No Regrets: A Billionaire Romance (Canyon Cove #1)

  No Regrets

  by

  Liliana Rhodes

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  Other Books by Liliana Rhodes

  His Every Whim Series

  Curvy Girl Billionaire Romance

  His Every Whim, Part 1 (FREE!)

  His One Desire, Part 2

  His Simple Wish, Part 3

  His True Fortune, Part 4

  The Billionaire’s Whim - Boxed Set, parts 1-4

  Canyon Cove

  Curvy Girl Billionaire Romance Standalone Novels

  No Regrets

  Second Chance (Summer 2014)

  Made Man Trilogy

  Mafia Romance

  Soldier

  Capo

  Boss (August)

  The Crane Curse Trilogy

  Shape Shifter Romance

  Charming the Alpha (FREE!)

  Resisting the Alpha

  Needing the Alpha

  About No Regrets

  What happens when you live life believing in no regrets?

  Life hasn’t been easy for plus sized Deborah Hansen. With a pile of debt and college loans coming due, the twenty-five year old takes a job as a tailor in a fine department store. When tall, dark, and handsome “Mr. Sexy” walks into her department, Deborah decides to follow her new motto of living with no regrets.

  But William King isn’t just any sexy man. Scarred by a past even he doesn’t understand, the billionaire has rejected every relationship. But no matter how much he fights, he finds himself unable to resist Deborah’s curves.

  When Will’s past comes back to haunt him, it puts the two lovers in danger. Will the truth bring them closer together or finally tear them apart?

  No Regrets is part of the Canyon Cove series of standalone billionaire romance novels, each with a different couple and a Happily Ever After. To read more the people of Canyon Cove, check out the His Every Whim series.

  No Regrets

  Copyright © 2013 by Jaded Speck Publishing

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Chapter One

  Deborah

  The sun beat down barely giving any escape. Even under the trees there was no relief. Walking past the old brick campus buildings I had my classes in, I wondered why I never felt so much heat radiating off the bricks before. Up ahead in the clearing students and school administrators milled about waiting. Just beyond them were rows of white wooden chairs facing a long stage.

  As I approached the small crowd of people in their caps and gowns, I wished I thought to bring my sunglasses. Squinting as I looked around, I slipped the black silky material of my graduation gown on like a coat over the tan jeans and cotton button shirt I wore, grateful to not have to mess up my chin length bob.

  I hoped to look casual like I didn’t care about graduation, but the truth was I cared much more than I cared to admit. Zipping the gown up the front and then draping the red honors sash over my shoulders, I looked like all the other Canyon Cove University graduates. Except maybe a little rounder and definitely shorter.

  My weight had been a sensitive issue since my neighbor Patty asked me why I was so fat. I was four at the time and at my chubbiest. I didn’t know what fat was, but by the tone of her voice I knew it was a bad thing. I ran home crying and told my grandmother what happened.

  Of course Grandma tried to make me feel better by saying we all come in different shapes and sizes, but it didn’t matter. The damage had been done. Since then I was always aware of how much larger I was compared to others. I knew sometimes it was all in my head, but I couldn’t help it. It was like Patty had permanently taken up residence in my head.

  Luckily for me, the older I got the less I cared about what others thought. Sometime in high school when I really began caring about clothes, I realized how unfair it was that big girls couldn’t dress cute.

  It was around that time that I would go shopping with my girlfriends at the mall and while they had endless stores to choose from, I was lucky to have one. Usually that one store only carried conservative old lady clothes that I was far from wearing as a teen. I was a young girl, I didn’t want to dress like my grandma. That was when I started making my own clothes.

  As I walked around, I looked at the faces of the other graduates hoping to find someone familiar, but didn’t recognize anyone. Between working a couple of jobs and school I didn’t have much of a social life, but watching them hug and smile at each other I felt really out of place and like I missed out on something. It didn’t help that at twenty-five they were younger than me by a few years. Shit, why am I here?!

  “Deborah! Deborah Hansen!”

  Recognizing Ashley Boone’s voice, I turned around breathing a sigh of relief that I wasn’t completely alone, but thinking it odd to see her. Ashley had been my boss at the Winslow Museum for Motion Pictures and was the sweetest person ever. She even offered me her job when she decided to become a stay at home mom. I was happy to call Ashley my friend.

  “Ashley! What are you doing here?” I asked as I walked towards her. Looking beautiful as usual with her long dark hair, pouty lips and an orange print sun dress that hugged her curves, Ashley held her infant son Jacob and I was reminded of paintings of the Madonna and child. “Wait, that didn’t come out right,” I said laughing. “I’m glad to see you, but how did you know? I didn’t tell you about this.”

  She laughed as she hugged me. “I know you better than you think,” she said as she grinned at me. “You mentioned graduating this semester so I looked up the date. I knew you wouldn’t miss walking.”

  “You’re right, but I really don’t know why I’m here. This is stupid. I don’t even know anyone here and I don’t have anyone here either. Well, I didn’t until you came.”

  “You should be happy Deborah. You’re finally graduating! You should walk, be proud! You’ll never get another chance to do this.”

  “I know, that’s the only reason I’m here. I don’t want to look back and regret the things I didn’t do. There have been so many things in my life… I almost didn’t finish school, but I knew I’d regret that too. Before my grandma died, she said life was too short to regret the things you didn’t do. She had so many regrets. She made me promise I’d follow my heart and never regret anything.”

  “She sounds like she was a wise, wonderful woman.”

  “She was something else, that’s for sure,” I said laughing as I remembered her spunkiness. “I miss her. You know, she raised me. I couldn’t ask for a better life growing up even though we had no money. Speaking of money, where’s Mr. Billionaire?”

  “He’ll be here later to pick up the baby for his nap. Then you and I are going to Joyeux. Joshua feels awful about not calling you and demanded I bring you by his shop so he could finally meet you in person.”

  “That sounds great!”

  “Graduates,” a woman’s voice called out over the crowd. “Please line up. Procession will begin shortly.”

  “I’ll meet you back here when it’s over,” Ashley said. “Go line up! Make your grandma even prouder than I’m sure she is.”

  Ashley gave me
a big hug, careful to not disturb Jacob who was sleeping. Smiling sheepishly at her I felt tears fill my eyes and quickly blinked trying to stop them from falling. It was useless though so I blotted the corners of my eyes with my fingertips trying to save my makeup.

  “Dammit Ash, you made me cry! I’ll look like a raccoon accepting my diploma,” I joked, hoping to make my tears stop. “Please, go so you can get a seat. I’d feel awful if you had to stand in this heat the entire time.”

  As Ashley left, I found my spot in line with the other H’s. Looking around at my fellow graduates, I straightened my honors sash and looked up through the tall trees at the cloudless sky.

  This is for you Grandma, I thought. I really hope you’re up there watching. I looked down at the ground. Or watching from down there where you always said you’d be.

  As I laughed to myself, Pomp and Circumstance played and the long procession walked under the famed wrought iron arch of the university and towards the stage set up in the grassy campus plaza. I continued to think about my grandma as I walked, remembering her wicked sense of humor and all the things she taught me about life.

  As I sat on a wooden folding chair surrounded by a sea full of strangers, the heat of the black graduation cap and gown started to get to me. What I wouldn’t do for a breeze or even a little rain. I knew I should’ve stayed home.

  Suddenly the bright sun slipped behind a small dark cloud and it began to rain. Some people ran for cover. Most of the graduates stayed in their seats, grateful for the break in the heat. I laughed and looked back up at the sky. Ah-ha! I knew you’d be up there! Thanks Grandma.

  Chapter Two

  Deborah

  Shortly after receiving my diploma, the steady drizzle became a downpour. I spotted Ashley near the walkway just beyond the graduation arch, kissing Jacob on the forehead as she handed him to a smiling Xander who held an umbrella.

  Xander was the perfect handsome complement to Ashley. Together they looked like they stepped out of a magazine. With his perfectly trimmed beard and hair a little on the longer side, I could see why Ashley fell for him. And to watch how he looked at her, you could see the intense love in his eyes. In both their eyes really.

  I waved to them as I headed towards my car. They looked so happy. I couldn’t help it, for a brief second I was jealous. It wasn’t that I wanted a family, or even a husband. I didn’t even want to be bothered with a boyfriend right now. The last thing I needed was that kind of distraction. It’s just sometimes since Grandma died I felt really alone.

  “That was a beautiful ceremony, Deb,” Ashley said once she caught up with me.

  “Yeah I guess it wasn’t that bad. Thankfully the rain made them cut it short.”

  “We can take my car. It’s in the lot across the street, are you there too?”

  “Ha, no. I popped all the money I had into the meter and hoped I wouldn’t get a ticket,” I said as I pointed to the navy four-door piece of shit that used to be my grandmother’s car. “I need to take my car, I’m sure the meter’s up. How about if I follow you to Joshua’s?”

  “Sure, I’ll pull around to meet you,” she said before heading towards the parking lot.

  I unlocked my car and slipped in behind the steering wheel, throwing the cap and gown onto the seat beside me. Turning the key in the ignition I felt my stomach drop when nothing happened. The car was silent.

  “Shit! Not now! No, not now!” I yelled as I turned the key again. But the only sound I heard was the click of my keys against the console. “Please, please please start!” As Ashley pulled up next to me in her beautiful, expensive SUV, I shook my head and begged. “Not in front of her, please start. Don’t make her feel sorry for me.”

  Pulling the key out then shoving it back into the ignition hard, the car suddenly came to life. I breathed a sigh of relief before pulling out into traffic behind Ashley.

  After a quick drive on the freeway, we got off an exit that brought us closer to the center of the city of Canyon Cove. As we stopped at a red light, I looked over at the car stopped beside mine in the next lane. It was a shiny, black sports coupe and I slowly realized I knew the car. Doug? It couldn’t be…could it?

  Doug Murray was my last boyfriend and at almost a year, my longest relationship. We met the first year of college and had an immediate attraction. He played lacrosse and had a laid back style I found irresistible. With spiky brown hair and dimples in his cheeks when he smiled, every girl turned their head to look when Doug entered the room.

  Surprised to see him, I stared until Doug turned and looked back at me. I smiled and waved, but I could see by his face that he didn’t know who I was. As recognition slowly filled his face, he covered his mouth with one hand, pointed at me with the other, and laughed.

  The traffic light couldn’t change fast enough. I knew I was heavier than the last time he saw me, but his laughter felt like he reached into my chest and yanked my heart out and stomped on it. Wishing I could say something to him and put him in his place, I lifted my hand up and extended my middle finger at him as the light turned green.

  When Ashley and I reached the parking lot at Fashion Plaza, I stepped out of my car still shaken up by Doug’s mocking.

  “You alright? You don’t look so good.” Ashley said as we followed the path from the parking lot into the shopping area.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” I said then sighed. “No, I’m really not. It’s just my ex. I just saw him.”

  “When? Now? What happened?”

  “Yeah, just now. At the traffic light before. It’s just so odd because he was just such an ass, but when we were together he really wasn’t. He was actually really sweet. We even stayed friends for a while afterwards, but I guess we lost touch.”

  “Sounds like you’re leaving something out.”

  “Yeah, I guess I ignored the obvious. I feel bad about that,” I said as I thought about the past. “Doug went to college full time so he graduated a couple of years ago. It was around that time that my grandmother took a turn for the worse. Between that and all the time I was spending with Doug while he decided what to do with his degree, my grades started to suffer.

  “I guess I should’ve been more honest with Doug, but I was so upset about my grandma that I shut down. I broke up with Doug and we decided to stay friends. He’d invite me over and we’d hang out, it was nice.

  “I should’ve seen the signs though. I don’t think he was over me. Maybe he thought if we stayed friends we’d get back together. I really don’t know, he never said anything.” I thought quietly for a moment before continuing. “I remember one day he played a song and told me to listen to the end, that those lyrics really made him think of me. Maybe I should’ve paid more attention.”

  “What did it say?”

  “Something about how he knew I would be the star in another person’s sky and why couldn’t it be his.” I shook my head as I realized what he was saying then. “Eventually he stopped returning my calls. That was about a year ago.” My voice trailed off as I mentally kicked myself. “Boy am I dense.”

  “No Deb, you said it yourself, you were going through a lot. Don’t be so hard on yourself. He was an asshole for what he just did. Forget about him and just focus on now and meeting Joshua. You’ll love him, he’s great.”

  Entering the store, all my worries slipped away. Ashley continued to talk, but I barely heard her. Mannequins modeled some of the most fashion-forward styles I had seen not only in Canyon Cove, but even on the cover of Vogue. Joyeux was everything I dreamed about for myself.

  Ashley’s touching my arm brought me back to reality and I followed her gaze towards the back of the store where she exchanged waves with an attractive man I recognized as Joshua Cane. With his brown hair perfectly slicked back, just a hint of stubble on his cheek, and his welcoming smile, he looked just as perfect as he did when featured in magazines.

  Standing beside him was a nervous young woman with flaxen hair who looked like she hadn’t eaten in years. After giving instructions to
her, he then snapped his fingers at her twin. It wasn’t until the two women were running around doing his bidding that he sauntered over to us wearing a dark pair of almost too tight jeans and a tucked-in button shirt in a bronze print that accentuated his tanned skin.

  “Ashley, you gorgeous thing you,” he said before kissing her on both cheeks. “I have some fabulous new items for you. My assistant Corrie will escort you to the dressing room where everything’s waiting. If you need anything, she will be at your beck and call.”

  “Well aren’t you just all business?” Ashley teased him. “Joshua, this is Deborah–”

  “Of course it is darling,” he extended his hand in my direction and I shook it. “I recognize her from the University newspaper. Did you know she took first place in ready-to-wear?”

  “Really? I had no idea! Why didn’t you tell me?” Ashley asked me.

  “Its not a big deal. I mean of course I was thrilled to win, but…” I didn’t know what else to say without talking about how it was just a school competition with so many categories that everyone won something. Even if I did think I won the best category, I thought there were others with more creative designs.

  “But you don’t think you really deserved it, do you?” Joshua said.

  “No, I…I worked hard for it. I knew my work spoke for itself and did deserve to win, I just…” Didn’t think I should win is what I thought, but those words I knew were best kept to myself.

  “Corrie, please take Mrs. Boone to try on my fall collection,” Joshua called out to one of the women he spoke to before then turned to Ashley. “We need to catch up sometime and I’d love to see that adorable baby of yours, but today is business. I want to focus my attention on this talented designer you’ve brought me.”

  “Sure, just call me whenever you want to come by,” she said before following Corrie to the dressing rooms.

  “Come with me, I’m sure Carrie has everything under control in the store.”

  “Carrie? I thought her name was Corrie,” I said.

  “Carrie is my other assistant. They’re twins. Because you know, my life isn’t complicated enough without having to figure out whether I’m seeing double or just looking at them.”