Falling for the Wrong Billionaire

1. Liam

Chapter one

Liam

"Can we please just… not do this right now?"

I turn away from Pamela, trying to keep my tone casual, but there’s a flicker of irritation hiding underneath. She’s got that look, the one that says she’s not taking no for an answer. The look that’s been following me anytime I'm in town.

"Come on, Liam. You’re always so busy," she pouts, twirling a strand of her hair. "You could at least grab coffee with me. I mean, how long has it been? Since high school?"

I force a tight smile, trying to mask my discomfort. "Pamela, I’m just… I’m really not looking for anything right now. You know how it is."

But she’s persistent. Man alive, she’s persistent. Pamela’s always been the type to chase after me for as long as I can remember. At first it was cute but now it's anything but that. We are adults and I expected that her incantations about me would have been long buried.

"Don’t be like that," she insists, moving a step closer, her perfume invading my senses. "Just one drink. You and me. Catch up. Nothing serious."

"We both know that's not what you want. I don't know how many times I need to say this but I'm not the man for you. Can't you see there is no spark between us?"

"But…"

"There is no “but” Pamela. You're a sweet girl and you deserve someone who will reciprocate your feelings. I'm not that person,"

Her expression drops before she says,

"You won't even try,"

I almost let out a frustrating groan. I glance around.

The town’s familiar faces are walking by, oblivious to the scene playing out in front of me.

It’s not exactly how I envisioned my morning walk going.

I've been lucky to be out of her radar since I got back to town eight weeks ago after I just launched one of my biggest tech machines, which is now fetching me billions of dollars barely two months after launch.

"Sorry, Pamela. I’ve really got to—"

And then, just as I’m about to make my escape, a flash of movement catches my eye. A woman. She’s struggling with a pair of ferrets on a leash, clearly trying to keep them from darting off in different directions on the boardwalk. It’s the most chaotic, yet oddly charming sight.

She’s clearly new. Her hair’s the color of autumn leaves, her style a bit mismatched in a cute way and there’s a sort of quiet energy around her that makes everything else seem irrelevant.

I feel a tug of something, an immediate curiosity. It’s not like I don’t get attention around here. I run a tech empire, I’ve got my own beachside estate, and I know how to turn on the charm when needed. But this? This woman? She doesn’t fit the usual type. I’m intrigued.

"Sorry, Pamela," I say, cutting her off. "I really have to go."

I step away before she can protest, making my way toward the woman with the ferrets. I watch as she tugs on one of the ferret’s leashes, but the little critter, wriggles free and bolts toward the edge of the boardwalk.

I can’t help it. I’m already moving, stepping into her path just in time to catch the ferret by the scruff of its neck.

"Gotcha." I chuckle, looking up to meet her eyes.

She’s frozen for a moment, staring at me like I just sprouted a second head. Her eyes are wide, but she quickly recovers, managing a small smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. It’s like she wasn’t expecting help, or maybe, she wasn’t expecting me to be the one offering it.

"You’re, uh, pretty fast," she says, her voice soft, almost apologetic. She takes a step forward and gently reclaims the ferret from my hands. I feel a tingling sensation as our fingers brush. The need to touch her hand again is overwhelming.

"Yeah, well. I’ve had my fair share of wild chases." I smirk. “Liam West.” I extend my hand, my voice steady, though my heart is pounding just from the proximity.

Her eyes meet mine, and for a second, everything around us fades.

She reaches out, her fingers brushing against mine, and it’s like the world suddenly shifts.

Her touch is electric, soft and warm, sending a jolt straight through me.

It’s subtle, but unmistakable, like a spark igniting in a dark room.

“Lucy Whittier.” Her voice is almost a whisper as she shakes my hand, the touch brief but lingering in the air between us.

I feel the hesitation in her grip, as if she’s unsure whether to hold on or let go, and I’m almost certain she felt it too — the undeniable pull, the electricity that crackles between us in the simplest touch.

Before I can catch my breath, she pulls her hand away quickly, almost as if the contact itself startled her. My fingers tingle where hers once were, aching with the need to feel the warmth of her hand again, to somehow prolong the spark that flared between us.

I watch her, trying to keep my expression neutral, but I can’t stop the heat creeping into my chest. She seems to notice, her gaze flicking nervously to the side as if she’s trying to shake off the intensity that just passed between us.

But all I can think about is the way her soft fingers brushed against mine, how it felt like everything inside me surged to life. I ache to touch her again, to feel that same connection. But I hold back, my heart still thumping in my chest.

"First time in Ocean Bay?" I ask, trying to keep things casual.

"Yeah. Just came here today actually," she says, looking around like she’s trying to find another ferret.

The way she says it, so… reserved, makes me pause. It’s clear she’s not in a rush to be noticed, not the type to settle into small-town gossip.

"You’ve got a lot of, uh, energy in those two," I nod toward the ferrets, which are now scrambling in opposite directions. I catch a glimpse of her cheeks turning a soft pink as she watches them.

"They have more energy than I know what to do with," she says, looking almost apologetic again, like she’s somehow responsible for their chaos.

I can’t help but smile. There’s something endearing about her, something that feels… familiar. I’ve been around a lot of people in my life, mostly business types, people with agendas, motives, and power. But Lucy? She’s not like that. She’s just… herself.

And for some reason, that unsettles me. I don’t do unsettled.

"Well, if you need any help wrangling them, I’m good with chaos," I say with a half-joking grin, trying to lighten the mood. She looks at me, and for a moment, I swear I see something flicker in her eyes, but it’s gone before I can name it.

"Thanks, but I think I’ve got it covered. Thank you once again but I've got to go." she replies, her voice barely above a whisper. There’s that subtle distance again.

I take a step back, nodding, fighting the urge to convince her to stay a bit longer maybe for a drink.

"Alright, well, good luck with them. If you ever need anything, I’m around." I throw out the offer without thinking, before turning to head off again. I can’t help but look over my shoulder one last time, catching Lucy as she works to untangle one of the ferret's leashes from a bench.

The feeling I get from her is strange. She’s not part of the usual scene around here. Most of the women in Ocean Bay have either grown up here or are visiting on vacation, but Lucy? She stands out in a way I can’t quite put my finger on.

***

I kick back in the chair, fingers loosely wrapped around the glass of whiskey, but I’m not really thinking about the drink. Not really thinking about anything except her.

Lucy Whittier.

Her face flashes in my mind again, and I curse under my breath.

No woman has done this to me in… well, I can’t even remember.

I’ve always been the guy who doesn't let his head get tangled up in thoughts about one person, let alone a woman. I’ve dated my share of them, the fun ones, the no nonsense ones, the ones that wanted something more but I didn’t.

And then there’s Lucy.

It’s been hours since I last saw her, but she’s still there, stuck in my head like a song I can’t get out of my head. Her shy smile. The way she glanced up at me when I grabbed her ferret. That moment where she didn’t know whether to thank me or apologize, her voice soft and almost hesitant.

Is she in town for long? I couldn’t help but wonder.

No woman has ever tugged at me like this.

I don’t know why, but there’s something different about her.

It’s not just the quiet way she carries herself, or how she seems to retreat inward, almost as if she’s trying to escape attention.

No, it’s more than that. I want to know more.

I want to see her again, talk to her, understand what’s behind that guarded exterior.

But that’s the thing, isn’t it? I don’t do guarded. Never have. I don’t chase anything, especially when I know it’s likely to get complicated. Still, the thought nags at me.

The door to the bar swings open and the sounds of laughter pull me out of my thoughts. I glance up to see Bryan and Nate strolling in, looking like they’ve just stepped out of a corporate meeting. They’re both married, both settled down, while I… well, I’m still the same old Liam.

"Look who’s here," Bryan says, spotting me immediately. "Still nursing that drink alone, huh? What's the matter? No pretty woman to talk to?"

I roll my eyes. “I'm not in the mood tonight, Bryan. You know I don’t do the whole ‘forced conversation’ thing.”

Nate grins and pulls up a chair, sitting next to me. "Yeah, we can tell. You’ve got that brooding, lone-wolf vibe down to an art form."

"Sometimes you guys are a pain" I mutter, leaning back in my chair and taking a sip. It’s a half-joke, but it’s true. I’m not exactly the easiest guy to deal with in my downtime.

"Come on," Nate teases. "You know we’re just looking out for you. You’re the last one in the group without a woman in your life. Look at Bryan and me. Family. We’re both happy, man. You don’t have to be alone all the time."

Bryan nods, his smile softening as he adds, "We’re not saying you need to settle down tomorrow, but maybe it’s time to think about it. You can’t just work yourself into the ground and pretend that’s all there is to life."

I snort. "I'm not 'pretending,' Bryan. I’m just fine."

But I’m not fine. And they know it. I can feel the weight of their gazes on me. They’ve seen it too, that hollow look, the one I can’t quite hide anymore, not even behind a smirk or a joke.

"I’m happy for you guys," I finally say, trying to shift the conversation. "Really, I am. But I don’t think the whole family thing’s for me. Not now."

Nate raises an eyebrow. "Not now? Well, that’s not exactly a no, is it? I think you just need the right woman to get you thinking differently."

I shake my head, forcing a grin. "It’s not that simple, Nate."

Bryan chuckles under his breath. "You know, I thought I was the only one who didn’t have it all figured out. But you, man? You’re really out there, keeping that bachelor vibe alive. You can’t even give us the courtesy of pretending to look for someone?"

I roll my eyes. “Says the person who swore off love until you got knocked out by Emma."

"I'll happily be knocked out by her over and over again," Bryan says, and I can't help but smile.

"Why don’t we just stick to talking about the next investment Nate has for us,"

"Don't change the subject. Oh, that reminds me Emma says you shouldn't forget about the upgrade you promised to handle for her clinic.”

"Right. I still haven’t assigned that, but I'll do something about that."

I take another sip of my whiskey, my mind swirling, but not with thoughts of business, or Emma’s project. The image of Lucy, her soft, hesitant voice, her shy demeaner, hits me again, and it’s like I’m drowning in it.

"So," I mutter, trying to steer the conversation back to safe territory. "I’ll probably assign it to one of the best guys on the team."

Bryan smirks, sensing the shift in my mood. "You sure? Because last time I checked, you weren’t exactly great at delegating."

"I have several projects lined up. After Project Alpha launched, I received several requests for collaborations, so I'll have to hand it over to someone capable," I say, leaning forward, all business now. "Sounds like everything is going well with you."

"Yes, it is." Except the part where I didn't get Lucy’s number.

I can feel their eyes on me again, both sizing me up like I’m some puzzle they’re trying to solve. They know something’s off. They’ve always known.

Nate, sensing the moment to press on, leans in. "So, tell us. Who’s got you all distracted tonight? You’re hardly paying attention. Is it Pamela?" He doesn’t wait for an answer.

"You know quite well Pamela doesn't hold a candle to him," Bryan says as he chuckles.

"Thankfully you know that," I say as I raise my cup before drinking. We talk about other investments opportunities over the next few hours. But something in me, something I haven’t felt before wants to tell them about Lucy. About how she’s stuck in my head, the way no one else ever has.

But I don’t.