Free Alpha Billionaire’s Bride, Part One (BWWM Romance Serial) by Mia Caldwell Page A

kept the cabin as a reminder of
his beginnings.”
    “I thought so too, but I was just a kid and he wouldn’t
listen to me. He said that rise there was the best place to build on the entire
property, and he wasn’t going to put his dream house on the second best spot
just to keep a ramshackle cabin that nobody would live in again.”
    “Funny. So the building’s gone, but the name lives on.”
    “There you have it.”
    They sipped their beers. Ian’s bobber shook. He was getting
a nibble, so perhaps all the fish weren’t napping after all. The shaking
stopped. Apparently the fish wasn’t hungry enough to do more than taste.
    “So, um,” Jada said, hesitancy in her tone, “I didn’t
realize you’d be coming out here with me. Not that I’m not glad to see you, I
am, but I know you’re busy and I’m surprised to find myself hanging out with
you.”
    “I hadn’t planned to come, but Sullivan pointed out that I’d
be housebound all weekend because of the press and we’re not likely to learn
anything about the fake marriage license until Monday anyway, when government
gets back to work.”
    “What do you think happened? Why you? Or why me? It doesn’t
make any sense. I try to figure it out, but I’ve got no clue. Do you have any
theories?”
    “My guess is one of us has an enemy who wants to make life
difficult.”
    “I didn’t consider that. Hmm. I don’t think I have any
enemies, Ian. Not that everyone loves me on sight, but I can’t imagine who
would have an ax to grind with me. I don’t mix it up with people.”
    Ian ratcheted in his line a few clicks. “It’s far more
likely that if someone’s bent on revenge, it’d be someone with a grudge against
me. Unlike you, I’m always mixing it up.”
    Jada smiled. “Kinda goes with a shark’s territory, I guess.”
    He returned her smile. “I’m not a shark. I’m just
misunderstood.”
    “You’ve got pretty sharp teeth for a non-shark.”
    “They’re caps.”
    Jada laughed, a bright and cheerful sound that made
something in Ian’s gut tighten. God, he wanted to kiss her so badly it hurt. He
took a long swig of beer instead.
    They chatted more, keeping the topics light and fun. Jada
drank two beers before saying she’d had enough, and admitted she couldn’t hold
her liquor, which charmed Ian so much he couldn’t quit smiling and was certain
he looked half-daft.
    Jada caught a small fish, which Ian released back into the
lake for her so she wouldn’t get slimy and mess up her new clothes. Ian almost
caught a fish, but let it slip the hook so Jada wouldn’t have to worry about
splashes.
    The sun had dipped behind the big house when Ian thought to
check his watch. He was shocked to see they’d been out for several hours.
    “We should get back,” he said with regret. “Mrs. Best will
have dinner ready in a while. We’ll have just enough time to get cleaned up.”
    He was pleased to see that Jada appeared as sorry to end the
excursion as he was, taking her time breaking down her equipment. She even took
her time cleaning her hands with the pre-moistened towels he gave her.
    He rowed slowly, pulling the oars with ease, enjoying the
feel of working his muscles. He couldn’t stop looking at Jada. What a surprise
she was. Smart, funny, kind and warm. Beautiful. Exotic. Other, and yet not.
    He noticed she glanced at him nearly as often he did her. He
didn’t want to be overly-confident, but he believed that she liked what she
saw. Most women did, and Ian wasn’t being a braggart; it simply was the truth.
However, Jada wasn’t most women. She was different, real in a way the other
women hadn’t been.
    “I had a good time fishing,” she said, breezy. She looked
sideways at him through long, curling lashes. “Normally, I wouldn’t say this,
but, I feel like I already know you. That’s dumb, isn’t it?”
    “No. I feel the same way.”
    He imagined kissing her succulent lips, sucking the lower
one into his mouth and tasting deeply of