The Conflicted Billionaire (The Conflicted Love Series Book 1)

by Sharon Sue Thorn

  Opening his laptop to search for properties, he decided to check eMatch first.

  Jenny’s message made him smile and gave him butterflies. It was like starting over. He contemplated calling her right then but resisted the urge, deciding to wait until he was in Dover. He wanted to do everything right this time.

  Jenny, You’re absolutely right. I’ll be in touch tomorrow. I’m on a flight now and have some planning to do. I can’t wait to talk to you.

  He drove straight from the airport to Betsy’s without missing a single turn. Molly seemed to enjoy the drive. He only stopped once during the drive to let her eat, drink, and sniff in peace.

  When he pulled into Betsy’s gravel lot, Molly sat up in the seat, her nails tapping the upholstery. Owen hurried and let her out, and she headed directly to the nearest patch of grass to do her business. Glad he didn’t need it right away, he shoved the poo bag into a side pocket of his messenger bag. Betsy had strategically placed dispensers and receptacles on her property, since she allowed pets.

  Crouching down, he put Molly on a leash. “Just for now,” he told her as he scratched her head. They walked up the front steps, and he knocked on the door.

  “Coming!” someone called from inside. The door swung open, and a young man who appeared to be seventeen or eighteen opened the door. “Can I help you?”

  “Hi. I’m here to see Betsy,” Owen said.

  “Oh. Uh, I don’t think she was expecting anyone. She isn’t feeling well right now.”

  “I know, and I don’t mean to intrude, but I really wanted to see how she’s faring and if she needs anything.”

  “What’s your name?” the young man asked.

  “Owen Kaine.”

  “Okay.” The young man opened the screen door. “Step in here and let me see if she’s up to it.”

  Owen stepped into the familiar surroundings, and his stomach growled when the smell of freshly baked bread filled his nostrils.

  “Are you baking?” he asked.

  The teen chuckled. “No, my grandma is.”

  “While she’s sick?” Owen’s eyebrows met in the middle.

  “I try to get her to rest more, but she won’t listen to me. Wait here a sec.”

  Owen nodded and watched him walk toward the dining area. Molly looked up at him with an expression that made him chuckle, almost as if she were asking, “What is it we’re doing, exactly?”

  The kid reappeared and motioned Owen toward the kitchen.

  Owen stopped in the doorway and watched as Betsy put a lid over a pan. An oxygen tank on wheels rested near her feet as she worked. Her posture was sagging, and when she turned to smile at Owen, she had dark circles under her eyes.

  “Hey, Handsome Owen. You sure don’t listen well, do you?”

  “Apparently, I’m not the only one. I bet your doctor would be sore to know you’re not resting.” Owen raised a brow and gave her a pointed look.

  “You should have listened to me. You don’t need to deal with a sick old fogey like me right now.”

  “I’m glad I didn’t listen. What in the world are you doing? You don’t have any guests.”

  This Betsy looked completely different from the one he had met the first time. This Betsy had a frailty he didn’t like to see. She didn’t look right with a tube running across her face to her nose.

  “You know good and well I don’t cook just for my guests.”

  “Can I make the plates now, Grandma?” the young man asked as he entered the kitchen with empty bags draped over his arm.

  “Just about. Go ahead and get the containers ready. The soup is almost done.” Betsy motioned to her grandson. “Owen, this is my grandbaby, Mason.”

  Mason’s cheeks reddened. “Grandma, really?”

  Betsy chuckled, and then she coughed.

  Owen pulled out a chair. “Sit. Just tell me what else you were planning to do.”

  “No, I can finish—”

  “Sit, Betsy!” Owen insisted, and Molly sat, making everyone laugh.

  “Let her off that leash, and I’ll sit down.”

  “Deal.” Owen nodded toward Mason. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise.” Mason reached over and shook Owen’s hand.

  Once Betsy was firmly in her chair, Owen let Molly off her leash and washed his hands. Together, he and Mason prepared soup containers for Betsy’s usual group and loaded up the bags. Fresh bread was wrapped in foil to stay warm.

  “Want some help delivering this?” Owen asked Mason.

  Mason leaned in a little. “Stay here and talk to Grandma. Maybe you can get her to rest in the recliner in the sitting room. I’ll clean up when I get back.”

  “You got it.”

  “What are you two whispering about?” Betsy asked.

  “Just making sure he didn’t need help delivering,” Owen replied, giving Betsy a wink.

  After Mason had left, Owen offered Betsy his arm. “Let’s go to the sitting room and talk.”

  “We can talk while I clean up.”

  “Betsy, you’re not going to clean up. I’ll do that. You’re going to come sit in here and relax. I promise everything will get cleaned up and put away.”

  Betsy opened her mouth to argue, and Owen tried to give her his best glare. It made her laugh, and she waved a hand in front of her face. “Okay, okay. Let’s go.” She took his arm and stood up. Pulling her tank with her, she went into the living room and sat in the recliner. Molly followed them in. “Remind me when I’m better to teach you how to give someone a proper mean look.”

  Owen laughed. “You’d get better quicker if you’d take it easy.”

  “I am. Compared to normal, but you know those folks won’t have much to eat if their meals just stop.”

  “No one else can help you?” Owen asked.

  “Mason is the only family I have here. My daughter and her husband moved to Louisiana a couple years ago. Mason stayed. He didn’t want to switch schools for his last two years. After he graduated this year, he decided to take online classes and stay in an apartment near here. He’s a grandma’s boy. But I can’t expect him to stay in Dover forever, and that’s what really got me to thinking about selling this place to you.”

  “So, you’re ready to retire?” Owen asked, resting his head on his hand. Molly stared at him from the floor.

  “Let her up there with you,” Betsy said.

  Owen grinned and patted his legs. Molly promptly launched herself into his lap.

  “She’s a daddy’s girl. Why didn’t you bring her last time?”

  “I just adopted her.” Owen ran his hand over Molly’s head and down her back.

  “No, I’m not ready to retire, but look at me. Get sick, and I can’t keep up with this place. I’ve had to cancel this week’s and next week’s bookings already. That’s going to hurt.”

  “You just need help, is all, so you can have some downtime without closing down.”

  “Mason does so much for me, but he can’t run this place and keep up with his schoolwork. Honestly, because of me, he isn’t doing some of the things a young man his age should be doing right now.” Betsy paused to cough. “So, if you’re still interested, I’ll sell to you. I don’t think you’d be here if you weren’t interested, though.”

  “I actually have a different proposal. If you’re interested, you won’t have to cancel any more reservations, and you’ll get to rest.”

  Betsy cocked her head. “What do you have in mind?”

  “Becoming an investment partner. Making a few changes. Charging a bit more to offset the costs. You don’t charge enough.”

  “I just want families to be able to afford to come here.”

  “And that’s wonderful. You can have different levels of service. But you’re quite underpriced for what you’re providing. Also, I noticed you have quite a bit of land back there, behind the house. So much room to grow.”

  Betsy’s tired eyes brightened. “Sounds intriguing.”

  “For starters, we hire an assistant
manager-slash-delivery person, and maybe an additional part-timer to help with the extra stuff. If we’re partners, we’ll both have to be okay with any changes, which means I won’t do anything you’re not okay with.”

  A tear slid down Betsy’s cheek. She wiped it away, but it was quickly followed by others. She took a deep breath. “We can rename it to include your name.”

  “I like the name as it is. You’ll always retain the majority ownership. You’ve spent all these years building your business and making it a success. I’m just going to help you take it to the next level.”

  “Sounds wonderful. When do we start?”

  Owen barked out a laugh, which made Molly jump. “How about after you get better? I’ll hang around and help Mason until then. Once you’re fully recovered, we’ll get down to business.”

  “Sounds like you’ll be here for a while.” Betsy’s lips twisted.

  “Seems that way,” Owen agreed.

  Relief spread through him. Having a plan made all the difference. Besides, he could start over with Jenny, and they would have time to get to know each other again in a totally organic way.

  “Are you going to visit a certain beautiful young lady?”

  “I am.”

  Owen urged Betsy to take a nap while he cleaned up, adding a promise to tell her the entire story behind his first visit to Dover. She agreed and retired to her room. He was surprised that Betsy had only a bedroom and a bathroom to herself and put appropriate living quarters for her on his mental list for the renovation. How had he not noticed that before?

  By the time Mason returned, Owen had most of the kitchen done, but he needed help knowing where everything went. Mason slumped against the door jamb and thanked Owen profusely for the help. It didn’t take long for Owen to realize that the poor kid was exhausted and was doing everything he could to hide that fact from his grandmother.

  “You know, Mason, I’m not leaving anytime soon. How about you give me some instructions on anything that needs to be taken care of, then you go get some rest too.”

  When Mason finally left, Owen sat down at the kitchen table with the details of the people Betsy fed each day. Then he called one of the local diners and spoke to the owner, a woman named Carol, to arrange for the meals to be made, packaged, and delivered twice a day for the next week. He asked Carol to repeat back the details, such as not adding salt to a certain person’s food and proper meals for the three who were diabetic. Carol knew where several but not all of Betsy’s recipients lived, so Owen gave her the addresses she needed.

  Owen was about to hang up when Carol asked, “How long has Betsy been doing this?”

  “I’m not sure,” he answered honestly. “For quite a while, I think.”

  “Let me talk to Max and Charlene. They own the other restaurant in town. I don’t see any reason why we couldn’t all pitch in and help. Some of the services they offer in the city don’t always reach small towns like this one.”

  “That would be wonderful.” Owen blinked in surprise. He’d expected the diner’s owner to be happy for the additional business, but he was touched by her response. “Thank you.”

  Chapter 33

  Jenny tapped a pencil on her desk and popped a small strawberry into her mouth from the plastic container she’d brought from home. Being a small-town vet meant business was sometimes slow in the afternoon, which didn’t help her anxiety at all.

  Because of Owen’s last message, she expected him to call her today. But it was nearly three o’clock, and she hadn’t heard a peep from him. There was no way she’d missed his call. She’d kept her phone on her the entire day and was wearing her tracker on her wrist so it would buzz and alert her in case she was with a patient.

  Of course—he’d probably call this evening. He knew she worked during the day, and he was likely working too, though she didn’t understand why. Would she continue working if she was loaded? Probably in some fashion, but not here, where she was bored out of her mind. If this kept up, she’d probably offer her services on a volunteer basis or something.

  Leaning back in her office chair, she used one leg to spin herself around as she stared at the ceiling. She could see why kids loved spinning. It was relaxing in a weird sort of way.

  The door chime sounded, and she quickly straightened up. Her vision had blurred a little from all the spinning, and she blinked to clear her eyes. When she opened them, her gaze landed on a bouquet of the most beautiful flowers she’d ever seen – Chocolate Cosmos.

  Standing, she stumbled to the right. A hand on her arm kept her upright.

  “Are you okay?” a familiar voice asked.

  “Yes, yes.” She followed the flowers up to a face and stared at Owen. “Are you really here? Or did I fall asleep?”

  Owen’s chuckle was delightful. “I’m really here, and these are for you. That is, if you’re steady enough to take them.”

  She reached for the flowers and brought them to her nose. “Thank you! How in the world did you manage to get these?” She felt like she was talking and moving in slow motion. Still a little woozy, she decided to sit down before she fell.

  “I was going to bring Molly to meet you, but—”

  Why is he talking about Jeff’s wife? “I’ve already met Molly.”

  “I meant my dog.”

  “Oh. I knew that.” Her cheeks heated. She couldn’t seem to get her bearings, and she felt breathless. “Sorry I’m acting so weird.”

  Owen stared at her for a moment, and then a grin spread across his face. “Hi,” he said.

  Confused, Jenny could only stare back. “Hi.”

  “My name is Owen Kaine, and I’m going to be in town for a few weeks. I found out a while back that a beautiful, smart, and funny girl works here. I came hoping to meet her.”

  At last, Jenny caught on. She played along. “What’s her name? Maybe I can help you out.”

  “Hmmm.” Owen put a finger to his lips as if in thought. “Her name is Jenny, and she shines brighter than the sun.”

  Jenny swooned playfully. “That’s so strange. That just so happens to be my name.”

  “I’d certainly like to be your friend. Might I be so forward as to ask whether you have plans tonight? I’d love to take you out and get to know you better.”

  “I can’t believe you’re here,” she whispered. “Did you come all the way back here for me?”

  “Yes and no.” Owen cringed a little, then he laughed. “I have to explain, because I’ve gotten to know you well enough to understand that you want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

  “That’s right.” Jenny giggled, a little disappointed that she wasn’t the entire reason for his trip.

  “So,” Owen said, walking around her desk, “about tonight.”

  He reached for her hand, and she didn’t resist. He bent down, his warm lips touched her skin, and her heart raced.

  “I’d love to go to dinner with you.”

  He tugged her hand, pulling her from her seat and close to him. “And after tonight, can we go on a date every evening so we can say we’re officially dating? Is that moving too quickly?”

  Jenny felt her body turning to mush. Lost in his eyes, she’d agree to almost anything. “That sounds reasonable.”

  Owen’s eyes lit up. “I have one more request.”

  The warmth in his eyes seemed to fill her entire body, and she couldn’t look away. When he reached out and cupped her face, she swayed a little, then smiled as his fingertips traced the length of her neck.

  “I might be crossing the line with the next question.”

  “Ask.” Every bit of her hoped he’d ask to kiss her. If he didn’t, she’d have to take charge again. She stared at his lips as they began to form words.

  “Can we fast-forward to the goodnight kiss?”

  Jenny couldn’t play along anymore. Stepping close to Owen, she reached up and linked her arms around his neck, then pulled his lips to hers. Warm like the rest of him, his soft lips ignited her. As
she pushed her fingers into his hair, she vaguely registered the sound of the door chime.

  When she opened her eyes, Owen was gazing at her. A hidden message she wanted to decode was there. Too caught up to be embarrassed, she tore her gaze away from him to apologize to the customer, but it was only Sammie.

  “Wow!” Sammie said, fanning herself. “That was hot.”

  “Can you come back later?” Jenny asked her.

  “Ugh. Fine.” Sammie put her back to the door to open it and winked at the pair as she headed back to her car.

  Without another word, Owen slid the hair tie from Jenny’s hair and let the strands fall free. That single action stirred Jenny in dangerous ways. Then he ran his hand under her hair and cupped the back of her head in his palm. With a gentle grip, he pulled, causing her to tilt her head back and give him full access to her lips.

  She hoped they tasted like strawberries.

  Epilogue

  Jenny sat on the beach with her toes pushed into the sand and a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The sun had begun to drop, and she was excited to see the sunset.

  “Are you too chilly?” Owen asked, handing her a steaming cup of cocoa.

  “Psssh! Are you kidding? This is the warmest Christmas of my life.” Jenny sipped the cocoa. “Hmm. Thanks.”

  Owen sat behind her so she could lean against his chest. Molly protested a little as she adjusted herself to splay across Jenny’s lap. Swimming with Owen and Jenny had worn her out.

  “Merry Christmas,” Owen whispered into Jenny’s ear.

  When she tilted her head back, he met her lips for a sensual kiss. When they parted, she said, “Merry Christmas to you too.”

  Orange spread across the horizon, turning the seagulls in the distance into picturesque shadows against the painted backdrop of the sky.

  “Are you ready for your gift?” Owen tightened his arms when Jenny tried to spin around.

  “I didn’t buy you anything because we agreed no gifts.” Jenny gave him an exasperated look. “This. What we’re doing here. It’s perfect. I don’t need anything else.”