Daisy's Secret Billionaire

by Francesca Lane

  Grace started typing again, her eyes tracking side to side, as if looking something up that she found online. “Hold on a sec. Okay … here it is. An article.” She looked up. “What’s this about you being in trouble with the coastal commission?”

  Jake slid that guarded look at her again. “My lawyer’s on it, Grace. Nothing to worry about.”

  “Really? You know you could talk to Chase about it, if you don’t think I have enough experience yet.” After Grace and Chase saved her mother’s life, Daisy learned that they were lawyers. Grace only recently passed the bar, but her husband was a seasoned attorney.

  “I appreciate that,” Jake said, his voice steady and lower than usual. She guessed he had switched on his corporate voice for his sisters. “Now if we could get back to the matters pertaining to this house and how we’re going to deal with the rest of our parents’ wishes …”

  Lacy spoke up. “Maggie’s taking my place next month.”

  Grace said, “You’re kidding. You okay with this, Mags?”

  Daisy took a surreptitious glance at the screen. Even from here she could see the graying circles under Maggie’s eyes. An effect from her lack of money? She and Jake had not talked anymore about Maggie’s situation, but from what she gathered, things were tough for her right now. She glanced at Jake, noting the fretful look on his face. He was staring at his phone, caught up in some other drama.

  After a few seconds, Maggie sat forward again, nodding at Grace, a smile burgeoning. “I’m good. Mick’s been chipping in finally, so that’s been helpful.”

  “About time,” Lacy said. “Hope you’re not thinking about taking your ex back, though.”

  Maggie waved away Lacy’s concerns, but the smile lingered on her face. “No worries. Anyway, I had to make a few adjustments in my work schedule”—she paused, as if choosing her words carefully—“but it’s going to work out fine, especially since Eva will be on summer break.”

  Jake nodded once, as if he’d heard the last few minutes of conversation. “Good—”

  Grace cut in. “It’s important that we all make sure to let our executor know when we’ve completed our month at the house.”

  “Got it,” Jake said. “I still have some time here”—he slid a glance at Daisy before returning his attention to his sisters—“but I’ll check in with him at the end of my shift, so to speak.”

  Daisy didn’t hear much else for the rest of the call. All she could think about was that Jake would be leaving soon—and they had only just begun.

  Nine

  Jake’s sisters exhausted him. He’d felt this for some time, but until tonight’s call, he had never clearly identified that truth. He yawned and looked over his notes. Somehow in the last hour he had promised to update the master bath so that Maggie would have some luxury to come home to.

  He glanced over at the empty couch. Daisy had stepped out of the room at some point during the call. Maybe it hadn’t been such a grand idea to have her here, listening to his sisters’ squabbles. More than that, what had she been thinking about the reality that his time here was almost up? Of course, she knew that this was a temporary stay, that he had work—and troubles—to deal with back in Los Angeles.

  He sighed and leaned forward, his temple against his hand.

  “Tired?”

  Jake looked up. Daisy emerged from the hall wearing oversized light-pink sweats, her feet bare, her blonde locks piled into a bun, tendrils framing her face. Absolutely irresistible.

  He reached a hand toward her. “Come here.”

  She smiled shyly at him but padded over. He sat down on the couch, pulled her down onto his lap, and brushed his lips across hers. “I’m feeling revitalized all of a sudden.”

  “Yeah?” Daisy kissed him on the nose, but he noticed a certain sadness in her eyes. He wanted to ignore it. Mañana, mañana … but that felt terribly unfair.

  “Aw, Daisy,” he whispered. “I’m sure you’re wondering what’s been happening with my business. Grace made it sound pretty bad, didn’t she?”

  “You don’t have to tell me, if you’re not ready.”

  He shook his head. “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you—I just hate talking about it.”

  She quirked a sad smile at him. “I gathered that.”

  He let out a groan. “Okay. Here’s the latest: The company I own is being threatened with an enormous fine—a record dollar amount—by the coastal commission for a bait-and-switch building project that I knew nothing about.”

  “Oh no. Is there a traitor in your company?”

  Jake shook his head. “Nope. I headed up this project myself from the get-go, so this is all on me. The lead contractor, who is also in hot water with the commission, has been blaming my firm for this, but there’s no way, Daisy. I should have followed my gut and not gotten involved with that particular contractor—no matter how big of a price they were willing to pay.”

  “So you think he set you up?”

  “I know it. But I can’t prove it—yet.”

  “Oh Jake. I’m so sorry. What does your attorney say?”

  He leaned back. “He’s been trying, without success, to depose the foreman on the project. A guy by the name of Billy Bask. We think he altered my plans after they were signed off on, making it appear that they had been approved. My guess is that they’re paying Billy to hide.” He glowered. “Who suddenly turns invisible in this century with social media showing people’s every move?”

  “Has your lawyer hired an investigator?”

  Jake nodded. “Absolutely.” He lifted his phone and scrolled through his email, stopping on one. “The guy he hired thinks he’s getting closer. It’s all very cloak and dagger right now. I just want Billy found and the truth dragged out of him.”

  Daisy exhaled, the sound of it like chimes in a stiff wind. He needed that right now more than anything. Her skin against his, her soothing voice prodding him along on their daily talks. He glanced down at her, his gaze brushing over her eyes and that spattering of freckles across her nose, before landing on her soft lips. With his business hanging precariously by threats, not to mention his impending move back to the City, how long could this last?

  Daisy curled her legs beneath her on the couch and cuddled up next to Jake. She had no idea about the legalities he faced, but it sounded bad for him. All she could do was try to offer him a listening ear.

  She glanced up at him, noticing the way his gaze slid to hers. It made her pulse race. He bent down slightly until his lips touched hers with a soft and gentle kiss. Soon, his hand found the back of her head and cradled her there as he took the kiss deeper. Daisy reached up and touched his jawline, wanting more of him. She couldn’t think, couldn’t reason any longer, her desire for him drawing her further into the abyss she had once dreamed about.

  Her phone rang and Daisy jumped.

  Jake groaned.

  She glanced at the screen and frowned. “It’s … it’s the rehab facility. I-I have to take this.”

  “Of course.” Jake sat up and gestured for her to take the call.

  “Hello?” Daisy stood up, phone in her ear, suddenly feeling the need to pace.

  “Good news, Daisy,” Lynette said. “Your mother’s paperwork is all ready. I suspect the doctor will sign these discharge papers tomorrow morning.”

  “Tomorrow morning?”

  “Don’t rush over here. Sometimes it takes a few hours to get everything together. I just wanted to give you a heads-up that we’re getting closer.”

  Daisy exhaled, relief flooding her. She still had time to work on her mother’s house, to figure out her aftercare, to get the electricity back on …

  Lynette cut back in. “She will probably be ready to go home with you by late afternoon.”

  “Late afternoon … when?”

  Lynette chuckled. “Why, tomorrow, of course.”

  Daisy stared into the living room, seeing nothing. This should have been a moment of joy. Guilt needled her that it wasn’t exactly euphoria
she was feeling at the moment. Suddenly her to-do list had grown at the same rate that her available time had shrunk.

  Daisy thanked Lynette for the call and assured her she would arrive on time at the facility tomorrow afternoon to pick up her mother. She hung up and slid a look at Jake who had moved into the kitchen where he appeared to be idly fiddling with a faucet handle.

  “I’m sure you heard … my mother’s about ready to come home.”

  He turned and braced himself against the sink, a cloud working over his expression. “Are you ready for her?”

  Daisy sighed and shook her head. “Not really. So much to do, you know?”

  He pressed his lips together and nodded, though something about the way he did it made her wonder what was going on in that handsome head of his. He looked distant, suddenly—a far cry from where they had been moments before.

  She approached him, reached up, and touched his face. “I appreciated you letting me stay here, Jake. It’s made my life so much easier.” And so much more complicated, too.

  His gaze slid down to her as she lifted a hand to stroke his face with her hand. He covered her hand with his. “I’d do it again. In a heartbeat.”

  Jake’s words sounded tinged with relief, as if he, too, had enjoyed their time together, but, alas, it was time for her to move on. Or was she being too dramatic? Daisy pasted on a smile and took a step back. “Guess I’ll go to bed now. Have a lot to do in the morning, you know?”

  He nodded. “I know.”

  She kissed him on the cheek. “’Night, Jake.”

  “Good night.”

  Daisy headed down the hall to the cute bedroom with the big old whale comforter on it, feeling anything but comforted.

  Ten

  It had been a whirlwind of a day, but somehow, Daisy had accomplished miracles. The electric company finally showed up and switched the power back on. She filled the fridge with healthy fruits and vegetables. And all tarps, tape, and other signs of her painting madness had been removed.

  Jake had popped in once to check up on her, and although she appreciated his help moving a few pieces of furniture around so her mother could use the downstairs bedroom, she had also sensed some distance growing between them. Unfortunately, she’d been much too busy to think too much about that. Or maybe that had been a good thing.

  By late afternoon, her mother was home.

  “It’s so beautiful in here, Daisy.”

  Her mother had said the same thing about twelve times since she’d arrived. She was laying on the couch with a fluffy throw over her legs, admiring the living room as if a designer had come through and replaced everything.

  “You know these are all your things in here, Momma, right?” Daisy pointed to the arrangement of still-life flower paintings on the wall. “Those were spread all over the house. I just decided to put them together so they could catch the natural light in here.”

  “You have done a mar … a marvel … oh.”

  Daisy handed her mother a glass of water. “I think you mean marvelous, right?”

  Wren gave Daisy a sad smile. “I am still having trouble saying some words.”

  “Don’t worry about that at all. Remember what your nurse said? You have come a long way, but some things will take a little more time.” Daisy slapped her hands on her lap. “If you’re comfortable here, I think I’ll get dinner started. Are you hungry?”

  “I am, dear. Thank you.”

  Daisy peeked out the window on her way to the kitchen. Twilight was setting in, yet not one light shone in Jake’s house. He hadn’t mentioned to her that he was going anywhere. Not that it was any of her business, really. Still, she wondered if he had plans to pop in later and see her mother. Or her. Earlier when he had been here, he hadn’t mentioned coming by again, but she hoped.

  In the kitchen, she glanced at the list of foods recommended for her mother by the rehab center, most of them bland and filled with starch and empty calories. Gross. She set the list aside and instead began making a simple stir fry with vegetables and chicken, along with a pot of brown rice.

  Cooking had a way of awakening the senses to all the good things in life. But the solitary nature of it also opened up the mind to think, and unfortunately, Daisy found herself dwelling on the way Jake seemed to retreat from her last night. One minute he was telling her his secrets and they were locked around each other, passion spilling over. And the next, he’s puttering around the kitchen and acting like they were simply … friends.

  Her breath caught in her throat. Had she read too much into their relationship? Jake had said he was falling for her, but today he seemed rather emotionless. Daisy shut her eyes. Had she been wrong to trust him?

  Her mother’s voice pulled her from her desperate thoughts. “Daisy? Smells like something is burning.”

  She gasped and shot a look at the pot of rice. All the water had been absorbed. Daisy grabbed a hot pad and moved the pot to a cool burner. “Thanks, Mom! I’ll be right out.”

  Daisy gave her head a tight shake. She had too much on her mind to obsess over Jake’s sudden shift in attitude. Quickly, she dished up bowls of stir fry and brown rice and brought them out to the coffee table. “Small bites, momma, okay?”

  Her mother’s eyes glistened. “You take such good care of me.”

  “Because I love you.”

  Wren finished a bit of food. “Have you seen Jake lately?”

  Daisy stilled. How much should she tell her mother about her relationship with Jake? “I saw him earlier today, as a matter of fact. He came in to help me rearrange the furniture in your bedroom.”

  “Oh, how sweet of him! You know, he was a rascal as a child, but I’ve always known his heart to be kind. And he’s smart, too.”

  Daisy smiled. “I didn’t realize you knew him all that well.”

  “Oh, he would come through sometimes when I’d be over there visiting. His parents both spoke so well of him that I feel as if I know him, too.” Her mother took another bite of dinner, her face contemplative. “Do you think you could ask him to come over soon? I have something for him.”

  Daisy tilted her head. “Like a gift?”

  Her mother nodded. “Yes. I would really like to see him. Will you ask him to come see me?”

  “Sure. If I see him around tomorrow, I’ll stop by and ask him to come.” She tried to sound nonchalant, when really, her mind was full of questions.

  “That would be lovely.”

  When her mother had eaten all she could, Daisy cleared the dishes and dumped them into a sink full of soapy water. She spent the next hour helping her mom get ready for bed, take her medicines, and drift off to sleep in her own home.

  Daisy wandered back into the living room, her body spent, but her mind still strangely active. She stole a glance out the window, noticing the blaze of lights at the Morelli home, yet he had not called her. Myriad thoughts began to pummel her mind, such as why Jake helped Maggie in secret. How he was in trouble, but hadn’t bothered to alert his lawyer of a sister or her husband who headed up the firm.

  She turned away from the window, another thought rumbling through her brain. Why did Jake close up every time her mother’s name came up in conversation? And how would he respond when Daisy told him that her mother had something to give him?

  Daisy took a second glance at her phone with the blank screen. Then she retreated upstairs to climb into bed and think.

  Jake stood on a bank of sand that jutted out over the ocean. The sea had pummeled the shore last night, creating cliffs where there had been none before. He had intended to run along the water’s edge, but found it swallowed up by rogue waves and occasional drop-offs filled with seawater.

  He sighed, his breath floating away on a stiff breeze. Last night, when Daisy said she would be leaving soon, all he had wanted to do was pull her into his embrace and hold her there. But he had let the moment pass him by, obliterated by confusion. He missed the feel of her, the touch of her fingers on his jaw, the taste of her mouth. His thoughts
of her seduced him into thinking, though, that he could forget the things that haunted him, that pulled him away from fully enjoying a relationship with her.

  He had no idea what he could do about that.

  With the sand unwilling to provide him a flat place to run, he instead walked forcefully, his feet plowing a path through deep powder. Jake had awoken this morning to several texts that had set his mind further on edge. His lawyer texted that, though they had not definitively located Billy, they had uncovered some information that could very well smoke him out of wherever he was hiding. Jake had immediately placed a call to Mike, but had to leave a message. His shoulders tensed. Paid the guy a lot of money for his calls to be going to voicemail …

  It was the text from Maggie, though, that had him on alert the most: Good news, I think. My ex is coming around. May be a reunion soon. Wish me luck!

  Jake re-read the text, frowning. His oldest sister was the most organized, centered, and reliable woman he knew. But when it came to her heart, her judgment failed her. He wanted to text her back with one word: Run! But though he believed that to be the sagest advice he could give her, Jake did not want to hurt Maggie. He tucked his phone into his back pocket, determined to let the churn of the sea clear his mind before he faced the rest of his day.

  By the time Jake arrived at the house, he felt revived and ready. He left his Balenciaga trainers on the porch and swung the door open. Daisy stood in the living room wearing yoga pants and a hoodie, her arms hugging her middle. Her eyes zeroed in on his. “Hey,” she said.

  He closed the door behind him. “Hi. Everything all right?” He approached her, but she didn’t move, just stared up at him. “Daisy?”

  She rubbed her lips together. “You haven’t been by.”

  He sensed the question in her remark. “I’ve been … there’s been a lot of development …” He blew out a breath and tried to reach out to her. “Sorry. My mind’s been overrun lately.”