Best Friends with the Billionaire: A Clean and Wholesome Romance (Billionaires with Heart Book 2) Read online

  BEST FRIENDS WITH THE BILLIONAIRE

  Billionaires with Heart Series Book 2

  Liwen Y. Ho

  Best Friends with the Billionaire

  Copyright © 2018 by Liwen Y. Ho. All rights reserved.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design: Victorine Originals

  Interior Design: 2 Square 2 Be Hip (www.2square2behip.com)

  Publisher: 2 Square 2 Be Hip (www.2square2behip.com)

  First Edition

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Afterword

  Acknowledgments

  More Books by Liwen Y. Ho

  About the Author

  Dedication

  For Cindy, who gave me my first big break as an indie author by inviting me to join her KKBJ boxed set. I’m so thankful you took a chance on me!

  Chapter One

  Noah

  There were two things Noah Carter was sure of when Laurene Brooks grabbed his hand: one, maybe the gorgeous redhead finally saw him as more than a friend, and two, his boss was going to fire him.

  “Did you see Gabe’s face?” Laurene squealed in delight. She continued to lead him away from her brother’s Hawaiian vacation home where they were currently staying. Her three-inch stilettos clicked against the pavement as they strode toward her gold Porsche 918 Spyder parked at the end of the driveway.

  “Yeah, I saw it.” Noah forced out a smile for Laurene’s sake, but his stomach was knotted with worry. The disapproving glare Gabriel shot him moments ago when he and Laurene made their exit was burned into his memory. Noah thought Gabriel had been too distracted by the kiss he’d been sharing with an old flame of his to notice Laurene holding his hand, but no such luck. “I don’t think we should’ve interrupted their kiss.”

  “Oh, but it was priceless to see him caught off guard like that.” Laurene dropped Noah’s hand as they reached the passenger side of the car. She fished her keys out of her designer purse and tossed them to him. “Wanna drive?”

  Noah’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious? You trust me to drive your baby?”

  She rolled her eyes as she placed one perfectly manicured hand on her hip. “Of course I trust you. And anyways, it’s just a car. I could easily buy another one like it if I wanted to.”

  He nodded. Wasn’t that the truth. A 2.2 million dollar car was nothing in light of Laurene’s total worth as a billionaire. She had more zeroes to her name than the stars in the sky. Or so it felt like it to Noah. He still couldn’t wrap his mind around how wealthy the Brooks siblings were. It had taken Gabriel, Laurene, and their brother, Devon, a while to accept it, too. When their father passed away five years ago, he’d left a secret stash of four billion dollars to his name, which he left in equal shares to his wife and children.

  Gabriel and Devon had immediately started their own company, hiring Noah in the process. Laurene had quit her career as a second-grade teacher and turned into a glamorous socialite. Gone was the reserved teenager he first met over a dozen years ago when he had visited Gabriel and his family during their senior year of college. In her place was a confident and attractive woman he had come to admire. Over the past year, they’d gotten to hang out often whenever she dropped by the office to see her brothers. This was the first chance, however, that he had to spend an extended amount of time with Laurene, something he had been looking forward to for a long time.

  Yes, it so happened that he was that guy. He’d fallen for his best friend’s younger sister. To make things even more complicated, Gabriel was also his boss. So as much as Noah wanted to date Laurene, it was in his best interests to stay away from her. But he hadn’t had the heart to turn her down when she asked him to go shopping today.

  “I’d love to drive,” Noah replied. “I promise to be careful.” He unlocked the car and opened the door for her. She slid in gracefully, folding her long legs to the side and smoothing out her yellow dress as she sat down. He took care to close the door then walked around to the driver’s side. Once he was behind the wheel, he turned on the ignition. The powerful engine roared to life, sending a surge of adrenaline through Noah’s body. That, coupled with the sweet scent of Laurene’s perfume, caused his head to spin. He couldn’t believe how amazing this vacation was turning out to be. “I see now why you had your car flown in for this trip. I wouldn’t want to drive anything else after driving this.”

  “It is pretty sweet, isn’t it? It sure beats the beat-up Honda I had before this.” She sat back in her seat with a pleased smile. “It pays to have money.”

  Noah stepped on the gas and turned the car onto the main road. The car accelerated from zero to sixty in a matter of seconds. He took the shades that had been hanging from the front of his polo shirt and slipped them on. The tropical breeze blowing through his window whipped through his sandy brown hair, giving him a sense of freedom he’d never known. He felt like a king driving down the empty stretch of freeway which was flanked by hills on one side and the sparkling ocean on the other. The best part of it all was the gorgeous woman by his side.

  He could get used to this kind of life. Especially the feel of Laurene’s hand on his arm. His whole body warmed as her long, tapered fingers ran along his skin. Her touch caused his thoughts to jumble like sand in an overturned hourglass.

  She leaned over the center console to murmur in his ear. “Thanks for coming with me, Noah. I really appreciate your company.”

  Her minty breath tickled his ear, but he didn’t dare move. To be this close to Laurene was a dream come true; he didn’t want to risk cutting the moment short. He smiled and wondered if whatever was going on between them was just a vacation fling. “Of course. It’s been a while since we saw each other, so this gives us a chance to catch up.”

  “I’d love that. I’ve really missed hanging out with you.”

  Noah couldn’t miss her flirtatious tone. Ever since Laurene had arrived at the villa yesterday, she’d been laughing at all his jokes and standing so closely they often bumped elbows. Even as a tech geek with limited dating experience, he could tell she was paying him special attention. He only wondered why. Short of his relationship with the Brooks family, he didn’t have any connections to money. He wasn’t the most well-spoken man or particularly handsome either. But he’d been raised to be a gentleman, so he at least had a heart of gold, as his mother liked to say.

  Were manners and etiquette enough to win over a billionaire’s heart? If he were to try. Laurene was off limits though, he reminded himself. As much as he wanted more than friendship with her, he was going to keep his distance. Even though one look in her emerald eyes made him lose the will to fight.

  Chapter Two

  L
aurene

  If there was one thing Laurene Brooks hated to admit, it was that sometimes her brother, Gabriel, was right. She hated that he’d lectured her as soon as she’d arrived yesterday about how she was wasting her life away. Not to mention, her money as well, which she thought was a ridiculous notion, considering they had an endless supply of it. Their father may have taught them how to work hard and save while he was alive, but he’d left them set for life when he’d passed away. Even though he hadn’t been the most affectionate man, she did miss him and the way he’d spoiled her. Out of the three children, it was no secret that she’d been their father’s favorite. Perhaps that’s why Gabe was so hard on her.

  Laurene turned to Noah who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his time behind the wheel of her car. “How’s work been going for you?”

  He flashed her a smile that revealed a dimple in his right cheek. “It’s been great. We’ve made some really good progress lately with our new treatment. I don’t know all the details of the science behind it since I’m just the tech guy, but I’m excited. I can’t believe I get to play a part in helping to cure cancer.”

  “That’s amazing, Noah. My brothers are so fortunate to have you on board.” Laurene brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, jostling the half a dozen gold and diamond bangles along her wrist. She let out a soft sigh. The new jewelry she’d splurged on recently had made her happy when she’d put them on, but now they seemed to weigh her down. Perhaps it was the mention of her brothers’ company that pricked her conscience. They had a worthwhile cause to invest their time and money in, but all she concerned herself with these days was filling up her closets.

  “What have you been up to lately?” Noah asked as he took the next exit off Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway. “Gabe mentioned you’ve been busy doing retail therapy.”

  It irked Laurene that her brother would expect nothing else of her. She fixed her eyes on her passenger side window. A sign that read Kona International Airport among tall swaying palm trees came into view. She shrugged and replied, “Just keeping myself busy. I flew to Singapore last week and Dubai the week before that. It was my first time at the Mall of the Emirates. The shops were nothing new, but their skylight was just beautiful.” Thinking about all the places she was fortunate enough to visit lightened her mood. She turned to face Noah with a smile. “The entire ceiling is a glass dome, and it makes the whole mall so bright and airy. It’s like being in a snow globe, minus the snow.”

  “That sounds cool. I’d love to see it someday. I’m sure it beats the strip mall where I shop.” He chuckled. “The only time that place is lit up is during Christmas.”

  She had to laugh. Noah was such a good sport to be going shopping with her. Not only that, he was so sweet and sincere, like a fresh breath of tropical air. He wasn’t the type of guy she usually dated, but maybe that was a good thing. He didn’t have the entitlement that so many of the men who were born into money had. She’d met her fair share of them when she attended various sporting and celebrity events around the world.

  Noah was the same guy Gabe had brought home from Harvard. Except that now at thirty-five, he was even more handsome. She liked how he had paired a fitted white dress shirt with navy shorts and a pair of tan loafers. His outfit reflected what she liked most about him—his relaxed and friendly personality. If there was anyone she felt the most like herself with, it was Noah.

  She’d gotten to know him better over the past year when she visited her brothers’ workplace. Their interactions were casual and fun, bordering on flirtatious, but only on her side. Noah was as innocent and unassuming as they came. She had really missed him lately, but she couldn’t tell him why she’d stayed away. This trip, however, was the perfect opportunity to make up for lost time.

  “Well, you’re in for a treat today,” she remarked. “Luxury Row on Kalakaua Avenue where we’re headed is a nice little place. There’s also a nearby dessert shop I want to take you to where you can build your own ice-cream sandwich.”

  He beamed at her. “That makes two treats. Well, three if you count the fact that I get to spend the day with you.”

  “You are so sweet.” She grinned to see the tips of his ears turn red at her compliment. “Oh, look, there’s my plane.”

  After passing through a security gate, they reached a private landing strip where a large jet waited for them. Its sleek and modern design was highlighted by a wraparound sunroof with windows the size of a typical door on a commercial plane. The inside was just as luxurious with wooden paneling and plush white leather seats. She and Noah settled in comfortably on a couch opposite a coffee table that held a generous spread of delectable treats the staff had prepared. The entire space was bathed in the warm glow of the midday sun.

  Laurene squeezed her eyes shut and took deep breaths as the jet lifted off. As much as she loved to travel, she dreaded flying. Being 45,000 feet off the ground made her skin grow cold and palms sweat. She was thankful it was only a short forty-five minutes from the Big Island to Oahu.

  A strong arm came around her shoulders, immediately bringing with it a sense of security. She opened her eyes to find Noah’s blue-gray ones eyeing her with concern. “I hate flying if you can’t tell,” she admitted with a sheepish smile. “I thought having all these windows would be cool. Now I can’t bear to look at the view. Pretty silly, huh?”

  “Not silly at all. It’s rather brave of you. You’re tackling a fear as we speak.”

  With Noah by her side, Laurene did feel emboldened. She relaxed a little and released a sigh of relief. “It helps to have you here. Thanks, Noah.”

  Before he could respond, the jet dipped slightly, propelling Laurene straight into Noah’s chest. “Oh! What’s happening?” She righted herself but stayed close to his side, wrapping her arms around his trim waist. Her heart raced, whether from her fear of flying or being so close to Noah, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that it felt good to be in his arms.

  He held onto her more tightly. “It’s just a little turbulence,” he comforted her in a low, calm voice. “Don’t worry. Nothing’s going to stop you from shopping today.”

  She pulled back and smiled, not missing the humor in his tone. “Promise?”

  “Promise.” Grinning, he offered his pinky finger to her. “I’ll even pinky swear on it.”

  She laughed. “I’ve never seen a grown man do this before.”

  “It’s something my younger sisters used to make me do when we were kids. It’s not a promise unless it’s a pinky promise.”

  “If you insist.” She hooked her pinky with his, enjoying the gentle tug he gave her finger. The playfulness of their contact quickly disappeared as their gazes locked. The exchange was so heated, so intense, that it sent a tingle down Laurene’s back. That is until Noah suddenly let go.

  “Wow, look at that view.” He turned to look out of the windows above them. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  Laurene nodded as she pretended to listen to Noah describe the various shades of blue in the sky and the ocean below. The colors sounded lovely, but she didn’t have the heart to appreciate them. Her stomach was twisted in knots, partly from anxiety, but more from disappointment. One second, Noah had been on the brink of kissing her, the next moment, he couldn’t look her in the eyes. What had gone wrong?

  Chapter Three

  Noah

  Noah could’ve kicked himself. Of all the things he was not supposed to do, kissing Laurene was at the top of his list. Oh, but how he’d wanted to. If it weren’t for the image of Gabe’s face crossing his mind the moment his and Laurene’s eyes met, he would’ve taken her into his arms and done the deed. Thankfully, he’d caught himself just in time.

  But the disappointment on Laurene’s face tore at his heart. She’d clammed up during the rest of the flight. It wasn’t until they’d stepped foot inside Tiffany & Co. that the sparkle in her eyes returned.

  There was something about jewelry that made a woman happy. He’d seen his own sisters gush over the
latest trends their favorite actresses wore on the red carpet, but to see them in person was a different matter altogether. For someone who didn’t own more than a Fitbit, he was blown away by the merchandise displayed in the glass cases. Everything sparkled under the bright lights overhead. There were gemstones of every color of the rainbow. Necklaces dripping with diamonds and pearls. Watches that likely cost more than his trusty Ford Focus. No wonder they had a security guard manning the entrance. Even though Gabe paid him well enough, he still couldn’t afford the majority of the items here. Laurene, on the other hand, was dropping money like it was on fire.

  “Isn’t this amazing, Noah?” She pointed to a necklace boasting an incredible number of diamonds and jewels. “Do you think it’d look good on me?”

  “Oh, for sure. Everything looks good on you,” he replied with a genuine smile. Laurene could be wearing nothing but a sack and she would still make his stomach drop. “Do you want to get it?”

  Her eyes lit up, looking more beautiful than all the emeralds on display. “I do. I just can’t decide between this or the earrings I looked at earlier.”

  The saleswoman, an older lady with her black hair pulled back in a tight bun, chuckled. “Why choose between them? Take both. A woman of your standing deserves as much happiness as possible.”

  Laurene hesitated for a moment as her eyes flitted between the two items then over to her shopping bags sitting on the floor. “I don’t know. I do like them both.”

  Noah wondered why she was so hesitant. It wasn’t like she couldn’t afford them or the entire store for that matter. She’d had no qualms buying half a dozen new outfits at the stores they’d visited throughout the day. Why, she’d even had another one of her sports cars flown into Oahu for them to drive. He couldn’t imagine anything being out of her reach. “Do you want to think about it and come back later?” he suggested. “Maybe after we get some dinner?”