BILLIONAIRE FOR KEEPS: Book 3 (Point St. Claire, where true love finds a way)

by Robyn Grady

  Then a feeling prickled up the back of her neck, all the way over her scalp. She smelled freshly baked pie, and heard her mother’s call. Vanessa walked into the kitchen. Her mother was bent over, sliding a pie out of the oven, setting it on the counter, sprinkling sugar on top.

  “Nessa, honey, come get a slice before it goes cold.”

  Her mom baked the best pie ever.

  Another noise filtered into the room. A scratching. Insistent. Like steel nails dragging on dried paint. And this time it wasn’t in her mind. It was now and getting louder.

  On the dining room table sat a vase of fake flowers. A film of fine dust dulled the petals. She was wiping a rose on her sleeve when that noise came again, closer this time. She swept back a curtain, the one that covered the glass doors that led to the back landing, and looked out over the lake, over the wood planking, then closer and lower near her feet.

  A cat sat on the other side of the glass. It was looking up at her like it couldn’t understand the hold up. Its coat was white and short and shiny, its nose was a blob of lolly pink, and its eyes were wide and as blue as an August sky.

  It scratched again before setting that paw down and waiting patiently for some action.

  Vanessa unlocked, opened up. The cat arched its back for a full three beats before padding into the room and twining around her ankles. She swept the cat up and laughed when it snuggled against her chest and started to purr like a champion.

  She scratched under its uplifted chin. “I’m not allowed to be distracted, remember?”

  But of course the cat didn’t know. They’d never met before. But Vanessa was thinking about a kitten she’d once owned; she was always padding off, leaving Nessa to visit Mrs. Willows next door. Cats might not like to be told what to do, but they knew where they were needed.

  And Vanessa could sure use some flesh and blood company right now.

  Chapter 9

  “We all thought you were dead.”

  Vanessa sat back in the café booth seat. “Thanks for coming, Jace.”

  “Did you hear me? I was about to lodge a missing persons report. You don’t come into the office. You don’t reply to my phone calls.”

  “You got my text though?”

  “And when I texted back, you left me hanging. I thought you’d been kidnapped, or something worse.” Jace’s long jet-black locks glistened in the late morning light slanting in through the window as she cast a wary glance around. “You sure there’s nothing weird going on?”

  “I just…needed to get away.”

  “Okay.” Jace nestled down in her seat. “I’m here to help.”

  “I want you to take over as head of VeeTee Fashions for while.”

  Jace had the biggest chocolate brown eyes. Now those eyes grew wider before she shucked back her shoulders and visibly gathered herself. “Well, sure. Anything. For as long as you need.”

  “I’m thinking six months.”

  This time Jace fell back in her seat. Then her eyes narrowed like she’d put it all together. “This is about love ‘em and leave ‘em Griffin Hayes.”

  Vanessa didn’t want to get into it. Jace already knew about the affair, about Griffin allowing her ill father to sign that stupid buyout deal a moment before he died. Talk about ruthless.

  A better word was heartless.

  Vanessa wanted to wait to tell Jace about the baby. She couldn’t take any more well-intentioned sympathy (or congratulations) just now.

  Vanessa had finished ordering for them both―one glass of milk, one coffee and two helpings of velvet cake―when Jace leaned over the tabletop and rasped, “You said no one knew you were here.”

  “No one other than the realty agent and you.”

  “And the jerk who just pulled up outside.”

  Vanessa’s gaze swung toward the window.

  Terrific. She so wasn’t ready for this.

  Griffin strode into the café and spotted her in a second flat. Vanessa took a long sip of milk and waited while he ran a hand through his hair and headed over.

  “Mr. Hayes,” Vanessa said, setting down her glass. “This is a surprise.”

  Keeping his gaze fixed on Vanessa’s, Griffin spoke to Jace. “Would you mind leaving us alone for a moment?”

  When Jace quizzed her boss with her eyes, Vanessa nodded, okay.

  As Jace left, Griffin slipped into the booth to face her.

  Vanessa pasted on a sweet smile. “So, how’s your bank accounts?”

  “Wow.”

  “You mean, wow that stung?”

  “No. Wow you look beautiful.”

  Her heart kicked against her ribs but she held her tight smile. “Must be the Maine air.”

  “Which brings me to, what are you doing here?

  “Minding my own business.”

  Wish you would, too.

  A belly laugh pulled her attention toward the door. An elderly man wearing a scarred Bean boots and coveralls was chasing a kindergarten kid as she scampered over their way. Dressed in a red pinafore and matching shoes, the little girl pulled up when she got to the booth. She was giggling so hard her bob of blond curls was shaking.

  Maternal instinct kicked into overload. When a pair of plump baby arms reached out to her, Vanessa desperately wanted to sweep that little darling up.

  “Well, ain’t that a woman for you.” The old gentleman was ambling over. “Making a man chase her all over Kingdom come.”

  Griffin nodded a warm greeting. “How you doing, Judd?”

  Judd tipped his cap. “Worn thin.”

  Griffin saw to introductions.

  “And you’ve already met my great granddaughter.” Judd leaned over, gnarled hands on coverall knees. “Say how d’ye do to the folks, little Miss.”

  The girl peered into Vanessa’s eyes with such a curious look. Then she clapped a dimpled hand over her mouth and threw it out again―blowing her kiss along with a beaming smile.

  Vanessa laughed. “She’s gorgeous.” So precious.

  “And, I bet, a hand full,” Griffin added, smiling, but meaning it, too.

  Judd was eying Vanessa. “I’ve seen you before around here,” he said.

  “We were up a few weeks ago,” Griffin said.

  Judd’s brow wrinkled more. “I’m thinking back. Way back.”

  Vanessa was thinking back, too. “My family used to come here for vacations when I was young.”

  Judd nodded deeply. “Ayuh. It’s your hair. It was like a flame back then. Could spot it a mile away. You used to follow your Daddy around. He liked to fish any chance he got.”

  Sure. Now Vanessa remembered. “You’re Mr. Everett. You used to give my dad tips on sinkers and hooks.”

  “One and the same. How’s your pa doing?”

  Griffin replied. “He passed away last month.”

  Judd rubbed his scratchy jaw. “Sorry to hear it.” One corner of his mouth lifted. “He never got tired of saying how you helped him with his model ships, handing over all those itty-biddy pieces for him to fit in.”

  Vanessa bit her inside cheek against the threat of tears. Ronan’s death…the funeral…it was still so raw. “We were close.” Particularly back then.

  “There’s nothing like a father’s love for his children,” Judd said. “Nothing. And that’s the honest truth of it.”

  Something must have caught the little girl’s eye. She scampered off again and Judd trundled after her. Good timing because Vanessa had suddenly choked up so much, so doubted she could speak.

  Griffin obviously saw she was upset. He got up and slid in alongside of her.

  “Judd has the best memory in all of Maine. I bet if we asked him, he’d remember that horse of yours, too.”

  Vanessa’s insides clenched, but wouldn’t give herself a chance to soften more. They’d talked long enough.

  “I need to speak with Jace.”

  He hesitated, slanted his head. “You’re staying here for a while, aren’t you.”

  “Did the realty agent tell you
that?”

  He frowned. “No. When you weren’t at the office, when you wouldn’t return any of my calls…this was the first place I thought of.”

  “Now you can turn around and go back to Boston.”

  A muscle in his jaw flexed. “I’m worried about you.”

  “I’m a big girl now, remember?”

  From now on, she’d take care of herself.

  *

  After Griffin left the booth, Vanessa and Jace discussed the logistics of her promotion. There’d be lots of phone calls and Skype and emails. But Vanessa had every faith in her friend’s capabilities and, just as important, loyalty. Besides…

  There were things way more important than business.

  Two hours later, Jace shut her laptop and lowered her voice. “He’s still there, isn’t he? Sitting at the counter, waiting.”

  Vanessa flicked a glance across. Griffin was studying his cup of coffee. He wore black dress pants, white business shirt, no tie. His hair was ruffled. He hadn’t picked up his cell phone the entire time.

  Vanessa finished her third glass of milk. “You’d think he had nowhere better to be.”

  “I’ll follow you back to your place. Stay the night.”

  Vanessa wanted to reach across and hug her. God, she loved this woman. But, “I’m not afraid of him, Jace.”

  “You’re just in love with him, which is way more dangerous, considering the beast in question.” She looked hard at ‘the beast’ and exhaled. “I need to talk to him.”

  “No. I need to talk to him.” When Jace’s mouth dropped open, Vanessa huffed. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to fall into bed with him.”

  “You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

  Vanessa smiled softly. “You’re a special person.”

  “Thank you, and ditto.” Her eyebrows knitted. “You deserve to be happy.”

  “I know. And I will be.”

  “Not with Griffin Hayes in your life.”

  Vanessa would have assured Jace that Griffin was out of her life for good. Only that wasn’t impossible.

  Chapter 10

  Griffin was wearing a track in the carpet, pacing around the cottage living room like that. Back at the café, Vanessa had decided that they’d needed to talk. But clearly, asking him back here had been a mistake.

  “I just need to get one thing off my chest,” he said, stopping in front of her. “Then I’ll back off. Totally. If that’s what you want.”

  “That would be appreciated.”

  “I didn’t ask you out to dinner that first night for any reason other than I wanted to. Me. No one else.”

  “Just convenient that becoming Ronan’s son-in-law came with inheriting a company you’d wanted for years. But you can’t dis a good Plan B. Getting Toomey Constructions at a reduced price and without tying any knots.”

  “First of all, yes, Ronan wanted to see you happy. Second, he never suggested I pursue you. Third, your father practically begged me to buy that company.”

  “Practically begged?”

  “You’ve said yourself. Construction is not your thing. It’s your father’s. It’s mine. Ronan knew he was a candidate for another heart attack.”

  “Something else he kept from me.” But obviously not from you.

  “If worse came to worst,” Griffin went on, “he didn’t want you stuck with falling share prices, dirty face offs between managers, having to accept an offer below what that company is worth.”

  “So he went behind my back.”

  “For god’s sakes, Nessa, can’t you give your old man that much? He worked his whole life to build that place up, and he did it for his family. He was too smart to risk it all at the end.”

  She let out that breath in an agitated huff. “You still don’t get it. It’s not what Dad did. It’s how he did it.” He’d kept secrets. About his health. About Griffin.

  Now Griffin closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose before trying again. “Let’s get this into perspective. You suddenly cast me out of your life for reasons I’m still not certain of. If you had known that Ronan wanted to sell his company to me, you’d have demanded he find another way. And Ronan wanted― No, damn it, he deserved to do it his way.”

  “Even if it meant lying to my face.”

  “Ronan wanted to protect you.”

  Argh. He was driving her crazy. Something else was driving her nuts, too. Claws on glass. Incessant scratching.

  She flung open the glass doors and the cat hurried in. When it twined around her legs, she picked it up, snuggled it under her chin and, closing her eyes, wished this all away.

  She found her calmer center and asked, “Is that all?”

  “No. That’s not all.”

  He scooped the cat from her arms, dropped it to the floor then held her shoulders and searched her eyes with a determination―a pleading―that almost broke her. They’d been the perfect couple. She’d adored everything about him. And a dejected stupid part of her wanted to believe he’d loved her, too.

  But Griffin had never said the words. And even if he had…

  She shrugged away, swept up the cat again while Griffin set his fists low on his hips.

  “Can’t we get past this?”

  “Why?”

  His brows dipped together. “Because if you weren’t so damn stubborn you could admit that we’re good together. Have been from the start. This is killing me, Nessa.” His hands dropped to his sides. “I miss you so much.”

  Vanessa bit back the tears. Suddenly she was so tired.

  “What do you want, Griffin?”

  “I want you. Just you. Nothing else. No interruptions. No diversions. I want to get back to our lives, exactly like it was before.”

  Her stomach somersaulted as she nodded. Even smiled.

  “I’m sorry.” She really was. But, “That’s not enough.”

  Not anymore.

  Chapter 11

  The clock on the mantle was the loudest Vanessa had ever heard. Didn’t help that the room was cluttered. Stuffy. That her host had the exact same unusual gray eyes as Griffin. Only older.

  And sadder.

  Maureen Hayes indicated Vanessa should take a chair next to the mantle, and that clock, while she picked up her knitting and started to pearl so fast, her fingers and yarn were a blur. She didn’t even need to look.

  “You were a girlfriend of Giffy’s?”

  Vanessa paused. Did she say Giffy? She cleared her throat. “Your son and I had a relationship.”

  “So handsome and focused. I’m glad it worked out for him. His education. Boston. It’s too quiet here for a boy like mine.”

  “I used to spend summers here with my family when I was young.”

  “You remember our Bait and Tackle shop? Giffy kept it running after his father finally left.”

  “Griffin told me.” That clock suddenly sounded even louder, so Vanessa spoke louder, too. “He and his dad didn’t get on so well?”

  “His father was a skunk. I told Giffy he needed to be different. Make better choices even if they seemed hard at the time.”

  “Like leaving your husband instead trying to make it work?”

  Maureen’s needles stopped clicking. “Stanley never wanted to be a father. Said that right from the start. I kept hoping and praying coz that’s what a girl in love with a baby on the way does. Hope and pray. Pray and hope.” The needles clicked again. “That’s your problem, isn’t it? That’s why you’re here.”

  Vanessa froze. Maureen couldn’t know. No one knew.

  “Giff never hated his father,” Maureen went on. “He loved him. Idolized him. Time and again that SOB let his son down. Ever since, Giff’s been determined not to turn out the same. Overcompensation―that’s the word. You ask my son to do something, consider it done and dusted.”

  Vanessa found a smile. “He is very…persistent.”

  Maureen whipped her knitting around and started a new row.

  “I could knit all day long,” she said. �
�Evenings, too. Dog coats. Sweaters. Socks. Bonnets and booties.” When Vanessa stiffened, Maureen paused and then set down her needles. “You have to tell him.”

  When the older woman’s gaze dropped to Vanessa’s belly…well, what was the point in pretending?

  You have to tell him.

  Vanessa nodded. “I know.”

  She could already see the look on Griffin’s face. Hear him say they would work it out. And they would. But that didn’t automatically mean marriage. How could it when one person didn’t trust the other?

  “No matter what happens between you and my son,” Maureen said, leaning forward in her chair, “I’m not going anywhere. I always wanted a daughter.” Her gray eyes sparkled as she smiled. “A grandbaby, too.”

  Tears came to Vanessa’s eyes.

  That’s what she’d come here to hear.

  *

  Back at her cottage, Vanessa poured some milk and then heard that now familiar scratching. Sure enough, her white cat was there again out back. Like before, she dragged the door open. The cat padded in.

  Back in the kitchen, she poured a saucer of milk and the cat dived in.

  Crouching down, Vanessa rubbed between the soft ears, around its neck. No collar. No home?

  “But you’re not skin and bone. You must have a family somewhere. Or maybe you just go from door to door.” She kept rubbing and decided. “Wanna bunk here for a while? There’s plenty of milk.”

  The cat looked up, licked its frothy chin and meowed for the first time.

  Vanessa smiled. “Okay. Roomies it is.”

  The cat curled between her legs.

  “And a name...” It came to her in a blink. “How’s Missy?”

  The cat meowed again, louder this time.

  She walked out into the living room. As soon as she sat on the couch, Missy leaped up onto her lap. Filing her fingers down her new friend’s back, thinking about Maureen Hayes’ admission and support, Vanessa asked, “Tell me, Missy, how do you feel about babies?”

  Chapter 12

  A week later, Vanessa woke up with a start.

  She sat bolt upright in bed, flung around a startled glance. A snow white blob, Missy Cat, was nestled at the bottom of her bed. The laptop sat open on the side-table where she’d left it around midnight. The TV certainly wasn’t on.