Mending Words With The Billionaire (Artists & Billionaires Book 5)

by Lorin Grace

  He held out his free hand, palm up, hoping she would take it. Needing her to trust him. It woudn’t change anything between them. A Lie. Her trust would change everything. He wanted to crush the TA and smack the boyfriend, hunt down the prank callers, and erase her memory. He couldn’t do those things. Instead, he waited.

  She dropped the wipe in her lap, her hand hovering over his for a moment before she laid it on his. Although she didn’t raise her eyes above the center of his shirt, relief filled him. “Everyone will find out soon enough. Social media posts named me the “cry wolf girl.” The newspapers never did, but it didn’t matter since they printed the opinion pieces. The connection isn’t hard to make.”

  He wanted to pull her into a hug and keep her there until all her pain melted away, but a certain stiffness in her prevented his doing so. “This won’t be like last time. There are videos of Dodd chasing after you. Security witnessed what he was yelling. There is evidence. Your employer believed you, and I believe you.” Nick would have continued, but she would not have appreciated his thoughts because they involved his money. There were many legal means for money to save a reputation, and he would use them all if necessary.

  Zoe looked at him, wide-eyed. “You do?”

  He rubbed his thumb along the back of her hand. “From day one you have been nothing but honest with me. Do you know how many people would tell me they didn’t like me to my face? I believe you.” It may be that those three words had more power in them than any other three words he could say.

  She wiped away the tears with her fingertips, smudging a dab of paint across her cheek. “I didn’t exactly say I didn’t like you.” The corner of her mouth raised as if she were trying to smile.

  “Close enough. How badly do you want to finish painting the kitchen?” That was one disaster his money could fix.

  She stared at the half-painted kitchen space before answering. “Not so much at the moment.”

  “Let’s go out to Blue Pines. You can visit with Tessa, and I can go hide away in my man cave with a steak on my eye.”

  “I need to clean up.” Letting go of his hand, she stood.

  “Can I help?”

  Zoe reddened. “I meant me, not the kitchen. I need to clean up in there, too.”

  Nick felt his face heat. “Do you want me to leave?”

  “You need to keep those berries on your eye. I trust you’ll sit here until I am done.” Zoe went into the kitchen.

  She trusted him enough to let him stay while she showered. Even before she told him she trusted him, she’d allowed him in her apartment without a third party. He sat a moment, letting that fact sink in. She trusted him.

  Nick adjusted his makeshift ice pack and pulled out his phone so he could text Sean. Zoe needs to visit Tessa ASAP. Can you two meet us at the Cottage?

  —We are at the church. Can you come to the old house?

  Yes, clear as much of Tessa’s day as possible.

  —Why?

  Will tell you when we get there.

  Zoe finished in the kitchen and went down the hall. Nick heard a door shut and a lock click. A moment later, the pipes creaked, a sure sign she had seen the paint in her hair. Time to make a couple of calls while she couldn’t hear him.

  Finding Colin’s number in his contacts, Nick pressed dial.

  “Do you have a minute? I need help with a problem.”

  “You’ve got them too?” Colin sounded as exhausted as Nick felt.

  “Not exactly me. Zoe. I need you to erase everything you can legally; find any place on the web, especially social media, for the last two or three years.”

  “That is a tall and vague order.”

  “You are the only person I know who can do it.”

  “Do I get to know why?” The click of computer keys echoed in the background.

  He didn’t feel comfortable telling Zoe’s story. “I think you will figure it out soon enough. Can I help you with your problems?”

  “Unless you understand women, probably not. I goofed, and Candace isn’t talking to me. I think she left town with Mandy. I took the wrong door out of the friend zone.”

  “Hey, I finally found my way into the friend zone. Might I suggest you let her give you a black eye?” Nick lifted the berries and checked his vision. It wasn’t blurry. Still, he couldn’t open it fully.

  “There is a story there. Maybe we can get things to change by the premiere.”

  “Premiere?” What had he missed? Zoe hadn’t mentioned anything.

  “The Hearthfire Christmas movie Sean and Tessa were scenery for. Mandy and Candace have been working on plans for weeks now in the old theater in Blue Pines.”

  “I don’t think I got an invite.”

  “Oh, you will. They haven’t sent them yet. I’ll just—” Colin paused. The clicking of his keyboard intensified. “Oya, that is why Zoe transferred schools her senior year. This guy smeared her in everything from the university paper to the most unpopular social media websites. Why do people have to be such jerks?”

  “I wish I knew.” The pipes creaked again. He only had a few more minutes.

  “Give me a couple hours. I can’t do much about the newspapers other than trying to boost other things in the rankings in front of them. The papers don’t say her name, but with the social media posts, I managed to connect them quickly. If there are court records, I can’t touch those. However, she still shouldn’t be named. Did you know Zoe won a few awards for her design, including one for Wolf Trap, the National Park, and at the county fair for 4-H things? I’ll push those stories to the top in the searches. Anyone specific I need to hide this from?”

  Nick adjusted the berry pack. Most of the fruit was soft now. “Sleazy lawyers . . . ”

  “I’ll do my best. With any luck, they will only find her detasseling-corn speed record and her prize heifer during a preliminary search and won’t look further. A bullying complaint to a couple of the networks should delete some of this permanently. They are too afraid of lawsuits. See you at the premiere.”

  Nick dialed Sebastian. Given the slit he was seeing out of in his left eye, he probably shouldn’t drive in Manhattan traffic. He requested a backup driver come and move his personal car from the parking space back to the garage.

  Zoe emerged. His sisters were never that fast. Her hair was still damp and up in a messy bun, her face devoid of makeup.

  “Sorry I took so long. I had paint in my hair.” Clearly she didn’t know the meaning of a long shower.

  Nick handed her the berries and stood. “I think those are useless now. Sebastian will be here in five. Do you mind if I go look in your mirror?”

  Nodding, Zoe grimaced before taking the defrosted berries into the kitchen.

  The mirror didn’t lie. Good thing he already had the shades-and-baseball-cap thing down. If he stayed out of the public eye for a few days, he might be able to avoid any questions.

  sixteen

  Zoe tried not to apologize the entire ride out to Blue Pines. What would she tell Sean and Tessa? And Nick’s parents? She looked out the window so she wouldn’t have to see Nick holding the ice pack Sebastian had brought him.

  Nick took her hand in his freezing one on the seat between them. She glanced at him to see he had removed the ice pack. He smiled a slightly crooked smile. “I think I have had the ice on long enough for this round. Even my teeth are starting to freeze.”

  Nodding was all she could muster for a response. If she started talking, she wasn’t sure what would come out. She didn’t want to pour out her heart with Sebastian listening.

  Sebastian pulled into the driveway of Sean’s grandfather’s old house. “Shall I wait here?”

  Nick leaned forward and dropped the reusable ice pack over the seat. “Let me talk with Sean, then I’ll know my plans.”


  Sebastian opened Zoe’s door. Nick followed her out without letting go of her hand.

  Sean opened the front door. He started to say something, but Nick shook his head and put up a hand.

  “Tessa will be here in a moment. She had to pick something up on her way back from the studio. Can I get you anything?”

  Nick led Zoe to the old couch. “I’m fine. Zoe?”

  “Water, please?”

  Sean disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a glass of water, which he handed to Zoe before sitting down in one of the chairs. “May I ask now?”

  Zoe opened her mouth, but Nick spoke first. “It was an accident. I stood in the right place at the wrong time.”

  “I punched him.” Zoe hung her head to avoid Sean’s reaction.

  “Good for you! I’ve been trying to get a swing in for over twenty-five years.” Sean’s voice held a bit of the levity that had been missing from the morning.

  Zoe raised her head. “I didn’t want to hit him.”

  “Perhaps you don’t know him well enough, then.” Sean smiled.

  Nick returned Sean’s grin. “Sean, not everyone remembers me sticking worms in their mud pies.”

  Tessa opened the front door before the conversation got any more awkward. Zoe’s eyes widened at the sight of her blue-haired cousin. “Candace, what are you doing here?”

  Zoe ran across the room and hugged Candace.

  “I heard Sean and Tessa were having a party, and thought I would drop by.”

  Tessa looked at the men. “Sebastian is still in the driveway. We need girl time. Since there is chocolate in the house and none at the new one, we claim this as our temporary girls’ clubhouse.”

  Surprise filled both Tessa’s and Candace’s faces when Nick stood and turned toward them. But to Zoe’s relief, neither of them asked any questions.

  “I’ll take Nick over to see the new carpet. We’ll have Sebastian drive us.” Sean kissed his wife before leaving.

  Nick stopped in front of Zoe. “Enjoy today and stop worrying about my eye.”

  As soon as the door shut, Zoe turned to Candace. “What are you doing here?”

  “Last night when I got your 911 text, I was on the phone with Mandy, which is why I didn’t pick up your call but called you back when I got the text. After you hung up, I called Mandy back and told them I thought we should all get together now. Abbie got involved, and around six this morning, we headed for the airport. Mandy and Abbie are down at the theater with baby Joy. Your being here saved us coming into town to surprise you. Now, what happened to Nick’s eye?”

  The women sat on the old couches, and Zoe recounted the events of the morning as well as a condensed version of the night before for Tessa’s benefit.

  “How did Nick react?” asked Tessa.

  “Stunned but not angry. I know his eye has got to hurt, but he is too nice to complain about it. I’m not sure what to do.” Zoe wrung her hands. “He says he believes me about everything.” The thought still filled her with awe.

  Candace grabbed Zoe’s hands in her own. “Question time with Candace. What is most upsetting to you, your boss or Nick’s eye?”

  “Nick’s eye.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I should have been in control. I hurt him.” She’d put all her force behind that punch.

  Tessa moved to Zoe’s other side on the couch. “I have a question. Think back to yesterday at this time. Where did you think your relationship with Nick was headed?”

  Without checking her reflection in the mirror above the mantel, Zoe knew she was blushing. “Toward a kiss. I realized he was one of the good guys Candace and my therapist point out are the majority of people. I trust him more now. Can you believe I took a shower knowing he was in the apartment and we had no third party?”

  Candace nodded her acknowledgment. “Easier than you can. Where are you headed now?”

  “I don’t know. I only blurted out my deepest, darkest secret to him, and he didn’t react like I expected. I’ve been waiting for him to run away from me all morning. At least he didn’t react like some of the guys did back—” Zoe couldn’t finish the sentence.

  “He still treated you with respect?”

  Zoe nodded her answer to her cousin’s question.

  “Next question: Now that he knows about your past, do you still want to move your relationship past friends?” Candace held Zoe’s gaze with hers.

  Zoe took a deep breath. “I wish I could, but partially to erase the feel of Mr. Dodds’ crushing me. I want to relax and enjoy a kiss. I need to, so I know I can. But I don’t want to turn a kiss into a science experiment.”

  Tessa asked the next question. “Do you think you can be this honest with him?”

  Zoe stared into the fireplace. Could she talk to Nick or any guy like this? “I don’t know.”

  Tessa drew her into a hug. “I think when you know you can discuss your greatest fears with a man, he is the one you keep forever.”

  Candace shifted next to her. Zoe wondered if Tessa was talking to more than just her in this conversation. Pulling back from the hug, she turned to Candace. “Candace you never said why you were on the phone with Tessa and Mandy in the first place. What is going on?”

  “I told Colin about all of my cancer in a moment of temper, and now I can’t face him.”

  “Now it’s time for “Questions with Zoe.” So, what happened?”

  Sean concluded the house tour. “Are you going to tell me more about your black eye? Or am I going to get more convenient excuses like I am from Tessa about half the roommates descending this weekend?”

  “I am not sure how much of the story is mine to tell. Some of Zoe’s story you need to know anyway. Who knows what will happen if someone hears the 911 call.”

  “You called 911 over a black eye?” Sean went into the kitchen, Nick following.

  “No, I called 911 because Zoe was locked in a closet hiding from her boss, who assaulted her.” At Sean’s shocked expression, Nick amended his statement. “Not Adrian. The art director—or former art director. Adrian fired him on the spot. Zoe texted me, and fortunately, building security got to her before her boss could. She left him looking worse than I do. But she wasn’t entirely unscathed. Most likely he will be charged with aggravated assault of some degree. I want to keep it out of the papers, but if some reporter—” There was no point in finishing the thought. Sean was learning just how nosy some so-called reporters could be. Nick sat down on one of the kitchen stools. “This morning I tapped Zoe on the shoulder. Her mind was in another place. I should have known better.”

  “You have paint in your hair and on your shirt—the same color Tessa chose for the apartment kitchen. Was she painting?” Sean tossed Nick an apple and a water bottle.

  “We were painting. I will have you know I am becoming adept at the use of a roller. That reminds me. You probably should get a crew over there to finish the job before all the drips become permanent.” Nick bit into his apple.

  “What I should do is buy the building and restore it to a single-family home.”

  “Yes, you should.”

  Sean stared at his old friend. “I thought you were against it.”

  “I was against you making rash decisions with your newfound wealth. The price dropped by $6 mil this week, bringing the brownstone back into a more reasonable price range. You have also not given up the idea in ten months. I say buy. Your biggest obstacle will be Mrs. Clark. She has lived there since the day she was born in 1945, but since she used to babysit you, I am sure you can talk her into moving with a nice enticement. The rent on her place is one of the lowest in the city.” Nick tossed the apple core in the trash.

  “How did you know the price dropped?” Sean folded his arms and leaned against the counter.

  “I
wouldn’t have let the place get away from you. Now, can I head over to the Cottage? I would like to get cleaned up before we see the women again.” He also wanted to be the one to explain to his parents. He didn’t often attract media attention, but this situation could blow up quickly, even if Dodd took a plea deal. Hopefully Dad could help him stay one step ahead.

  By the time Mandy and Abbie joined them, there were few secrets to share. Zoe shared the briefest of outlines with the other women. Abbie complimented Zoe on her choice of moves and reassured her most black eyes looked worse than they were. “I’ve given all of my brothers black eyes at one time or another. Alan’s received three. He tucks his chin and forgets I’m shorter.” Only Abbie could pass off a black eye as an everyday occurrence. Zoe had met the four Hastings brothers on several occasions and had to agree there was no lasting damage.

  “I still can’t believe you came out here for me.” Zoe helped herself to a piece of the cheesecake Mandy had bought on her way from the theater to the house. If only she’d had this kind of support last time. It had been her mother and Candace who’d talked her into having the belated rape-kit test and reporting the assault to campus officials. But only her mother had been able to drop everything and drive to be at her side.

  “I came for the cheesecake. I’ve been craving real New York cheesecake all week. So much better than craving pickles.” Abbie took a large bite. There still was no sign of a baby bump, but Abbie still exercised like a bodyguard, minus the sparring with her brothers.

  Tessa held up her hands. “Don’t you look at me, I’m not the one in the family way. You’ll know I am when I start staying out of the glass shop and do all my designing on the computer.” The thought hadn’t crossed Zoe’s mind, but from the look Mandy wore on her face, someone had had time to think about babies.