My Charming Billionaire (The Grimwood Legacy Series Book 2)

by Jackie Castle

  With that, she relaxed her hold. He slowly slid his hand from hers. The chill from leaving the warmth of her palm sent goosebumps all the way up his arm. He quickly turned and left before he did something completely stupid. Like, try to kiss her again.

  Evelina stopped next to the nurses’ station and turned to face Jeremy with hands on her narrow hips. “I’m terribly disappointed in you, Mr. Grimwood. I had much higher hopes for your firm.”

  Jeremy’s jaw tightened. He needed to curb his words and not lose his temper with her. It wouldn’t do either of them any good. “Mrs. Ash, I’m afraid Melody is not interested in selling. I’m not going to be able to help you. Perhaps you need to—”

  “I don’t need you at all, stupid boy,” she spat.

  His temper shot up toward the roof.

  “That’s right,” she barked. “Your uncle said you were still learning the ropes and he has to show you a lot of patience, but you have no business sense whatsoever. You are nothing like your father, that’s for sure.”

  Jeremy almost took that as a compliment. He didn’t wish to be like his father. He wanted to be his own man. “Call me what you will, Mrs. Ash, you’re not getting your hands on Sky High. It’s not for sale.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Her gloating smirk caused his arms to tremble.

  We do not hit women. We do not. Ever. Oh, but for the first time in his life, he wanted to. “Okay,” Jeremy drew in a breath, forcing his mask of calmness over his face as he lowered his arms to his sides. “I believe this discussion is over. I’d like to get—”

  “It’s far from over. She’ll not recover from this. Now, on top of her credit bills, she’ll have a huge medical bill to add to her growing pile of debts. She’ll be forced into bankruptcy at this rate. Either way, I’ll be ready to purchase that land. When it goes up for auction or by her signing it over to me. And you—”

  Evelina jabbed her finger into his chest. “I’ll have your job for stabbing me in the back, like this. Mr. Hanson pulls the strings there and I’ll be letting him know how you’ve let me down and went back on our agreement.”

  Jeremy remained silent. He’d not let her scare him.

  “I know about the Grimwood trust.” Her face was inches from his. He could see how heavily she caked on her make-up. And that breath…. He held his own and took a step backward.

  She continued her rant, “I know about the conditions you’re required to meet. I heard all about Marcus’ little plan to make you earn your inheritance. What a joke. When you’re kicked out of the firm and lose your birthright, then you’ll know what it’s like to be passed over like I was. Mr. High and Mighty, acting like I’m the bad guy here. I’m trying to help save my family’s land from scavengers. It’s not me who deserves the scorn.” She went over to a man sitting near the waiting area and grabbed her bag and coat. He stood and headed for the elevator. “You’ll see what it’s like Jeremy Grimwood. You’ll see. Being left out in the cold is no picnic, let me tell you.”

  With that, she turned and headed down the hall, her stiletto boots clacking like a train running over the tracks.

  Jeremy let out the breath he’d been holding. Good thing he’d already sent his offer to uncle to buy him out, along with his resignation. Evelina Ash didn’t have one spiked heel to stand on.

  When he started back toward Melony’s cubicle, Aunt Maddie stood there watching Evelina’s retreat. Fire seemed to burn in her usually merry blue eyes. Her fists clenched at her sides. “That…woman. She’s always thought she was entitled to more than she deserved. Never grateful for what she was given. Well, she’s nothing more than a lizard dreaming that she was a dragon. I’ll show her. You’ll see. I’ll show her.”

  A cold chill ran down Jeremy’s back. Just what had he gotten himself in the middle of?

  * * * *

  Melody was released on the condition that she’d stay off her fractured leg. One week completely off her feet and resting until the bruising started to fade. At least her leg had only suffered a fracture and not a complete break like her arm.

  Auntie Maddie moved into Melody’s one-bedroom cabin, insisting on taking the sofa sleeper until Melody was able to get around again.

  Melody had sent up too many prayers of thanks for her sweet aunt. Maddie had practically taken over all of Melody’s daily responsibilities. And bless Jeremy, he’d stayed as well.

  Every day he brought her lunch from the cafe. He seemed to enjoy carrying her from her bed to the table a little too much. She’d still not found an opportunity to tell him that she loved him, too. He’d not mentioned his confession and treated her like the friend she’d always been. Sometimes, Melody wondered if she hadn’t dreamed that moment in the hospital.

  She’d been stuck in her cabin for three days now and was already growing antsy over being out of the loop. Auntie Maddie only told her what she needed to hear.

  “You just get better, pumpkin, and don’t worry about the resort. Everything is being taken care of.” Maddie would say, giving her hand a gentle pat.

  Melody decided she’d try to pry information from Jere, then. He worked quietly, setting out their sandwiches, two turkey and cheddar on rye, along with two bags of baked chips. “You want your pickle?”

  She shook her head and he smiled as he set it on his plate. She almost chuckled recalling how much he loved pickles. Especially sour ones. When he finally had their drinks and everything set, he took the seat next to her and held out his hand.

  “Want me to bless the meal?” he asked.

  She slid her hand into his and nodded. Wow, the church was starting to have an effect on him. She’d hoped that it would help her more than it had, but she was in an even worse fix than she was before.

  “Heavenly Father,” Jeremy began, “Thank you for this day and I thank you for taking such good care of Melody. Lord, help us find a way to continue the work You’ve set us to do. We need direction. Melody for her resort and I need…well, You know what I’ve been asking for.” He paused a moment and drew in a deep breath. “Whatever happens, I thank you for taking care of us, Lord. You’ll not let us falter. Thank you for that. Amen.”

  When he released her hand and went to pick up his sandwich, Melody asked, “You believe that? Really?”

  He nodded in response. After swallowing his bite, he asked, “Do you?”

  “I want to, but….”

  “Don’t give up hope, Mel. We’re working on a plan.”

  Melody frowned, not liking where that might go. She’d not…well, she wouldn’t take advantage of her friends. She knew the Grimwoods had enough money to buy her out, most likely, but she’d not allow it. If he truly did love her, he’d have to understand. That was not how to start a relationship if that was the direction they were headed.

  “Jere,” she was about to argue and tell him there was no way she’d take money from him, but so far, he hadn’t actually offered to pay her debt. She didn’t want to be presumptuous. Instead, she went in a different direction. “Do you think much about the future? Like, where you want to be five years from now?”

  He ducked his head, causing his dark hair to fall over his forehead. He wasn’t wearing it slicked back like he did when in ‘business’ mode. “If you would have asked me last week, I would have had a completely different answer. Since you’re asking me today, I’ll have to say that I’m not sure.” He stared at his sandwich, his tone and expression somber.

  Something must have happened.

  “What changed?”

  The corner of his mouth, that had a small dab of mustard on it, quirked upward. “Lots of things.”

  She really wanted to reach over and wipe that bit of mustard away, instead, she made a motion and told him it was there which made him laugh. He had a sweet laugh.

  “Tell me what happened Jeremy. In your prayer you—”

  “Nothing you need to worry about, Mel. It’ll work itself out. You focus on getting better. Everyone misses you.”

  She snorted a laugh. “Righ
t. Everyone stops by every day, they can’t miss me too much.”

  “Your customers. They’ve been asking about how you are getting along. And the people in town. It’s amazing how many people care about you, hon. You’re very important to this place and the town.” He seemed like he was about to say something else, but snapped his mouth closed.

  It was the resort that kept the town thriving, not her. If the word had gotten out about her dire financial situation, she was sure they’d worry about the ski resort closing. If something didn’t happen soon, she’d lose it to the bank. Now she was in even worse debt than she was before.

  Aunt Evelina had paid her one more visit to the hospital. She’d shown up when everyone else had gone and told her that she was being foolish and stubborn. “Let me buy it from you before the bank takes it. I’ll get it then, anyway,” she’d casually stated. “For less than what I’m offering you. But you’re family, dear Melody. I’ll pay you enough that you can walk away and restart your life. You can do whatever you want. You’ll be well off, my dear. To turn your nose up to my offer will only prove how stupid you really are.”

  Then Evelina had stood and said that she would call her back in a few days to hear her answer.

  “Jere, is my aunt still here?”

  “If you’re talking about the snow queen, then no, she left after the police came to see her. I’m not sure what they said to her, but they told me it wasn’t an animal that ran in front of you. There was a third pair of ski trails.”

  Melody thought hard about that morning. Her memories were so cloudy. “Well, it wouldn’t be the first time someone hiked up the slopes early to get the first ride down. I don’t recommend it, but the slope we were on is easy to get to.”

  “I saw Evelina sending one of her people away the morning of the accident.”

  “So?” If he was insinuating that Aunt Evelina would try to harm her, he’d lost his mind. She was a lot of things, but not malicious. Melody realized how lucky she was to not have been killed. The brush had kept her from running straight into a tree. “She has a lot of people working for her, Jere. She wouldn’t have,” Melody didn’t finish, but shook her head. No way.

  “Let’s hope I never find out that she did,” he stated, his face darkening.

  Melody didn’t like where this discussion was going. She looked around for her crutches so she could excuse herself to get some mayonnaise, but realized that they’d left them in the bedroom.

  “What do you need, hon?” Jeremy asked, his tone lightening.

  Good, that’s what she needed, a distraction. There was no way Aunt Evelina would do such a thing. At least, Melody hoped she’d not stoop so low. “Mayo. My sandwich is a little dry.”

  He was up and retrieving it for her. He’d left his phone on the table and it chimed with a text. His phone was the kind that showed part of the text and who it was from. Duncan wrote: He cannot fire you!!! Of all the— the rest was hidden. She resisted the urge to tap the message and get the full story.

  When Jeremy returned to the table, his eyes widened as he snatched the phone and tucked it into his back pocket.

  “You’ve been fired?” Melody ignored the jar of mayo he sat in front of her.

  “It’s rude to read other people’s messages, don’t you think?”

  “I think it’s rude to be evasive and not tell the truth,” she shot back.

  “I’ve not lied. About anything.”

  “You won’t tell me what’s going on, Jeremy. I thought you—” Oh no, she’d not go there. She still wasn’t one-hundred percent sure that she’d heard him right. “I thought….”

  His hand slid across the table and rested on hers. “I’m sorry, Mel. I don’t want you to worry about things you have absolutely no control over. Getting well, getting back on your feet, that is what you need to focus on. The resort. My job. All that is out of your hands right now.”

  Not necessarily. There was something she could do about the resort. Maybe this was what the Lord was waiting for. Maybe she was clinging too tightly to the resort instead of letting it go. Isn’t that what people were supposed to do with things they loved? Let them go? There was a poster about it, wasn’t there?

  Melody sighed and leaned back in her chair. Her appetite had fled and she no longer wanted that dry sandwich. Mayo would not save this situation. “What happened at your job?”

  Jeremy sat back in his chair, as well. “I put in my resignation and told my uncle that I’d let him buy my shares. I don’t wish to work there anymore.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’m not happy, Mel. Not there. I went in because I’d hoped to get closer to my father, but…” Jeremy rubbed his thumb over his brow. “For some reason, my father turned to stone in his later years. He said he was pleased to have me there, but it never brought about the closeness I’d hoped for. I don’t see the point in doing something I’m not happy at. Let’s face it, I don’t have to do anything. Even if I lose my share of the inheritance, I’ll still get the consolation prize and I know how to spin a profit. I was pretty close to meeting the trust terms.”

  “Was?”

  “I’d counted on the money from my shares in the firm to get me over the finish line.”

  Everything began to click into place. She’d known that Evelina had hired Jeremy to help her get the resort. Jeremy must have backed out and made the ice queen furious. Was she behind his uncle firing him? Was Duncan right in thinking that their uncle couldn’t do that?

  It didn't’ really matter. The fact of the matter was that Jeremy was about to lose his family’s fortune because of her. The town might lose the revenues that the resort brought if the bank took it over. At least, right now she had a bit of leverage if she played her cards right.

  “Don’t be stupid, Jere. You can’t quit now. Not when you’re so close.”

  Jeremy shot out of his chair. “I’m really tired of that word being tossed around so carelessly. I’m not—” He shoved the chair back in place with such force, the drink cups wobbled. “I know exactly what I’m doing! Give me some credit, Mel.” He backed a few steps away, apologizing for losing his temper. Storming to her bedroom, he returned a moment later with her crutches. “I need to go. Finish your sandwich then rest. You don’t need all this drama.”

  Snatching his jacket from where he’d laid it over the back of the couch, he put it on then headed for the door. “I’ll send one of the girls over later to clean up for you.” And with that, he was gone.

  Melody buried her face in her hands, hating what she’d said. It certainly wasn’t very loving to talk to him in such a manner, was it? Why Jeremy Grimwood could ever love someone like her, Melody had no clue. She’d become a master at keeping people at arm’s length. If you didn’t love too much, you couldn’t be hurt as bad when they left. That was her philosophy.

  She had a feeling, that’s where her biggest problems started.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jeremy hated that he’d lost his temper at Melody’s the other day, but he truly was exhausted with everyone treating him like a schoolboy. He knew exactly what he was doing. Uncle’s response wasn’t too much of a surprise. Well, maybe a little. Jeremy had hoped his uncle would be decent about everything. He’d been wrong.

  Colton had told him he was being foolish to give up so easily.

  Jeremy wasn’t giving up. He was changing direction.

  Suzette thought he needed to reconsider his resignation.

  Jeremy had considered it for weeks, then finally had taken it to the Lord during a church service not too long ago. He’d not had any fiery handwriting on the wall, telling him what to do, nor a booming voice from above. What he had was a sense of peace. Finally. He’d yearned for so long to feel confident about where he was going. Everyone’s doubts had at first set him in a tailspin, but then he remembered that day. That day when he’d put his future in God’s hands.

  “Whatever happens, Lord, let it be your will,” he’d fervently prayed. And from there, he’d began exe
cuting his plan to get out of the firm. Once free from the firm, and from the trust fund’s stipulations, then he could start moving toward his plan to open a new investment firm. Out with the old, in with the new. Duncan had done the same thing by selling most of Father’s jewelry stores. The two he kept had undergone drastic changes and were starting to grow.

  If Dunc could do it, so could he.

  At least, he’d thought so until Uncle threw him under the bus, blaming Jeremy for the lost account with Snow Inc. The loss would cost the company nearly a million, not to mention she was now going around spreading slander against the firm, calling them crooks and other names.

  On those grounds, Uncle found it necessary to let Jeremy go. No, he would not buy him out, he had gained the agreement of the firm's board to vote him out of the company.

  Despite Uncle’s actions being an underhanded move, Jeremy decided that he’d not let himself be deterred from his course to start afresh. The Grimwood stocks he was in charge of were still doing well. He’d not been defeated, yet.

  While Jeremy finished getting ready, he was determined to find Melody and apologize for storming out yesterday. She was worried and he needed to cut her a break. She didn’t want him to be hurt, but he could take care of himself. She would see. They would all see.

  By the time he made it to the lodge that morning, Maddie met him at the door, looking like a flustered hen. “She’s back!” Maddie grabbed his arm and escorted him around the side of the building. They entered through a back door near the dumpsters.

  In a quiet voice, Maddie said, “Evilina is back. I don’t understand it. She is acting all smug. Said she didn’t want a room. She’s here to see Mel. What do you think that old witch is up to this time?”

  Maddie had led him to a dark office where they could see Evelina Ash standing near the reception desk waiting for someone to get Melody for her. Nobody was willing to take her to Mel’s cabin.

  Jeremy’s heart sank fearing that Melody had decided to make some kind of agreement. Well, not if he had any say in the matter. Which, truthfully, he didn’t. He wasn’t even sure what her feelings for him were. He’d opened up to her, but she’d remained a closed door. Perhaps that had been his answer and he needed to accept it.