Yours Completely (Billionaires and Brides 1)

“Please, don't make me leave.” The man's beautiful eyes darted toward the open barn door and he crouched a little lower behind the stall. “I just need five minutes.”

“For what?” The words came out sharper than she intended, especially if he was one of the billionaire wedding guests. She couldn't take her frustration with Delores out on them, so she crossed her arms, hoping that the man didn't have some sort of strange horse fetish.

The man blushed slightly, somehow making him more handsome. “I just need them to not find me. Please.”

It was the please that did it. That and the eyes. Those blue eyes stared straight into her soul and spoke to her. She'd never seen such eyes as his before.

The sound of women's laughter floated on the evening air into the barn. Something about it set her teeth on edge. It wasn't cruel laughter, but it wasn't exactly friendly either. She moved from the stall door to look out, finding herself facing four extremely attractive women.

“Jace, where are you?” One of them called out with a giggle. She was blonde and wearing the tallest high-heeled shoes Ella had ever seen. The blonde looked like she had just stepped out of a high-fashion photo shoot, rather than someone walking around the lake shore at night.

“Them?” Ella mouthed, glancing back at the man. He nodded. She raised her eyebrows, unsure of why a man would be hiding from four beautiful women. The other three following the blonde were just as incredible. All of them were jaw-dropping stunning, and wearing clothes that screamed dollar signs. In her experience, a man as attractive as he was should be working his game, not hiding in a horse stall.

“Oh, hi.” The blonde noticed her and stopped, giving her a once over that left Ella feeling naked and small. “You haven't seen a handsome, soon-to-be-ineligible bachelor anywhere around here have you?”

Ella glanced back into the barn, seeing only the man's blue eyes pleading with her. She sighed, knowing that she was going to rescue him. She always was a sucker for blue eyes and a good rescue.

“Nope,” Ella answered with a shrug. “Haven't seen anyone. Besides, guests aren't allowed in here. I'd recommend checking the main gazebo or the lobby bar.”

“Damn.” The blonde moved her lips into a pout that accentuated how perfect they were. Without another glance or word to Ella, she turned and continued walking. “Okay, girls. Let's go find us a bachelor!”

The other three tittered and giggled like some sort of strange bird-creatures as they followed the blonde into the growing dark. Ella stared after them as they continued their search, teetering on their stilt-like heels down the path. She wondered just how far they were going to make it on the cobblestone pathway before they either gave up or broke their necks.

She waited until the four women were safely out of earshot before returning to the stall. “They're gone,” she told the man.

Slowly, he stood up from behind the door and Ella nearly lost her breath. In addition to having rescue-worthy blue eyes, he was tall. And built. And handsome. And so many other adjectives that her brain was having a hard time focusing on the English language.

“Thank you,” the man said, a soft smile making his features somehow even more attractive. He held out a hand. “I'm Jace.”

“Hi, Jace,” Ella replied, taking her hand in hers and hoping she didn't sound as breathless as she felt. “I'm Ella.”

“It's nice to meet you.” His voice was deep and warm, and softened by the smile on his face.

Let go of his hand. Let go of his hand... Ella's mind chanted and she blushed as she finally released him. She needed to get a hold of herself. Handsome guests came and went all the time. He was no different than any other guest. She couldn't afford to let

a pretty face distract her from her goals.

“So, who were they, and why were you hiding from them?” Ella asked, turning away and heading back toward Captain's stall to finish brushing him.

“Vultures,” Jace replied, making a sour face and glancing at the door. “I really do appreciate you throwing them off my trail.”

Ella chuckled. “We're all about customer service here.”

“Would you mind if I hid out here for just a little longer?” he asked, his eyes going to hers again and giving her that same lightheaded feeling as before. “Just to make sure they're gone.”

“You mean you don't want to hang out with your adoring fans?” Ella teased. She paused, not really wanting to turn him away yet. It was strange, but she wanted him to stay. Maybe it was just because he was incredibly good looking, or maybe it was the way he smiled at her, but she wasn't ready for him to leave. “I suppose it's okay. But, if you're in the barn, you have to work.”

Jace glanced at the open doorway again. “I'll muck out stalls if that's what it takes.”

Ella studied him for a moment, debating the wisdom of letting a guest stay and help in the barn. While the idea of him wearing those designer shoes mucking out the stalls was amusing, there was a reason guests weren't allowed in there, and it wasn't just for liability issues. It was her space. Yet, it would be nice to have some company. Jace, noticing her thinking, fluttered his eyelashes and pouted his lower lip out, looking for all the world like a helpless puppy. Ella couldn't stop the laugh from escaping her. There was no way to say no to that face.

She grinned and reached over to her tools, handing him the curry comb. “You're in luck. The mucking is done. But the horses do need to be groomed.”

Jace grinned, momentarily dazzling her with his smile as he reached for the comb. His fingers connected with hers and for a moment, the world stopped spinning. Heat sizzled up from her toes, around her spine, and back down again.

Ella blushed, pulling back and pointing to the second stall with a white horse head poking out. “That's Commander.” She hoped he didn't notice the husky quality her voice had suddenly taken on, or the way her heart was thudding in her chest from their brief contact.

Jace moved easily over to the stall, going inside as if he knew exactly what he was doing. Ella waited at the stall door, watching to make sure the Jace didn't need any help. The last thing she wanted was for Commander to misbehave.