Battling the Billionaire

by Kate Ashgrove

  Jenna took a step backward. “My room?”

  “Yeah, it’s upstairs. Susan says it’s a master, every bit as nice as mine. Can you believe we get to live here together, the three of us in this big, fancy house? Gertie would die with envy.” She frowned. “Not that I’d want to make her envious. That would be wrong. What’s going on back at home, anyway?”

  Jenna tried to focus, but her head was spinning, and her chest felt tighter by the second. “Um, everyone’s talking about the limousine.”

  Her mother nodded, looking satisfied. Jenna still stood there staring in disbelief. Her mother’s energy, the way she was talking like herself again, made her want to collapse with relief into the soft blue chair next to her mom’s bed. But she couldn’t relax. This was clearly not right. Insurance companies didn’t buy a new home for a suffering family, or offer them personal nurses and doctors that made home visits.

  Jenna heard the slamming of a car door, and hurried over to glance out the window. A limousine sat outside. She gave her mother a tight squeeze. “I’ll be right back, Mom.”

  She glanced at Tali, who was in the kitchen poking at a screen embedded in the refrigerator door. “It’s an iPad, right on the fridge. In case you want to watch YouTube for days without having to get up for food.”

  “Or look up a recipe,” Susan said helpfully. She still looked a little nervous.

  Jenna barreled out the front door and nearly slammed right into Devon Ward. She backed up quickly, looking him up and down. He looked so different, in business-casual slacks and a black, button-up shirt. He looked every bit as attractive though, and every bit as rich.

  Chapter 6

  Devon

  Devon found himself stunned as he looked into Jenna’s eyes again. She looked so different, dressed in jeans and a faded lavender shirt with her hair falling loose over her shoulders. But she was just as beautiful, and the same sense of purpose emanated from her. The same look of hostility burned in her eyes.

  “It’s good to see you again, Winnifred. Or can I call you Jenna now? I was hoping this time you’d be a little less revolted by the sight of me.”

  “You took my mother while I was at work.”

  “I guess I can see how that might have been a shock. Your neighbor said she’d fill you in.” He’d thought it would be a thrilling surprise, like on those reality TV shows. He’d swoop in and fix everything and she’d stop hating him. Now he realized how ridiculous that was. “So how did you like the flowers, and the ... house?” He winced. He’d imagined this going much more smoothly.

  Her eyes narrowed. “What’s the catch?”

  “What do you mean?” Devon hoped he looked casual. He’d never been good at hiding things. If she found out he wanted to get her to go out with him as a PR stunt to help the company she hated, she’d probably do a lot worse than paint his suit red.

  She gestured to the house. “After years of denying legitimate claims, your company has decided to help us? And don’t try to tell me a house and personal nurse are standard. What do you want from me?”

  He stepped back. Jenna’s size didn’t make her any less intimidating. “Consider it an apology. I had someone look into your claims. It seems there was an employee who made some big mistakes. He’s been let go.” He winced again, waiting for her reaction.

  “Mistakes?” Jenna’s voice rose, and Devon was sure she grew an inch or two, not that it gave her much of an advantage.

  Devon ached at the pain in her eyes, knowing it was his company’s fault. It hadn’t been intentional, but Charles had informed him that mistakes had, in fact, been made. Since then Devon had been determined to make things right for Jenna, and not just so he could convince her to go out with him. He’d told her his father’s company existed to relieve suffering. He wanted to make sure that was the truth.

  Devon matched Jenna’s strong posture, putting him at least a foot taller than her. He wanted her confidence. “I know those mistakes meant pain and suffering for you and your mother. Nothing can undo what you’ve been through. But things are going to be a lot better from here on out.”

  “Listen, I’ve been jerked around more than I can handle. Just tell me what you want. Is there a lawyer in that limo with forms for me to sign, saying I’ll take the bribe and shut up?”

  “Will you please listen? The company doesn’t want anything from you.” He looked her in the eye, careful not to flinch or blink.

  Jenna crossed her arms, pulling them tightly around herself. “Oh. So I guess there’s something you want from me. I should have known.”

  “Woah, hey. What kind of guy do you think I am?” Devon took another step back, raising his hands in the air as if to prove he hand no intentions of laying a hand on her. If he wanted a woman, there were plenty who were interested. There was no need to take advantage. He’d never been accused of something so revolting.

  His stomach turned a little when he remembered that he did want something from Jenna. After finding out what her mother had gone through, he would have helped her either way, but he was using her.

  “One that’s used to getting what he wants.” Jenna put her hands on her hips. He couldn’t help thinking she was like a kitten, arching her back and putting up her fur to make herself seem bigger and more threatening.

  He had to admit, he wasn’t unaffected. Her tone, her stance, reminded him of what she was capable of. But it only made him want to push her a little further. “You may be surprised to find out that when I want a woman, I don’t generally resort to bribery or manipulation. Usually a smile will do the trick.” He demonstrated, giving her his most effective, appreciative smile, complete with a hint of smolder in the eyes.

  “Ugh.” Jenna rolled her eyes. “I guess that would work on some women. Although I’m guessing what they want from you has more to do with what’s in your bank account.”

  Devon tried not to show the jab of pain her barb had inflicted. “Fine.” Devon clenched his hands into his hair. He took a deep breath. “If you’re so disgusted by me you never have to talk to me again. But take the peace offering.” He heard the pleading tone in his voice as his arms dropped to his side. “The truth is I couldn’t forget what you said to me the other day, about what you’d do if you had money to spend. I have money. I wanted to help you.” It was the truth. Maybe just not the whole truth. Devon turned and headed back to the limo.

  “I can’t accept this.”

  Jenna sounded so full of frustration and pain that he had to turn around. Then he saw that she wasn’t looking at him, but up at the sky. Until then, he hadn’t realized the crushing conflict his gestures must have caused her. Her day-to-day attempts at survival must have felt lot like banging her head against a brick wall. Why would she believe things could change for her with a wave of his magic wand, especially when her suspicion of him was well founded, and her independence must be feeling the full sting of accepting his help?

  Devon strode back to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “You can. First of all, from what you told me the other night, I’m guessing your whole life revolves around taking care of your mom. You’re not going to turn down my help. Second, let’s be honest. I don’t help anybody but myself. So if you allow me to do this for you, you’re allowing me to become better man.”

  As he looked at her, he realized that was what he really wanted. To find a way to make a difference. He’d thought not letting his family’s money affect him was the best way to get there. Now he realized it was standing right in front of him. It didn’t matter how he got there, or whether he’d taken his own path. He was in a position to do good in the world.

  Jenna’s shoulders slumped, as if she was about to give in, but Devon could see from the stubborn look in her eyes, the firm set of her lips, that she hadn’t quite relented.

  “Would it help if you did one more thing for me in return?”

  She stiffened, pulling away from him. “I knew it.”

  “Hey, I already told you, you don’t have to do anything.” He tu
rned around and started walking back to the limo.

  “But you know very well I’m obligated,” she shouted after him.

  He shrugged and kept walking. “If you want to look at it that way.”

  She laughed, but it was a sharp sound, like he’d heard in the kitchen. Finally he felt her hand on his arm, pulling him to a stop. His heart thumped at her touch, but he was careful to keep his expression even.

  “What is it you want me to do?” Her voice was low, and so close to his ear that he had to steel himself not to respond to her like a bee to a sweet-scented flower.

  He turned around slowly, still trying hard to look cool. “Doing something good with the money my father left me, feeling like it’s not a curse that got dumped on me—it feels good. Maybe you could ...”—he scratched his jaw with his thumbnail, anxious about how she would respond to his proposition—“help me be a better man some more. Maybe over dinner Monday night?” He paused. “Is there someone in your life who would ... object to that?” he added quietly. From what Charles could gather, Jenna was single, but social media research wasn’t fail-proof.

  Her eyes narrowed. “Object to me advising a morally deficient billionaire? I can’t say I’m qualified, but I can’t think who would object. If you’re asking if I have a boyfriend, I don’t have that kind of time.” She paused, and her frown shifted into a tight smile. The effect of it was beautiful if not a little dangerous. “What I meant was, you’ve done so much for us. I’d love to—of course.”

  He blinked in surprise, but then he lowered his eyes. She was going to go out with him out of obligation, and he, apparently, was the kind of creep that would allow her to do it. Maybe that was all right. At least he could be sure he wasn’t playing with her feelings. She still hated him. He scraped up what little pride he had left and straightened, looking her in the eye. “Okay. I’ll pick you up here at seven?”

  “No. Not here. I’m not staying here.” She frowned. “You can pick me up at home.”

  He tried not to show his disappointment. Her act of defiance showed him what she thought of him and his gifts. She’d take what he offered for her mom, but nothing for herself.

  Devon turned again and headed back to the limo, not wanting to press his luck, and not wanting her to see the guilt that must be etched into his face. He’d meant everything he’d said to her, but they were partial truths. Jenna was a good person, a person who’d suffered enough, and all because of his company. Now he was going to use her to help that company. It didn’t set well, even if she was wrong about TrueLife being evil.

  But if he could show her TrueLife hadn’t intentionally done anything wrong, if he could turn things around for her family, everyone would win. As for her feelings, it was just one date, and she didn’t even like him. It wasn’t like he wanted to play with her feelings.

  Chapter 7

  Jenna

  The bells on the front door of Second Chance Thrift clanged. Jenna looked up from the register to see a gangly kid with heavy eyebrows and a wide grin standing in the doorway. His name was Reuben, she’d found out on his first stop, and he was a flower delivery boy.

  Jenna glared at bouquet number five. Devon could force her to go on a date with him—her mother’s life was on the line, it wasn’t as if she could say no. But no amount of flowers was going to make her excited about it. He could fill this whole store with them—it looked like that might be his goal. He could buy her fifty houses. That rich boy was about to learn that he couldn’t buy everything he wanted.

  “Should I just put it ...” the young man walked toward the register, his eyes scanning the counter for a place to put them.

  Mrs. Bevins, the old woman who had been waiting for her change, looked at Jenna expectantly.

  “Just a second.” Jenna pulled the coins out of the register and handed them to her. Then she hurried over and took the heavy vase.

  Reuben shook out his arms, grinning. “He must have done something real bad.”

  Jenna nodded. “You should see the house.”

  He quirked his heavy brows.

  Jenna took one of the smaller vases from the counter, switching it for the larger one. She held it out to Mrs. Bevins, who’d just finished putting the change in her coin purse. “Free flowers with purchase today. That should be no problem for you to carry,” she said.

  Mrs. Bevins smiled in surprise. “Oh, I can’t take your pretty flowers. You need put them all around your house, to remind you of your true love.” Her pale blue eyes grew wistful. “Howard used to bring me flowers. I’d walk by and smell them all day long.”

  “Now you can think of Howard when you smell these. I have plenty, as you can see, and I want to share my happiness with the world.” She hoped Mrs. Bevins didn’t catch the sarcasm in her tone.

  “All right, if you insist. Thank you, dear.”

  Jenna reached into her pocket, pulling out a few dollar bills.

  Reuben held out his hands in refusal. “Like I told you the last time, he paid the tip, a good tip. He said not to take anything from you. He was a decent looking guy, too. Is it weird for me to say that?” He tipped his head, then shrugged. “How’s he doing? I mean, is all of this”—he gestured to the flowers crowding around the register, his face full of awe—“working?”

  “Money isn’t everything, Reuben. It can do good things, but it can’t buy people or integrity. Don’t forget that. Neither are appearances, although I’m sure you already know they can’t hurt.” She winked at him, and he blushed. “You got a girlfriend?”

  “Uh, yeah. Her name’s Lucy. It’s coming up on our six month anniversary.”

  Jenna smiled, turning to the register to pick up the largest bouquet. “Take these, she’ll love them.”

  “Oh, I can’t do that.”

  “Yes, you can. I really don’t know what he thought I was supposed to do with all of these flowers, anyway. Was he going to send a truck to collect them?”

  “He just wanted to brighten your day. That’s what flowers are for.”

  “Spoken like a guy that works at a flower shop. Now consider your day brightened—or Lucy’s.”

  A smile stretched across Reuben’s face. He took the flowers.

  The bells clanked on the front door again. Jenna turned to see Devon standing in the doorway, dressed in a suit that was undoubtedly worth more than every piece of clothing in the store combined. Like any woman, Jenna wasn’t blind to the effect of a well-tailored suit on a handsome man. She tried to look disinterested as he pulled off his sunglasses, smoothly tucking them in his pocket.

  She clenched her jaw, irritated at her attraction to him as he hovered in the doorway, looking slightly less sure of himself by the second. She wondered if he felt unwelcome, or whether he would rather not tarnish himself by setting foot in a second-hand store.

  “Please, come in,” she finally said, seeing as how he didn’t seem to be planning on moving.

  Jenna reminded herself of what she’d told Reuben. Money and good looks couldn’t buy her. Sure, she’d felt a connection with him the night she’d sat with him at the giant kitchen table, but he’d been lying about who he was. For all she knew, everything he’d said had been a lie.

  Mrs. Bevins looked up at Devon from a rack of hats that had caught her attention on her way out. She followed his gaze over to Jenna, gasping as she pointed. “Is this him?”

  “Yes, this is the man who cleaned out the flower shop.”

  “I think you mean I gave them a record sale day,” Devon said, grinning at Reuben.

  Mrs. Bevins looked him up and down. “He reminds me a little of Howard. Only a bit taller, and nicer dressed, and his face is, well, more handsome. Howard was a top notch dancer, though. Can you dance?” she asked, approaching Devon.

  He smiled, and Jenna remembered why she’d been so charmed by him the night they’d met. “A little,” he said, “although I have to admit, it’s been a while. Maybe Jenna will help me brush up sometime?”

  “I don’t dance. No time,”
Jenna said stiffly. “I thought you were picking me up at home.”

  “I was informed by your mother that you don’t have a car.”

  “The bus is good enough for me.” She stiffened. “You talked to my mother?”

  “Yes, I checked in on her today to see how everything was going. She said take an umbrella tonight, just in case.”

  “Oh, how is your mother?” Mrs. Bevins asked, her face full of concern.

  “Really well, actually. Apparently there’s a new treatment, it’s still a little experimental, but the results have been phenomenal.” She felt a surge of gratitude as she looked at Devon. “I still have fifteen minutes of my shift left,” she said, trying to make her voice more pleasant. She did owe him everything, after all. Well, not everything. There were certain things that were most definitely off the table, and she hoped she’d made herself perfectly clear about that. If not, well, there was a small taser in her purse that she wouldn’t hesitate to use.

  “That’s all right. I can wait.”

  Jenna shrugged. She could handle working for another fifteen minutes with him watching her. That wouldn’t be awkward at all. Maybe she’d move him to the window and use him as a mannequin. He’d probably bring in customers, especially dressed like that.

  “Is that what you’re wearing tonight?” She looked Devon up and down, and he shifted, as if she’d made him nervous.

  “I thought so. Is there something wrong with it?”

  “You just might feel a little out of place at dinner.”

  “I doubt it. I made reservations at Alastaire’s.”

  “Dang, that’s a nice place,” Reuben set the heavy arrangement on the floor, looking at Devon like he made the sun rise every morning. He chuckled. “Not that I’ve ever been there.”

  “You can cancel them,” Jenna said. “I think I’ve had enough hobnobbing with the upper crust for a while.”

  “Okay. What did you have in mind?” Devon asked.