“No, I don’t. And I’m getting a headache trying to figure this out. You seem almost normal. I mean, this is a small town in southern Alabama for Pete’s sake. You coach my son’s t-ball team. You shared a plate of nachos with me at a soda shop called Give Me Sugar.”
“See? I’m just a normal guy.”
“Being a billionaire is not normal.” Then Charlotte looked around at the street they were driving down. “Hey, where are we going?”
Nate clenched his jaw. “I want to show you who I am, aside from the money you’re freaking out over.”
They were silent for the twenty minutes it took Nate to drive out to Pointer’s Bend, a small neighborhood on the outskirts of town. It hugged a sluggish river that gleamed silver in the moonlight. Nate’s headlights shone on a dilapidated yellow trailer with plywood over all the windows. Creeping vines enveloped it at one end, but the rest of the property had been recently mowed.
“This is where I grew up,” Nate said. He did his best to keep his voice even, but it was deeper than usual.
“Oh.” Charlotte said.
“I own the lot now. I keep it because I couldn’t stand for anyone else to live here.” He turned and looked at her until she turned and met his eyes. “I wasn’t unhappy here.”
“You’ve mentioned your parents. They still live in town, right?”
“Yeah, but they’re touring the country in an RV right now so I haven’t seen them outside of video chats since March. When they’re not roaming around enjoying their retirement, they live in the lake house I bought them not far from here.”
“That’s nice. I’m not close to my mom, and my dad disappeared years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah. I think that’s why I rushed into marriage with Daniel. I just wanted to be loved by someone.”
Nate’s heart lurched at the thought of all the hurts she must have endured to put that somber tone in her voice. “We all do. We just don’t always know it.” He looked through the windshield at what had once been his home, and reached for Charlotte’s hand.s “I grew up in a family where one pay check didn’t stretch till the next. I only got milk and juice growing up because my mom got government assistance. It didn’t bother me much until I was older and realized the strain it was putting on my parents. I was determined that someday I’d make sure life was easy for them.”
“I guess you succeeded.”
“In some ways. But like you said, money doesn’t solve all your problems. You see, I got caught up in the business world. I’m good at it.”
“Obviously.”
Nate flashed her a smile, then continued. “But I wasn’t happy. Somehow, I’d lost sight of what made me happy when I was a kid.”
“So you came back here?”
“Yeah. In Florida, I own a house that’s bigger than the high school here. My garage has a Lamborghini in it, just like you hoped.”
“I didn’t—”
“And a Masserati, and a Bentley, and two limos—”
“But you like your truck.”
“You get what I’m saying?”
Charlotte turned, angling her legs toward him. “Yeah. This is home.”
“Exactly. And I was satisfied with it for a while.”
“But not anymore?”
Nate smiled and gripped her hand tighter. “Let’s just say that coming home was a good start.” Then, untangling his fingers from hers, he put the truck in reverse. “Now, what do you say we head back to your place before Jill digs up anything else incriminating about me?”
Chapter Eleven
Charlotte still wasn’t sure how to deal with the fact that Nate was a billionaire. How many billionaires coached t-ball and helped with lawn work? Just one, she was sure. If only the man would have been cold and spoiled like other rich men she’d known, she’d have had a much easier time controlling her wayward emotions around him.
One awesome, not confusing development from their date was her new friendship with Millie at Give Me Sugar. When Charlotte took Jill and Taylor there on Saturday for ice cream, she offered to let Charlotte put a large flier about the salon on her front window. She’d already been telling every woman who came in that Charlotte was taking appointments. Millie was better than any advertising she could have paid for.
Her first customer on Monday morning was Delynn, who was pleased as punch about having bragging rights over Misty who couldn’t come in till her lunch break. Delynn wanted a new style and a root touch-up.
As Charlotte combed through Delynn’s freshly shampooed hair, Delynn said, “So I heard you and Nate went to dinner after practice the other night.”
Charlotte nearly groaned. The last thing she wanted to do was discuss that crazy night with Delynn. “We just grahbbed some nachos.”
“So it’s true? Justine is sure going to ave her panties in a twist. Is he as good of a kisser as I’ve always imagined?
Charlotte blushed hotly. “I…I wouldn’t know. We just ate dinner and talked.”
“What? I wouldn’t have let him get away so easily. He’d have had my tongue down his throat before we left my driveway. In fact, one time I was on a date with Sam Little and we never did leave the driveway. Keep it simple, that’s what I always say.”
Charlotte couldn’t help but chuckle. As awkward as this conversation was, Delynn was so brilliantly shocking, you couldn’t help but get a kick out of her. “That was probably the furthest thing from Nate’s mind.”
Delynn roared with laughter. So much so that she bent forward and Charlotte had to ease her back into position and comb her hair back into place so she could cut it evenly. Finally, Delynn said, “Guys always have that on their mind. You should know. You’ve been around the block.”
Charlotte reflected that her short marriage with Daniel did not give her the experience Delynn seemed to think it did. “Well, regardless, you can tell people the rumors aren’t true. We aren’t going to date anymore.”
“Why not, honey? There ain’t a thing wrong with that man his money won’t make up for.”
Laughing despite herself, Charlotte said, “Except that his money is the problem.”
“Say what?”
“It complicates everything.”
Delynn shook her head, making Charlotte want to sigh in frustration. It was going to take forever to finish this lady’s hair.
“In my experience, it’s a lack of money that complicates things. My life would be about perfect if there was more lettuce in the salad bowl, if you know what I mean.”
“I do.” Charlotte would love to have more money. But she wasn’t willing to give up her happiness for it. She was going to be sure that never happened again. “Are you wanting layers?”
“Who doesn’t want layers?”
Charlotte shrugged and got to work.
Delynn ended up loving her hair. She tipped Charlotte generously and booked an appointment for six weeks later. “Because I don’t want to take a chance of not getting back in. This is going to save me gas money and time driving into Mobile for a haircut.”
Clients flew by and soon Charlotte was rubbing her stiff neck as she dumped a dustpan full of hair into the trashcan for the last time that day. Behind her, she heard the door open, and she turned to see who it was. An older woman in her late fifties stood in the doorway with a fierce expression on her face and a smoking cigarette between her fingers. It was Betsy George, the owner of Cut and Curl. She looked even less friendly than the first time Charlotte had seen her.
“Hello,” Charlotte said, hesitantly. “I’m closing up for the day.”
“Fancy,” Betsy said, looking around. But there was so much dry sarcasm in her voice, Charlotte knew she’d just been insulted.
Confused, but refusing to be pulled into a confrontation with a stranger, she answered calmly. “Thank you. I’ve worked hard on it.”
Betsy gave a sharp cackle. “Yeah. On your back.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“The whole town knows Nate Haverton
paid for this place. Pretty easy to open a place like this with a rich guy bankrolling you.”
“I don’t care for your insinuations. You need to go.”
“Afraid to let the competition check you out?”
“No, but I don’t have to be insulted on my own property. I’ve asked you to leave. Please do so.”
“I don’t take orders from hussies. Especially ones that steal my business and my niece’s man.”
Charlotte gasped and scrunched up her eyebrows in confusion. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“You know what I’m talking about.”
Desperately trying to hold on to her temper, Charlotte gritted her teeth. “I have no idea, actually. Enlighten me.”
“Nate Haverton. You’re trying to come between Justine and Nate Haverton.”
“Justine is your niece?”
Betsy smiled, as if satisfied at Charlotte’s reaction. “Now you know what I’m talking about.”
“Not particularly. You’re completely off-base about me and Nate, and even more so about Nate and Justine. If she told you otherwise, she was lying through her teeth.”
Betsy snarled and flicked the ash from her cigarette all over the floor.
“Hey, don’t do that,” Charlotte cried out. “Get that thing out of here before I call the police.”
She gave a harsh laugh, thick with years of nicotine buildup in her throat and took a drag on her cigarette. “My son is the cop. Have fun with that.”
Enraged, but off-balance from this information, Charlotte wondered if he would lock her up for dragging his mom off the property by her matted, orange hair.
But then the door opened, and Nate stepped in behind Betsy. “Hey, Charlotte. I came to see how your first day went.”
As he eyed Betsy, who was hunched up like an angry cat, Charlotte said, “It just took a turn for the worse.”
Nate calmly reached out and removed the smoking cigarette from Betsy’s hand.
“Hey. Give that back,” she cried as he held it gingerly between two fingers and carried it outside. She followed him and gasped indignantly as he tossed it into the gravel drive next to her car.
“You can pick it up if you want,” he said calmly. “Have a nice day, Mrs. George.” Then before the woman could gather her wits, Nate strode inside and shut the door, locking it behind him.
Charlotte had watched this masterful move with appreciation, then opened the windows to air the smoke out. “Thanks. I couldn’t get her to leave.”
“You have to know how to motivate people.”
Remembering the woman’s words, Charlotte’s cheeks flamed. “Nate, she said the most awful things about us.”
“What did she say?” Nate asked, his voice calm and firm.
“She…well…she implied I was sleeping with you so you’d pay for this place.” Charlotte’s cheeks burned like fire as she said the words, completely mortified.
Nate rolled his eyes. “Not very creative, is she?”
“What do you mean?”
“Every time something doesn’t go the way she wants in this town, she claims someone is sleeping with somebody. Don’t worry about it.”
“Don’t worry about it? A whole town of biddies are talking about me like I’m—”
“Easy.”
“Yes. And I’m not. All because I went on one date with you. What would they say if we were actually dating?”
“No telling. Gossip is a major source of entertainment for these folks. It’s one of the down sides to living here. But except for a few gems like Betsy, the people here would do anything for you.”
“But this is awful. I hated it when Daniel’s snooty friends gossiped about me. Now it’s a whole town.”
“I doubt anybody believes the jealous ramblings of Betsy George. Just relax and wait. You’ll see. People will move on and get to know you”
“Oh yeah? Well, Betsy also said I was coming between you and her niece.”
“Who? Oh wait, she’s Justine’s aunt isn’t she.” Nate wrinkled his nose as if he smelled something disgusting. “She dropped off a chocolate cake at my house yesterday. Fortunately, I was out of town, so she had to leave it with my security guard.”
“You’ve probably been leading her on with that sexy smile of yours.” Charlotte’s eyes widened as she realized what had just come out of her mouth. “I guess some women find it attractive,” she added, trying to save herself.
Nate stepped towards her, deliberately flashing his smile at her. “But not you, huh?”
Charlotte shrugged. “Not really. You’re so full of yourself, it ruins the effect.”
Stepping even closer, Nate reached out and tipped up her chin. He leaned close with a certain look in his eyes that Charlotte had no trouble interpreting. He was going to kiss her. And with appalling clarity, she realized that she wanted him too.
“And I think you’re trying too hard not to like me.” Then he moved so close, his warmth surrounded her and his breath brushed across her skin.
Charlotte’s emotions scrambled and she pushed back against his chest. She didn’t know if she was more annoyed at him for being a cocky butthead or herself for being ready to kiss him. But watching him laugh at her made up her mind. Definitely him.
“Unless you want me to go all Snip and Clip on you, you’d better get your rear out of my salon.”
He put his hands on her shoulders and held his arms locked as if he was holding her back. “Keep you scissors sheathed. I’m sorry. Look, I think I know how to fix this gossip problem for you.”
Charlotte tilted her head to the side. “Really? How?”
“Let people see us out together. Trust me. We’ll be old news fast.”
“But we aren’t together, Nate.”
He raised his eyebrows but didn’t argue with her. “But people think we are, and the more it looks like we’re hiding it, the more interested they’ll be. Plus, if Justine thinks we’re official, maybe she’ll move on. I’m starting to have nightmares that she’ll break into my house and try to have her evil way with me.”
Charlotte snorted. “She’s not that crazy.”
Nate raised his eyebrows, and Charlotte realized that Nate’s hands were still on her shoulders, but he was a lot closer now. Being this close to his lips again sent pleasurable shivers down her spine.
“Fine. But whatever we do, it is not a date. I’m paying my way and Taylor is coming along. And Jill is still here till after the game tomorrow.”
“I love hanging out with Taylor, but no one is going to think it’s a romantic date if he’s there. And with your friend along too?”
“Fine. I’ll see if Jill will watch him again.”
“Deal. I’ll meet you downtown tomorrow. Say, about six?”
Someone knocked on the door then and Nate released her so she could open the door. When she pulled it open, Jill walked in, looking down at her tablet.
“Why do you have the door locked?” Then she looked up and saw Nate. Her brows rose and her lips widened in a huge, knowing grin. “Ooooh, Charlotte. What are you two doing in here that you had to lock the door?”
Charlotte felt her cheeks turn red. “Get your mind out of the gutter. We were talking.”
“Yeah. Uh huh. Way to go Nate! It’s about time you made a move on her.”
Nate looked way too amused by Jill’s teasing. “It was, wasn’t it?”
Then he walked over and kissed Charlotte on the cheek before she realized his intention. “I’ll see you tomorrow, babe.”
Charlotte put her hand over her cheek where it felt like she’d been branded. Before she could say anything, Nate slipped out the door, shutting it firmly behind him.
“That low-life, sneaking, conceited playboy.”
Jill grinned and walked over to the little reception desk where she started sorting out the day’s accounts. “Whatever. You can’t fool me. You’re lit up like a Christmas tree.”
“No I’m not.”
Shaking her head in exasperatio
n, Jill sighed. “Get back to me when you stop lying to yourself.”
Chapter Twelve
Nate stretched in his chair, trying to work a kink out of his neck. These long hours were killing him, but it was the only way to free up time for t-ball and Charlotte. He glanced at the clock. There was less than an hour left till he’d see her.
His office door opened and Sam came in with a thick stack of papers. “I need your signature on a few things.”
Nate picked up his pen and signed as Sam pointed to where he needed the signatures. “And initial here, then sign and date the last page.” When Nate had finished, he said, “That’s it for today.”
“It’s about time. You’re such a slave driver.”
An expression that was almost a smile drifted over Sam’s face as he looked over the contracts one more time. “I have to be lately. You mind is always somewhere besides business.”
“Sam, would you be unhappy in my employment if our plan works out?”
The man straightened and met Nate’s eyes. “As long as I’d still have something to keep me busy after you sell everything off.”
“Not quite everything. And there’s still my charities to manage and few other pet projects. I’d still keep you hopping.”
“Then I won’t be giving notice anytime soon.” Sam paused before leaving. “By the way, you have a meeting in Kansas City on Wednesday.”
Nate paused. “With who?”
“The CEO. And I’ve made arrangements to set up an off-the-record meeting with Mr. Mabry afterwards.”
Nate nodded and followed Sam to the door. “Sounds good. It’ll make things tight though.”
They paused next to Sam’s office. “I still say your chances of getting Charlotte to accept your invitation are slim to none.”
Nate pounded him on the back then walked to the front door, calling back over his shoulder, “You always underestimate my powers of persuasion, Sam.”
But as Nate got in his truck and drove downtown, he knew it was all bravado. He had absolutely no confidence in Charlotte agreeing to anything. Hopefully tonight, she would get to know him better and trust him a little more.
The Trouble with Billionaires (Southern Billionaires Book 1) Page 8
