Billionaires with Heart Boxset: Christian Romance Series

by Juliette Duncan

  Marcus ensured she was properly introduced to everyone at the table and included small pieces of information about them. There was little for him to say when introducing her, but she didn’t mind that so much. She liked her privacy and didn’t mind appearing a bit mysterious. And compared to what they’d all been through, her situation paled in insignificance. Nevertheless, she enjoyed meeting her dinner companions. The conversations shifted about, but primarily focused on the evening at hand.

  Considering she’d never experienced anything remotely like this event before, she was surprised by how comfortable she felt with everyone.

  Julia, another of the women at the table, raved about her dress and Tiffany couldn’t wait to tell her mother what a hit it was. She was glad to know that her mum’s talents and abilities were being praised by women who wore outfits that probably cost thousands.

  “Believe it or not, it’s a one of a kind from a very small-town designer,” Tiffany said, hiding a grin.

  “Oh? Who is she? I simply have to get the designer’s number,” Julia replied with excitement.

  “Well, her name is Marjorie Watson, but I like to call her mum,” Tiffany said with a wink.

  Julia’s mouth dropped. “Are you serious? I’m entirely jealous. How lucky you are!”

  “I know. She makes a lot of dresses and has been in the business for more than thirty years, but she’s never taken her skills beyond school dances and bridesmaids. I keep telling her she should branch out, but she lacks a little confidence,” Tiffany added.

  “Well, tell her she should. Do you have any idea how many women have been staring at your gown tonight?” Julia asked.

  At Julia’s request, Tiffany provided her with her mother’s information, and as the night wore on, several other women also asked for her details. She couldn’t help but beam with pride and was excited for the possibility of her mum getting work from women who ran in these circles. It was certainly going to be a surprise for her.

  Marcus was busily entertaining people, but when others came around, he introduced her with increasing pride. At one point, she caught him looking at her with sparkling eyes. He leaned over with a smile and said, “I’m impressed.”

  Tiffany tilted her head. “Oh? By what?”

  “How at ease you look.”

  Tiffany felt her heart race. His compliment was as smooth and genuine as his voice. Smiling in appreciation, she replied, “Thank you.”

  Their gazes met and held. Something in his look mesmerised Tiffany, and her heart thumped against her ribs. She held his gaze for what seemed an eternity.

  Just then, someone on the stage announced that the event had raised a significant amount of money and all of the donors were thanked. Tiffany tore her gaze from Marcus and gulped while joining in with the applause when he was one of five given special acknowledgement for the work they’d done on behalf of the charity.

  While the applause sounded and Marcus stood and humbly acknowledged the honour, Tiffany saw him in a new light, and a new and unexpected warmth surged through her.

  Chapter 16

  The ball came to an official close. The entire evening had been wonderful, and Marcus couldn’t have chosen a better companion. Tiffany had handled herself with grace and dignity he’d not expected, and when they danced and he felt her body close to his, old forgotten feelings had been rekindled. Try as he might to not be attracted to her, he knew he could very easily fall for her.

  As the guests and patrons slowly began to leave, he could see that Tiffany was unsure what to expect next. It was getting late, but he wasn’t tired and he didn’t need to go home. In fact, the event had ended sooner than anticipated, by at least a half hour. He placed his hand lightly on her back as they headed towards the exit and asked her softly, “Would you like to take a walk along the harbour, or would you prefer to go home?”

  She hesitated a moment, but then smiled and said a walk sounded lovely.

  He was relieved, and if he were honest, he was pleased their time together would be extended. She’d impressed him so much throughout the evening, and he felt that a slender delicate thread had begun to form between them.

  Strolling the short distance to the harbour, a light breeze wafted across the water and Marcus felt entirely content.

  “You know, your mum is an amazing woman,” Tiffany said unexpectedly.

  He hadn’t known what they would talk about, but he hadn’t expected his mother to be the first topic. His mum was an amazing woman and it was nice hearing her complimented and respected. He turned his head and nodded. “Yes, she is.”

  “There’s something about her, the way she sees the world and how positive she is. She always has something good to say to everyone, and she’s always thinking of others even though she’s continually in pain. If only more people in the world were like her.”

  Marcus smiled. “That about sums up my mum. She’s a woman of faith who lives her life for God no matter how she’s feeling. It’s her faith that leads her to treat others so well.”

  “She does talk a lot about God.”

  “He’s very important to her. She and my dad raised my sister and me in the faith as well. We’re both Christians, and I’m thankful for the upbringing we had.” He didn’t want Tiffany to feel uncomfortable, but he wanted her to know, that just like his mum, his faith was also a big part of his life. Although he’d begun to feel an attraction towards her, it was a non-negotiable for him. He couldn’t be with a woman who didn’t share the same beliefs.

  “So, faith is important to you, too?” she asked, sounding a little confused.

  He nodded. “Extremely.”

  She grew quiet and he sensed she wasn’t overly impressed with his response. Finally, she responded, “So, if you don’t mind my asking, how can you believe that God cares? I mean, with everything you heard tonight. All those stories of heartache and death. How can you believe there’s a loving God?”

  He drew a slow breath. It was a reasonable question, and one he’d also asked when Bree died. Reaching the end of the walkway, he stopped and leaned against the railing. Tiffany stopped and stood beside him. On the opposite side of the harbour, lights twinkled, and the sound of water lapping against the pylons below was soothing. He let out a deep sigh. It was hard to understand how a loving God could allow so much suffering when it was in His power to stop it, but he’d come to learn and accept that God’s ways were higher than his, and that in this life there were no straight answers. It took faith to believe, but he knew beyond a doubt that this life was just a stepping-stone to eternity where everything would become clear. “You know my wife died of breast cancer?”

  Tiffany visibly winced as she nodded. “Sorry, I guess I shouldn’t have brought that up.”

  “No, that’s not what I mean. I’m not upset you mentioned it, but I asked the same question you just asked when she was suffering in pain. I was a Christian, and so was Bree, but when I watched her suffer, and then when I experienced such grief when she finally passed, I begged God to remind me that He was real, and that He truly loved us just as I’d been taught, because I’d started to doubt.” He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and met her gaze.

  “But God never promised us that life would be easy. Death happens. That’s what Adam and Eve were warned about before they sinned. But they sinned anyway, and death was a direct result of their disobedience.

  “I know that for Bree, death was a relief and I’m confident she’s now pain free in the arms of Jesus. She suffered a lot before she passed, but now she’s better off than you or me. We see things from our finite perspective only. We don’t want our loved ones to die, but we fail to see that death is a stepping-stone into a whole new world, and that for someone suffering such pain, it’s a wonderful release if they know Jesus.”

  Tiffany looked perplexed. He was far from a theologian, but at the very least, he could share his own personal story with her.

  “My parents are Christians,” she said quietly.

  “Th
ey are?”

  “Yes. They’re not as devout as your mum, but they go to church most weeks. When I was young, I used to go, too. But I stopped going when I met Steve.”

  Marcus could hear the pain in her voice as she spoke his name. Her ex-husband must have treated her very badly, and it grieved him. “Have you been back to church since?”

  “I’ve taken the kids a couple of times, at Christmas and Easter, mainly.” She turned and gazed over the water, twisting her hands together over the railing. “I never saw much truth in the Bible. It seemed more like an excuse for people to make themselves feel better, and with everything I’ve seen around me, it’s hard to accept that God cares at all.”

  Marcus nodded. “The world is certainly full of suffering, but that doesn’t mean it’s a lost cause and we should lose hope. God does care, and there’s always hope.”

  Turning, Tiffany looked at him steadily, and he couldn’t help being captivated by her eyes. He’d not noticed how clear and blue they were until now. He would have to firmly remember his resolve. Tiffany was not a believer and he couldn’t let himself develop feelings for her. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t be her friend.

  Chapter 17

  Standing beside Marcus, gazing into his soft, brown eyes, Tiffany drank in the nearness of him. She was surprised by how easily she’d come to look at him in this way, but she quickly pulled her gaze away and looked instead across the water. She couldn’t let this happen. She couldn’t let her heart get broken again. Because, surely it would if she fell for him.

  “So, tell me about your children,” he said, as if sensing a change of subject was needed.

  She smiled. She loved talking about her children and bragging about them to anyone willing to listen. “They’re the best. Mike’s a typical ten-year-old boy. He loves to mess around and cause trouble, but never more trouble than I can handle. And he’s already starting to eat like a teenager. He loves pizza but isn’t fond of vegetables.”

  “I can relate to that. Mum still has trouble getting me to eat my veggies.” Marcus chuckled and she laughed along with him, grateful for the way he was able to lighten any conversation.

  “And Polly?”

  Tiffany smiled as she thought about her daughter. “She’s a girly girl but pretends not to be. I think she’d give just about anything to have Mike play dress-up with her, but instead, she puts on her jeans and tries to keep up with him and his friends.” It was nice talking about her children, and Marcus seemed truly interested in them.

  “They sound like great kids. I get to help with the youth at church, but it must be amazing having your own children.”

  “It really is. I’m very lucky, and I never take them for granted.”

  Marcus remained silent for a moment and then asked her a personal question. “What happened to their dad?” he asked tentatively.

  Tiffany gave a half-smile and a subtle wince.

  “You don’t have to talk about it,” he said.

  “No, it’s fine.” She twiddled a lock of hair between her fingers as she felt his gaze on her. “I’ve been free of him for four years now. Steve and I were married for seven years, and the emotional and verbal abuse started just after we got married, but even then, I believed I was nothing without him.” She gave Marcus a sideways glance; his eyes were gentle, caring. She generally didn’t like sharing about her marriage, but she felt comfortable with him, and he’d also shared about the loss of his wife, and she knew that mustn’t have been easy.

  She blew out a heavy breath. “It was right after I had Mike, a year into the marriage, that the physical abuse began. It turned out that Steve wasn’t ready to be a father and he took his frustrations and anger out on me, which was better than him letting them out on Mike. I should have left then. If only I’d been stronger.” And that was the truth. She’d felt caught and unable to stand up to him, so she’d stayed.

  “I had no idea you’d gone through all of that. I’m so sorry, Tiffany.” Marcus spoke with compassion, but there was nothing about his tone that made her feel pitied or ashamed. He was good at saying the right thing.

  She turned and faced him. “It’s okay. I eventually stood up to him and finally managed to leave. It wasn’t easy, but it made me a stronger person.”

  “I can see that. You’re a very strong woman.”

  She drew a breath. She might be, but being strong continuously was tiring. She never wanted to be vulnerable again, but she couldn’t help pondering what it would be like to be with a man who truly loved and cared for her and didn’t try to control her. Somebody like Marcus…

  No, she needed to push these unexpected feelings and thoughts back where they belonged. She’d only get hurt if she let herself indulge in them.

  Over the course of the evening, his caring attitude and genuine interest in everyone he met had truly impressed her. She even admired the sincerity of his faith. It was a strange topic for her to be thinking about. After all, with everything she’d gone through with Steve, she’d been convinced that God couldn’t truly care about her, or that He didn’t exist at all. But it seemed that, like his mother, Marcus took his faith seriously and that could be why he was so humble and kind.

  Despite her resolve, when she once again felt his gaze on her, there was a tingling in the pit of her stomach.

  Chapter 18

  Marcus held back, although he wanted to draw closer to Tiffany and comfort her. She’d gone through so much. He wanted to hear more of her story and share more of his own with her. His heart had begun to swell with feelings he’d thought were long dead.

  But growing close to Tiffany wasn’t an option. They could be friends, nothing more. Not only for his own sake, but for the example he was setting for the youth at church. He’d encouraged the young men not to be swayed by women who weren’t believers. He’d told them about Bree and how their marriage had been blessed because they held the same beliefs.

  Although he couldn’t deny the attraction he felt for Tiffany, he couldn’t disregard what he knew to be true and right. He had to hold fast to what he believed, and he needed to rein in his feelings.

  Finding himself considering her as anything more than a friend was completely unexpected. Until tonight, he hadn’t thought of another woman romantically since Bree passed. What had triggered these feelings? The romance of the evening, or seeing Tiffany in a totally different light? She’d certainly dazzled not only him, but all those at the ball.

  No, he felt quite certain it was none of those things. It was her. Her strength. Her spunk. The way she’d handled herself with grace and confidence in an unfamiliar situation. The way she spoke of her children.

  He held her gaze and felt his resolve weakening. She was beautiful, inside and out, and he could easily fall for her. Gulping, he ran his hands down his slacks. “I should call for the car, it’s getting late.”

  “Yes.” She grabbed his hand. “Thanks for the evening, Marcus. I know your mum suggested you invite me, but I’m really glad you did.”

  He swallowed hard. “I’m glad, too.” He had to stop there. She was growing on him more than he cared to admit.

  He called the driver and within moments, the limo arrived. The driver opened the door and Marcus stood back to let Tiffany in first. He slid in beside her, casting her a sideways glance as the limo took off, and offered her a drink.

  While they drank coffee and listened to soft music playing through the speakers, Marcus couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed an evening quite so much.

  Arriving outside Tiffany’s home, he got out and walked her to the front door where he turned and faced her. “Thank you again for coming with me tonight.”

  “And thank you again for inviting me.” Her smile threatened to disarm him.

  “I’ll know who to call if I need another date for one of these dos,” he laughed.

  “I can’t promise I’d wear a different gown.” She chuckled and then grew serious. “I really enjoyed the evening, Marcus. Thank you.” He thought he saw
longing in her eyes, and he swallowed hard.

  “So did I, but I won’t keep you any longer.” As he gazed into her eyes, he was tempted to kiss her cheek. Instead he took her hand and lifted it to his lips. “Good night, Tiffany.”

  “Good night, Marcus.”

  After returning to the limo, Marcus replayed the events of the evening in his head as he sat in the back on his own. He’d not expected to be drawn to his mother’s caregiver, but Tiffany’s strength and determination had taken him unawares, and the harder he tried to ignore the attraction he felt for her, the more it persisted.

  The limo pulled into the estate, and after thanking the driver, Marcus went inside and checked on his mum. She didn’t stir as he opened the door quietly. She was another strong woman. Despite her frailty, when she needed to do something, she did it. Even getting from her wheelchair into her bed was not easy for her to do without help, but somehow, she managed it.

  She’d lived ten years without his dad, her husband, longer than Marcus had been married to Bree. But she’d not only overcome her loneliness, she’d determined not to let bitterness rule her life, and had instead forgiven Sally, the young woman who’d caused her husband’s untimely death.

  The remembrance of his father’s accident sparked curiosity in Marcus again. Had it been Sally he’d seen at the ball? He hoped not. He didn’t want to think she was stalking him, and he didn’t know what it would mean if she were. Surely Sally wasn’t dangerous, just strange and awkward.

  He was growing weary of her and wished she would keep her distance. She made him deeply uncomfortable at times, but it seemed there was little he could do. However, right now, he was exhausted and Sally was the last thing he wanted to think about.