Top Love: An Alpha Billionaire Romance (Young Adult Stepbrother and Billionaire Romance Stories) (4 page)

She just needed a few hours to sleep and freshen up, and then she would show the man her enthusiasm, persistence, and drive…

As she scanned the crowd, searching for her ride, the young woman’s smile faded at the sight that greeted her. There was a crush of people at the gate that separated arrivals from the rest of the airport, and, for a moment, Cat thought it was simply a sign of how busy Heathrow was. However, she soon realized that the throng of people weren’t
all
waiting for loved ones.

They were clustered around someone –
clamoring
for a look, in fact – and when she pushed through enough of the crowd to see exactly
who
they were looking at, her heart stopped.

It appeared that she wouldn’t have any time to prepare thoroughly for her meeting with Johnson after all.

He had come to her – and the moment his icy blue gaze locked with hers, she forgot how to breathe.

**

Elias was
not
happy.

Of all the days for his driver, Charles, to call out sick, it
had
to be today. It wasn’t that Elias begrudged the man a sick day – if he had the runs, he had the runs. What
irked
him was that the replacement driver who was supposed to pick up their contest winner from the airport had, somehow, gotten lost.

On the way to
Heathrow
.

Bloody hell, anyone who could read could drive to the damned airport! But of course, not
this
bloke. Of course, he himself had been passing Heathrow on his way back from the building site for his new home when Mary had called him.

It would be a
nice gesture
, she insisted, if he went to pick up the girl personally rather than allowing her to wait until the bumbling driver found his way through traffic. It was
on the way
, and
couldn’t he imagine how grateful the Yank would be
!

The only thing that Eli could
imagine
was how severely he was going to ream out the driver who had gotten lost. He’d been looking to a quiet evening at home until he had to report to
The Savoy
to meet his ball and chain for the next six weeks, and now, that time was to be cut short.

No matter how intriguing the design might be, the fact that he would have to work with an amateur still rankled him – and now, he was in the middle of Heathrow waiting on said amateur to arrive. Five members of security had to be enlisted to keep the throngs off him – another detail Mary hadn’t counted on – and Elias simply prayed that Catherine Harris’ plane hadn’t been delayed.

He didn’t even have a
picture
to find her with. Mary told him that the girl would be wearing a red sweater, blue jeans and a green down jacket, but that could be literally half of the population of London.

The fifteen minutes he stood at the arrival gate seemed to stretch into an eternity as he scanned the crowd over the crush of people trying to get a good look at him.
God
…what was so damned special about him? He just wanted to sequester himself away and design for the rest of his waking hours. Little else mattered to him.

After seeing perhaps three women who might have matched Mary’s description, Elias was on the cusp of calling his publicist to demand more details.

And then, he saw her.

Despite the fact that he’d never seen a picture of Catherine Harris, the moment the diminutive woman wheeled her single suitcase past the barrier, his entire
body
took notice.

She was
tiny
. Could only be a few inches over five fight at the very most, with the largest, more arresting almond-colored eyes he’d ever seen. A smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose lent her an almost childlike innocence…

That was immediately counteracted by the fullness of her small mouth and the undeniable curves beneath the jacket she wore. A tiny waist juxtaposed with the deep V of cleavage and generous hips made his throat dry. The woman had an innate sensuality in the way she walked – and she obviously had no idea the effect she had on men.

That much was apparent from the hesitant way she carried herself. This was not a woman who knew the world was hers for the taking. This was a woman who had never felt the very real heat of unquenchable desire – who had never writhed beneath an able man as he taught her slowly about the limits to which she could push her body.

He wondered, vaguely, if she’d ever even been properly kissed. Had a man ever sipped from that lovely, rosebud mouth of hers to sample the sweetness beyond?

All at once, those breathtaking eyes of his locked with his, and the streak of want that shot to Elias’ core was enough to make his breath catch in his throat. The raven-haired man was very rarely prone to intense displays of emotion – unless they pertained to his work. His architecture was his one great love – the thing he thought more beautiful, more entrancing than any corporeal person he had ever encountered.

At least, until Catherine Harris.

As she slowly began to walk towards him, Elias realized that he had a very real dilemma on his hands. He was going to have to work in close quarters with this woman for the next half year – in the same room with her, his eyes devouring her curves as his body ached for her in a way that it had for no woman before he.

If he was to address this problem properly, that meant that he had one of two options: He could send her right back to the United States on the plane she had arrived on – concoct some excuse about how there had been a mistake and she wasn’t actually the architect they sought. Such a move would, undoubtedly, crush her; and call Elias sentimental, but not even
he
could be cold-hearted.

Which left only one viable solution: He would have to tell her. She would know exactly how much he wanted her, and, when the time was right, he would use every skill in his employ to make her his. Their contract wouldn’t be only a professional one, but a physical one as well.

“Hi.”

She herself snapped him from his reverie. It was
criminal
that  woman who had been travelling  for the past eight hours should smell as good as she did – like lilac and lavender – but he forced the revelation to the back of his mind.

“Hello, Catherine.” He took the hand she extended with a small, but very genuine smile. “It’s lovely to meet you. Welcome to London.”

Cat found herself in an undeniable state of awe.

She was sitting in the passenger seat of what was, without question, the most luxurious car she’d ever been in – next to one of the most famous men in the world.

Not to mention, one of the most attractive.

The images she’d seen of him in magazines and newspapers hardly did the man justice. The moment she’d seen him in the airport, everything had faded into the background and she’d forgotten how to breathe.

The man was the picture of a raven-haired, high-class Adonis.

Shifting slightly in her seat, Catherine snuck a guilty glance at him and her heart stuttered in her chest. The man was impeccably clad in a pair of wool trousers and a crisp white button up with a dark blazer. He smelled like absolute heaven, and the form folded into the driver’s seat was long and unmistakably powerful.

He was classically gorgeous – and he probably knew it: gleaming, bright blue eyes that shone with intelligence, a swarthy face with impeccable bone structure and a few days’ worth of dark stubble dotting his chin. Equally dark hair was swept back from his brow elegantly and his full mouth was set into a contemplative line.

God, he was enough to make any sane woman lose her mind. And besides that, he was rich and incredibly talented.

Somehow, Cat suddenly found herself rethinking the notion that she and Elias might become the best of friends. She was quite obviously a bit out of her league…she’d been torn between staring and trying to figure out something to say for the last ten minutes they’d been in the car together.

“Good flight, was it?” The moment the man opened his mouth, a smooth, accented tenor flowing from his lips, she almost melted against the seat.

“Um…yeah.” She finally managed, hoping she didn’t sound as overwhelmed to Johnson as she did to her own ears. “First time I’ve been on an international flight, actually.”

“Really?” He arched an elegant brow and her stomach twisted in on itself as his mouth quirked into a small smile. “Well, good thing you went first class now, isn’t it? Anything otherwise might be a bit much for you.”

Cat merely swallowed thickly as she nodded, completely and totally tongue-tied. What on earth was she supposed to say? What small talk could she make with a man of the world when she had barely been beyond Detroit’s city limits? “I…um…wasn’t there someone else who could have picked me up?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Cat realized how she must sound and repressed a groan. Christ, she hadn’t meant to imply that she didn’t appreciate him coming to get her! Quite the contrary! “I mean,” her face flushed brightly as she tried vainly to recover, “Not that I didn’t want it to be you! I just thought that you’d probably be busy!...That someone else would come…”

A low, devastatingly sensuous chuckle interrupted her, and Cat fell silent as heat flared low in her abdomen.

“I know what you meant.” Johnson returned, glancing in her direction as he took a turn off of the highway and into a smaller lane. “And in answer to your question: no. I wasn’t coming to pick you up originally. But, the driver got lost, and I was in the area.” As he pulled to a stop at a red light, the man shifted in his seat until he was facing her – and the intensity of his blue gaze stole the breath from her lungs. “I have to say: I’m glad I was.”

If possible, the young woman flushed even more darkly. Was he trying to
flirt
with her? She had to be imagining things. Catherine knew she must look a hot mess. There was no way this man could think she was in attractive in any way, shape, form or fashion. As he continued to stare at her, Catherine cleared her throat, looking past him to change the subject hurriedly. “Oh my
God
, is that Big Ben?”

She must sound like the ultimate tourist, she knew. But anything was better than trying to meet the intimidating gaze of Elias Johnson. At her exclamation, he looked back out of the driver’s side window at the magnificent clock tower looming in the distance. “Ah. So it is.” The light turned green, and just like that, a disaster was averted.

For a moment, Cat merely allowed herself to gaze in awe at the cityscape of London as it sprung up around her. Though she’d seen pictures and post cards, being in one of the greatest cities in the world, in the flesh, was beyond anything she might have dreamed. There were immense, posh buildings, both asphalt and cobblestone streets, and an intrinsic charm that Detroit simply lacked. Especially in her neighborhood.

Though she could remember bits and pieces of living in New York, the finer details escaped her. It was as if this were her first time visiting a big city. “The Savoy’s in the center of the city.” She was jerked from her reverie when Elias addressed her again. “Lovely views, and even better accommodations. I’ll be taking you to see the building site tomorrow, and we can go over your design together.”

The young woman’s gaze jerked back to the man next to her as her eyes widened.

Her design. That was
right
. She was here because the man had picked her design, over millions of possible others. Because he thought she might have some talent.

Catherine had just drummed up the courage to ask him what he actually thought of her drawing when they pulled to a stop outside of an immense, breathtaking gothic building on the edge of what she assumed to be the Thames River.  Catherine fairly gaped as she looked over the expansive, well-manicured grounds and the multitude of gleaming, expensive cars in the front lot. When her eye finally fell on a sign that proclaimed the building her accommodations for the next six months, she almost choked.

“The…the
competition
is paying for me to stay
here
?” Though she’d known that the Savoy was a fairly famous London hotel, Cat hadn’t known that it also seemed to be one of the priciest.

“Of course not,” Johnson returned, as he pulled his Mercedes up to the curb, preparing to deliver it into the care of the valet. After sliding from the driver’s seat, he rounded the vehicle, tossing the keys to the young man who waited eagerly. When he opened her door, Cat was once more enveloped by his sublime scent as he took her hand.  “I’m paying for you to stay here.”

Before she could reply, he was tugging her from the car and out onto the pavement –

Where there were suddenly way too many people, and a bevy of flashing lights.

It took Cat only a split second to realize that they were cameras, and that they were surrounded by what could only be British paparazzi.

One minute, she was in a quiet, private car, and the next she was suddenly thrust into a limelight that she had no idea what to do with. Cat was pretty sure that if it wasn’t for Elias’ firm grip on her arm, she might have turned tail and bolted.

“Catherine Harris? How does it feel to have come out on top over millions of other contenders?”

“How does it feel to know your design is going to be a home for one of the most lauded men on the planet?”

              “Is there romance in the air, Catherine? Love at first sight?”

To say it was overwhelming would be the understatement of the century. Cat threw an arm up over her eyes and had to let Elias lead her through the crowd as her heartbeat pounded in her ears.  It seemed like an eternity before they were safely beyond the masses and into the hotel, where the deafening roar quieted to a low murmur.

Tentatively, Cat opened her eyes – and gasped.

The hotel’s foyer was absolutely gorgeous – from high, vaulted ceilings to the gleaming marble floor and intricate gold scroll on the walls. The immense front desk appeared to be made out of one solid piece of granite, marbled throughout with veins of jade, and all around the huge space, impeccably dressed people moved about, murmuring quietly.

“There now. That’s better.” When Elias spoke, she looked up at in him shock, almost having forgotten that he was there in her reverie. He steered her towards the front desk, despite her protests that her luggage was still in the car. “Let’s get you checked in, shall we?”

“But-”

“I assume you’re tired, Catherine. You’ll need some down time before we see the building site tomorrow.” With that, he got the attention of the people at the front desk, who immediately stopped what they were doing to address him.

While speaking to them, Elias never relinquished his firm hold on her arm. Though some women might have misconstrued the act as possessive, for Catherine, his grip was steadying as the world spun around her.

Though she’d known that Johnson was rich and powerful, seeing the full scope of said power displayed for her was more than a little intimidating. Cat could only imagine what this place cost per night, and he was putting her up here for
six months
. Not the company who had sponsored the contest, but he himself?

Jesus
.

“You’ll be on the top floor, across from my suite.” Her eyes wide, Cat could only let herself be swept along the long corridor that led to the elevator bay before the door dinged closed.

And they were alone once more.

Though there was low music playing inside, the sudden quiet seemed almost stifling – and the smaller space
miniscule
. Perhaps if Johnson himself weren’t so
huge…
well over six feet, and with the breadth to match…Cat found herself gazing up at him expectantly, her mouth dry. “I apologize for all of that.” His tenor washed over her, making her heart stutter in her chest a moment before he graced her with his bright blue gaze once more.

And once his eyes caught hers – holding them in their enrapturing stare – she found it very hard to look away. “…For what?”

The corner of Johnson’s mouth kicked up in an amused smile. “All the cameras and such. One of the caveats of having me pick you up instead of the driver.”

“Oh…right.” She finally replied, flushing brightly in the dim light of the elevator. “Well, I’m glad to have made it to the hotel at least.” It was better to make small talk than to drool all over the man, right?

“You haven’t even seen your suite yet.” With that, the doors thankfully opened, admitting them to the twenty first floor – and another realm of incomparable luxury.

“Here we are.” From the moment Elias opened the door, admitting her to the opulent suite of rooms in which she’d be staying. Cat had to try her hardest not to stare like a fool. There was an expansive great room with a fireplace, a sitting room, a small kitchen, a marbled bathroom that might have been the size of her entire apartment back home, and finally, an opulent bedroom with the biggest bed she’d ever seen in her life.

As Elias spoke to her about her accommodations, the young woman wandered from room to room, before finally stopping in front of the huge floor to ceiling windows in the Great Room. Her view of the Thames was magnificent – so much so that, for a moment, she almost forgot that Elias was standing beside her.

“Catherine.”

Jumping, the dark-haired woman turned to face him. “Sorry!”

The smile he gave her was enough to melt her to putty on the spot. “Nothing to be sorry for.  I just wanted to tell you to order what you want from room service. Everything is already paid for. And enjoy your evening. A car will be here to pick you up at eight in the morning.” With that, he very suddenly – and unexpectedly – reached out to take hold of her chin. “
Do
get some rest. You’ll be needing it for tomorrow.”

Cat could still feel the feather light stroke of his fingers on her skin after he left; and the moment the door closed behind him, her knees went weak and she struggled to keep her legs beneath her.

This was going to be the longest six months of her entire life.

**

“You
what
?”

Elias lounged on the bed in his suite, trying to relax. Such a thing was easier said than done when he knew that, just across the hall, the lovely Catherine Harris might be doing the same in her own suite. Despite the fact that he hadn’t intended to really stay in the Savoy – only to book the room for publicity purposes – he now found the fact that he had a room close to her extremely convenient.

“You heard me.” At Michael’s incredulous tone, he chuckled softly. “She’s lovely. And I intend to have her.”

From the other end of the line, his friend exhaled an exasperated sigh. “So
now
you’re gung ho about the whole thing? Because she’s a looker? What about her design?”

“Oh, the design is fine.” To be completely honest, Elias might have forgotten about it in the short time since he’d met Catherine.

He knew that he was being a bit of a cad, but he couldn’t help it. When was the last time he’d been so immediately interested in a woman? A woman who wasn’t throwing herself at him in a vain attempt to gain his attention?

It seemed like an eternity.

The fact that Catherine seemed overwhelmed by what was happening to her intrigued him. Most women he’d encountered were happy to be in the limelight, while she just seemed to want to escape it. She was a private person, it seemed.

And that much he could appreciate.