Not The Billionaire

by Noorman, Krista

  Ida went to the stove and silenced the timer. “Baking up some cookies for the moms’ group at church.”

  Sebastian watched as Genevieve put on some oven mitts and removed the tray of sugar cookies for her mother.

  “Is that new lipstick you’re wearing?” her mother asked. “You don’t usually wear pink. It doesn’t always work with your skin tone.”

  Genevieve did not reply to her mother’s observations or opinions. Instead, she reached for one of the cookies, but her mom pushed her arm aside before she could get it.

  “A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.” Her mom looked her over. “Looks like you’ve been eating well lately.”

  Genevieve rolled her eyes again and walked to the refrigerator, removing a jug of water, and pouring them each a glass.

  He couldn’t understand how she wasn’t upset with her mother’s comments. He was upset for her, but it wasn’t his place to defend her. Especially in the place where she grew up. He had a feeling she’d been rolling her eyes at her mother for a very long time.

  “You should really clean out the mud room, Mom.”

  “It’s fine as it is,” her mom snapped.

  “It’s like a shrine in there.”

  “The time isn’t right yet.”

  There was no eye rolling this time, and Sebastian could feel the tension hanging in the room. Though she hadn’t shared with him, it was obvious that Genevieve’s dad was no longer around.

  Ida motioned for them to follow her into the living room, and she settled into a recliner, turning the already-running television to the local news. “Did you see that story this morning about the guy who left his dog in the car in this heat?”

  “You know I don’t watch the news, Mom,” Genevieve replied. “What happened? Did the dog die?”

  “A person walking by saw and called the police. They got the dog out in time.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Yeah, I can’t believe some people. I’m always hearing stories about kids and animals dying when people do that. It’s like leaving them in an oven.” She took a sip of water.

  “Nice place you have here,” Sebastian said.

  “Thank you.”

  “Seems like a peaceful area to live in. How long have you been here?” he asked.

  “Since before Genny’s sister, Rhonda, was born. Going on thirty-five years now, I’d say. Where do you live, Kurtis?”

  “In Grand Rapids. I have a place on the east side.”

  “Very nice. So, you must do well for yourself then.”

  “Mom,” Genevieve cut in. “That’s his business.”

  Her mom shrugged her shoulders innocently. “Drives a nice car. Has his own place. I’d say he’s a successful man.”

  There was that eye-rolling again, which he was starting to find adorable.

  “Anyway …”

  He could see she was anxious to change the subject.

  “I read an article about the fundraiser for the Schultz Foundation, Genny. Is that the thing you’re in charge of?”

  “Yes, Mom. It’s a regatta.”

  “Well, that’s nice. You always try to do too much yourself, though.”

  “She’s doing an amazing job,” Sebastian told her. “You should be very proud.”

  Ida’s appreciative smile suddenly shifted, and she began eyeing him strangely. “Have you been working at the Schultz company for long, Kurtis?”

  “Ten years.”

  “Hmm. And you like it there?”

  “I do. It’s a good company to work for.”

  Her eyes narrowed a little as she looked at him. It was like she was trying to figure something out, and it was a little unsettling.

  Genevieve must have sensed it, because she hopped up and motioned for Sebastian to follow her. “Okay, we’re going to see Charisma now. I’ll come let you know when we’re going.”

  “All right. Have fun,” her mom said.

  “We will.”

  Genevieve rushed ahead toward the exit, and Sebastian sped up to follow her.

  They stepped out into the heat, and when they were clear of the house, she looked over at him.

  “I am so sorry about my mom. She’s … opinionated. And I told you she thinks I need to lose some weight.”

  “I caught that. And she couldn’t be more wrong.”

  She smiled over at him. “Thanks.”

  “She also gives me a hard time about not watching the news or reading the paper. I’m sorry, but I have a lot of stuff to worry about, and maybe I should be keeping up with the state of the world more, but by the time I’m done with work every day, I want to unplug and unwind, and turning on the news or reading her beloved newspaper is the last thing on my mind. Most of it is just too depressing.”

  “So, she’s a news buff.”

  “Obsessed with the news. Reads the paper religiously. They’ve had the Grand Rapids Press and The New York Times delivered out here in the boonies for years.”

  He laughed at that. “That’s kind of impressive. It’s good to read and be in the know.”

  “I know. I should be better. Do you watch the news?”

  “Yes.”

  “Read the paper?”

  “Every day.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Of course you do.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means you’re in public relations. You need to keep up with what’s going on in the world and in the area, right?”

  He laughed. “And for general knowledge.”

  She smiled over at him as they walked into one of the barns, and she led him past a few empty stalls to two on the end that contained horses.

  “This is Buddy, Rhonda’s horse.” She patted him on the side of his shiny copper coat as she passed by on her way to the next stall. Her hand gracefully lifted to caress her horse’s reddish-brown face. “Hey, girl.”

  The horse came forward, head over the gate, and nuzzled Genevieve’s cheek, which had her smiling, and Sebastian found her even more beautiful than he had before.

  “This is Charisma,” she announced, then leaned closer to her horse and whispered, “What do you say, girl? Should we take Kurtis riding?”

  Charisma whinnied.

  “Do you ride?” she asked him.

  He’d been riding horses since he was a little kid, but there was no way he was going to tell her that and miss out on her teaching him how. “A few times, but you can show me what to do.”

  “Gladly.” She worked to get Charisma and Buddy all saddled up and ready to go, showing him what to do, then once they were on the horses, she gave him basic instructions on how to get the horse to move.

  He listened intently, even though he already knew it all, and nodded with each thing she told him. Her voice was sweet and soothing and more than a little sexy. He could have sat there all day listening to her talk.

  Genevieve began to direct Charisma toward a long lane that led along the edge of a cornfield. Sebastian followed on Buddy. It had been a while since he’d ridden. He and his siblings used to have horses of their own growing up, but they’d sold them as they all got older and into other activities. But still, he loved them. They were the most beautiful creatures in the world.

  His eyes settled on Genevieve—another beautiful creature—just as she looked back at him. “Catch up,” she told him.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said, giving Buddy a little tap with his heels to get him to trot past her.

  “Hey!” she cried.

  He heard her laugh, and then she was beside him with Charisma, trotting along the path.

  “I told you I’ve done this a few times.” He gave her a smile as he sat firmly in the saddle and signaled with his legs for Buddy to change his gait to a walk.

  Genevieve did the same. “I’m impressed. You’re either a natural or you’ve ridden more than you’re admitting, because it usually takes practice to get a horse to make such a smooth transition for a beginner rider.”

  He shrugged his should
ers.

  Her nose scrunched up like it so often did, and he was beginning to understand that it meant she was annoyed or disappointed.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You do that a lot,” she said.

  “Do what?”

  “I’m trying to get to know you, and whenever I ask you something about yourself, you dodge the question or shrug it away like you just did.”

  “You didn’t ask me a question. If you want to know something, ask.”

  “How long have you been riding?”

  “Since I was a kid, but my parents sold my horse years ago, and I haven’t ridden since.”

  “How come you didn’t tell me that earlier, before I babbled on and on about how to ride a horse?”

  “I wanted to hear you tell me how to do it. I like the sound of your voice.”

  A blush colored her cheeks as a shy smile spread across her face. “Was that so hard?”

  “Anything else you’d like to ask me?” He raised an eyebrow at her.

  “Are you originally from Grand Rapids?”

  “Yes. Born and raised.”

  “Did you keep it there?”

  “Keep what where?”

  “Your horse. In GR?”

  He was amused by the way she jumped from subject to subject. “Yeah. We boarded it at a stable.”

  She smiled. “I got Charisma when I was eight. She was just a filly then.” She touched Charisma’s side. “We’ve been through a lot together, haven’t we, girl?”

  “How about Buddy?” he asked.

  “Buddy’s been around for about twenty years. My sister, Rhonda, didn’t take to horses like I did, though. But I was getting all this attention barrel racing, and she liked being the center of attention, so she begged for a horse and riding lessons. It didn’t last very long. She wasn’t devoted to it like I was. Poor Buddy didn’t get much of her attention either.”

  “So, now your Mom takes care of the horses?”

  Genevieve laughed at that. “Mom wouldn’t be caught dead mucking out stalls. Since dad passed away, Amish neighbors and their kids have looked out for them. But lately,”—she nodded her head toward a nearby farm—“the neighbor girl, Luna, has been coming several days a week to take them out and exercise them.” She got a sad expression on her face as she looked down at Charisma. “I miss it. I miss her.” She took a deep breath in and sighed, then turned to him with a playful grin. “Wanna see what she can do?”

  Sebastian eyed her curiously.

  Genevieve got Charisma trotting and then suddenly took off in a full gallop, letting out a loud whoop. “Race ya to the woods!”

  He laughed and got Buddy going, then let him loose, following the rest of the open path until they neared the place where it narrowed and disappeared into a wooded trail.

  Genevieve slowed Charisma to a walk again, and he slowed Buddy to a trot until he caught up to her.

  She was laughing, her hair falling out of the bun it had been in all afternoon. “That was such a rush. I haven’t done that in so long.”

  Her laugh was like magic. It made him feel things he’d never felt before. The more time they spent together, the more he was falling for this woman.

  They moved on through the wooded path slowly, talking as they rode.

  “I’m sorry to hear about your dad,” Sebastian said.

  “Thank you. It was his heart. One day, he seemed perfectly healthy, riding around the field in the combine like he loved to do, and the next day he was gone.”

  “When did he die?”

  “A little over a year ago.”

  “Your mom doesn’t do the farming now, does she?”

  “Oh, heavens, no. She rents the land to area farmers. My mom never wanted to be a farmer’s wife to begin with, and she made that fact well known my whole life. Rhonda’s more like her in that way. She wasn’t into farm life. But I was Daddy’s little girl, always out here working and helping wherever I could.” She grew quiet as they rode. “Daddy and I went riding together a few days before he passed. It was our thing.”

  The sorrow in her eyes made Sebastian’s heart ache. He wished they were standing on solid ground so he could take her in his arms and comfort her.

  “I miss him.” She touched Charisma’s black mane. “We both do, don’t we, girl?”

  “You really love horses, don’t you?” He already knew the answer, but wanted to hear her talk about them some more.

  “So much. I love the connection people can make with them, how trusting they can be. And so loving. If I was upset, I’d go see Charisma, and she always seemed to pick up on how I was feeling. It’s a bond that’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t been around horses much.”

  Sebastian thought about that for a few moments. “I don’t think I ever really experienced that, but I did love riding. Did you ever think about working with them as a career?”

  “Actually … don’t tell the boss, but Schultz Chocolate was not my first choice of job.”

  His eyebrows lifted when he looked over at her. “No? Where would you rather be working?”

  “There’s this great company out in Montana that rescues horses. I went when I was in high school and helped for a month one summer. I’ve always wanted to go back there and work. There’s so much to do. So many horses are mistreated. I applied for a position there, but never heard back.”

  He could tell by the expression on her face that she was disappointed, and that saddened him, but he was secretly glad she hadn’t gotten that job.

  “Maybe one day you’ll get to go back there.”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe. My family would hate me living so far away.”

  He fixed his eyes on hers. “They’re not the only ones.”

  Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink, and her head dipped shyly.

  They rode on in silence for a few minutes.

  “What are your parents like?” she asked out of the blue. “Are you close with them?”

  A nervousness settled in the pit of his stomach. If her questions turned too personal, he didn’t want to lie to her. He remembered the pastor’s sermon about honesty in church on Sunday. He wanted to be honest with her. He really did.

  “My parents are the best. Loving and supportive to us kids. Generous and kind. We’re very close.”

  “They sound wonderful. Maybe I’ll get to meet them sometime.”

  He looked over at her and made eye contact. “You will.”

  “So, tell me about your siblings,” she said.

  “Huh?” Had he said he had siblings? He couldn’t remember for sure.

  “You said your parents were supportive to you kids, and you told me before you have a younger brother and sister.”

  “Right.” He looked away.

  “What are their names?” she asked.

  Oh, man, did he feel sick to his stomach at the moment. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t lie to her. If ever there was a time to tell her the truth, now was it. But then her words about not wanting a wealthy man came back to him, and he panicked.

  “Paul and Anna,” he answered. It was a partial truth. He had used their middle names just as he had with his own name.

  She smiled at his answer, and they rode on in silence, rounding a curve that led them back to the original path toward the house. He was thankful for the break in talking, and not feeling very good about himself at the moment. He couldn’t let this go on any longer. And if she hated him for it, and if she didn’t want someone with a lot of money, then he’d have to live with that. He only hoped in time, she would find a way to forgive him, and maybe then they would have a real chance at something together. They really couldn’t until she knew the whole truth.

  “There’s something I need to tell you.” He looked over at her, and she gave him the most hopeful look, like whatever it was he was going to say would be something very good.

  “What is it?”

  He pressed his lips together and was about to say the words, when Charisma suddenly
lurched forward then stopped moving.

  “What is it, girl?” Genevieve grabbed hold of the saddle and leaned to the side, looking down at her horse’s legs. She jumped down to get a better look.

  Sebastian got down from Buddy as well, and bent down next to Genevieve as she examined Charisma’s leg.

  “I’m so sorry, girl.” Genevieve looked heartbroken as she lovingly touched Charisma’s leg. “Her knee is swollen. She hasn’t done that in a while, and I ran her too hard without warming her up properly. What was I thinking?”

  “Hey.” Sebastian lay his hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure Charisma will be okay in no time.”

  “I hope so.” She took hold of the reins and began to slowly lead her horse along the path back to the house with the utmost concern on her face. “I knew better than to run her like that. And in this heat. She’s probably dehydrated too.” She softly rubbed Charisma’s head as she whispered, “I’m sorry.”

  He hated that she was beating herself up over this.

  When they reached the barn, Sebastian stayed and watered the horses and took care of the saddles, while Genevieve went for some ice to wrap Charisma’s leg. Once she returned, he watched her carefully wrap her beloved horse’s leg, gently caressing her and whispering to her things that he couldn’t make out. It was the sweetest thing to behold. She was such a warm and loving woman. He could only imagine how she’d be with children someday.

  This time when that thought came into his head, he wasn’t as surprised by it.

  “Thanks for taking care of the tack,” she said as they walked toward the house.

  “No problem.” He reached out and squeezed her hand, and her eyes met his. “She’ll be fine, Gen. Don’t worry.”

  A slow smile spread on her face as they walked hand in hand. “I like you calling me that.”

  He smiled back at her. “Good to know.”

  They entered the house then, and Sebastian got a drink of water in the kitchen while Genevieve went to the bathroom.

  Ida entered the kitchen then and got herself a glass of water too. She leaned her back against the kitchen counter and faced him.