Hawaiian Masquerade (Destination Billionaire Romance) (12 page)

He paused and whispered, “I still have you, and that’s all that matters.”

Lexi swallowed, and the tears she’d been holding back rolled down her cheeks. She nodded and embraced Derek again. She might not be able to buy Derek a camera, but she’d figure out a way to help him. The ocean crashed in the distance, but all Lexi heard was the beating of Derek’s heart against her ear as he held her close to his chest.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Lexi said. “We’ll figure this out.”

L
exi didn’t want
to leave Derek alone, but she couldn’t help him until she got home and made some phone calls. She dialed ten different numbers before she found the right assistant who could connect her immediately to Jordan.

“Lex, what’s going on? You just interrupted a meeting.”

“You’re always in a meeting. This is your sister, remember? I know you were answering emails while pretending to pay attention to a PowerPoint presentation.”

Jordan chuckled. “Okay, you got me there. What’s up?”

“I need your help.”

“Anything. Are you okay? You sound . . . different.”

Lexi smiled. “I am different. You really need to come visit me.”

“Wait a minute; you met someone, didn’t you? A Hawaiian dude?”

“He is Hawaiian now, but he’s not a native. He discovered a way of life that is amazing, and he’s been working so hard. His name is Derek Mitchell, and he’s a photographer. And he’s solid, Jordy. I know you’d like him. He’s so down to earth and just real.”

“I can see you with a photographer.” Jordan chuckled. “You always had a good eye, so I’m guessing he’s good-looking.”

Lexi blushed. “Total hotness, yes.”

“So why do you need my help?”

“Derek doesn’t know that I’m, well, really well off. He thinks I’m just a normal stressed-out business executive who escaped to the island.”

“Well, that’s true. You are normal, and you did escape.”

“It goes a little deeper than that. He doesn’t trust rich people or their motives, and I’ve pretty much created a disaster because I should’ve told him the truth before now.”

“Why does he even need to know you’re financial situation?”

“Up to this point, he hasn’t needed to know, but he lost his camera in the ocean today. His camera that cost six thousand dollars.”

“Ouch. Were you there?”

Lexi grimaced. “Yeah, we were sort of on a date.” She told Jordan about the accident that morning.

“So buy him a new camera. You’ll be his knight in shining armor, he loves you forever, and all that good stuff.”

“Jordy, you don’t understand. He’d hate me forever if he thought he was my charity case. I know I’ve made a mess; can you help me clean it up?”

“Sis, you know I’ll do anything for you—or at least Porter will.” Jordan laughed when he referenced one of his three personal assistants, who did everything from his laundry to buying gifts. “Are you sure this guy deserves you?”

“Yes. You said yourself that I’m different—in a good way—and you haven’t even seen me,” Lexi said. “I have Derek to thank for that. Anyway, what good is all the money in the world if I can’t help someone that I love?”

“You love him, then. It’s that whole L-word thing? Scary.”

She almost laughed, but then she thought about what she’d just said. Part of her struggled with the realization that she could feel that strongly for Derek, but it felt right. “It is, but I can’t stand back and watch him disintegrate. He’s too talented. I figured you could help me come up with a way to get him a camera.”

Lexi heard papers shuffling, and she knew she had Jordan’s attention because he was taking notes. “Okay, so you need this done today, right?”

Lexi took a deep breath. “So you’ll help me?”

“Yep, send me the deets and I’ll put Porter on it. We’ll figure out a way to get him a camera that doesn’t look like it’s being given to him.”

“Thank you so much! I love you, Jordy!”

“NOW she loves me,” Jordan murmured, with a chuckle in his voice. “Talk to you soon.”

Lexi could barely contain herself after talking to Jordan. They didn’t have a solution yet, but she’d seen Porter in action. She checked her watch and made a bet with herself that he’d be back with a viable plan within four hours.

Three hours and seventeen minutes later, Jordan called Lexi back with an idea that Porter had already typed up and sent to her personal email address. If Lexi could’ve chartered a helicopter without looking ostentatious and ruining her cover, she would have flown to Derek’s. Instead she drove faster than was probably necessary, her heart pumping as she rounded the bend toward Hanapepe, unable to stand one more minute in a world where Derek was miserable and without hope. The sun was setting, and she wasn’t even sure if Derek would be home, but she had to deliver the news in person.

When Derek answered the door, his face brightened before falling back into a deep frown. Lexi’s heart was trying to beat outside her chest, and she wanted to shout the good news to him, but she waited until he motioned for her to come inside. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes were red and irritated. She wondered what he’d been doing since they’d parted, but she couldn’t wait to change his mood.

“Derek, I have the best news!” Lexi squealed.

Derek led her inside. He brushed her lips with a kiss. “I’m listening, ’cause I think it’ll be better than anything I’ve heard today.”

She pecked his cheek and bounced up and down on her toes. “I called my brother and told him what happened this morning. Jordan just called and told me about a foundation for artists that his friend created. They’re looking for ways to build the foundation as a tax deduction. They need a photographer who can take pictures of art in action.”

“Gee, Lexi, that sounds awesome, except for one little detail.” Derek lifted his hands to his face and pretended to click a camera.

“I know!” Lexi squealed again. “They’re providing the camera! It’s a Canon with all the equipment and a beginning budget of five thousand dollars to create the project.”

Derek gaped. Lexi smiled and put her finger under his chin. She took a piece of paper out of her pocket and unfolded it. “Here are the details. Read it over, fill it out, and send it in. I personally vouched for you, and Paul thinks you could be what they need to get this project off the ground.”

“Would I have to leave the island? I mean, what kind of pictures are we talking about here?” Derek glanced at the paper and then tilted his head toward Lexi. “I want a new camera, but I don’t want to sell my soul.”

And that’s why I love you
, thought Lexi. Derek deserved this good thing to happen in his life. Lexi felt like she’d been filled with sparkling light as she thought about what Jordan had done for her. “Nope. It sounds like you would have creative control to produce the theme. And they’re hoping for graphic design experience with logos and such. I wouldn’t mind helping out in that arena. I have a pretty good eye.”

Derek lifted his eyebrows. “So this could actually happen.” He looked at the paper again, but his gaze traveled back to Lexi’s face. “I can’t even read. My mind is like Pop Rocks right now.”

Lexi laughed. “Mine, too.” She couldn’t resist hugging Derek.

He lifted her off the ground and twirled her around. “You really are my golden girl.” Derek let Lexi slide back down, her feet next to his. He cupped her face and kissed her gently. “Thanks for doing this. I know it was all you, and I’m grateful.”

Lexi kissed him and then shook her head. “Not all me. My brother is a miracle worker. His contact list eats Rolodexes for breakfast.”

Derek laughed and tilted his head, his mouth a breath away. His fingers laced through her hair as he leaned in for another kiss.

D
erek thought
about everything Lexi had thrown at him in the last five minutes. It didn’t seem possible. A dream come true sounded trite compared to what she offered. He was desperate, but taking this job didn’t seem like a desperate move. It seemed like the muse goddess had just dropped a bucket of golden inspiration into his lap.

He smoothed out the paper that Lexi had given him. The breeze from his window picked up the edges as he read. One glance over the contents confirmed what she’d explained. “It says they want to make a decision within forty-eight hours. Lexi, this is nuts. What if they don’t pick me?”

“Then
they
would be nuts. With your portfolio, they’ll be blown away.”

“Wait, you’ve seen my portfolio?”

Lexi bit her lip and slid her foot along the linoleum floor. “Google is one of my best friends.”

“Really? Amazon is mine,” Derek said.

“Oh yeah, he’s my BFF, totally.” Lexi laughed.

Derek loved it when she laughed. Her eyes crinkled up and her pixie nose stood out next to her high cheekbones. Today he noticed a light smattering of freckles across her cheeks. She really was changing since she came to the island. “You know what this means, right?”

“That you might not have to chop coconuts every Saturday?”

Derek grinned. “That, and if they accept me, I’ll have a camera in time to take shots at the masquerade ball.”

Lexi’s smiled faltered, which made Derek’s smile widen. She was jealous. That didn’t necessarily make him happy, but it did confirm that she felt something for him. Still, he didn’t want Lexi to be uncomfortable. He was trying to come up with something clever to say when Lexi said, “I remember seeing a poster at the library now. I’d forgotten until you brought it up, but there was hinting of some celebrities coming to the island to bid.”

Derek winked. “It’s only one date.”

“Oh, I—uh, I know,” Lexi stammered.

Derek leaned forward and brushed her cheek with a feather-light kiss. “Good thing you’re not up for auction or I’d have to mortgage my house.”

Lexi giggled.

“No, I’m serious, Lex. I don’t want anyone else to date you. It took one date for me to see that you’re different. You make me want to be a better man.”

Lexi sighed, and then she leaned forward and kissed Derek. Heat rose up the back of his neck as he held her, kissing her slowly and completely. In between kisses, Derek murmured, “I’d better get this filled out, and then we should celebrate.”

“What do you have in mind?” Lexi’s jade-colored eyes sparkled with energy.

Derek needed to fill out the form and get it sent in, but he didn’t want to take his eyes off Lexi. She’d stepped out of his personal dreamland, and if he blinked for too long, she might disappear. He’d known her for two weeks, but they had a connection that was stronger than the year and a half he’d spent dating Carly. He pushed that thought from his mind and focused on the beautiful woman in front of him. “I want to take you to the Pu’u o Kila Lookout over the Na Pali coastline. It’s my favorite place on this island.”

Lexi stepped closer to him and put her hand on his chest. “Then I’m sure I’ll love it. When can we go?”

“How about Saturday afternoon, once Pika runs out of coconuts?”

“Sounds good to me. But we need a celebration right now.” She fished her keys out of her pocket and jangled them. “I’m going to the store to buy ice cream. Flavor?”

“Salted caramel and pecans.”

Lexi arched an eyebrow. “Specific. A man who knows what he wants. I like it. Anything else?”

“Just you.” Derek felt the heat from her gaze. Lexi licked her lips, and Derek thought it was a good thing she was leaving for ice cream so he could cool down, refocus, and not rush into things. There were big words on the tip of his tongue that he wanted to say to Lexi, but his good sense warned that it might be too soon. He took a breath and tapped the paper on the table. “I’ll get this done before you come back.”

“Take your time. I’ll see you soon.”

L
exi walked
into the grocery store with a skip in her step. She kept seeing the look on Derek’s face when he realized that he might be getting a new camera. The application was a formality, but only Lexi knew that. She was buying ice cream to give him time to send in the application. Otherwise she probably would’ve stayed at his house and kissed him.

She touched her lips. She’d been kissed before but not like that. Derek made her feel loved, cherished even, and she wanted to be wrapped up in his arms feeling the scruff on his face against her cheek as he held her.

Her plan had worked, and Derek looked happier than he’d ever been. How many times had the hard knocks of life pounded Derek into the pavement? Lexi wanted to give Derek a taste of a different life—one where he could work hard, but get lost in his art instead of stewing over how to pay his property taxes.

She tugged on the freezer door, where stacks of ice cream tantalized customers. Derek’s opinions about rich people were like an iceberg—seemingly insurmountable, hard as ice, and possibly miles deep under the surface. She didn’t know what it would take to overcome his prejudice, but she was willing to try.

On her way back from the store, Shawn called. She thought about not answering, but if he was calling to profess his love again, now was the time to let him know she and Derek were more than friends.

“Hi Shawn, how are you?”

“I’m good. I just talked to Jordan and he told me about your friend’s camera. I think it’s awesome that you’re helping him out.”

Lexi hesitated. “You do?”

“Yeah, here’s the deal,” Shawn said. “I know I sort of blindsided you when we talked last time, but I want to at least be your friend. I miss you and I miss us, but I’ll take friendship over nothing.”

“Thanks, Shawn. That means a lot.” This was the Shawn she knew—he had some different goals, but at his core he was good, and he’d helped her through lots of tough times.

“I want you to be happy,” Shawn said. “I hope we can stay in touch.”

“You going through text withdrawal, too?” Lexi laughed. They used to text each other fifty times a day to keep up with all the appointments and deadlines.

“My phone is so sad and empty, you don’t even know,” Shawn replied.

“Well, I hope your phone can handle the adjustment. Tell it to slow down and take some breaks once in a while.”

“I might just do that. Take care of yourself, Lex.”

“Thanks, you too.” She ended the call, appreciating how Shawn had re-established their friendship once he found out about Derek. Jordan must have known something about Shawn’s feelings for her; otherwise he wouldn’t have told him about Derek. Another point for her big brother, always looking out for her and trusting her to make good decisions.

She drove back to Derek’s house with a smile. She thought about the masquerade ball and how easily Derek had read her mind. Were her thoughts that transparent? She’d thought up at least ten different scenarios of how to get Derek off the auction block without unveiling her filthy-rich status. The high-ticket dinner and ball was typical of a fundraising effort—pocket change for Lexi. The Eliza conversation left her feeling unsettled, and Lexi determined that if there was a way she could keep Derek out of Eliza’s clutches, she would do it. It might take a pretty good costume to pull it off, though.

By the time Lexi arrived with her cloth bags filled with ice cream and goodies, the beginnings of a plan involving the very handsome face of Derek Mitchell circled in her mind.