Winning the Billionaire

by Ginny Sterling

  “It’s not too bad, and we don’t need to put a pin in her hip. I do however want to make sure there is nothing else going on. She fell for some reason and we’d like to observe her for a few days. She needs to gain some strength so she can steady herself. I’d like to have her go through rehabilitation to make sure she isn’t going to fall again. If she does and the fracture gives, it will be harder to repair. Let’s let her rest and once the swelling goes down, then we can put a cast on her arm.”

  “How long?” he blurted out protectively.

  “Tyler, this could be a good thing,” Rachel interjected. “She’ll be cared for here and under supervision. If something happens and she falls again, we might not be lucky enough to get the call.”

  “No, I know…I just feel helpless, like I should have been there or stopped her fall.”

  “You can’t be everywhere at once but we can make it less of a hazard for her to walk around.”

  “You have some time to make sure she has some grab bars in the bathroom and things along that line. I’d say maybe two weeks of therapy and we’ll see how she’s progressing,” the doctor instructed. Tyler nodded woodenly and put his head down in his hands the moment he left the room.

  “She’s always been there, hasn’t she?”

  “I feel lost and it’s silly because I know she’s going to be okay.”

  “It’s natural to feel like that, you are close to her,” Rachel reminded him. “I know you want to stay, but you might need to eat something and get a change of clothes. The two of us can’t sleep on the divan, but we can take turns to make sure she’s always got someone here.” She saw the hesitation on Tyler’s face and grasped his hand. “She’s safe and resting- you have to trust me at some point. Remember, if you can trust me with decorating your house, your pocketbook and a rifle…you can trust me now.”

  “I do trust you, can you trust me?”

  Rachel nodded and saw him lean down towards her; she took a step back instantly, thinking of the intense kiss between them earlier in the day. There was something in the way he looked at her that changed her mind. She stood still as he infinitely caressed his lips against hers. It wasn’t heated; it was bitterly sweet and spoke volumes. He simply needed that tenderness between them, that kiss. He was searching for peace and comfort, reaching for her.

  11

  It was time to get crackin’, Rachel thought. She’d spent several hours alone at the hospital while Tyler ran home, got a shower and changed. He’d picked up drive-thru and returned to have dinner with her there in the hospital room while his mother slept. He insisted that Rachel take the truck home because he wasn’t planning on heading out until she returned to trade off with him. Tyler had texted his boss to tell him what had happened and it still amazed her that he worked. The man had incredible work ethics and felt the need to be productive, part of what made his character so inspiring to her.

  She genuinely liked him.

  Tyler Howe wasn’t just a pretty face or a rich guy… he was a gorgeous man on the inside and out. His house would reflect the same feelings and emotions when she was finished with it. She’d already scheduled a meeting with the contractor and builder. There were some changes to be made and she wasn’t asking permission, by golly – she was doing what she felt was right.

  Rachel poured through catalogs, fabric books, and wallpaper samples for hours on end. She knew what she had in mind for the house, it was a matter of getting it out of her imagination and shaping it into real life without Tyler seeing what she had in mind. She wanted to surprise him and hoped he could give her that leeway to do so. Grabbing several magazines and her laptop, she stuffed them into her case and left the office. She was still driving his truck and honestly glad for it because her car wouldn’t start this morning.

  When it rained, it poured.

  Pulling into the parking lot at the hospital, she grabbed her case along with the Walmart bag that sat in the passenger seat. She’d been struck with the idea on her way home to stop and get a little something to make Clara feel more at home when she woke up or saw the doctor. There was nothing like feeling comfortable when you were in a place that felt sterile, devoid of anything comforting. It was all cold, clinical things meant to be cleaned often.

  People weren’t like that. Children wanted teddy bears for comfort, some people liked blankets, but she was a fuzzy socks kind of girl. The pale pink fluffy socks with rubber soles were perfect for Clara – that and the zip up robe that matched. Something cuddly that would give her a sense of privacy when the doctors came in. Personally, Rachel wouldn’t want to lie there in a thin, threadbare cotton gown – why would anyone else?

  Walking in the hospital, she headed straight to the room and smiled the moment her eyes met Tyler’s. He immediately jumped up and gave her a hug. The feeling of his arms around her was heavenly and she felt like she was home.

  “I missed you,” he whispered against her hair. “She woke up about an hour ago and they are going to put the cast on shortly.”

  “How are you doing? You look better; relieved.”

  “Tyler, let her in the room. You’d think I was lying over here unconscious the way you are carrying on. Mercy, Rachel you are a sight for sore eyes. Look at you, looking so pretty just like Vanna,” Clara said good-naturedly, but there was a slur to her voice.

  “She’s still drugged?” Rachel whispered, smothering a laugh.

  “Very much so,” Tyler grinned and winked, as if the two of them were conspiring together. “They kept her on the medicines until the cast sets. She’ll get weaned off this evening or tomorrow.” Nodding, Rachel smiled widely over his shoulder at Clara. She stepped back out of his arms and walked over to the older woman.

  “Hi Clara, how are you feeling?” she asked, pulling up the chair next to the hospital bed.

  “I feel like I’ve got cotton in my mouth and it’s a little chilly in here.”

  “Well I brought you something,” Rachel said happily, grinning. “Now, don’t move your arm,” she began as Clara started to sit up straight in the bed. Tyler quickly moved to the other side of the bed and tucked another pillow behind her back.

  Rachel pulled out the pink socks and matching robe, along with a comb and some disposable tiny toothbrushes that looked almost like enlarged toothpicks with a brush head on them. She kept a package in her desk drawer at work and some in her purse because she was big on making sure her teeth were clean.

  “I love fuzzy socks and these were so adorable, I had to get them. Plus, with the grippies on the bottom, it will keep you from slipping or falling. I got you some pink ones and some green ones for myself. I also picked up this robe. I figured it would be easy to put on and keep your modesty.”

  “I do hate that my backside is exposed. It’s scandalous,” Clara whispered. Rachel laughed good-naturedly.

  “I can only imagine, so until they get your cast on – we can drape it across you to function as an extra blanket. Did you want to brush your teeth? Can I help you with anything?”

  “You’re incredible,” she heard Tyler say softly and glanced up at his dark eyes watching her. Rachel swallowed hard as she saw the tenderness in his gaze. She felt Clara pat her hand that rested on the metal guard of the hospital bed.

  “You are a sweet girl. I hope my Tyler finds a good girl someday,” she said, her voice still loopy as the machine nearby whirred and beeped, giving her another dose of pain medication in her IV line. “Fweet, fweet gurl,” she said and fell asleep seconds later.

  Rachel glanced down as Clara’s hand went slack, dropping down onto the bed when she fell asleep. She avoided Tyler’s eyes and moved to the divan. “I brought you a submarine sandwich. I figured you were probably getting tired of burgers all the time and thought this might be a bit different. I need to talk to you about your house too.”

  He walked over and sat down near Rachel, taking her hands in his. “I meant what I said, I think you are incredible.”

  “We can’t do this yet,” she reminded
him.

  “You can’t, I’m all for it and waiting for you to be ready. Every time I think you are simply perfect, you do something that just blows my mind. Thank you,” he whispered, leaning forward and gently kissing her on the cheek. “Thank you for being you,” he repeated and kissed her on the lips. It was like the kiss from the day before, undemanding, tender and full of…love.

  “Be patient,” she said softly, biting her lip. He ran his thumb across her bottom lip where she’d bit it.

  “I’ll be holding my breath,” he teased.

  “Please don’t,” she flirted. “But I do need a favor from you.” She instantly saw the moment he pulled back expecting the worst. She remembered how his friends had asked for money, things or favors and wanted to kick herself at the choice of words.

  “That look is why we need to wait,” Rachel began, feeling almost sad at his reaction. “You want to trust, but you can’t yet. I need there to be trust between us for you and I to even have a chance. The desire is there, but relationships are built on more than just that. I need you to let go and put your faith in me, show me you can trust me and let me in.”

  “What do you need from me?”

  “Honestly – I need absolutely nothing. That was what I was going to ask from you – yet you assumed I was going to ask for money. Don’t deny it, I saw it on your face. I need you to stay away from the house and let me do what I want to it without question. I have an idea and I want to surprise you, so can you do that? Can you give me your trust?”

  “It’s yours,” he said gently. “I know you think I don’t trust you, that I am holding back- but out of anyone in this world, the two people I trust the most are in this room right now. Do what you want and I will stay away.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered, turning her cheek into his hand that cupped her face. “That means a lot to me.”

  “You mean a lot to me and if this is what you need for us to move forward, it’s yours.”

  12

  “What’s on your mind, son?” Tyler heard his mother’s tired voice and was relieved that she was feeling slightly better, even though she hurt. The doctors had taken her off of the pain medication and her cast had been set. She would begin physical therapy in the morning and move to a rehabilitation center where she would focus on rest, taking care of herself and getting stronger.

  “Nothing,” he mumbled, thinking of how Rachel kept pulling back from him. He’d never found himself so fascinated with a girl. He understood what people meant when they said someone was wrapped around their little finger. All she had to do was smile at him sideways and he was putty. He knew the moment he’d kissed her in the deer stand that he’d pushed too hard too soon. She was incredibly gorgeous and he’d been drawn like a moth to a flame – only to get burned.

  She was scared.

  He understood because he was scared too. Everyone he’d ever trusted or had been close to had alienated him the moment he’d distanced himself. He’d helped his friends financially at first, but then it was obvious he was being used. When he refused, they’d called him selfish and greedy. That wasn’t him, never had been – but he’d seen people’s true colors after word had gotten out- but with Rachel it was different. It was like the blinders had been taken off and he was seeing the world around him for the first time. She was lovely, heart and soul.

  “Don’t lie to me, what have we always said?”

  “Honesty, always – even if it hurts.”

  “You know, I like your young lady a lot. She’s very sweet, down to her core.”

  “Mama, did you ever miss dad or regret meeting him – living like we did. I mean, you could have missed out on something better if you weren’t working two jobs to take care of me.”

  “Tyler, I have never felt like I was missing out unless I missed a game or practice you had. I tried to do so much for you and always felt like it was never enough. I wanted to give you the world and you deserved so much more than that.”

  “I never felt like I missed out, but I do get afraid sometimes that maybe I’m not good enough…” he said, his voice trailing off as his mother pinched his face, turning him to look up at her. He couldn’t help but grin at the fierce expression on her face. Here she was, tiny and bedridden but with the ferocity of a mama bear. He was twenty-nine, but she was correcting him like he was seven years old.

  “Don’t you ever say you aren’t good enough.”

  “Yes ma’am”

  “I didn’t raise a foolish boy, I raised a man – a real man. A proud, strong, arrogant man who is a leader like his father was. You need to let a sweet girl in someday but it needs to be the right one -and I think you’ve met her, you just need to win her over.

  “Be yourself and find love, a love so deep that when all you have are memories…they are enough,” his mother hesitated and drew a deep, shaky breath. “I desperately loved your father before he died. He would walk in a room and my heart would dance, he would smile at me and the world would sing, and when he drew his last breath – I thought I would die until I looked at you and saw you watching me. As broken as I felt, I knew that your father was still here, in you, Tyler.”

  “I want you to have that kind of love with your beautiful Rachel, if she is the right woman for you – but you won’t develop that sitting by my side. You need to spend time with her, get to know her and let her know the man you are.”

  “Hi Clara,” Tyler heard Rachel’s sing-song voice as she walked in the room. He’d been sitting there in the room with his eyes shut trying to nap. His mother had problems getting comfortable enough to sleep and had been up several times during the night. Her arm hurt and her hip ached. The nurse said it was to be expected and gave her Tylenol for the pain. Tyler felt like an old man fussing over her all night and it was catching up with him.

  “You look wonderful this morning, how are you feeling? Better?” she asked and turned to Tyler with a soft smile. “Hi Tyler, I wanted to see if you could leave for just a bit to help me with a project I have going on,” she said, conspiring with him. He’d told his mother that the remodel was a surprise and she was playing along. “I thought maybe we could grab coffee while we are out too?”

  “Go you two and have fun,” Clara interrupted. “They are going to have me walking the halls, and while that sounds like tremendous fun, he needs to get out and won’t leave my side. I will be fine.”

  “Sounds like we are leaving,” he said with a wink, getting to his feet. He leaned over and kissed his mother on the cheek. “You won’t be rid of me all day long. I’ll be back to pester you shortly. Love you, Mama.”

  “I love you too- and remember what I said,” she prompted, causing Rachel’s eyebrow to arch delicately.

  “Are you two talking about me while I’m not here?”

  “I wouldn’t be a gentleman if I told you,”

  “So, you were talking about me,” she teased. Tyler held out his arm expectantly and was more than pleased to have her place her hand on his forearm, almost hugging it happily. He could feel the gentle curve of her body against his arm as she did so, making his heart skip a beat. She had to be the prettiest thing he’d ever seen in these here parts. There was an unspoken elegance to her, but there was also something so real in her personality. She was a woman that could fit in at any soiree or look right at home fishing on a muddy river bank. He didn’t care where they were going, as long as she looked at him with that special light in her eyes. Rachel looked at Tyler like he was the center of her world – and he was pretty sure that she didn’t even realize it.

  “So where are you kidnapping me- I mean- where are we going?” he asked, opening the truck door for her. Her bubbly laughter rolled over him, making him smile easily.

  “I thought maybe we could take a peek at tile for the bathroom and your mother’s room. I have an idea of what I want- but once tile is in, it’s hard to change. This is the only hint you get and it’s your one chance,” she taunted.

  “Shopping for tile,” he groaned dramaticall
y and shut the door, looking up at her where she watched him. “But now that I’ve got you in the truck, we’ll negotiate: I’ll go shopping with you for tile if you’ll go to dinner with me.”

  “No problem, we can get something quick while we are out.”

  “No,” he said firmly. “I want to go on a real date like couples do. Not to the dealership, not dinner with my mother and not to grab a bite…I want more than that and you know it.” Rachel paled just a bit and her cheeks got awfully pink. He adored the way she blushed and her downcast eyes. It was positively enchanting.

  “Okay,” she nodded finally. “A real date.”

  Tyler grinned and circled around the front of the truck with a hop to his step. He pulled himself up into the cab. He glanced at her and chuckled to himself happily. He felt like his whole body was floating on air right now. He couldn’t have cared less what they looked at today, as long as she was with him. He fought the urge to tuck her hair behind her ear as they looked at board after board of tile displays. She was perfectly at home in this environment, and he felt that same perfection just being with her. Before he’d realized it, they’d be there almost three hours and had narrowed it down to two different patterns.

  “Which do you prefer?” he said finally as she lay both patterns on the floor and stared at them, tapping her foot.

  “Honestly, neither,” she said with a heavy sigh. “I know what I want and while this is nice- it’s not quite what I was wanting. I want something rugged, yet- AH! That!” she squeaked and ran over across the showroom, her heels clicking on the terracotta tile that was being displayed. “This is perfect. What do you think of this?”

  Smiling, he nodded. She could have been holding a trash bag and it would have been perfect. “It’s great- take that one.”