The Billionaire's Island Bride

by Donna Alward

  Maybe it was better that he went back to New York now, so they could stop pretending they had something real.

  “You’re awfully quiet,” he said, looking past Marvin’s head to catch her gaze.

  “Just thinking. There’s a lot to do when I get back. I don’t even know if I have power back. This morning the news was that some parts of the province might not get it back for three or four more days.”

  “As long as you have lots of gas for your generator, you’ll be fine.”

  “I know.”

  She hadn’t even been thinking about the practicalities, but she wasn’t going to tell him that.

  All too soon the drive to the airstrip was over and their helicopter was waiting. Cole lifted Marvin out of the car but the dog walked to the chopper under his own steam. Then Cole lifted him up again, careful of his incision.

  When everyone was secured, Dave readied for takeoff and Brooklyn let out a long breath. Once she was home she’d find the inflatable collar that she’d used the last time Marvin had had stitches, to keep him from licking. It was a little friendlier than a huge cone. Then she’d cook up some rice and chicken for him to eat until his stomach healed. She nuzzled his face with her nose. “I’m so glad you’re okay, buddy. You scared me.”

  A happy lick was her reward.

  Once they were airborne, Brooklyn got a good look at the devastation from the hurricane. Structures were mostly fine, but it was easy to see downed trees, and as they got to the coast, the mess left behind from the storm surge. She remembered that she had a huge tree in her lane that would need to be dealt with. In years past her dad would have made the trip with his chainsaw and they all would have hung out together. Maybe she’d give him a call and see if they wanted to make the trip from Halifax.

  She let out a hefty sigh.

  “What is it?” Cole reached over and touched her shoulder.

  “Just a lot to do, that’s all. But thank you so much, Cole. If not for you, Marvin could have died before I could get him to the mainland. I appreciate this more than you know.”

  “Maybe you can show your appreciation later.” He smiled at her, his eyes twinkling. They had their headsets on, and she saw Dave smile a little in the cockpit.

  She wasn’t going to answer. If they were to have a conversation, it wouldn’t be in the air with a pilot listening in.

  Dan and Raelynn were waiting when they landed, and Brooklyn was surprised at the feeling of pleasure she got, to see them waving at her. Dan came forward and helped Cole get Marvin out of the helicopter, and Raelynn practically showered the pup with kisses. “Oh, here’s a good boy.” She kissed his head and ruffled his ears. “I’m so glad he’s okay, Brooklyn.”

  “Me, too. I’m sure he’ll be up to no good before I know it.”

  Dan came forward and gave her a small hug. “Your generator’s still working fine. Latest update is that we’ll have power back tomorrow.”

  “Thank you, Dan. I appreciate that more than you know.”

  “It was no problem at all.”

  There was an awkward silence while they all stood there, as if wondering what to do next. Brooklyn finally jolted into action when Marvin pulled on the leash. “I’d better get this guy home. Plus, I’m dying for a change of clothes.”

  Cole thankfully took the bait. “Yes, me too. We left in kind of a hurry. I’ll check in later, though, okay?”

  “Sure,” she responded, unsure of what exactly that meant or what she wanted it to mean. It was like last night was a whole world away, divorced from reality.

  * * *

  Cole changed into jeans and a soft sweater, then sat down to a delicious meal prepared by Raelynn. Their breakfast had been small and on the run, so he appreciated the homemade soup and substantial sandwich she placed on the table. Their internet was still down, so he was using his phone and eating up his data to work. Arrangements were being made for next week and his return to Manhattan. The first retreat at the house had gone well; one of his business acquaintances was planning a week here with his senior staff later in November. Granted, it wasn’t the best time of year as far as weather and scenery, but Dan and Raelynn would make sure everyone was warm and cozy, and there was a facilitator coming with the group to guide their activities.

  It was exactly what he’d bought this place for. And it would be much busier next summer.

  He imagined Brooklyn here over the winter and wondered how she managed it. A good nor’easter would blow nearly as hard as the hurricane that had passed through, only colder and with snow, not rain. How did she manage being on the island alone for that?

  What if...

  He shook his head and spooned up more soup. No, it was ridiculous, wasn’t it? She wouldn’t leave the island. Unless... He thought back to last night and this morning, and the way she’d been in his arms. How she’d laughed playing cards, and the way she’d held his hand while they were waiting for news of Marvin. He cared about her so much. He might even...love her. It was a foreign idea in his brain; he’d never let himself even consider the word before. But Brooklyn was different, and the way he felt about her was different, too.

  What if she came to New York for a while? It was still East Coast weather in the winter, but without the isolation. The more he thought about it, the more the idea had merit. She said she hadn’t traveled, hadn’t she? They could stay in his penthouse. Maybe do Thanksgiving at the family home in Connecticut. If it went well, she could go back in January or something, stay for a while. They could...

  He sat back in his chair. What he was considering was having a relationship. And for the first time in his life, he wasn’t afraid of the word.

  How had this even happened?

  Maybe because, for the first time, he’d been with a woman who he knew wasn’t after his money. She’d turned it down, for Pete’s sake! And had insisted on paying him back for the hotel and vet bills. She had so much pride. With Brooklyn, he got the feeling that his status worked against him, rather than for him...but she liked him anyway. She’d shared things with him, about her painful past. Was it possible she could love him, too?

  “Are you all right, Cole?” Raelynn’s voice interrupted his thoughts and he picked up his spoon again.

  “Oh, yes, thank you. This is delicious.”

  “Brooklyn gave it to me last week. It’s her grandmother’s corn chowder recipe. I think her grandmother was a good cook from the sounds of it. I was thinking of asking her for more regional recipes for when I’m cooking for guests here.”

  “That’s a great idea.” Cole smiled up at her. “Thank you, Raelynn, for everything.”

  Raelynn’s smile slipped, and she sat down in the chair next to him. “Cole, there’s something I want to talk to you about, just to think about, of course.”

  Her face was tight with anxiety, her eyes worried. Cole frowned and pushed his near-empty bowl away. “What is it? Did something happen while we were gone?”

  “No, not at all. We managed fine.” She sent him a weak smile. “It’s just...well, Dan would be upset if he knew I was talking to you, but I think it’s only fair to be open and honest. The truth is...we’ve been talking about trying for a baby. You hired us here together, and I can still do the job after a short maternity leave, but it...might be on the radar in the near future.”

  That was all? He smiled at her. “Of course you two want a family. Are you pregnant already? Should I not have asked that?” He was unsure of the protocol of these things, but Raelynn’s face relaxed at his reaction.

  “No, not yet. I certainly wouldn’t have indulged on the night of the storm if I had been. It’s just that we both really like it here. And living above the garage is fine for the two of us—”

  “But not for a baby.”

  “We could manage, but it’s not optimal, no.”

  “Of course it’s not.” He had known that when they’d fi
rst arrived weeks ago, but there hadn’t been a huge rush to make adjustments. There was probably room in the house, but he could also understand the couple wanting to have their own space for their family.

  As far as the island went, Brooklyn’s house was still the perfect solution. Except she wouldn’t sell it...and she’d thanked him for letting the idea go. Which meant that idea was firmly off the table.

  Unless it wasn’t...

  “Leave it with me,” he said to Raelynn. “I’m sure we can come up with something. You’re coming to New York for Thanksgiving, though, aren’t you? I’m sure your families would like to see you.”

  She nodded. “That’s the plan, for now, anyway. Unless you need us here.”

  He already knew there were no events planned for that weekend, and he would still be in New York. There was no reason for Dan and Raelynn to stay.

  Which put Brooklyn here on the island alone—unless he could convince her to come along.

  “I’ll be back at dinner time,” he announced, getting up from the table. “I’m going down to Brooklyn’s to see how Marvin is settling in.”

  It wasn’t subtle at all, and by the look on Raelynn’s face, she wasn’t buying it, either. He didn’t really care. They needed to talk after this morning.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  BROOKLYN EXPECTED COLE to show up, and he did, right around three o’clock. She’d settled Marvin and put his inflatable collar on. He looked ridiculous, but it kept him from being able to reach his incision and that was all that mattered.

  The dog was pouting on his doggy bed and she’d changed into jeans and a warm sweater. She’d put on a pot of coffee. When she saw Cole walking down the lane, she reached into the cupboard and took out her special bottle of Irish cream. The conversation ahead might require a little fortification.

  Marvin popped his head up when Cole knocked, but that was it. She answered the door and when they went back into the kitchen, Marvin’s tail was thumping against the fabric of the bed. There now. He might not be himself, but he was happy to see Cole.

  As she was. And that wasn’t a good thing, she was thinking.

  “Hey, buddy,” Cole crooned, squatting before the bed. “How’re you feeling, huh?”

  Thump-thump.

  “He’s pouting about the collar,” she offered and started pouring coffee.

  Cole took the cup she offered. “I see you’ve got the necessities running off the generator.”

  “Fridge, freezer, water pump. And one power bar in the kitchen, for the microwave, coffee maker, and a lamp.”

  She held up the bottle of liqueur. “Care for some?”

  “I wouldn’t say no.”

  She put a splash in each mug. Irish cream coffee was a special treat she didn’t indulge in often, but considering the craziness of the last few days, it seemed appropriate. “This reminds me of my granddad,” she said, putting the cap back on the bottle. “He liked a drop in his coffee. We used to come over to the island on the weekends in the fall sometimes. He’d make his ‘special’ coffee, and we’d sit out on the front porch and smell the fall air.”

  “That sounds lovely.” He looked into her eyes. “Would you like to sit out there now?”

  She did, rather. She was feeling nostalgic this afternoon. Perhaps it was getting swept away for a few days, both in the emergency and the opulence of Cole’s way of life. The storm had barely caused a blip at the mansion, and he’d merely had to snap his fingers to have a helicopter on its way, the last hotel room in town, room service. Maybe money couldn’t buy happiness, but it could sure buy convenience.

  It all seemed rather surreal now.

  Marvin had settled into a snooze on the bed, so they went to the front verandah and sank into the cushions on the wicker chairs there. The wood creaked beneath their weight, and Brooklyn let out a sigh before she took a first sip of coffee and let memories wash over her. This had always been her happy place.

  “Brooklyn, I came to talk about us.”

  She hadn’t expected him to be so blunt. “Us?”

  “Yes. Things have changed, wouldn’t you agree?” When she didn’t answer, he pressed on. “We spent the night together. That’s not nothing. And it would be really great if you could look at me.”

  She did, the moment he said it. She lifted her gaze to his and felt that awful and wonderful turning in her stomach. He was in jeans and a sweater but it didn’t matter. There was something in the way he carried himself, the way he spoke, that put him in another league. She was hard-pressed to pinpoint it, but she figured it fell into the category of “I know it when I see it.” He had this presence about him that was confident but not arrogant, expensive but not ostentatious, and so very, very capable.

  She could hold her own, but looking at him now, after what they’d shared, she found him a bit intimidating. Because any “us” would be horribly misbalanced, wouldn’t it?

  “It was one night, Cole. I’m not harboring any big expectations.”

  Was that disappointment on his face? She couldn’t quite tell, but she could see by the tension around his eyes that her answer wasn’t the one he’d been anticipating.

  “I see.” He took a sip of his coffee and then turned back to her again. “No, actually, I don’t see. You don’t strike me as the type to indulge in one-night flings, Brooklyn. I appreciate maybe you think you’re letting me off the hook, but...” He cleared his throat. “But what if I don’t want to be off the hook?”

  Her breath caught. What was he saying? That he wanted them to be a thing? Have a relationship? That was ludicrous. They’d already decided things couldn’t go further, that day he’d kissed her in the back porch.

  And yet they had. They’d made love, twice. They’d passed “further” the moment she’d untied her robe and decided to follow her heart.

  And that was it, wasn’t it? Her heart was involved now. She truly, truly cared for him. And that was exactly why she had to walk away now. She would never fit into his life, and she didn’t really want to. It would mean leaving this behind. The life she’d built for herself, by herself. She was a woman with a high school diploma from a tiny town, making a simple living. She had no business consorting with a billionaire, for Pete’s sake.

  “What do you want from me, Cole?”

  He reached over and took her hand. “I want you to come to New York with me. I have to leave in the next few days and I know Marvin can’t travel so soon, but I’d like for you to come stay with me when he’s better. I don’t want to say goodbye, Brooklyn. Not after last night. Not after everything. You make me laugh. I want to be near you all the time. And last night...that was so amazing.” He put his cup down and turned his chair so he was facing her, and then clasped her other hand, too. “Please say yes. I care about you too much to say goodbye.”

  “You want a relationship with me.” Her voice was tight and she couldn’t quite sort out why. Any woman would be jumping for joy right about now. Why wasn’t she?

  “I want us to have a chance to explore what’s happening between us. And realistically, I can’t stay on the island forever. I still have responsibilities. But you could come to my world, couldn’t you?” His face was alight with enthusiasm. “Have you ever been to New York? I can take you so many places. The theater. Restaurants. Museums. Walking through Central Park with Marvin. Whatever you want to do.”

  Brooklyn frowned. Sure, it would be easy to get swept away, wouldn’t it? It was a Cinderella dream come true, with the prince sitting here saying all the right things. But in fairy tales the princess was always ready to live in the castle. Brooklyn was sure she’d be a square peg in a round hole.

  “I have work here, Cole. It is one of my busiest times, leading up to the holidays. I can’t just jet off on a moment’s notice.” She met his gaze. “That’s not how the real world works.”

  He frowned and sat back a little, perhaps a bi
t surprised at her sharpish tone. “So you can’t dye your stuff in my penthouse,” he reasoned. “But you could do everything else. Your business is online, right?”

  “That’s not the point.”

  “What is the point?”

  She pulled her hands away. “The point is you expected me to jump up and say yes, I’d do what you wanted on a total whim, and when I didn’t you’re pouting.”

  “I do not pout.”

  She knew he wasn’t pouting; he was genuinely confused and perhaps he had a right to be, considering what had happened last night. But she was already in it and it was too late to turn back now. “Yes, you are. You’re used to getting what you want, and you think that my life is so insignificant that I can just pick up and leave because you’ve crooked your finger.”

  His mouth fell open. “When have I ever given you that impression?”

  He hadn’t, but panic was tightening her chest. The moment he’d stepped on the island, he’d threatened her very safe existence. She cared for him, she did. But it was a long way from there to relationship. Because who would be making all the sacrifices? She would.

  “It’s how you live, Cole. You pick up the phone and have a helicopter ready to take you where you want to go. You have a home in New York but it was nothing for you to drop more money than I’ll ever make in a lifetime on this island, so you can have some sort of high-class retreat.” She lifted her chin. “You are so used to getting what you want that you expected me to sell my home for the right price.” A sudden thought took hold. “Maybe what you like in me is the challenge, because I’m probably the first person to say no to you in a very long time, huh? But what happens when that challenge is gone? Will you be bored of me then? And what’s to become of me at that point?”

  Cole looked stricken, and she had to turn away. She’d been harsh just now, even if her words had come from a place of real fear. She hadn’t expected this invitation. Hadn’t expected him to want...more.