The Billionaire's Family Secret (Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove Book 15)

by Danni Lee Nicholls

  Leah breathed easier. “No.”

  “And I’m not telling him about Trev.” Paige paused. “It’s the diamond ring that threw me. I don’t remember ever getting something from a guy when he didn’t expect something back, especially when …” Her voice trailed off.

  “When we come from nothing?” Leah finished her sister’s sentence.

  Paige’s voice was soft. “Right.”

  There it was. The truth that colored every family dynamic. She skittered away from it. “You need to trust me,” Leah replied. “Someday, I’ll tell you the whole story.”

  Paige sighed. “I honestly hope it works out for you to fall in love. I know my life sounds hectic with Jonathan and the twins, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love them all so much.”

  The familiar desire, wistful and sweet, rose up in Leah. What would it be like to settle next to a man at night with the children of your making in the next room, the soft breath of sleep bedding down as a faithful companion? Or having a child sick with fever whose only comfort came from his parents? Chaotic, yes. But also heartwarming in its circle of love. Paige’s life was a testimony to that very thing. These ideas had never crossed Leah’s mind with Justin. “Thanks, sis. I don’t know where this is going with Trev. Probably nowhere.” The clenching possibility tore at Leah. “But I’m going to find out.”

  “I’ll help any way I can,” Paige replied. “And please, bring him to dinner. I want to meet him.” A muffled cry of a child came over the phone. Paige sighed. “I knew an hour was too much to ask. I’ll have to settle for fifteen minutes.” She changed the subject. “Keep me posted on how things go,” she said. “And don’t forget, I love you.”

  “Love you too, sis.”

  The phone clicked off, leaving an oppressive silence in the place of Paige’s voice. Leah didn’t like what her sister had said, but it made her face the truth. She was falling in love with Trev Michaels, and with that love came unbound hope. Nothing mattered except the growing possibilities between them. Her father’s disapproval, the financial disparity, the complication of the ring, and her desire to become a doctor could all be conquered if they both truly wanted this to work.

  Again, she searched her pocket. The ring, hard and sharp, grazed against her fingers. She pulled it out and studied it. Its presence gave her proof that everything that had happened between her and Trev was real.

  She wished she could tell Paige the story of Desiree and the meaning behind the ring, but some things needed to be kept sacred, just between her and Trev. After all, Trev had chosen her. It humbled her to know that he trusted her with his burden of Desiree’s death, and by sharing it, Leah hoped the strain of it lessened.

  She’d chosen him, too and with that choice came frightening vulnerability. But instead of fear, she was surprised by joy. Trev accepted her narrative. He stood with her against its pain, and in his presence, the power of it had diminished, clearing a way for a future she never dreamed possible.

  Chapter 14

  Leah let up on the gas as she wound her way through the curves on the mountain roads. The sun was already up, the morning shadows chasing her on her way to The Cove. She let up on the gas again. She didn’t want to get a ticket on these winding roads, or worse, end up down a gulch because of her impatient excitement to see Trev. The speed limit would get her there in plenty of time and in one piece.

  Twenty minutes later, she pulled up to the gate, where she was confronted by Elton, but even his surly attitude couldn’t diminish her delight. In just a few minutes, she’d be in Trev’s arms.

  Once she parked in his drive, she hurried to the front door. Breathlessly, she greeted Sanders, who smiled without meeting her eyes.

  Leah furrowed her brow. “What is it, Sanders?”

  Sanders leaned in. “They have a surprise for you in the breakfast room, miss. Don’t tell them I told you.”

  Leah took in the aroma of paper that accompanied Sanders as their eyes met, his smile wide and merry. She broke out into a knowing grin. Just when things couldn’t get any better, they did. Putting her fingers to her lips, she whispered, “I won’t say a word. Thanks for letting me know.”

  Anticipation grew with each step as she made her way to the breakfast room. The warming lake breeze from the open window greeted her first, but Trev’s presence riveted her attention.

  Already, she was pleasantly surprised. “Trev. We usually don’t see you at breakfast.”

  Trev stood and kissed on her cheek. “I know, but things are different today. I’ve taken most of the day off. I thought you and I could go to town and spend some time together.”

  Leah placed her hand on her cheek where Trev had kissed her. She couldn’t stop smiling, but leaving Trev’s parents was out of the question. She toned down her smile. “I’d love to go, but I can’t leave your folks alone.”

  “That’s all been taken care of.” Rebecca motioned for Leah to take a seat. “We’re having an agency girl come in for the afternoon and evening. She’ll see to everything while the two of you are away.” She squeezed Trev’s hand. “You both need some time off, and spending it together is the best thing. It’d please Paul and me tremendously if the two of you would go off and enjoy yourselves for a few hours.”

  “What do you say?” Trev asked.

  Spending an afternoon alone with Trev? The possibility thrilled her. “I’d love it.”

  “Great,” Trev said. “I’ve got the agency girl coming in at eleven. So, after Mom and Dad get cleaned up and are ready for lunch, we should be able to take off. How does that sound?”

  “Like my fondest wish has been granted.” Leah grinned.

  “Then it’s settled,” Rebecca said.

  Trev moved toward the door. “I’ve got some preparation work I’ve got to do for a conference call with the Colorado management and a tenant that’s scheduled for ten. After that, I’m all yours.”

  Leah’s spine tingled. Trev would be all hers for one full day. It was more than she’d hoped for.

  “Why don’t the three of us go for a walk before the sun beats us to the garden?” Rebecca suggested.

  The three of them stood. Leah’s eyes followed Trev, who gave her a sideways wink, making her knees go weak as he hurried away.

  Leah sat in the Beamer, with the top down as the car sliced through the air like a hot knife through butter. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against the back of the seat. The weight of Trev’s hand on her thigh kept her secured to earth, while the touch of the tender skin on the back of his neck below her fingertips thrilled her with pleasure. The wind brushed his hair against the back of her hand, tickling her wrist.

  “Tell me about your sister, Paige, and her family,” Trev said.

  Leah’s eyes popped open, the earlier enchantment draining from her. She’d waited to tell Trev about Paige’s invitation—hoping that if she didn’t give him enough time to plan, he’d already have a prior engagement. But as they’d pulled out of The Cove, she’d timidly approached him about the dinner date, and Trev had readily accepted. She sat up at attention as she scrambled for the right thing to say. “Paige and Jonathan have been married five years, and they have twin boys, Hunter and Hudson. They’re two years old and keep Paige busy.” She hedged. “Paige and Jonathan make a good team.”

  “What does Jonathan do?” Trev edged the Beamer into a corner before pushing on the gas.

  Inferiority overcame Leah. Her family would never be able to match Trev’s wealth. “Construction. He owns his own business. He’s just starting out, so it’s tough right now.”

  “My grandfather started our real estate business. Sometimes, it can take generations for a business to grow.”

  Leah appreciated Trev’s understanding, but she preferred not to talk about her family. If she didn’t change the subject, Trev might start asking about her parents. She traced her finger down Trev’s arm, eventually entwining her fingers through his. “Do you come into town often?”

  Trev shrugged. “Not really
. Not since …” He hesitated. “Not since Desiree died.”

  “Well, I’m glad we’re here together today.” Leah breathed an inner sigh of relief. Eureka Springs offered a thousand distractions. There wouldn’t be any need to discuss her family for the rest of the afternoon.

  Trev geared down the BMW as they arrived in town and parked. Together, they walked through the crowd of town visitors. Leah reveled in the contentment of belonging she and Trev were beginning to share. This must be what Paige felt whenever she went somewhere with Jonathan and the twins, and this is what Leah had been missing. But not anymore. The world looked less lonely from her position on Trev’s arm, and everything was bright and cheerful.

  After window shopping for several minutes, they ducked into Le Chapeau, Hats and Haberdashery on Spring Street, where they tried on many hats, laughing with each one.

  Agnes, the shopkeeper, joined them. “May I?” she asked with her French lilt.

  Leah nodded with curiosity. “Yes, of course.”

  Agnes made a few adjustments. When the shop owner was finished, Trev and Leah stepped in front of a mirror. Leah gasped. The hats ceased to look comical and instead took on an air of sophistication, bringing out Trev’s strong jawline and perfect nose. Leah also transformed under the tutelage of Agnes. With a simple cashmere navy beret, her gray eyes stared back at her from the mirror with new sparkle, and her cheekbones were softly defined, giving her face a new shape.

  “Oh my,” Agnes said in her breathless French accent. “That’s the hat for you.”

  “I agree.” Trev nodded enthusiastically. “How much?”

  Leah opened her mouth to raise a protest, but before she could say a word, Agnes expertly removed the hat and led Trev to the counter, where he plunked down his credit card. A young man took the hat into the back and came out with it beautifully boxed. Through it all, Leah stood, speechless. No one had ever spent a hundred dollars on her before, much less for a hat.

  Once they were back on the sidewalk, Leah found her voice as Trev handed her the box, a grin on his face. “Trev, I can’t take this. It’s lovely, but the money …”

  Trev furrowed his brow. “Nonsense. Hasn’t anyone ever given you a gift before?”

  “Yes,” Leah stuttered. “But not one costing a hundred dollars on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon.” She swallowed as she recalled the diamond, sapphire, and gold that sat in an ice cube in the freezer so she could keep it safe. “I’m still not sure about the ring.” The heat of discomfort prickled her neck.

  Trev laughed. “If you’re going to spend any time with me, you’d better get used to gifts of all shapes and sizes. This hat looks lovely on you, and I hope you’ll wear it to school every day come this fall.”

  Leah took in an expanding inhalation, allowing herself to accept Trev’s gift in spite of her discomfort. “I’ll do my best to get used to this, and I promise I’ll wear it to school. It’ll be perfect for those cool fall days.”

  Trev took the box from Leah and tucked it under his arm. “Thank you for the privilege of giving you this hat. I’ll take a lot of pleasure in seeing you wear it.”

  Leah smiled with optimism. Already, Trev was making plans for them to be together in the fall.

  Trev grinned before changing the subject. “Now, are you hungry?” he asked. “Can I talk you into an early dinner?”

  Her stomach puckered at the mention of food. “I just realized it, but I’m famished.”

  He winked at her. “I know just the place.” Grabbing Leah’s hand, they hurried to the Grand Tavern on North Main.

  Arriving in the lobby, Leah gasped, trying to keep her astonishment to herself as they walked into the restaurant with its rich wood floors and black tablecloths. She’d been raised in Eureka Springs and never set foot in such a place as this.

  The host smiled at Trev. “Mr. Michaels. We haven’t seen you in ages. Welcome back.”

  “Happy to be here,” Trev replied.

  Tucking Leah’s arm around his, Trev brought her fingers to his lips and gently kissed them. Leah took comfort until the host led them through the restaurant filled with patrons. Navigating chairs and tables, her head grew light as the warmth of Trev’s palm enfolded hers, and she was glad he held her close. She needed all of her faculties so she wouldn’t do anything stupid. Especially since the general buzz of the room came to a stop as she and Trev made their way to their table. Forks froze in midair as the women who held them gaped at Trev and then glanced at her with nothing short of envy.

  Leah threw a quick glance toward Trev, who seemed oblivious to the attention. She hugged his side until the host brought them to their booth, a private seat tucked in the corner, away from the crowd.

  Once settled, Leah took a deep breath. The dizziness over her surroundings retreated as the waiter placed on the table a basket of fragrant sourdough bread and golden butter before placing her napkin in her lap and handing her a menu.

  Trev leaned over the table. “Their Scottish salmon with pistachio butter is the best.”

  Scottish salmon with pistachio butter? Her idea of a menu included several different ways to make a burger and fries. The familiar shame churning in her stomach kept her silent. She didn’t even want to look at the entrées and the prices, and instead she would take Trev’s suggestion and order the salmon.

  Putting down the menu, she placed her hands in her lap, twisting the napkin as she watched Trev. Surrounded by this rich décor, tantalizing food, and admiring patrons, he was obviously in his element. He reached into the bread basket and pulled off a piece of sourdough before buttering it and placing it on Leah’s small plate. “You’ll love this.”

  Leah said nothing as she picked up the bread; the rich smell of sourdough mingled with melting butter, making her mouth water. The pillow-soft bread with the flaky, chewy crust invited her to try another piece. It was the best thing she’d ever tasted.

  “They make it here, and you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.”

  Leah gratefully chewed on the bread, the soft butter melting on her tongue. If she kept busy with the food, she wouldn’t have to say anything and expose her ignorance.

  “Are you all right?” Trev asked. “If you don’t like it, we can go someplace else.”

  “No! It’s lovely,” Leah replied, although she wished to be sitting in the Filling Station with their ten-dollar omelets and cheaper pancakes, but she didn’t want to walk the floor through all of those people again.

  As Trev reached across the table for her hand, his eyes turned serious. Leah quit twisting the napkin and took his fingers into her own, gazing into his lake-blue eyes.

  He squeezed her hand. “If you’re going to spend time with me, there’ll be some new experiences.”

  Leah swallowed her bite of bread. There wasn’t any hiding from Trev. He read her inadequacy perfectly. “You mean like the gift you bought and restaurants like this.”

  Trev nodded. “This is just the beginning.”

  Leah tried to settle her racing thoughts. “I’ve just never eaten …” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t want to explain that her family’s idea of a night out was sitting on the back patio while her father grilled hot dogs. She changed the direction of the conversation. “How do you know this place?” It was a stupid question, but if she kept Trev talking, maybe she’d be able to ease out of her confused humiliation and into this high-end restaurant, the meal, and Trev’s company.

  “Desiree loved this place.”

  Leah was grateful for something to think about besides her own discomfort and embarrassment. “Did the two of you eat here often?”

  “Yes. At least weekly. I haven’t been here since she …”

  Leah placed her hand over Trev’s. She’d been so worried about her own raw insecurity that she didn’t bother to consider Trev’s feelings. Empathy pulled her away from her own concerns, softening her. “It’s okay to say it.”

  His words came out in a rush. “I haven’t been here since she died.”


  Leah squeezed Trev’s fingers as new comfort lit up the darker corners of her anxiety. “If you’re going to spend time with me, you’ll have some new experiences.” Leah smiled. “And one of them is being able to talk about anything.”

  Trev remained serious. “It’s just that I’ve never talked about Desiree.”

  “And I’ve never eaten in a restaurant like this.” The confession exposed her, but her vulnerability didn’t leave her humiliated this time. She didn’t come to this table empty-handed, and her gift was as valuable as Trev’s money.

  “Well, then, I guess we both have new things to learn.”

  Leah took a deep breath. “I’m willing if you are.”

  After the waiter took their order, Leah returned to the topic of Desiree. “It’s better for you to remember her.”

  Trev focused on the table. “I tried hard to forget everything, until you came along. She’s the secret in our family. It’s as if she lives in the walls of that house and no one wants to acknowledge her.” His face contorted with misery. “Me least of all.” He looked up at Leah. “But with you here, it feels safe to think about her and even talk about her a little. It’s such a relief, like uncovering a wound that’s been bandaged too long.”

  The waiter returned with their plates but Leah hardly saw him. She focused on Trev. Opening his soul made her feel useful. It closed the distance of poverty and wealth between them, putting them on equal footing. Well, not entirely. Leah had her own hidden realities, and with Trev’s earlier questions about her family, their shadow loomed over her.

  The food in her mouth turned bland as she considered how to tell Trev about her family and their poverty. Words deserted her. She didn’t want to rip herself from this fairy tale.

  After the meal, she and Trev strolled arm in arm back to the Beamer. Leah took in the glowing evening as the afternoon began its golden slide into twilight. Everyone around them was cheerful and enjoying themselves, but she was sure no one was as much in love as she. She wished to give it away so everyone could experience the same joy that had entered her life with Trev’s love. This truly was a fairy tale with Leah’s own personal Prince Charming.