The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance Read Free Page A

way so she could make it past him and his luggage, hoping his mouth wasn’t hanging open. Now that he’d found her, he wanted to talk to her, apologize again for being so careless this morning, but he didn’t know quite what to say.
    “Good morning, Alyssa,” Jerry called out. “How far did you run today?”
    “Eight.” She smiled, but then she met Beck’s gaze. Her smile changed from open to guarded and those dark eyes lost their sparkle. He clutched his luggage handle. Oh, no. She thought he’d just knocked her over on purpose this morning and then run away instead of making a sufficient apology.
    “Hi,” he offered. “I’m sorry about this morning. A little girl was in trouble in the waves.”
    “No, it’s fine,” she replied, but still looked warily at him.
    She slipped past him, leaving only a whiff of vanilla in her path. Beck inhaled slowly, turning to watch her go. She was even more beautiful than he’d built up in his mind. Even though she didn’t seem interested in him, at least he knew where she was staying and might have a chance of breaking down whatever barriers she’d put up.
    She had a slight limp and wore running shoes with a long skirt and fitted t-shirt. Had she hurt herself running this morning? Aw, crap. Had he injured her when he tackled her? His face filled with color and his stomach rolled. He’d hit her hard enough to hurt her leg or foot. No wonder she was looking at him like he’d poisoned her cat.
    Jerry reached the top of the stairs and turned back to Beck. Beck forced himself to stop watching the woman. Alyssa . Maybe if he hurried he could talk to her at breakfast. He jogged up a few steps, but then slowed. This wasn’t like him. The man who tried to keep a low profile and stay away from women who always seemed to only want him for his looks or his money, mostly the latter. Well, Alyssa hadn’t seemed interested in his looks and if he was vague enough she might not learn he had money until she got to know him.
    Jerry had a smirk on his face when Beck reached his side. “Don’t expect to get anywhere with our Alyssa. I’ve watched her shoot down man after man.”
    Beck arched his eyebrows. “Thanks for the advice.”
    “But it doesn’t hurt to look, right bro?” Jerry slapped him on the shoulder and laughed.
    Beck glanced down from the balcony to the courtyard. Alyssa had a phone to her ear, but she chose that moment to look up. Her mouth softened for a second and he thought she might smile at him, but she frowned instead and turned away.
    Didn’t hurt to look? It might.
     

 
    “Maryn!” Alyssa gulped for air and then rushed out the words, “He ran into me, like knocked me off my feet then cradled me in his arms.” Wow, it had felt good to be sheltered like that. It was like Beckham’s basic instinct was to shield her from harm. She couldn’t recall a man’s touch ever being one of protection instead of blatant desire, and for the first time in a long while she’d wanted to stay wrapped in a man’s arms. “He was rescuing a little girl, like superhero rescue guy, and he’s amazing and good-looking and I am telling you, I can’t do this! I just saw him again. He’s staying at my bed and breakfast.” Alyssa paced the small courtyard, grateful no one else was in the courtyard.
    “Whoa, slow down. You’re sounding like me.” Maryn laughed; obviously Alyssa’s distress cracked her up. “When did he run into you? What little girl did he save and why on earth would a Richie stay at your dumpy bed and breakfast? That wasn’t in the itinerary.”
    “After I talked to you, I was running back and he literally plowed me over.” Alyssa relived the feeling of his huge body surrounding hers. He was so strong she could feel the strength and firmness of his chest through his shirt. “Then he apologized and went and saved a little girl from the ocean.”
    “Whoa. And you stuck around to tell him what a hero he was?”
    “Yeah, right.” After making sure