Table of Contents
The Ultimate Treasure
Copyright
Dedication
Author Note
Other Books by Melody Anne
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Epilogue
The Ultimate Treasure
Book Five in the Lost Andersons Series
by
Melody Anne
Copyright
© 2016 Melody Anne
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Printed and Published in the United States.
Editing by Karen Lawson
Proof Editing by Marlene Engel
Cover Art and Interior Design by Willamette Digital, LLC
www.willamettedigitalpub.com
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my niece Ava. You are growing up into such a beautiful young lady. May all your dreams come true, and may you always dance like nobody is watching.
Writing this book was bittersweet for me. The Billionaire Wins the Game was the very first book I wrote and the beginning of my career. It allowed me to enter my Anderson fantasy world. I haven’t wanted to let the Andersons go, but after five years, I finished their story with the final Storm happily married. Joseph, George, and Richard had a hard time with Lance tying the knot as well as the others. But don’t worry, the married kids will eventually grow up, and I’m sure those men will have just as many antics in matchmaking. What a journey this series has been. I’ve written other stories in between and new worlds have opened, but Joseph Anderson makes many appearances across my other series. I’ve connected the characters because the Andersons are my heart; they feel so real to me.
Thanks so much to all who love the Andersons as much as I do. Thank you for bringing them to life, loving them, and for giving me this wonderful job. I hope you enjoy Lance’s story. I may have cried a little bit while writing it.
Other Books by Melody Anne
7 Brides for 7 Brothers (Multi-Author Series):
Luke - Book One - Barbara Freethy
Gabe - Book Two - Ruth Cardello
Hunter - Book Three - Melody Anne
Knox - Book Four - Christie Ridgway
Max - Book Five - Lynn Raye Harris
James - Book Six - Roxanne St. Clair
Finn - Book Seven - JoAnn Ross
Billionaire Bachelors:
The Billionaire Wins the Game
The Billionaire’s Dance
The Billionaire Falls
The Billionaire’s Marriage Proposal
Blackmailing the Billionaire
Run Away Heiress
The Billionaire’s Final Stand
The Lost Andersons:
Unexpected Treasure
Hidden Treasure
Holiday Treasure
Priceless Treasure
The Ultimate Treasure - December 13th, 2016
Baby for the Billionaire:
The Tycoon’s Revenge
The Tycoon’s Vacation
The Tycoon’s Proposal
The Tycoon’s Secret
The Lost Tycoon
Surrender Series:
Surrender - Book One
Submit - Book Two
Seduced - Book Three
Scorched - Book Four
Forbidden Series:
Bound -Book One
Broken - Book Two
Betrayed - Book Three
Burned - Book Four
The Midnight Series:
Midnight Fire: Book One
Midnight Moon: Book Two
Midnight Storm: Book Three
Midnight Eclipse: Book Four
Unexpected Heroes:
Her Unexpected Hero
Her Hometown Hero
Her Forever Hero
Safe in His Arms - Novella - Baby, It’s Cold Outside Anthology
Who I am With You - Novella
Following Her - Novella
All I Want for Christmas - Novella
Becoming Elena:
Stolen Innocence
Forever Lost
New Desires
Billionaire Aviators:
Turbulent Intentions
Turbulent Desires
Turbulent Waters - Coming February 2017
Taken by a Trillionaire
Collection of Three Novellas - Melody Anne, Ruth Cardello, J.S. Scott
Novels and Novellas:
Finding Forever - Novel
Safe in His Arms - Novella
Keep updated on all my newest releases, signing events, giveaways, and more! Click HERE to sign up for my mailing list.
Come play with Melody on Twitter @authmelodyanne
Visit with Melody on Facebook
Check out my blog Live, Laugh, Love
Find all the fun things out on Instagram
Leave reviews on Goodreads
Prologue
Lance Storm sat warily in a large armchair in a massive office feeling like a bug being analyzed while his father, Richard Storm, and his uncles, Joseph and George Anderson, sat before him, a look in their eyes not to be trusted.
“What do you think, boy?” Joseph asked, his voice thundering through the room.
Lance took another drink of his fine glass of Scotch as the words his family had been speaking for the past hour filtered through his brain. He wanted to agree with the men, but he knew there was a catch. When it came to his father and uncles there was always a catch. But, at this particular moment, they were holding the bait he so desperately wanted a large bite of.
Still, he sat silently, wondering if he had the strength to turn them down. By giving in to what they wanted, he was playing right into their hands. It was a difficult decision for him to make.
“We aren’t growing any younger,” George said, a frown appearing between his brows.
“I don’t understand why you want this. What’s in it for you?” Lance finally asked.
“We care about our family. We just want to help you and help Lexie,” Richard said.
“How is this helping me?” Lance asked.
All three men gazed at him with innocent expressions he didn’t at all trust.
“You’ve been lost. This will mean as much for you as it does for Lexie,” Joseph told him.
Lance
really couldn’t think of a negative to the plan the old men had come up with. Then again, he’d never been one to back down when he was afraid. If anything, that only made him push that much harder.
“Let’s do it,” he said. He leaned back and grinned. The old men might have thought they’d gotten exactly what they wanted, but Lance would make sure he was the one who came out the victor.
Chapter One
The music pulsed through the room, the lights were muted, and bodies merged as Alexa Mills closed her eyes and let the beat take her away. It might have been minutes, or possibly hours, but soon she was bumped in the arm, and her sister, Savvy, was smiling at her before tugging on her hand to lead her to the quieter alcove where they had a table waiting and they could actually speak without shouting.
“When you decide to unwind, Lexie, you really let it all go,” Savvy said with a grin as she took a long pull of her water. Her sister’s skin was gleaming. Lexie wasn’t sure if her own flesh was covered in red spots or not. She was burning up from dancing for so long.
“This is my last night in the States with my favorite sister. I wanted it to be fun so you won’t forget me,” Lexie told her.
“You’re only going to be gone for a month. You promised,” Savvy said in a threatening way. “I will come and get you if you try to extend it any longer than that.”
“I can’t miss too much time away from my beautiful niece,” Lexie assured her.
“Good. ’Cause she might find another favorite auntie if you do,” Savvy teased.
“Ugh, since you and Ashton have gotten married you have become far too domesticated. You should be envious of this great adventure I’m going on, not sad that I won’t be stoking the home fires,” Lexie told her sister.
Savannah had spent a summer working for Ashton Storm, and the two of them might have had a bit of a rocky start, especially considering he’d had a fiancée when her sister had met him, but their love couldn’t be denied. They were perfect together — almost too perfect, actually. As much as Lexie was happy for her sister’s happiness, she had to admit, at least on some level, she felt a slight twinge of jealousy too.
Lexie assured herself she was too young, at twenty-seven, to be thinking those thoughts. She had plenty of time to live her adventures and see the world before she settled down. That was, if she settled down. Her father hadn’t been the best example of a loving man. She didn’t want to end up with someone like him, someone who would suck the life out of her instead of giving her wings to fly.
Now, she’d been funded to go to the Philippines to help children still suffering from a deadly typhoon several years ago. She wanted to go around the world and make a difference one step at a time. The grant she’d been given was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and she wasn’t giving it up for anything.
Even as a child, Lexie had known she wanted to make something more of her life and that meant helping others. She’d been abused by her father and abandoned by her mother, and she’d always had to lean heavily on her sister. She wanted to pay her sister’s love forward. Savvy had sacrificed so much so Lexie could have as normal of a childhood as possible. Now, more than ever, Lexie was determined to help other youth.
“I’m really going to miss you, Sis. We’ve never been this far apart, and I’ve always protected you. It’s hard for me to let go, even though I know you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself,” Savvy told her.
“I know you love me. That’s what has made a difference in my life. I want to give back,” Lexie assured her.
“I’m so proud of you. However, I want you to send me pictures every single day and check in with me so I won’t worry,” Savvy insisted.
“I will check in as much as I possibly can,” Lexie told her.
Good. I still find it difficult remembering you’re an adult who is more than capable of taking care of yourself.”
“And that’s why I love you so very much,” Lexie said with a laugh. “I adore you.”
“I know. It’s mutual,” Savvy assured her.
The night flew by too quickly, and soon Lexie was holding her sister extra tight as they said their goodbyes. Then she was off for the airport in the car her sponsoring company had sent. Her heart pounded as they turned off the freeway to the airport. It was going to happen. She was on her way to save the world.
Okay, she might not be saving the world on this particular trip, but it was a good start. Humanitarianism began one person at a time, she told herself.
When the car bypassed the main terminal, Lexie grew a bit nervous. She hadn’t checked the credentials of the driver. What if he wasn’t who he said he was? Her heart thudded, but she tried to remain calm.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Your flight is out of the private terminal,” the driver assured her.
Lexie knew this was a legit company. She’d sat before them as she’d explained what she wanted to do, and nothing had seemed out of place. The paperwork she’d completed had been insane, but there was nothing wrong with it.
The car stopped at the private terminal, and she let out a breath of relief. The driver came around and opened her door before she had her seat belt off. He gave her a reassuring smile before offering her his hand.
Lexie had never used the private terminal before. This trip was already starting off with a bang — that was for sure. She stood beside the car and gazed around as the driver removed her two bags, and then she walked by his side as they entered the terminal.
Only a few people were milling around the beautiful building as the driver made his way to the back doors. Where was the TSA? The lines? The annoyance of a large airport? She had no idea, but she shouldn’t be complaining — even internally.
They went through the back doors where a large jet was sitting on the tarmac. A man smiled as he spotted them then ran up and took her bags, leading them to the back where a machine was loading many boxes of what looked like supplies.
“I’m going in this?” she asked, stopping in her tracks as she looked at the sleek white jet with blue stripes running down it.
“This is your ride,” the driver said as he tried to get her to move again.
“Are you sure? I’m Alexa Mills,” she said, wanting to make sure he had the right person. This jet looked as if it belonged to some billionaire CEO, not to a non-profit company intent on saving the world.
“Yes, Ms. Mills, I’m sure,” he said with a laugh. He finally got her to move forward. Lexie felt as if she were entering another universe. She expected to be wedged between two stout people in the back of a regular plane, not sitting luxuriously in a corporate jet.
Why she was worried, she wasn’t sure. Maybe it was because she was going to serve those who were less fortunate than most. She felt slightly guilty traveling in style.
Without further arguing, Lexie stepped toward the jet. This was an adventure she’d been looking forward to for a very long time. She wasn’t going to turn away now.
Stepping through the open door, Lexie felt her breath leave her. The pilot stood to the side with a greeting that she was unable to respond to, because she was looking around in total awe.
The interior was done in beige and black with sleek leather furniture and what appeared to be mahogany cabinets. Brass and crystal accents ran throughout the large space and the cream colored carpet was plusher than any other she’d ever seen.
This wasn’t an unfamiliar world, and she still wasn’t sure she was on the right jet. She was about to ask as her head swiveled back around to look at the pilot.
“Have a seat, Ms. Mills. We’ll be ready for takeoff in a few minutes,” he told her as he held out his hand.
“Where should I sit?” she asked, grateful her voice had returned.
“Anywhere you choose.”
Lexie stepped forward and sat in one of the oversized chairs, sighing in pleasure at the
way she sunk into it. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the seat belt. A young man in a smart suit came out and asked what she’d like to drink, and Lexie decided she needed some liquid courage. She ordered a vodka tonic and was happy when he returned quickly with her drink and a bowl of trail mix.
Soon, the door was shut. She heard the engines throttle up, and then the jet was taxiing down the tarmac. The captain announced for all to be seated, that they were third in line for takeoff.
That’s when the air shifted. Without turning around, she felt the oxygen in the large cabin begin to diminish. She sucked in a breath, and the intoxicating scent she knew only too well, infused her insides.
“Glad you made it, Lexie.”
The deep, sexy voice sent a shiver through Lexie’s body. Finally, she was able to command her head to turn as Lance Storm took the seat next to her, a confident smile on his lips.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I’m your benefactor for this trip,” he told her with a twinkle in his eyes.
Lexie’s stomach dropped. What in the world had she just gotten herself into?
Chapter Two
Lance had known from the moment his father and uncles had come up with this plan for his company to sponsor Lexie on her save-the-world mission that he’d accompany her. He and Lexie had enjoyed one incredible night together at his brother’s wedding, and then she’d avoided him like the plague from that moment on. A year later he still wanted to get her attention.
Now he definitely had it. They would be together in a foreign country for an entire month, enough time to either make her fall in love with him or get her out of his system. He wasn’t sure which way he wanted it to go. But he knew beyond a doubt that if he had told her it was his company sponsoring the trip, she would have declined. And that would’ve foiled his plans.
Lance wasn’t sure why she was running from him. The two of them had unbelievable chemistry. It wasn’t that Lance was looking to marry or anything. He was the last holdout in his family. The rest of his siblings had taken their father’s ultimatums and now seemed happy — happier than was normal, in his humble opinion.