The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance Read Free

little girl sat crying in the sand, unaware of the danger as the water had receded and she didn’t see the huge wave rolling toward her. The undercurrent of this wave could take her and nobody would find her again.
    “Oomph!” Beck ran straight into a jogger.
    The ground came rushing up to meet him. Beck instinctively put his arms around the much smaller runner and curled to the side so he’d take the impact of the hit. The sand was soft and the person small enough, he didn’t feel much pain. He skidded to a stop and glanced into the face of the most beautiful woman he’d encountered in a long, long time. For a second he could only stare, unable to remember simple facts, like his own name.
    She didn’t say anything, just stared at him, her dark eyes filled with shock.
    Remembrance came rushing back like the wave that could take the little girl. He released his hold on the woman and rushed out the words, “I’m so sorry. The little girl.”
    He looked up. The child was face down in the water and the wave was tugging her small frame back into its depths. Her parents were screaming and running for her, but Beck was still closer. He pushed off the ground, ran the final steps, and scooped the toddler up. Her face was covered with wet sand and she was coughing and sputtering for air.
    The mother reached him first and snatched her little girl from his arms. The child sucked in a full breath and Beck breathed easier himself. He turned away to look for the woman he’d run into, but the father of the child came rushing up and pumped his hand, thumping him on the back. “Thanks, oh, man. Thanks. Sara. My little girl.”
    The man continued thanking him and Beck said “you’re welcome” and “no problem” until he felt like a recording. He backed away smiling and acknowledging the thanks before spinning to try and glimpse the woman he’d literally ran into. Sadly, she had disappeared.
    He debated trying to run after her, but knew he probably wouldn’t catch her as he wasn’t dressed to run and didn’t know if she’d continued along the shoreline or turned up one of the streets of Lahaina. He wandered the beach for a little bit, trying to trace her footprints but there were too many. Plowing into her had all happened so quickly, but the feel of her in his arms and the beauty of her dark eyes wouldn’t be something he’d soon forget. He had to see her again, even if just to know if she was as perfect as he remembered. Getting to know her or asking her out was too much to dream of at this point, but he’d do about anything for another glimpse at her face.
    After a while, he returned to the spot where he’d seen her. Still no sign that she had ever been there. The little family was all happily playing in the sand, unaware of what Beck had missed out on. Beck climbed back into his car and drove the couple of blocks to the Garden Gate Bed and Breakfast. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it looked clean and comfortable, just like he liked. The host, Jerry, greeted him by the breakfast buffet in the outdoor courtyard.
    “Just in time for breakfast,” the fifty-something man with a large smile and balding head said. His skin was too pale to be a native, but he looked like he’d lived here long enough to be relaxed and always grinning. “Those redeye flights are awful. Let’s get you checked into your room and then you can come join us or get some sleep if you’re exhausted.”
    “Thanks, breakfast sounds great.” Beck went inside Jerry’s office, signed in and verified that the correct credit card was on file then hefted his luggage and followed Jerry back outside and up several flights of exterior stairs.
    The same woman from the beach descended the stairs toward them. Beck stuttered back a step. He didn’t think he’d ever see her again and this view hit him as hard as when he’d crashed into her on the beach.
    She was exotic-looking with long dark hair, olive skin, and almond-shaped eyes. Beck edged out of the