This is Love (High Stakes Billionaires)

by C. J. Thomas

  Shaking my head, I couldn’t believe that Nolan told me to meet him at a cowboy bar.

  Now I really was doubting my choice of clothes.

  I glanced down my front, looking at the cozy V-neck knit sweater and jeggings. I was comfortable, and it seemed casual enough, but cowgirl? Not even close.

  “Ah, screw it,” I said, pulling the door open, knowing that if Nolan did show I wouldn’t have the self-restraint to keep my clothes on for long anyway.

  The place was packed for a Sunday afternoon and based on first impression, I liked the vibe. Standing near the entrance I scanned the tables, searching for Nolan. There was too much going on for me to think he would choose to be anywhere other than by the entrance if he did happen to beat me here. And when my eyes landed on the barkeep, he smiled and waved me over.

  Clutching my purse, I headed directly for the empty stool at the bar thinking I would just wait there until Nolan arrived.

  “What will it be, beer or wine?” the friendly barkeep asked.

  “Beer.” I climbed onto the stool. “But I’ll wait until my friend arrives.”

  He knocked his knuckles against the wood counter, winked, and turned to the clean glasses behind him. Feeling anxious, I looked around, taking in more of the place.

  Sports played on the flat-screens and country music blared through the loud speakers. Between the noises, I kept catching whiffs of fried foods and hops.

  I wished Nolan would have been more specific with the time. Even that was as vague as telling me to dress casual. Glancing to the door, he still wasn’t there and by the time I turned around again, the barkeep was back serving me a dark pint.

  “But I didn’t ord—”

  “It’s on the house.” He flashed me a friendly smile.

  He left before I could protest, and feeling a sudden increase of thirst I couldn’t deny how delicious it looked. I loved dark beers. Rounding my lips over the rim, the chocolatey porter had me moaning with delight. It was heaven and perfect to ease my restlessness.

  Setting my glass down, I lifted my head to see what the commotion was all about coming from the back. And I started laughing when I saw it. The mechanical bull, busy bucking its latest victim onto the mats below. Biting my lip, I knew that was what Nolan meant when he told me to be prepared to get bucked—even if my dirty mind secretly wanted it to be something else.

  Minutes passed, and soon my beer was nearly finished. Glancing at the time, I started to worry that maybe our plans had been lost in translation somewhere along the way. Nolan should have been here by now and the longer I was stuck waiting, the more I thought about calling him.

  Opening up our messages from earlier, I re-read them again, laughing all over. I liked his silly selfie and loved how fun, carefree, and full of anticipation and suspense he was. And that was what made me pull back from making the call. Because a part of me was convinced Nolan was doing this on purpose—keeping me waiting and on edge. He was smart enough to know how to elicit these emotions inside of me, and probably knew just how long he could wait before swooping in to save the day.

  My head was all over the place.

  The ups. The downs. The irony of it was that the longer he made me wait, the more excited I was to see him.

  Picking my head up, I caught a cute cowboy across the way staring.

  Not wanting to make the mistake of inviting him over, I cast my gaze back to my phone and scrolled to Sienna’s name.

  She never did get back to me about my request to dig up info on Audrey Rothschild. And though I could have done it myself, I didn’t want to risk discovering something that could potentially have ruined the night I had imagined with Nolan.

  Pressing the green call button, I lifted my phone to my ear.

  The cowboy was still staring, and though he wasn’t creepy looking I wished that he would find another woman to stare at.

  The line rang several times before clicking over to voicemail. After leaving her a quick message telling her to give me call when she got this, I hung up and sent Monica a short text. Hey. Are you with Sienna?

  Thinking that Nolan had arrived when I felt the empty space near me fill, I turned around to find the cowboy now sitting directly next to me. His eyes sparkled and his body was angled toward me. Feeling the pulse in my neck begin to tick, he said, “Hi.”

  My eyes darted over his freshly-shaved face. “Hi.”

  His lips parted when he smiled, showing off his porcelain teeth. There was a quiet confidence about him and when he kept smiling beneath his cowboy hat, I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Did I say something funny?” he asked in a higher pitched voice than I would have imagined him having.

  “No. I’m sorry.” I held up my hand, forcing myself to stop laughing. “It’s just you keep staring at me without saying anything.” My fingers wrapped around my glass as I stifled my amusement by taking a sip.

  His ears perked and he started bobbing his head to the song playing overhead. Then his knee started bouncing before his hips started rocking. And before I knew it, he was singing along. The man had an incredible voice.

  Reaching over, I touched his arm. “Can I ask you something?”

  His body continued to rock, but he stopped singing as he leaned closer to listen.

  Glancing up to his hat I asked, “Do you always wear that hat?”

  “I do,” he said proudly. “Why?” He smiled. “Do you like it?”

  “It fits you well.” I giggled.

  Dropping his boots to the floor, he stood and held out his hand. “Dance with me.”

  I glanced to his opened palm and shook my head. “I’m waiting for someone.”

  He whipped his head to the door with incredible enthusiasm. “I don’t see anyone coming.”

  Then I thought about how this was still my weekend, and how it wouldn’t be hard for Nolan to find me on the dancefloor when he did arrive. And when I thought about how jealousy flashed across his eyes last night when he saved me from that creep at his fundraiser, I was excited by the idea of making Nolan work to steal my attention away again.

  “You know what,” I said. “Let’s dance.”

  I hopped off my stool and slung my small leather cross-body purse over my head. The lean man took my hand and led me to the back. Soon he had one hand on my waist and the other firmly wrapped around my knuckles. He swept me across the dancefloor, making me laugh around every turn. He was a gentleman, focused only on dancing and nothing else. His hands didn’t roam, and once I knew that I could trust him I soon forgot about Nolan and completely lost track of time. It was one song after the other and we only stopped once the music took a break.

  “I knew you could dance,” he said, holding both my hands.

  “Only because you were a great leader.”

  He laughed and glanced to the bar. Suddenly, I remembered Nolan and when I still didn’t see his face, I began to worry that something bad might have happened. Excusing myself, I headed to the women’s restroom thinking that I had mistakenly found myself in the wrong bar.

  Pulling out my phone there wasn’t anything from him. Only Monica, telling me to call her ASAP. Dialing her number, she picked up after the second ring. “Hey, babe.”

  Pushing through the bathroom door, I finally found the silence I needed to hear Monica clearly. “Hey.”

  “To answer your message. No, I’m not with Sienna.”

  My neck craned. “Have you heard from her?”

  “You know she cancelled our plans this weekend, right?”

  Shit. My hand covered my face, hoping that Sienna’s decision to cancel wasn’t because I skipped town at the last minute. “I didn’t know.”

  “Gary shut it down before it ever got started.”

  My brows pinched, wondering why Sienna felt the need to lie to me.

  “God, I hate that man,” Monica said. “I don’t know what she sees in him.”

  I was at a loss for words. Sienna wasn’t one to disappear or lie. Especially to me. Monica was rig
ht. Something was definitely wrong.

  “I’m worried about her, Soph.”

  “I’m sure she’s okay,” I said, despite my own belly tying itself into knots.

  “What was it you needed, anyway?” Monica asked.

  “It’s not important.”

  “I heard what happened with you at work. That totally blows.”

  “Whatever. I’ll get over it.”

  “You should shoot the place up.”

  “Monica!” I gasped. “That’s not even funny.”

  “Ahh…you’re right. I do know you’re in the mountains, though. Wish I would have known you were going, I could have used a weekend away.”

  “Sorry.” I grimaced. “It was totally last minute.”

  “It’s cool. Anyway, I’ll shoot you a message if I hear from Sienna.”

  “Yeah, me too.” I ended our call with my mind stuck on Sienna. The worst about her not responding to me or Monica was that she only did this when she wanted to hide something from us. When I turned around, I accidently bumped into a beautiful tall woman. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry.”

  The blonde woman’s face scowled. “Watch where you’re walking.”

  My brows drew together as I refused to be intimidated by her. “I said I was sorry.”

  Her icy blue gaze traveled the length of me before she tilted her head to the side and said, “You’re a weekend warrior, aren’t you?”

  Feeling my fingers tighten on my phone, I responded, “What does it matter?”

  “I saw you dancing with Mike.” She barred her teeth.

  “I didn’t even know his name.” My brows raised as it was hard not to look at anything but the way her breasts spilled out of her tight tank top. “He asked and I said yes. It doesn’t go any deeper than that.”

  Her gaze narrowed as jealousy flamed inside her irises.

  “Don’t worry, he’s not my type.”

  She huffed out a disbelieving laugh as I skirted past her. “Go back to where you came from. Your kind isn’t welcome here.”

  Shaking my head, I didn’t have time for this or her short jean shorts.

  “And lay your hands off my man.”

  Digging my heels in, I snapped back around and fired back, “Look, Mike asked me—”

  She stepped forward, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m not talking about Mike, you imbecile.”

  My muscles quivered as I did everything I could to stop myself from smacking her upside her head.

  “I’m talking about Nolan Foster.”

  Jerking my head back, I asked, “Audrey?”

  Her brows raised as her lips curled. “How’d you guess?”

  24

  Nolan

  Racing across town, I couldn’t believe the news.

  Despite my tight grip on the wheel, my arms shook with fear.

  This couldn’t be. Mr. Rothschild couldn’t have had a heart attack. I prayed to God that it wasn’t fatal.

  Blinking through the panic boiling through my body, I hated to think the worst. But it was a natural reaction when hearing bad news—and certainly not far-fetched knowing he had some health issues he had dealt with in the past.

  Rubbing my hand over my face, I hated to think that last night could have been the last time I would see him alive. It was a raw ache deep within that festered the more I thought about it.

  Refusing to let regret sink deeper into my thoughts, I sped up the winding mountain road, knowing that I would do anything for that family. Well, except date their daughter. But that was beside the fact. We had been through so much over the years that it was hard to think of a time when they weren’t actively involved in my life. They were basically my second parents who I knew would be rushing to me if I was the one in Mr. Rothschild’s shoes.

  My tires squealed as I flew into their driveway.

  I kicked my truck door open as I killed the engine. Running toward the house, worry coiled my insides as I wondered why an ambulance hadn’t yet arrived. Cursing their slow response, my heart pounded in my chest as I bolted up the front steps, inviting myself inside without knocking.

  My feet ground to a halt as soon as I saw him.

  Mr. Rothschild was in the living room—alone.

  But he wasn’t dead and didn’t appear to have had a heart attack. No, he was standing tall like nothing had happened to him.

  My brow furrowed as he turned from the television to face me. When our eyes met, he smiled as if happy to see me. My chest heaved, fighting to catch my breath as I glanced between him and the game of golf he was watching.

  I felt betrayed.

  Completely gutted and confused.

  I was relieved that the news of him having a heart attack wasn’t true and that he appeared to be completely fine.

  “Nolan, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” His voice was strong and commanding.

  My brow tightened as I stared speechless at the man I was convinced I was going to find dead upon arrival. My legs were frozen in place and I couldn’t help but feel angry for having been misled.

  Not knowing what to say, I shoved my hand through my hair, wishing that I’d asked Christine more questions before reacting to the news and leaving as quickly as I had. Maybe I’d gotten it wrong, misheard her. But I’d seen the look on her face. She wouldn’t have been able to fake that. No, there was something else happening here and I didn’t like the smell of it.

  “Honey, tell Audrey that Nolan is here.” Mr. Rothschild looked to the kitchen.

  Mrs. Rothschild emerged from behind the stove and greeted me. “Oh, hey, Nolan. Audrey isn’t here.”

  “I, uh—” I struggled to find the words.

  “My mistake.” Mr. Rothschild took his eyes away from me and looked to his wife with a deepening crease between his brow. “I thought she was here.”

  Mrs. Rothschild shook her head and fixed her gaze back to me. “I thought she was at the bar with you? Don’t you guys go there every Sunday you’re in town together?”

  “Right.” I pulled my cell from my back pocket, casting my gaze to the screen. “I must have thought she wanted me to pick her up here,” I lied to avoid the incredible embarrassment I felt hardening my stomach.

  Mrs. Rothschild lifted her brows and smiled.

  Mr. Rothschild peeled his eyes off the TV and said, “Nolan, that check you wrote—”

  “Pleasure is all mine.” I nodded.

  “You shouldn’t have.”

  “It was the least I could offer,” I assured him. Then I turned to his wife. “Audrey went to the cowboy bar already?”

  “She was certainly dressed like she was going there.”

  Suddenly, it was crystal clear what had happened.

  “I better get going.” I waved. “I’m happy you’re both doing so well.”

  They shared a questioning glance as I turned around to leave. Without saying another word, I jogged to my truck knowing that Audrey had set me up and was using her father’s health as a way to get to Sophia without having to worry about me stepping in her way.

  25

  Nolan

  I flung the door open and headed straight to Bobby, the barkeep.

  “You look like you could use a drink,” he said.

  I did a quick scan of the place. Though it was packed for happy hour, I had the sinking feeling that I had already missed my chance at finding Sophia here. Glancing at my watch, I was close to 45 minutes late and I couldn’t expect her to wait forever. Hell knows, I wouldn’t if I were her. And it devastated me to realize that she probably thought I’d stood her up.

  “I’m supposed to be meeting someone,” I said to Bobby, explaining what Sophia looked like. “Have you seen her?”

  He took a minute to think about it before his head started nodding. Glancing toward the dancefloor, he said, “She was here. Looked like she was having a good time.”

  Bracing my hands on the counter I leaned forward, wanting to unhear the extra detail. “And now?”

  “Saw her leave not too
long ago.” His lips pinched and I knew there was more he wasn’t saying. “She was waiting for you, and though I told her that you were reliable, she didn’t seem happy when she left.”

  My stomach sank. “Was she alone?”

  “When she left, yes.” Bobby wiped his hands on a towel. “Look, Nolan, it’s not my place to say, but Mike was spinning her around pretty good on the dancefloor.”

  I turned to face the dancefloor, quickly landing my eyes on Mike. He was a regular and, though he was a great dancer, he wasn’t anybody I needed to worry about. But maybe he could give me more answers than Bobby.

  “Thanks, Bobby,” I said before making my way over to talk to Mike.

  I found Mike dancing with a new partner, swinging her around until they were dizzy. And before I could steal him away to see what he could tell me happened with Sophia, my jaw dropped at what I saw happening in the dark corner.

  Audrey had her arms wrapped around a man’s neck while shoving her tongue down his throat.

  Lowering my chin as I watched, all I could do was shake my head in disgust. I should have known this would be how I would find her. And with as little as she was wearing, it was any wonder how what they were doing in public would be considered legal. They were practically orgasming in each other’s arms as I marched straight up to her.

  Clearing my throat, it wasn’t like I cared she was acting like a total slut, but it was important she knew that what she’d done to get me to drop my life and race up to her parents’ house wasn’t cool.

  The man’s head was buried in her neck.

  Her leg hooked around his knee as he grinded against her pelvis.

  He had her shoulders pressed up against the wall. Her eyes were closed above rounded lips as she panted into his ear.

  A part of me wanted to pull out my phone and take a quick photo if only to have it available for blackmail later. But I wasn’t about to stoop to her level. That was a move she would do, and if this weekend had taught me anything, it was that I didn’t want to have anything to do with her.

  I watched the pathetic scenario unfold in front of me and I couldn’t help but feel vindicated by catching her in the act. I knew in my gut that she wasn’t as heartbroken about last night as she made out to be. It was sad to see, but I couldn’t deny how great it felt to have the weight of suppressed guilt finally lift off my shoulders.