The Magic of a Billionaire

by Marie Higgins

  “An animation?” His disbelieving gaze narrowed on her. “Are you sure?”

  “Chad Howell was with me when it happened. I was taking him to the spot where the truck had run me off the road, and it triggered the sunglasses. He was the one who found the black box installed in the glove box, so we took it to the police station to have it thoroughly examined.”

  “And that all happened earlier today?”

  She nodded. “Yes. Their crime lab is still inspecting the box and the glasses to see if they can find anything that will point to the culprit.”

  “Well,” he sighed heavily, shaking his head, “I hope they find something soon.”

  They reached the limo and a driver jumped out and reached for the back door. Thomas held up a hand to stop him. “I’ve got this.” He opened the door for Elizabeth. “After you, my dear.”

  Okay, something wasn’t right. Why was Thomas acting this sweet? Then again, he had been quite charming on the first day they’d met when he showed her inside the mansion. Plus, he was Aaron’s cousin... Climbing in, she suspected that all the Powers men had the charming trait.

  Silently, she scolded herself. She really needed to stop thinking about Thomas that way, but as he climbed in the limo and sat next to her with only a small amount of light to highlight his handsome face, she realized there was no way she could separate the two men. Not right now, at least. Not when she wanted to live out the dream date she’d always wanted.

  The limo pulled away from the house and Thomas turned toward her and rested his hand on her knee. Warmth spread through her, making her feel giddy... and making her heart flutter.

  “I’ve been anxious to talk to you since I saw you at Gramps’ house,” he said.

  “Why?”

  “Gramps told me about Aaron’s journal.”

  She nodded. “Did he let you read it?”

  “No. He had Connie put it somewhere safe.”

  She frowned. “I wish you had read it. I know you’d feel the same way I do about his death.”

  “So, you really think he was murdered?”

  “There’s no doubt in my mind.” She touched his arm. “Thomas, some of the things that happened to him the month or two before his death are happening to you.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, for starters, you were run off the road by a phantom truck – because you had the same sunglasses as Aaron.”

  “That might be a coincidence.”

  “Okay, so didn’t you tell me that someone had slashed your tires? You know, on the first day we met?”

  “Oh, that. Yes, I supposed someone did slash them.”

  She studied his blasé attitude. The slashing of tires was a huge thing in the world of an everyday person. Cops were involved, the owner of the car agonized over how much money it’d take to get new tires, etc. Wealthy people, on the other hand, didn’t seem to mind nearly as much. It was just one of the differences between people like him and people like her.

  “Anyway,” she continued, “I’m worried that the person who killed Aaron might be after you.”

  He took her hand as if it was the most natural thing to do. But when his thumb started stroking her knuckles, she couldn’t help but think of Aaron’s gentle touch and how he had always made her weak in the knees.

  “It’s been a while since someone has cared enough about me to worry about my well-being.”

  “Really, Thomas? I find that hard to believe.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re a wealthy, good-looking guy who could get any woman he wants. In fact, I’m surprised you’re here with me instead of with your girlfriend.”

  He chuckled softly. “I don’t have a girlfriend. Not anymore.”

  Ooooh, perhaps I shouldn’t have said that. If only she had thought before speaking, she would have remembered that it was Aaron who had taken Thomas’ girlfriend away... and then dumped ZoAnn when he realized she was money hungry.

  “Then it’s their loss. From what I know about you, you’re a great guy.” She had no idea what else to say to smooth it over.

  His smile widened. “You’re too nice to me, Elizabeth.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and brushed a kiss on her knuckles. “So, my dear, are you ready for dinner?” He glanced out the window. “We’re almost there.”

  She peeked out the window but didn’t see any restaurants. In fact... they weren’t even in the middle of town. They were at an airport. On the runway of an airport! The limo pulled up to a jet with a small crew standing outside. Her heart leapt.

  “Thomas? What’s all this?”

  “It’s my jet.”

  “We’re taking a jet to get pizza?”

  He laughed. “There’s only one place to go for great pizza... Napa, California.”

  TWENTY-TWO

  THOMAS POWERS WAS RIGHT! Napa had a restaurant that made the best pizza Elizabeth had ever tasted. Of course, the flight was just as exciting, as was driving through Napa only to stop at the one perfect business that welcomed Thomas with open arms. But it wasn’t just the owners of Papa’s Lil’ Italy that treated Thomas as if he was the mayor. Other people who were there had come up to him to greet him too.

  The maître d’ showed them to Thomas’ table speaking in an Italian accent and all. He treated her as if she was a princess too, complimenting her endlessly and making sure everything was to her liking. For a moment, she wondered if he would present her with a tiara. When the man tried to pull out her chair to sit, Thomas nicely shooed him aside and took over the duty.

  Smiling, she sat in a chair that felt like a red-velvet cushioned throne. Thomas turned and whispered something in the maître d’s ear and slipped some money into his hand. The steward smiled and quickly left.

  Elizabeth picked up the linen napkin and spread it across her lap. “Okay, Mr. Powers...” She grinned. “It’s time to fess up.”

  Sitting across from her, he reached across the small table and took her hand in his. “What is it you wish me to confess? That the stars are jealous of your beauty? That I feel like the luckiest man in the world right now because you’re with me?”

  She leaned forward, resting her elbow on the table. “Thomas, you’re a sweet-talker, but I’m not falling for it. Maybe if we’d been going out for a few weeks, or even months, I’d take your words to heart, but I just can’t believe you, seeing how we don’t know each other very well.”

  He chuckled. “I’m sorry you aren’t taking me seriously. I do like you, Elizabeth, but the truth is... I’d like to get to know you better so that one day those words will come from the heart.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate your honesty.” She glanced at her surroundings again. “Now, what’s going on with this restaurant? Why do they treat you like you’re the king of the pizza palace?”

  Just then, the waiter brought a bottle of wine and two glasses, setting them on the table. He proceeded to open the wine and pour. When he was finished, he left. Thomas lifted his glass toward her.

  “This is the reason they treat me like a king. They love the wine from my vineyard... and I love them for loving my wine. I have a newsletter that goes out to different restaurants and places all around the country, and I help those who help me. Papa’s Lil’ Italy is one of my oldest buyers, and they’ve been in my newsletter several times. Because of that, they get more business, and in return, they buy more of my wine.”

  She took a sip of the wine. It surprised her how pleasant it tasted – like sweet berries on her tongue. “Mmm... this is very good.”

  “Yes, I know.” He winked.

  She took another sip. “Then I think your praise here is well-deserved.”

  “Thank you.”

  He reached across the table to take her hand again, but she quickly lifted her menu and pretended to glance over it. “So, what’s good to eat?”

  “Everything.”

  She peeked over the top of the menu at him. “Of course, you’re going to say that.”

  “Elizabeth, if you lik
e Italian food, then you’ll love whatever is on the menu. You can order your crusts thick or thin, you can get a vegetarian pizza or one that’s loaded with meat. And if you like pastas,” he pointed to a section on the menu, “they have that, too.”

  “Hmm... I think I’m in the mood for a pizza.” She studied the different kinds, and one popped out more than the others. It was called – Thomas’ Choice. She let out a laugh. “Really, Thomas? You have a pizza named after you?”

  He shrugged. “I told you they liked me here.”

  She closed her menu and set it in front of her. “That’s what I want. I want Thomas’ Choice.”

  His eyebrows arched. “You want me, huh?”

  She hadn’t seen him reach for her hand, but when his fingers gently stroked hers and he grinned, she wondered how she was going to pull away from him this time. She really didn’t want to though. It was nice to have such a handsome man practically falling at her feet.

  She rolled her eyes. “I want your pizza.”

  “Your wish is granted,” he leaned toward her, gesturing with his hand, “and not just for the meal. Anything you want tonight, I’ll get for you.”

  She’d never been out with a rich guy before, but she didn’t really like the way he flaunted his money. “Thomas, I’m not that type of woman.”

  His gaze narrowed on her. “And what type is that?”

  “One that wants you for your money.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Stop trying to buy my friendship. If I like you, I want to like you for your personality – not for what you can buy me.”

  A different expression crossed his face, which made his blue eyes dance. She wished he didn’t look so much like his cousin right now.

  “In other words,” she continued, “I’ll pay for dinner. You’ll have to pay for the way home, though.” She chuckled. “A private jet ride is a little outside of my budget.”

  Thomas slowly shook his head. “No, you aren’t going to pay for one thing. Do you know how cheap that would make me look?” he whispered. “Plus, I don’t want to get a bad reputation here, if you know what I mean.”

  “Okay,” she said, raising her hands in surrender. “I definitely don’t want to make you look bad in front of your friends. But please, Thomas, I only want to know you, not what is in your bank account.”

  His attention dropped to her hand as he continued stroking her fingers. Finally, he lifted his gaze.

  “Do you know how many women I’ve dated who couldn’t wait to see what I would buy them next?”

  “I’m sure you dated a lot like that.” ZoAnn came to her mind again.

  “It’s not often I find a woman who just wants to be my friend and get to know the real me.”

  Sighing, she grasped his hand, mainly because his caressing was causing little flutters in her tummy. “Well, I’m one of them.”

  “Thank you, Elizabeth.”

  “You are very welcome.”

  Their waiter chose that moment to come over and take their orders. As she watched Thomas talk to him, she couldn’t help but think of Aaron. He had appreciated her for not thinking of him as a walking moneybag, too. He’d told her a few times that he’d never met a woman like her. She liked hearing that. She enjoyed thinking that she was someone special to at least one man... and Thomas made two. In fact, hadn’t Nolan hinted something like that as well?

  The rest of the meal went smoothly. They talked about growing up, their friends throughout the years, and the people they’d dated. When she told Thomas about Sam, he agreed with Aaron – that Sam was a loser with a capital L. When she asked Thomas about ZoAnn, she could see the hurt in his expressions and the betrayal he’d felt when Aaron got the girl.

  Elizabeth’s mind started wandering as she thought about Aaron and his cousin. Aaron was older, but was that the reason women were drawn to him more than Thomas? When she first met Thomas, she had thought he was handsome. Maybe if he had spent more time with her those first few days, she wouldn’t have had time to fall in love with Aaron. The more he talked about his life, the more she realized that it would be easy to give her heart to someone like him.

  But she couldn’t let herself think that way. Although she didn’t want Aaron to cross over, she also didn’t want to think about how she would go on without him. The only thing to do would be to take things day by day. If she tried to think too far ahead, her skull started throbbing.

  Thomas paid for dinner after they were finished, and he gave the waiter a big tip. When he walked her outside toward another limo, he slid his arm around her waist. She really shouldn’t lead him on. Right now, her heart belonged to Aaron. In addition, Thomas deserved better. He needed a woman who would give him her whole heart. She didn’t want to be another ZoAnn.

  Before he opened the door, he gently pushed her up against the vehicle, and closed the space between them. Her heart raced, and she prayed he wouldn’t try to kiss her. She couldn’t bear to tell him that his cousin had won the girl... again.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” he said, looking deep into her eyes, “but I don’t want to take you back to Arizona yet.”

  “Where do you want to take me?”

  “To my winery, and it’s not to show you my wealth, either. I’m proud of my winery and I’ve worked hard over the years alongside my old man to make it very productive.”

  She nodded. “I’d love to see it. I’ve never been to one.”

  His smile stretched. “Great. It’s only another thirty minutes or so.”

  “That’s fine.”

  He pulled away and opened the door for her. When she climbed in the limo, she breathed a little easier. Thankfully, she wouldn’t be fighting him off if he tried to kiss her. At least not yet.

  AARON SAT BEHIND HIS desk and stared at the piece of paper in front of him. He’d started with the list Nolan had created, but Aaron went one step further and had added any possible motives the names would’ve had to want him dead.

  He came to only one conclusion... His own cousin was the only one who had anything to gain from Aaron’s death.

  Grumbling, Aaron pushed his fingers through his hair and squeezed his temples. Frustration built quickly inside of him, and he fought the urge to scream. Even though Thomas had the most to gain from Aaron’s death, Thomas was still a wealthy man in his own right. Why could Thomas have wanted him dead?

  After Aaron’s father died, Gramps had stepped in to run the winery that his father had been in charge of while Thomas and his father remained in charge of the winery in California. When he was old enough, Aaron had tried to run the winery in Arizona, but magic had become more important by then, so Gramps continued as its head. By the time the old man’s health prevented him from keeping that position, Aaron’s performances were too big for him to step away from. Thomas had stepped in to run both California and Arizona wineries.

  Several times over the past ten years, Thomas had complained to Gramps, and to Aaron, about the whole situation. He couldn’t count how many times Thomas accused him of being selfish and lazy. Then came the day when Gramps rewrote his will, giving Thomas the wineries and assigning all his billions to Aaron.

  Sighing, Aaron stood and walked to the window. Though both wineries were profitable, they paled in comparison to Gramps’ fortune. Thomas had obviously not been pleased with the outcome of the will. Even though he had said nothing to Aaron about his frustration, Aaron had seen it on his cousin’s face. Thomas was livid! But then, if roles were reversed, Aaron would have felt the same way.

  A movement from out the window caught his attention. The sun had since settled over the estate, but something flashed, catching the moon’s light. It couldn’t be Beth because she had left with Thomas, and Nolan had left for the day. Who could be on his property?

  Aaron rushed to where his surveillance monitors were set up and zeroed in on the intruder. The person wore a ski mask, hiding their face. They walked to the back door near the kitchen and with a key, opened the door and entered.


  Bunching his hands into fists, anger quickly filled Aaron. Who were these intruders he kept encountering? Why did this person have a key? What did they want?

  Aaron’s fingers struck a few more keys on the keyboard and the person’s image became larger. He swore under his breath. That was the same idiot that had been here trying to steal the props! Apparently, Aaron hadn’t been forceful enough with this jerk the last time.

  Well, he’d make sure the man knew never to come into Aaron’s house again!

  Using the secret tunnels, he crept toward the kitchen. He peered into the kitchen, trying to find where the man had gone. The cellar door was open, and Aaron knew right away what was going on. But the question still remained – why was this person trying to steal his props?

  The long cloak hanging on the wall near the secret entry caught his attention. He quickly pulled it around him and quietly entered the kitchen. Just as he’d seen the thief do before, the man was tugging on a box as he dragged it up the stairs.

  Aaron glanced around the room, looking for something to use that would be threatening, and his gaze landed on the knife block. He took careful steps toward the knives and lifted out the largest one he saw.

  The intruder continued to progress up the stairs and across the floor, making his way toward the large hallway. Aaron stepped toward him, keeping behind him so the man wouldn’t see.

  He stopped a few paces back, waiting for the man to bump into his legs. Waiting... Waiting... Aaron wouldn’t hold back this time. He prepared for the oncoming fight, willing all his energy into his strength with only one thought in his mind. He was the only person who could protect his home – ghost or not.

  TWENTY-THREE

  ELIZABETH HAD NEVER seen anything so beautiful before.

  She immediately fell in love with Thomas’ vineyard. They’d already walked through the warehouse where the grapes were turned into wine, and now they walked slowly along the rows and rows of green vines producing purple grapes. The vegetation was so lush, and the scent of the fruitful berries filled the air around her.