Taming the Carefree Billionaire - Marie Higgins Page 0,6

foggy mind was drawing a blank.

The man’s ruffled white shirt and black knickers definitely made him stand out amongst the golfers dressed in their shorts and polo shirts. Thomas leaned closer to the window, trying to get a better look at the odd man. Suddenly, the man’s head turned, and he looked directly at Thomas. Grinning, the man waved his fingers.

Thomas grumbled and glanced at Cole. “Do you see that man there, the one by the patio chairs?”

Cole peered out the window. After a few seconds, he shrugged. “What guy are you referring to? There are three by the patio chairs.”

“The one who is wearing the ruffled shirt and knickers.” Thomas pointed.

Cole looked again, blinked a few times and then looked again. “Sorry, man. I don’t see anyone fitting that description.” Cole picked up Thomas’ water and sniffed.

“What are you doing?” Thomas snapped, taking his drink away.

“I’m checking to see if your water was spiked, but I don’t smell anything, so you’re good.”

“Are you telling me that you honestly don’t see him?” Thomas glanced back toward the patio. The man was gone. Groaning, he rubbed his forehead. “Sorry, man. Maybe I was hallucinating. I guess I need more sleep.”

Thomas took another big gulp of his water while staring out the window. It hovered on the brink of his memory where he’d seen that odd man before, but he just couldn’t remember.

It hadn’t been during his gambling party because Thomas had only been focused on two things during that time – women and gambling – and not necessarily in that order. So, maybe he’d seen that man afterward.

A flash of memory briefly passed through the fog in his head. He had seen that man after the party. It was when Thomas had returned home. The man told him something.

Closing his eyes tightly, Thomas tried thinking back to when he was so dead tired and wanted nothing more than his bed and pillow. However, the strange man with the buckled shoes had stopped Thomas. The man said something about Thomas being on the wrong road, and... Thomas’ head started pounding harder. Why had the man said he was Thomas’ guardian angel?

He chuckled to himself and shook his head. That must have been the strangest dream he’d ever had. Perhaps it was time to lay off the all-night parties.

Besides, he would need a very clear mind when he started an investigation into the camerawoman. He wasn’t going to let this one rest. He’d find her, even if he had to turn over every stone in Napa Valley.

THREE

Morgan Foster concentrated on aligning the pictures on the computer program as she held tightly to her mouse and moved it a fraction more. Sometimes she wished there was an easier way to do this, but then she was thankful they weren’t still prepping for a layout the way it had been done in the olden days.

Zoning out everything going on around her, she focused only on the computer program for the Tribute’s next issue. She’d done this for four years now and should be a pro, but each edition was different, and sometimes – like today – the issues were slightly more complicated.

“Oh, my goodness. I can’t believe it!”

Morgan’s coworker’s excited voice startled her, and she jumped. She scowled over her shoulder toward Joslyn Hardy. The strawberry-blonde woman with a model-type body was in her mid-thirties, but thanks to plastic surgery, Joslyn looked much younger. She stared at the cell phone still in her hands. Joslyn’s shocked expression was worth the slight hesitation.

Slowly, Joslyn shook her head. “Today must be my lucky day... or the stars are aligned just for me.”

Again? Morgan bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. Her coworker had one of these moments at least once a day. “What happened this time?” Morgan switched her focus back on the computer screen as she wiggled the mouse around to fix the file.

“Thomas Powers.” Joslyn laughed softly. “Can you believe it? The powerful Powers family who never returns my phone calls is actually going to call me today.”

Morgan’s hand stalled and she gritted her teeth. Just hearing that man’s name made her want to vomit... and then punch him. She’d had her share of snobby rich people, but Thomas took it one step further and thought he was God’s gift to women.

“Don’t say it too loud or you’ll jinx yourself, Jos. You remember what happened last time.”

Joslyn bent and rested her palms on the desk as she looked closer at Morgan. “This is nothing