Next Door to the Billionaire

by Remi Carrington

  Stretched out on the bed, he waited while it rang and rang. When her voice mail picked up, he tossed the phone aside. Had she changed her mind? His phone rang, and he answered without even glancing at the caller.

  “Hello.”

  “Tanner? Why haven’t you called me or answered my texts. I know I messed up, but you are being so harsh. We really need to set a date and start planning.” Angela seemed detached from reality.

  Anger upped his heart rate, and he didn’t bother to mask his frustration. “We are not getting married, Angela.” He had more to say, but when Livvy’s call beeped in, he wrapped up the conversation. “Don’t call me anymore.” He ended Angela’s call and accepted the other one. “Livvy, hey.” He made sure Livvy didn’t hear even a hint of his aggravation.

  “Sorry I didn’t answer in time. My hands were all wet.” She sounded chipper. “How was your day?”

  “Long, but productive. What about you?”

  “Good. Spent most of the day studying and cooking, but tonight’s dinner was easy.”

  “What did I miss?”

  “I made tacos.”

  His mouth watered thinking about it. “Maybe that can be my first lesson. How to make tacos.”

  “You’re really serious about cooking lessons?”

  “Only if you are teaching them.”

  A soft giggle could be heard from her end of the line. “What do you like to do? When no one else is around, how do you spend your time?”

  “Oh, are we playing truth or dare again?”

  “Never mind. I was just making conversation.”

  “When I’m at the house, I read a book or play video games. Sometimes I watch tv. Out at the cabin, I like to fish.”

  “I’ve never been fishing.”

  “Maybe I could give you a fishing lesson.”

  “Would you have to put your arms around me to show me how to hold the fishing pole?”

  He laughed. “Of course.”

  Her answer surprised him. “I’ll probably need several lessons.”

  That didn’t sound like she wanted to stay in the friend zone.

  For over an hour they chatted, interrupted only when room service arrived with his dinner.

  When he hung up, he sent her a text: Talking to you was the bright spot in my day. Until tomorrow night.

  Perhaps the timing of his trip wasn’t so bad after all.

  After talking every night, Tanner hoped Livvy would offer to pick him up from the airport, but it was Milo that waited for him outside baggage claim.

  “Hey, boss. Sorry you didn’t get a better offer.” Milo loaded the bag into the trunk. He’d been driving for Tanner for years, long before Milo had come into his own money. But he continued driving and calling Tanner boss.

  “You and me both. We talked every night this week. Maybe it scared her a bit.”

  “Or maybe she and Nellie are busy working on table assignments for the big day—you know—Nellie’s wedding.”

  “Oh, right.” Tanner hadn’t even thought that Livvy might be busy.

  Milo laughed. “You sound so surprised. Your friend called me and apologized that she couldn’t make it. I assured her it wasn’t a problem—for me.”

  “Any advice?”

  “From me? I haven’t been on a date in three years.”

  “I want your advice.”

  “Marry her. I’ve never seen you like this.” There wasn’t a hint of tease in Milo’s statement.

  “I was thinking more short-term.”

  “That is my short-term advice.” Milo pulled out of the lot, laughing.

  Tanner wondered what her answer would be. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  When Milo pulled up in front of the house, Tanner asked, “You want to come in for a bit?”

  “No, thanks. The girls will be done with school soon, and I’d like to be the one that picks them up.”

  “In this?”

  “A limo in that pick-up line? No way.”

  “Thanks again, Milo.” Tanner laughed and closed the door.

  Milo rolled down the window. “Don’t forget my advice.”

  “I’m not sure that’s possible.” Tanner probably wouldn’t stop thinking about it any time soon.

  After changing into shorts and a t-shirt, he headed next door. The Maserati sat in his driveway, and the Jeep was parked at Nellie’s. It all pointed to Livvy being there.

  He knocked as he opened the door. “Anybody home?”

  Livvy peeked out of the kitchen. “Hey.”

  “Have a good week?”

  “Yep. You?” Her clipped response contrasted with the long phone conversations they’d had all week.

  “It was productive.” Tanner followed her to the counter. “What are you making?”

  “Chili. A recipe from a friend of a friend. It has chorizo in it.”

  “Yum.” He didn’t miss the fact that whenever he stepped close to her, she moved away. “Be right back.”

  In the living room, wanting things to be like they were, he dialed her number.

  “Tanner?” She sounded confused.

  He dropped onto the sofa, forcing himself not to turn around as footsteps sounded behind him. “Thought it might be easier if we talked like this.”

  She hung up.

  Unwilling to give up his attempt at humor he texted her: Or like this?

  “You really aren’t funny.” She sat down next him, and her teasing smile had him silently cheering victory.

  He stuck his phone in his pocket. “It’s been fun getting to know you better this week. Maybe we could continue chatting on the phone at night.”

  “You live right next door.”

  “Then, if you’d rather, we could sit out on the back patio with our feet in the pool.”

  “You can call me—if you want.” She jumped up. “If you haven’t changed your mind about having dinner with my mom, would Friday night work? In a week, not tomorrow.”

  “I’ll be there in jeans and driving my truck.”

  “I’ll text you the details. Oh, and Tanner, I’m paying.” She bolted out of the room before he could argue.

  Letting her pay would be hard. He wanted her to be able to save for school and a replacement car, but she’d made it abundantly clear that she didn’t want his money.

  He wandered back into the kitchen. “What can I do to help?”

  “Nothing.” She patted his chest and smiled.

  He could get used to that. “After dinner, maybe we could watch Sabrina or Roman Holiday.” Searching up a list of Audrey Hepburn movies would hopefully come to good use.

  Livvy wiped her hands on a dishtowel. “Maybe.”

  By the time the kitchen was clean after dinner, she’d changed her answer to yes. Inviting Nellie and Coop to watch the movie may have helped sway her decision.

  That night he made two bowls of popcorn—one for Nellie and Coop to share, the other for Livvy to share with Tanner.

  After the movie, when he crawled into bed, he called her.

  She answered on the first ring. “Hi.”

  “You and Snuffy snug in bed?”

  Shuffling could be heard on her end of the line. “Almost.”

  Tanner waited until she was still. “Tell me about your dad. What was he like?”

  Their call lasted until late into the night.

  Tanner parked outside the restaurant and waited in his truck until Livvy pulled in. Between wedding prep and work, they’d seen very little of each other during the week, but the nighttime calls had continued. He’d suggested they ride to dinner together, but she’d insisted on taking separate vehicles, so they weren’t seen arriving or leaving together.

  He was looking forward to meeting Ms. Campbell and very curious because Livvy had said very little about her mom.

  When Livvy hopped down out of the Jeep, he counted to ten before getting out. She was already inside by the time he made it to the door. So far, he’d kept to all her rules. The smile he glimpsed as he pushed open the doo
r made it all worth it.

  Her mother wasn’t at all what he expected. Much taller than Livvy with flaming red hair and bright green eyes, Ms. Campbell commanded attention.

  She threw her arms open as Tanner walked up. “You must be the Good Samaritan!”

  He nodded. “I’m Tanner. It’s nice to meet you Ms—”

  “Call me Ollie!” She wrapped him in a hug then patted his cheek. “A handsome hero to boot. Livvy didn’t mention that.”

  It took great will-power not to glance over to see what Livvy thought of that comment. Instead, he just laughed. “I’m not sure about that.”

  The hostess returned to the podium and reached for menus. “How many?”

  “Three,” Livvy said.

  “Actually, four. Leroy is on his way.” Ollie flashed a grin. “He’s missed you.”

  Tanner stepped closer to Livvy when her body tensed, but he was careful not to touch her. “The more the merrier.”

  He stayed behind Livvy as they followed the hostess to a table. Ollie chose a seat, and Tanner pulled out a chair for Livvy, arranging it so that she had her mom on one side and Tanner on the other.

  “So polite. Tell me, Tanner. What do you do?” Ollie asked from behind her menu.

  He shot Livvy a side glance, hoping the questions didn’t add to her tension. “I’m in real estate and property management.”

  “How interesting.” Ollie waved her hand, motioning someone toward the table. “Leroy, you made it. This is Tanner.”

  Leroy dropped into the last seat at the table, eyeing Livvy. “You gave your mom a scare moving out the way you did.”

  Ollie swatted his arm. “Be nice. Tanner is the guy that came to Livvy’s rescue when she crashed her bike years ago. You remember me telling you about that.”

  “I don’t.” He ignored Tanner, still focused on Livvy. “You moving back in soon?”

  “What do you do, sir?” Tanner jumped into the conversation, hoping to steer it away from Livvy.

  Finally, Leroy acknowledged Tanner’s presence with a look. “I’m an electrician.”

  The waitress saved them all from minutes of awkward silence and invented conversation starters from Ollie. “What can I get y’all?”

  Everyone rattled off their orders, and Tanner prayed dinner would go quickly. He wanted Livvy far away from that man.

  Ollie talked through most of the meal, but Tanner was grateful for it. Leroy behaved himself, though he spent too much time looking at Livvy.

  At the end of dinner, Tanner clenched his fists under the table, forcing himself not to reach for the check, then breathed a sigh of relief as everyone made their way outside.

  He lingered near Livvy as the group said their goodbyes in the parking lot. Acting like he had no interest in seeing her again was more difficult than he’d imagined possible.

  “It was so nice to meet you, Ollie and Leroy. Livvy, it was good to see you again.” He shook hands with everyone but wouldn’t leave until Livvy was safely in the Jeep. “Parking lot is dark. I can walk you to your car.”

  “Thanks.” After hugging her mom, Livvy kept pace next to Tanner.

  Standing beside the Jeep, he whispered, “Let Leroy leave first. Just in case. Please.”

  “I wish I’d just ridden with you.” She scanned the parking lot. “That man creeps me out. Maybe it’s just me. Mom doesn’t seem bothered by his behavior.”

  “Look at me, Livvy.”

  Brown eyes caught the light from the parking lot lamps as she peered up at him.

  “Trust your gut. I agree with you.” He tapped the side of the Jeep as Ollie and Leroy left the lot. “Get in. I’ll ride shot gun.”

  Livvy stepped closer. “What about your truck?”

  “I’ll get a ride back over.”

  “That’s silly. I’ll be fine.” The look in her eye warned him to let it drop.

  “All right, then. Thanks for dinner.” He climbed into the truck and started the engine. Letting her pay for dinner was a challenge he almost failed.

  The Jeep didn’t move, so he stayed parked, checking his phone and waiting until she pulled out. His phone rang.

  “You might as well talk to me while I drive. I hope tonight wasn’t too weird. I’m really glad you came.”

  “I’m guessing you favored your dad.”

  Laughter bubbled from her end of the line. “Ya think?”

  “Tonight was fun and insightful.”

  “Uh-oh. Insightful? That doesn’t sound good.”

  It was Tanner’s turn to laugh, but he didn’t offer any other explanation. “I’m finally going to be able to work at the cabin next weekend, not tomorrow, but you know what I mean. I had a crew out this past week to repair the roof and windows.”

  “Need help?”

  “Sure. That’d be great. Maybe we can squeeze in a fishing lesson.” He hadn’t expected her to volunteer, but it thrilled him and meant he didn’t have to ask. But, he didn’t want to wait over a week to spend time with her again. “Mind shopping with me sometime? I need a new couch and mattress. We could do that Saturday.”

  “You mean tomorrow?”

  “Oh, yeah. This week has flown by.”

  “I’d be happy to.”

  Several seconds passed, and neither spoke a word.

  Livvy broke the silence. “Thanks for going tonight. I didn’t expect Leroy to show up.”

  “Thanks for inviting me.” He drove into the neighborhood and watched her park in Nellie’s driveway. “I’ll just call you tomorrow morning then?”

  Jostling filled the quiet as she slid out of the Jeep. “Yeah.”

  He couldn’t wait.

  Saturday at nine, he called Livvy. “What time is good for you today?”

  “I can be ready in two minutes.”

  “Great. I’ll head that way.” He ran across the yard to Nellie’s and knocked.

  His sister opened the door, and her grin made him brace for a ribbing.

  Tanner opted to meet it head on. “Just say it.”

  “She’s helping you with the cabin?” Nellie leaned against the doorframe and crossed her arms.

  “She offered.”

  “Coop and I are happy to help. What time should we go out there?”

  Tanner scratched his head before shoving his hands in his pockets, trying to figure out a diplomatic way of declining the offer. “The cabin is pretty small, so if y’all showed up, it’d be crowded.”

  “She doesn’t know that no one goes out to the cabin, does she? I mean, other than to get you when you’re stranded.”

  “It never came up.” He shook his head. “And I don’t expect there is any reason it should come up.” Details like that could scare Livvy off.

  She laughed. “She’s ruined your private hideaway.”

  “If she ever walks out of my life, then it will be ruined.”

  Nellie sobered. “I hope that’s never the case. I really like her.”

  “Me too.” He glanced up as Livvy walked to the door.

  How much had she heard?

  “Hey.” She smiled and hooked her purse on her shoulder.

  Nellie stepped to the side. “Don’t work too hard.”

  “We’re just shopping today.” Tanner held his hand out and smiled when Livvy intertwined her fingers with his. Things were definitely inching out of the friend zone.

  When they got to the truck, he opened the door and helped her in.

  “Where are we going to shop for your private hideaway?” She’d heard enough.

  “A furniture store? I don’t know.”

  “Where did you get the last couch?”

  “At a garage sale.” He laughed at her expression. “Does that surprise you?”

  “Yes.” She buckled her seatbelt. “I guess we’ll stop at the first one we see.”

  “Garage sale or store?” He’d looked up a list of places and already had a destination in mind.

  She rolled her eyes. “What kind of couch do you want?”

  “One lon
g enough to sleep on, you know, in case I have company at the cabin and give up my bed.”

  Her cheeks turned a bright red. “I could’ve slept on the sofa.”

  “Not a chance.”

  In the first store, Livvy walked around shaking her head. “None of these look like they belong at your place.”

  “Off to the next store.” He pushed the door open for her.

  In the truck, they’d barely made it out of the parking lot when she asked, “Had you and Angela set a date?”

  “You didn’t ask truth or dare.”

  She shot him a look that said she wasn’t amused.

  “We hadn’t set a date. I think secretly we were both hoping it wouldn’t happen.” It was a somewhat uncomfortable topic.

  “If you’d rather not talk about it . . .”

  “You can ask me anything.”

  “If Coop hadn’t showed up—never mind.” She crossed her arms and stared out the window.

  Tanner’s thoughts jumped back to that night. “Livvy, when we kissed—”

  “There’s a furniture store. Maybe they’ll have something.” She clearly wanted to drop the subject.

  Once they were in the store, Tanner happily followed her around.

  She walked circles around a leather sofa. “Lay down.”

  “Excuse me?” He felt like he’d missed something.

  “How will we know if you fit, if you don’t try it out?” She raised her eyebrows.

  He stretched out but had to roll to his side and bend his knees to fit. “It’s too short.”

  “Or you’re too tall.”

  He stood up and crowded her personal space. “Am I?”

  She looked him over from head to toe, a gleam in her eye. “You might be handy to have around at the grocery store—you know—to reach the top shelf.”

  “You have my number.”

  She grabbed his hand. “Let’s go.”

  He had no complaints about being led out of the store.

  The day continued with questions and banter, giving Tanner hope that their friendship was growing into more.

  In the fifth store they visited, when she spotted the denim couch, she grabbed his hand again and dragged him across the showroom. “Try this one.”