Winning the Billionaire

by Ginny Sterling

  All the things that Mr. Tyler Howe was not.

  Rachel started in surprise when Julia told her Mr. Howe had arrived and needed to leave the waiting area right away. As she went to get him from where he’d been seated, she saw exactly why: the man looked like an eyesore in the fashionable office.

  Tyler Howe was there in jeans and a piece of cloth that barely functioned as a t-shirt. You couldn’t quite call it a t-shirt- because there wasn’t much to it. It was sliced down both sides and the sleeves were completely missing. It was practically a cotton collar and two panels of fabric connected by the bottom hem. She could see that his stomach was defined and muscled to match his trimmed biceps.

  The sight of him made her drool.

  Wiry tanned arms were crossed over his chest, unfolding as he stood up and adjusted his worn-out baseball cap. His jeans were torn at the knees and his boots looked like they were straight from the field, complete with dirt and grass stains. No wonder Julia insisted he not wait up front. He stuck out like a sore thumb in the gilt fancy office.

  “Good morning Mr. Howe,” Rachel told him politely and gestured that he should follow her. She had a sinking feeling that perhaps she should have actually picked the diamond plate accents and rawhide for the house instead, based off the way he was dressed. Perhaps there was a very good reason to arrive at the office like that. “Do you have plans for the day?”

  “I’m going fishing later on,” he said simply. “Why? You askin’ me out?”

  “Me?” she squawked, stumbling. Her heel turned immediately in her pumps and she had to catch herself from falling. “No, no. I thought perhaps you were working in the yard and I’d interrupted you.”

  “No ma’am, this is how us hick, country boys dress when we are goin’ into the big city. We get gussied up all fancy-like,” he drawled, reminding her of her own words on the first visit. Rachel saw the teasing glint in his eyes and instantly felt sheepish.

  “I apologize again.”

  “Don’t worry about it- I’m just joshin’ you. Care for some coffee?”

  “I should be asking you that.”

  “I’m capable of getting it myself and making you a cup- if you point me in the right direction.”

  “I appreciate that- have a seat and I will be right back.”

  “I can come with you, honestly.”

  Nodding, Tyler followed her back to the tiny coffee bar that ran along the hallway to the executive offices where loans were funded. They were high-dollar vendors or talent and most clients would end up in there. Not Mr. Howe, and that was surprising to her. He’d wrote a check for the deposit and she half expected it to bounce based off the way he was dressed today. There were two offices close by and she saw the snide looks that the inhabitants slid her way when they noticed how Mr. Howe was dressed. That was okay, they could look all they wanted- she’d win over her client and rub it in their faces once she’d landed the account.

  “You’re embarrassed by how I’m dressed?” he leaned in and whispered as he stirred his coffee. “I see you watching them. Who cares what they think?”

  “I do,” Rachel answered hotly in a hushed voice. “I’m the new girl in town and they think they are better than me.”

  “Are they? Should I be working with them instead?”

  “No!” she bit out and dropped her voice. “You want honesty, right? No, you shouldn’t work with them because I’m going to be the best darn designer you’ve ever seen and can back it up with all sorts of awards. You want the best? Well, you are looking at her.”

  “Good,” he chuckled lightly. “I like that you are confident about your work – and honest with me. I don’t like all the fake stuff people put off out there, you know?”

  “I can tell. You put me back on my heels right away during our first meeting.”

  “C’mon, let’s go sit down away from them and see what you’ve come up with,” Tyler waved knowingly at the two women watching them, picked up a Danish with his hands, ignoring the tongs, and took a massive bite. A giggle escaped from Rachel as she saw the looks of shock and disgust coming from the loan officers, and the sudden glance of approval from the handsome Mr. Howe.

  Rachel took her chair gingerly, feeling an ache in her belly as her ovaries began to cramp again. It took everything she had not to let a groan slip out. Ugh, she was miserable right now and hated that it was in front of this man.

  “Mr. Howe,” she began and was quickly interrupted.

  “How about you call me Tyler? Mr. Howe feels so stuffy and hoity-toity,” he said with a warm smile, pointing at his clothing. “That simply ain’t me, if you haven’t noticed by now.”

  “Oh, I noticed,” she agreed, grinning. “Very well, Tyler. Please call me Rachel.”

  “Rachel, I like that- it’s a nice biblical name.”

  “Yes sir,” she agreed and felt herself blushing as she looked away from his piercing eyes. Unfortunately, she found herself ogling his tanned skin that was exposed. Clearing her throat, she immediately needed to distract herself from looking at her client. “Now, let me show you what I came up with.”

  “You cut right to the chase, don’t you?”

  “Well yes – I mean, we are here to work together.”

  “I know, but that doesn’t mean we can’t chit-chat or make small talk for a bit.”

  “What do you want to talk about?”

  “Well, I don’t know. How about we start with why you weren’t asking me out earlier,” she heard him ask as she typed in her password on her computer screen. Frowning, she saw the red letters pop up stating incorrect password. Ignoring him, she typed them in again slowly to make sure she could start the presentation. Incorrect password flashed again on the screen, making her sigh in dismay. She didn’t want to explore the avenue he was obviously wanting to go down.

  “Because you are my client,” she replied carefully, concentrating on typing her password methodically.

  “Fine…you’re fired.”

  “WHAT?” Rachel barked out, slamming the laptop closed angrily, losing her composure and looking at him quickly. He sat there with a satisfied smile plastered on his face that made her stomach clench hard.

  “Now you can ask me out,” he said candidly. Rachel ignored the sensation, blaming it on her menses, not desire. He was ridiculous and blatantly so. How was she supposed to even take him serious if he just toyed with the idea of firing her or sat there with his chest nearly all exposed making her feel…well, it made her feel things she shouldn’t be feeling! She thought hotly.

  “Or you could ask me, you know? Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t think a girl should ask a guy out- nor should a man threaten to fire a woman from her job just because it suits him.”

  “Okay, you are re-hired,” Tyler said smoothly with a knowing grin. “So, do you want to have dinner some time?”

  “No,” Rachel told him firmly. The man had some nerve to him and he obviously thought he was simply too cute to be turned down. Boy, was he in for a surprise from her! “I don’t date clients.”

  “Don’t make me fire you again,” he teased, winking at her.

  “I’m not. It’s called workplace ethics.”

  “I know you have ethics, and you’re gorgeous – which is why I’m asking you out.”

  “Mr. Howe, I respectfully decline and if you need to fire me- then just go ahead and do so,” she bit out hotly and felt hot, hormonal tears begin to burn her eyes. Glancing away from him, she got out her laptop again and opened up the PowerPoint. Ignoring the silence across from her and his watchful gaze, she blinked several times and tried to calm herself. Stupid menstrual period, she thought. It will be a ‘heating pad and McDonald’s sundae for dinner’ tonight to feed the hormone monster in her.

  “You aren’t crying, are you?” he said softly; she could hear the regret in his husky voice and she hoped he felt really awful about it. She was angry and upset – at him and herself. She hated feeling miserable and worse yet- she hated that he had gotten under her skin
.

  “No, I’m really angry you are putting me in an awkward position right now. I don’t feel good today and not in the mood for this right now.”

  “Are you sick?”

  “Mentally?” Rachel retorted with a small derisive snort. “I’m starting to wonder if that’s why we were getting along so well at first, but then you decided to be a twerp by threatening to fire me every time I breathe in.” His sharp bark of laughter at the candid insult, made her smile unconditionally. She liked it when he laughed and it got the focus off of her.

  “I’ll back off,” he conceded finally. “I am sorry that I threatened to fire you or made you upset. Once we are done working together- I’m going to insist on that dinner date, unless you’re married and that’s why you are turning me down. I’ve gotta admit, it’s been a while since I’ve asked a girl out – and even longer since someone’s said no to me.”

  “Being told ‘no’ is healthy for the psyche.”

  “I doubt it - and I think you should have said yes.”

  “I guess I’ll miss out, wont I?”

  “Guess so. Show me what you have,” he told her.

  Rachel began her PowerPoint presentation and tried to read Tyler’s face. He kept it purposefully blank of any emotion, only with a slight frown across his eyebrows. She couldn’t tell if it was because he was focusing on the tiny screen of her laptop or if he was concerned with her suggestions. She went over each room thoroughly, pointing out features and amenities – where she’d found her ideas and what she’d drawn them from. An uncomfortable silence fell as she finished speaking. He simply looked at her and shook his head.

  “No,” Tyler told her, politely yet firmly. “Try again. More masculine next time, and my mother’s room needs to be a lot more feminine. This is not my idea at all, not what I had in mind.”

  “Well, to be truthful you’ve given me nothing to go off of other than what the house looks like. No favorite colors, no themes, nothing. What do you like?” Rachel shut her eyes momentarily and took a deep breath. She could feel her temper flaring and wanted to reach across the desk right now and hog-tie the pigheaded man. The country girl in her from Kansas was flaring to life and ready to stuff the polished woman she pretended to be into a corner while she took care of business.

  “I’m a simple guy.”

  “A simple guy who just shot down a fairly good idea – so tell me about you.”

  “This looks… standard.”

  ARGGGGHHHH! she thought, and clenched her hands together, her nails digging into her palms. Standard? Seriously? How dare he say it was standard when obviously their ideas of what standard was seemed to be vastly different. If his standard was this, so was he dressed below standards for their appointment?

  “This is lovely, stylish and very homey,” she said politely through clenched teeth with a fake smile plastered across her face.

  “It’s just not me, not my style.”

  “So, tell me what you want your home to look like – what is your style?”

  “Just try again- okay? Be creative, either that or get to know me better.”

  Rachel gaped as her client got up and abruptly left her office. She felt awful. He wasn’t rude about it, but she could tell she was way off by his expression, or lack thereof. She was disappointed in herself and hanging on to her hormone-hysteria by a single thread. Today was not a good day. She rescheduled her presentation for the twin’s nursery, changing it to tomorrow, and any other appointments she had the rest of the afternoon. She was going home to wallow in pity, think, and come up with a new idea. It wasn’t going to be a sundae tonight… it was going to be a ‘banana split with extra cherries and whipped cream’ kinda night.

  Tyler felt absolutely awful. He could see the crestfallen expression on Rachel’s face, her beautiful, gorgeous face that could make the angels weep. He’d heard that this company hired only the best of the best in the continental United States and immediately went with them. They’d taken care of everything once he’d settled on the house he’d purchased. Everything had gone smoothly and they assured him privacy during the entire process. The wiring was being redone, the plumbing and the builders were retrofitting an outbuilding into a private apartment for his mother, complete with a covered walkway. He wanted her to have her space and frankly, she’d insisted on it repeatedly.

  When he’d walked into the design offices for the very first time, he’d been struck with how beautiful and classical the woman seemed to be. She put on airs, and he liked it. Those long legs, high heels and the upswept hairdo she wore had him aching to pull the clip from her locks to see exactly how long her hair actually was. She also had a bit of backbone to her and stood up to him when he confronted her about lying. She’d been waiting in the car and he’d seen her there but hadn’t realized that it was the woman he was about to meet. That was one thing about him, he didn’t cotton to liars…but he did respect a person that owned up to it and didn’t back down.

  Today was no different. Tyler looked like an absolute bum because he was heading down to the creek on the property to spend some time alone for a bit. She’d looked at him without disgust in her expression unlike the receptionist had… she had looked at him like he was the best thing since sliced bread and he fell hard for the woman that was so far out of his league.

  Her lovely profile had him charmed and he couldn’t help but flirt with her. It was enchanting to see her cheeks blush when he teased her about how she was going to ask him out. The fiery sparkle in her eyes when he’d said she was fired. He was humbled that she turned him down flat for a date, even at the cost of her job, and perhaps that was why he was so abrupt with her. He wanted more and expected it from her.

  The PowerPoint was nice…but he didn’t want nice. He wanted a home, a sanctuary for himself and something comforting for his mother. Funny thing was that when he was looking at the presentation and listening to Rachel talk, he kept trying to imagine his mother walking through the rooms and simply couldn’t see it. If he couldn’t picture her there, he sure couldn’t picture himself living there. It was standard, something that would fit another personality greatly…and he wanted perfection. He wanted to see what Rachel could do if she thought outside of the box.

  He wanted her to get to know him.

  5

  Three days later, Rachel was on her third set of ink pens. She was chewing the cap on them furiously, trying to come up with some idea. Be creative, Tyler had said. She could do creative, but she had no idea if he would like it. It was really irking her that he wasn’t giving any leads or suggestions to go on other than what she saw in front of her. He drove an old functional truck, wore simple, comfortable clothing and was almost unassuming… for a well-to-do guy.

  Glancing up, she saw a massive bouquet of flowers appear in her doorway. A large variety of wildflowers, lavender, and sunflowers were tied neatly with a purple ribbon inside a large glass vase. Julia’s face peered out from the side with a massive grin plastered inelegantly, making her eyes look like spackled walls that cracked from pressure.

  “Who’s that for?” Rachel asked stupefied.

  “You! It’s from that redneck billionaire guy you got saddled with.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Mr. Howe? You know he’s loaded right? He’s filthy freaking rich!”

  “What? No, I didn’t know that. I knew he was well off financially but we haven’t agreed on a design yet, so we haven’t talked money.”

  Rachel stared at the enormous bouquet and breathed in the perfume. It reminded her of when she was a girl back home, running around and picking flowers wherever she could find them. Was this what he meant? He wanted to be reminded of his current home? Plucking the card out, she opened the envelope and frowned.

  Don’t be uptight, be creative. I’m sorry if I was rude.

  I’ll let you ask me out again - Tyler

  “You asked him out?” Julia gaped in shock, nosily looking over Rachel’s shoulder to read the card. “What
did he say?”

  “No! I didn’t ask him out, are you kidding? I don’t date clients.”

  “He’s filthy rich, woman…make an exception! Billionaire! Nine zeros on that check, in case you are wondering.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Rachel disagreed and listened to Julia walk out of her office talking about how the new girl’s been hit with the ‘stupid-stick’. Word would be all over the office in no time. They were supposed to present an elegant polished atmosphere, but when it came down to it – they were like any other group of women. You had the snobby ones, the friendly ones, the uptight ones and the down to earth ones. Obviously, Tyler thought she was one of the uptight ones, whereas she thought she was a bit of each combined.

  Staring at the flowers, she was touched. It was instructional, nice, yet funny…or what he thought was funny. I will let you ask me out? Rachel almost laughed aloud, hearing his voice in her mind. I don’t think so, she thought. Opening his file, she noticed that his phone number and email address was left blank on the forms. The man definitely wanted his privacy but unfortunately for her, it made it where she couldn’t contact him – even to thank him for the lovely flowers.

  Going back to the drawing board, she thought long and hard about what a guy like him might like. He was down home, unobtrusive, yet arrogant. Picking up her phone, she snapped a photo of the flowers. Dialing, she called her mother.

  “Hey mom, are you busy?”

  “Never too busy for my girl, what’s going on?”