hers. What happened was just an accident. She turned to look up at the clock. It was almost noon! She had fallen asleep and didn’t wake up once, which was unusual for her. She never slept that soundly. She watched as Ben stretched out his arm and rubbed his neck. He had to have been sore from the position he was in. He reached for his phone, eyes widening as his mouth parted slightly.

“Noon?!”He breathed out as he blinked at his screen, as if it wasn’t correct.

“I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you. I’m sorry. I toss when I sleep, and I must have rolled onto you.”

He shook his head. “You fell asleep and began to slide down, so I let you lay on me. I don’t know how I fell asleep though. I have never slept like that.”

“I’m sure sleeping on the couch is unusual for you.” She imagined he usually slept on beds like the one in her room.

“Sleeping anywhere is unusual for me,” he said quietly. “I can’t remember the last time I slept so well. Even with my pills, I barely sleep.” His golden eyes were gazing at her curiously. “I suffer from insomnia and don’t sleep. I didn’t have my pills with me last night, so I knew it was pointless to even try to sleep.”

“I must be a sleep charm,” she teased, but his serious gaze made her wave her hands and shake her head. “I’m just joking.” Still, he quietly looked at her, making her feel excited and hot inside.

“Would it be okay if we tested this again?” His eyes were locked onto her with so much hope that she didn’t have the heart to turn him down. However, it was one thing to accidentally fall asleep together. It was another to plan to. It felt a bit awkward, and her thoughts of him weren’t entirely pure. Which wasn’t his fault, it was hers. With a sigh, she gave him a small shrug.

“I guess. I mean, it can’t hurt anything, except maybe a blood deprived arm from my head laying on it.” She laughed as she studied his perplexed face. “I’m sure you were just beyond exhausted. Or maybe you just need someone with you to sleep—”

“I’ve been with people before, at night. It didn’t change anything. I’ve been beyond exhausted before too.” Of course he had slept with people before. It wasn’t like she didn’t think he had. She was just trying to find a logical answer for him. Whatever, they had another night at the hotel anyway. What could it hurt?

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