Resisting the Boss: An Ex's Brother/Billionaire Romance (Golden Gate Billionaires Book 5)

Chapter 1-Callie

Watch yourself around handsome men in masks.

“I wanted to get laid tonight.”

Despite my champagne-loosened tongue, the party noise has my date cupping a hand around his ear, widening his eyes and giving me the universal ‘I didn’t catch that’ expression. Thank goodness. I guess.

“I wonder what they paid… for that ice sculpture over there.”

Doug smiles politely before returning to his favorite topic – himself and his achievements. In the dictionary under self-absorbed white guy, it says ‘see him.’

Silently, I vow to delete the dating app later and return to daydreaming about finding a man who might spark something inside of me for once… by railing me against my front door the instant he sees me in this dress.

You wanted a date for tonight’s event. You’ve got a date.

Getting hired at Golden Gate Security Tech was a huge blessing for me, my dream job with room to get creative and great money. They go all out for these charity things but tonight is special, a masquerade ball. If only my prince for the night was a wee bit more charming.

“Can I steal you away for a moment, Callie?” Tabitha asks, slipping her arm through mine. We work together and have become close friends. With dark red hair and lightly tanned skin, she’s rocking a turquoise parrot mask. “Are you doing okay?” she asks as we leave my date at the open bar.

“Is my misery that obvious?”

“Only to me,” she promises.

“I’m fine beyond sore feet and my hopes of ever finding love via an app dying.” Tabitha snickers until I add, “Is it meant to be this depressing?”

“It’s worth it when you finally find the one.”

Easy for her to say. Her husband Dean is standing with the other partners of Golden Gate. All of them are handsome men in their tailored black-tie wearing simple black masks while sporting million-dollar smiles and billion-dollar bank accounts.

Dean notices us looking in his direction. He gives me a friendly wave and his wife a sexy grin. Lucky lady. He was my mentor once upon a time and I’m happy for Tabitha’s happiness but this ‘the one’ people go on about sounds like a bedtime story to me.

We head to the ladies’ room together, fixing our feathers instead of powdering our noses. All the ladies in our friend group decided to wear bird masks tonight after Remi said she had an old raven’s mask she planned to wear.

“Want me to help you escape?” Tabitha asks, seeing my troubled expression when we head back out again.

I know she would but dumping a man during a date? “No, I couldn’t, not like that. It’s our third date and he rented a tux for this. I was just hoping he might grow on me.” With some sizzling hot sex. Or, just sex.

“You were hoping his bedroom game would make up for his yawn-inducing conversation.”

“You read my mind, girl.”

She laughs. “I understand wanting to give him a chance but your dating life is restricted enough as it is, isn’t it?”

Yes, it is. I’m a mother and a career woman. Romance and me? We’re not well acquainted anymore. Not since I got so badly burned back in college.

My phone rings and, with a nod at Tabitha, I dart into a deserted stairwell to answer it, slipping off my uncomfortable heels while I’m at it. “Everything alright, Mama?”

“Of course, it is,” my mother replies in her usual no-nonsense manner. “Bump just wanted to say goodnight.”

She hands the phone over and I hear those giggles I absolutely adore. “Are those guys there?” my son asks, brim full of enthusiasm with no signs of sleepiness in his voice. I can’t help laughing knowing my mother has been hoodwinked into calling.

“Hello to you, too, Wyatt Anderson. I thought you were calling to tell me goodnight.”

“Night-night, Mama. But, are they there?!”

“What guys are you talking about?” I ask as if I don’t already know.

“The hockey players!” he screeches and my heart sinks for reasons he wouldn’t understand.

Nothing has toppled his obsession with dump trucks yet but I’m afraid San Francisco’s brand-new NHL franchise is coming close. Maybe it is in the blood. I shudder to think about it.

I listen patiently to my little boy as he recites all the players’ names he knows again and asks if I’ve seen the Falcon yet. “No, not so far.” Thank God.

“He got hurt and don’t play no more.”

“No, he doesn’t play anymore.”

I’m glad the Fog’s owner, Ezra Sokolov, also known as Falcon from his playing days, is not here. Running into my cheating ex’s awful brother who hates me is the last thing I need tonight.

I still can’t believe the man retired from hockey early only to become a venture capitalist and make a freaking fortune who then decided to start his own hockey team in the very city I live in. To top things off, my company is an integral part of building his team’s new home. Avoiding him this past year has been nothing short of a miracle. In general, if it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.

“I need to get back to my date,” I tell my mother once she’s taken the phone back. “Don’t forget to read Grumpy Bumpy.”

“Have I ever forgotten that? What did Dud think of your dress?”

I sigh, glancing at my green evening gown. I was hyped when I bought it, loving how it hugged my curves so perfectly. I wanted to be dazzling tonight when he knocked on my door. Instead of being dazzled, Doug had complained about traffic all the way to Russian Hill.

“My date’s name is Doug, not Dud, and I’ve gotta go.”

“He didn’t say anything, Charlie! I told you he wouldn’t!” she shouts to my stepfather as I’m ending the call.

Great, they already had a low opinion of online dating but what’s a busy mom with limited time to do? There are single men at work but, if it blew up spectacularly, we’d still be stuck seeing each other every day. Not worth spoiling my dream job. And, I have Wyatt to focus on. My longings take second place to that.

“Grumpy Bumpy, huh?” a deep voice drawls from above me.

Gasping, I look up to find a masked white man in a tuxedo strolling down the steps in what I thought was a deserted stairwell. Damn, he’s fine. At least, I think he is. I mean, he is wearing a mask.

But, there’s no hiding that strong, stubble-covered jaw or those lips that look like they’d make your thighs catch fire with one kiss. A lock of wavy dark brown hair hangs over the top of his mask. It’s some sort of bird mask just like mine but fiercer by far than my sweet little hummingbird.

He reaches the landing and I realize how tall he is, well past six feet. He’s broad-shouldered, probably very muscular under that tailored dinner jacket. He smells delicious, like sandalwood and brandy.

He seems to be as busy looking me over as I’m doing with him. Which is crazy because one glance at this man and I already know he could snap his fingers and have the most beautiful woman in the city by his side tonight. Maybe he already does.

Danger signals start to go off in my head but my body doesn’t want to listen.

“What other literary masterpieces do you enjoy reading?” he asks, a smile slowly forming when he spies my bare feet. It remains as his eyes rise to meet mine.

Those gorgeous green eyes… Why is there something familiar about them? Never mind. Men this hot are nothing but trouble.

“Do you make a habit of eavesdropping on other people’s conversations?”

“Only when they involve my favorite books.”

“Are all your favorite books written for the preschool crowd?”

“Perhaps. Do you make a habit of taking your shoes off at black tie events?”

With my cheeks growing warm, I start slipping my heels back on. “You would, too, if anyone expected you to wear heels.”

“I’m sure you’re right. I don’t mind if you prefer being barefoot.”

“I doubt the other guests would agree with you.”

“Then, we should stay here, shouldn’t we?”

Hmm, can’t say I’d mind that. But, there’s a voice whispering I need to put space between myself and this man for some reason.

When I momentarily lose my balance putting the second heel on, a warm hand shoots out, firmly cupping my elbow and sending bolts of electricity all through me. My breath grows short. From one touch. Oof, this man stirs something inside of me alright.

“Thank you,” I murmur once I have both shoes on again. His hand drops and the air suddenly feels glacial without it there.

“I didn’t intend to eavesdrop. Needed some air.” He points up and I realize the rooftop terrace is accessible from here. There’s something about a rooftop terrace that always sounds so romantic to me.

“Nice view?”

“Lovely but I’ve seen lovelier tonight.” He’s staring at me. Wait… is the hot man actually flirting with me? “Nice mask, hummingbird.” I smile, pleased he knew what it was. “Stunning dress.” That pleases me even more.

“Thank you. I like yours. Your mask, I mean. Is it a hawk?”

He gives me a panty-drenching grin. “Close. Would you want to have a drink with me?”

Again, I feel a whisper of warning pulling me back to reality. “I should probably go back to…”

“Your date with Dud?”

So, he didn’t miss that part of the conversation. Is he the sort of man who’d steal me from my date? Am I the sort of woman who would allow him to? Don’t answer that, Callie.

“His name is Doug.”

“My apologies if I’ve offended you, little hummingbird.” He doesn’t sound all that sorry though as he opens the door for me.

“No offense taken, Big Bird.”

He laughs at that, a rich, warm sound I wish I didn’t like so well.

We head back into the party, him following me. I see Doug is still posted by the bar. He’s shed his half-mask and there’s a frown marring his face when he spies me with my unplanned shadow.

He puffs his chest out and starts coming my way. I wish I could say it excites me, the thought that my date might come to stake his claim but it doesn’t. There’s only annoyance in his expression. No spark. I wanted sparks.

“Is that Dud?” my companion’s amused voice asks from behind me, his hot breath tickling the back of my neck. Hello, Sparks.

“Yes. And, it’s Dou-oh!” My words end with a yelp as I’m whirled around and pulled into my handsome, masked stranger’s arms. “What are you doing?!”

“I should think that’s obvious. I’m dancing with you.”

Yeah, that is obvious as he twirls me across the dancefloor right in front of Doug. I wouldn’t expect a man his size to move so gracefully.

“But, Doug...” I say guiltily as we sway past him a second time.

“He can watch me dance with you or he can man up and cut in. I’ll know for sure then.”

“You’ll know what?”

“If he’s worthy of you. My money’s on not worthy.”

A thrill races through me even as Doug stays put, watching and frowning. The way my masked man stares at me makes me feel like the most desirable woman in the world. No one’s made me feel like that since… Another trickle of disquiet zips through me before I dismiss it.

“You’re bigger than he is,” I argue, not wishing to give him the satisfaction of possibly being right.

“I am. But, he doesn’t have to arm wrestle me to cut in.” I laugh until he adds, “Well, maybe I’d make him arm wrestle for the privilege of dancing with you.”

The privilege of dancing with me? “What would you do if you’d brought me here and another man asked me to dance?” I ask, breathily.

His deep green eyes glint with determination as that sexy smirk reappears. “Darling, if you were my date, we’d still be enjoying the privacy of that stairwell together.”

Holy sugar honey iced tea. My heart is pounding while I wonder if I have the courage to do what I’d like to do. Namely, drag this man back to that stairwell and demand a good railing.

Before I can make the completely unhinged suggestion, there’s an unexpected tap on my masked stranger’s shoulder. “Not now, Dud,” I grumble and can’t help answering my partner’s wicked grin with my own.

But, it’s not Dud… I mean, Doug interrupting us.

It’s Dean.

I give my boss a puzzled smile wondering why the hell he’s interrupting my masked man daydream. “I didn’t think you were coming tonight. Good to see you,” Dean says, obviously pleased.

Huh? We’ve already spoken this evening.

“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Culver,” my mystery man replies as he shakes Dean’s hand with an arm still wrapped around my waist.

Oh, they know each other. I smile, glad there’ll be an excuse for a proper introduction now.

Dean chuckles, pointing to our masks. “Now, that’s two birds I don’t imagine are friendly in nature, the hummingbird and the falcon.”

My smile drops at the word falcon and those little intuitive whispers in my brain from earlier finally clink together into one loud sentence. Those remarkably familiar green eyes. The dark hair. The growly, deep voice. The height, the athletic grace and strong build. The falcon. The Falcon.

As if by design then, the stranger removes his mask and there can be no doubt. It’s Ezra!

Memories of the last time we saw each other come hurtling back at me. I was a humiliated and pregnant college girl. His brother had broken my heart and this man imagined the worst of me.

I shrink away from his touch. His head tilts my way, eyes curious, while all my thoughts are centered on one thing - Wyatt.

And, from deep within me, a primal emotion swells, one which speaks with a savage voice.No one will mess with my son. No one will dare try to take him from me. No matter how rich and famous they are.

“If you’ll excuse me, my date is waiting,” I say to the men in a surprisingly even voice.

Dean nods but Ezra’s brow furrows, clearly displeased as I slip out of his grasp. I don’t care. I fight the urge to run and shudder over the memory of his touch, hating how much I liked it a moment ago.

I sweep toward the exit, not caring if Doug follows in my wake so long as Ezra Sokolov does not.