The Neighbor's Secret (A Secret Billionaire Romance #1)

by Kimberley Montpetit

  “Don’t do that,” he warned.

  “Do what?” She gave him an innocent stare.

  “That look. That smile.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “You drive me crazy.”

  “He means in a good way,” Marla interjected. “As in, he’s head over heels.”

  Allie couldn’t look at either one of them now. “Well, if nobody is going to tell me I’m going to get up and get dressed.”

  “That’s my cue to leave,” Ethan said, promptly walking out the door and closing it behind him.

  “Is he coming back?” Allie asked, worried. “He didn’t even say goodbye.”

  “He’s not leaving; he’s in the hall to give you privacy. And he’s driving you home, silly! It’s almost Monday afternoon and I have some crowds to shoot. Pictures, that is.”

  If it was Monday, that meant a meeting with the mayor, too. Allie’s head swam just a little as she swung her legs over and put her toes on the cool linoleum.

  “You need help up?”

  “No, I’m okay. My throat hurts though.”

  “Before you woke up, the doctor mentioned that might happen. Smoke inhalation, but the chest x-ray showed no lingering effects or damage. But the doc said to use throat lozenges liberally. There’s a couple on your tray over there. ”

  Allie put her fists on the edge of the mattress. “Okay, spill it, Marla,” she croaked. “Where’s Sean in all this mess? What doesn’t Ethan want me to know?”

  Marla grinned. “Actually, I’m giddy to be the one to tell you. After the ambulance left—and I swore Ethan was going to start running after it like a dog to be with you—Sean was shaking and mumbling like some crazy person. I think he thought you were dead. That he’d killed you.”

  Allie couldn’t stop a smile from creeping across her lips.

  “Ethan came unglued. He actually arrived at the fry shack and heard you two arguing. Then the whole place went up—never seen anything blow so fast. It was frightening. Your mother was weeping and wailing, your father looked like he’d died when he saw you stretched out on the lawn . . . and, well, Ethan marched up to Sean and punched him right in the face.”

  “What!?”

  “That’s right, honey.”

  “Did Sean hit him back?”

  “Nope. His nose started bleeding and he was lurching around, yelling about the pain like the self-centered prig he is, while you were being carried into the ambulance, for heaven’s sake.”

  Allie fell back to the bed in shock. Ethan punched Sean. “Then what happened?”

  “Your father told Sean to leave Heartland Cove and never come back. Sean said he was already packed and had only come to tell you goodbye—until you followed him back to TO.”

  Allie snorted and pushed herself to a standing position, one hand on the bathroom door frame. “I’ll bet that made my father furious.”

  “That doesn’t even begin to describe it. He told Sean, you’ll see my daughter again over my dead body.”

  Air whooshed out of Allie’s chest. “Wow, go Dad!”

  “Wish I had a father like yours, honey. He’s the best.”

  When Allie dressed, she tried not to cringe at the wide bandage on her right thigh. It was bigger than she expected and extremely tender. She hoped a prescription for more pain meds was on docket.

  Marla had wisely bright her a sundress so she didn’t have to pull slacks or jeans over her leg.

  “Need any help with that hand they wrapped up like a mummy?” Marla called through the door.

  “Think I got it,” Allie answered. She opened the door and stepped back into the room. “Just tie up the laces in back and help me buckle my sandals.”

  The dress was cool, the cotton hem flowing below her knees and hiding the bulky wrappings. Walking felt strange, as if she’d grown an elephant’s leg. A wheelchair was brought to take her downstairs to the exit.

  “Ethan’s outside the door waiting for you,” Marla reassured her with a wink.

  “Cut it out, Marla,” Allie said, but her stomach jumped at the knowledge of Ethan being here. Holding her hand in the hospital bed. Punching out Sean. Coming to her rescue. Defending her. Telling her he was falling for her—just before she yelled at him to take his stuff and get out of the house. He was kind and considerate and she’d been a jerk to him.

  She closed her eyes as she settled into the wheelchair. She was probably just tired and not in her right mind. Miles Benjamin Ethan (Smith) warmed her, thrilled her, and scared her all at the same time. The thought of having him in her life was such a complete opposite experience from what had happened at the beginning of her relationship with Sean.

  At first, she’d been excited about the lawyer, his intellect and confidence, but after knowing Ethan just a few weeks she realized that Sean had dominated their life together. It hadn’t been a partnership. He’d dismissed her ideas and prolonged their engagement until he couldn’t any longer.

  It was a sobering realization to know that he’d only agreed to marry her because she kept demanding it. His heart had not been in it. Which begged the question of whether Sean had ever planned to be standing at the altar watching her enter the church all dressed in white.

  The ache in her throat swelled. That knowledge still hurt, but perhaps Sean had actually done her a favor. How could she be happy with someone who married you because they felt obligated rather than truly committed to your life together?

  Ethan Smith wanted her in ways Sean never had.

  “I’ve got all your paperwork,” Marla told her. “Let’s rock-and- roll.”

  Allie squinted at the bright sunshine when the double glass hospital doors silently opened. Ethan was there, gazing at her, his eyes on her face, relief in his expression.

  He lifted her up as though she weighed nothing and then helped her into the driver’s side of his car. His warm hands were on the bare skin of her back and a jolt of electricity ran through her entire body. She held onto the handle, suddenly unsteady. Her body screamed for more Ethan. For his hands everywhere.

  “Hey, you okay?” he asked gently.

  “Yep, I’m good,” she said, settling into the seat cushion and trying to hide the flush rushing up her neck.

  It was so good to be outside, to feel like a normal person rather than a patient. Allie touched at the bandage on her arm where the IV had been and the wrist band she needed to cut off. “I’m a little nervous to go home,” she admitted. “The morbid part of me wants to open up the bandage and see how bad it is underneath.”

  “Don’t look until you see the doctor again in a couple days. I don’t want you fainting—especially if I’m not around to catch you.”

  She gave him a tremulous smile, her palms suddenly sweaty. “You’re probably right.”

  The leather seats were luxurious and plush, the vehicle loaded with every conceivable upgrade and gadget, and Ethan had turned on all the comfort controls of her seat for the drive back to Heartland.

  Marla shut the car door, calling out, “See you two later. I’m off to work.”

  “I can still help you with the business,” Allie told her.

  “No you can’t, sweetie.” And Marla was gone.

  Allie stared ahead through the windshield while Ethan turned on the ignition. This was the first time they’d been alone since their argument and the sudden silence felt palpable.

  Ethan smoothly pulled into traffic and two blocks later there was a red light. When he braked, he turned toward her. “I hope this isn’t uncomfortable for you. I know we ended on bad terms. And I regret pushing you.”

  “What do you mean “pushing me”—in what way?”

  “I was giving you all sorts of unsolicited advice about your feelings, your anger, and your fiancé—”

  “—ex-fiancé,” Allie clarified.

  “I was wrong to do that. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s been a bad month.”

  Ethan let out a low whistle. “That’s the understatement of the year.”

&nbs
p; Allie took a slow breath, knowing she had to say something. Wanting to say it. She tried to brush aside the awkwardness she’d felt ever since she saw him at her bedside, after their horrible argument two days ago. “Thank you for saving my life, Ethan.”

  “You were on your way out of the building. There were dozens of people around.”

  “I overheard one of the nurses say I got out in the nick of time. That the roof collapsed seconds later. You were the one that shoved me to the ground, weren’t you? To drop and roll and put out the flames on my clothing. You kept talking to me so I wouldn’t pass out. I remember now.”

  “Seeing your apron in flames—the shock and pain on your face—that was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to witness.”

  “Um, I also got your text message Saturday night even though I never responded. I appreciated the sentiments, the apology, and the no pressure. All of it. I never told you.”

  “You didn’t have to. I meant what I said. It’s up to you where we go from here, Allie. I’ll stay, I’ll walk away. I’ll leave you alone for as long as you need to figure things out. Especially while you heal from this terrible accident.”

  “The Victorian house is still mine? Rent free until September first?”

  Ethan lightly touched her cheek. “Good grief, Allie, for as long as you need it.”

  “I’d offer you your room back—” she began.

  Ethan shook his head. “No. You need time and space to heal. Physically and emotionally. I know losing Sean has been killing you. And, like I told you several days ago, it’s been killing me to have you so close, and yet so far.”

  His words were a comfort and a thrill both, but Allie remained silent while Ethan maneuvered around traffic onto highway 130 and then onto Somerville Road and back to cross over the Heartland bridge.

  She gave a small laugh. “I have to admit it felt so good to yell at Sean. To tell him to leave forever.”

  “Do you regret that last part?” There was hesitancy in Ethan’s’ voice.

  Allie shook her head, cradling the bandaged hand in her good one. “I’m surprised at how relieved I feel. How light. Well, except for my right leg that I swear turned into an elephant leg with this thick bandage.” She turned to him. “I’ve been realizing how much Sean controlled my life and my emotions. Our relationship had to be on his terms.”

  “That’s a lot of big stuff to come to terms with.”

  Allie’s fingers tightened around the door handle. She tried to put into words the insight she was finally grasping. “Guess I’m a slow learner. You were right. I’ve been afraid of moving forward. Hanging onto hope that I wasn’t wrong about Sean being a complete jerk. I was stuck in neutral and too anxious to do anything about it.”

  Ethan touched her hand gently. “I’m not going to rub it in,” he said with a glint in his eye. “But I’m ecstatic to hear you say that.”

  A mile later, he turned to take the road into Heartland Cove. The hills turned familiar and beloved, the blue of the water coming into view of the river. “It really is picturesque coming in this direction, isn’t it? The covered bridge with the Victorian town as a backdrop.”

  “I love this view, too,” Allie agreed. “Charming, striking, and scenic all rolled into one. Too bad we had to make a run to the hospital to enjoy it.”

  Without thinking, Allie nudged his arm with hers and laughed, then quickly pulled away when her heart leaped at the connection between them. His skin was warm and heady, his entire presence tugging at her like a magnet.

  “Hey,” Ethan said. “I think you know by now that I don’t bite.”

  “Biting isn’t what I’m afraid of.”

  Ethan pulled into the driveway and parked, his hands still on the steering wheel. “You don’t have to be afraid of anything with me. And that’s a promise.”

  She stared into his rich silky brown eyes and her breath caught. She could get lost in those eyes. They were gentle, compassionate. Not the snapping, jumpy nervous eyes of Sean Carter.

  “I need to get the lawnmower out and do some mowing,” Ethan finally said.

  He was speaking and Allie could hear him, but she could only stare at his lips, wanting to know if that day on the beach—that kiss—was merely an anomaly and not actually real.

  “That scraggly lawn is suddenly looking Amazon jungle-like,” he went on when she didn’t respond.

  She cleared her throat. “Don’t people like you have gardeners?”

  “People like me?” He cocked an eyebrow at her.

  “Sorry, that was bad, but you know what I mean. For example, Sean would never do yard work. And he isn’t wealthy in the slightest—at least not yet.”

  “It doesn’t bother me to get my hands dirty. I like exploring the world, even the grubby parts. No stuffy offices—unless it’s a storage unit filled with history.”

  Allie smiled. “Miss Ellie’s historical society project.”

  Their gaze broke apart when Ethan opened the door and climbed out, heading around to open her car door. “Let’s get you inside. You need to lie on the couch and watch movies for a few days and take a lot of naps.”

  “Luxury! Do I get chocolate, too?”

  “Only in small doses, my girl.”

  Chapter 19

  Ethan was true to his word. He brought a stack of movies—all the romantic comedies she craved, plus Jane Austen’s BBC productions. Including Laura Secord Chocolates to devour while she perfected the art of lazy. Plus Ethan made her dinner every night.

  Her family came to visit that first night, too.

  Surprisingly, Erin burst into tears and threw her arms around her neck. “I thought you died!”

  “You can’t get rid of me that easily.” Allie hugged her back, and it felt so good to squeeze her baby sister after weeks of being annoyed with her. Knowing how close she’d come to losing her and her parents as well as Ethan frightened and sobered Allie. All because of Sean’s selfish actions.

  When Dad put his arms around her, he whispered in her ear. “I’m sorry for not telling Sean to get lost sooner.”

  “It’s not your fault, Dad. I feel more badly about you losing the business. What are you going to do?”

  “Buildings heal faster than people do, sweetie,” he said. He seemed to search her face for any lingering trauma and Allie smiled at him to reassure him that she was perfectly fine.

  “I’ll be good as new in a few weeks.”

  “Well, I have good news, too. Our dear town has already come together and they’ve determined to do a barn-raising just like in the good old days. Instead of a barn, we’re rebuilding the fry shop and enlarging it from a truck to a small, portable shop on a trailer. This coming weekend I take the original building plans to the city commissioner’s office. Blake Howard is going to act as foreman of the job.”

  Allie’s jaw dropped. “That’s fantastic. I always complained about this tiny little town in the middle of nowhere, but right now it’s as good as gold. But how will you pay for all the materials? The cost is going to be triple what you originally bought it for.”

  “Howard said that there will be some fundraisers to help us out—until the insurance money kicks in. Which could take months.”

  Allie threw her arms around her father’s neck. “I’m so happy, Dad. You deserve every good thing. Thank you for sticking with me and all my bad decisions.”

  The lines around his mouth deepened as he scrutinized her face. “Life’s a learning process, honey. We’ve all had our share of licks and wounds and idiocy.”

  “Ooh, touché—and ouch. That last part was brilliant, Dad.”

  “I do my best,” he answered with a wink.

  “Okay, you two, out of my way,” Mom said, pushing forward to embrace her daughter. “Thank God the doctors say you’re going to heal completely. No scarring,” she added, fighting tears.

  “Don’t cry. I’m really going to be fine. I’m not even having fire nightmares.”

  “We’ll, you’ve been sedated,” Mrs. Str
ickland said.

  “Phoebe,” her husband warned. “

  She made a face and suddenly Allie knew where she got the bad habit from. “Honestly, Mom, except for some bruising and stinging around the burn areas sleeping pills work really well. Sean is gone. I’m done. For good. And the feeling is so freeing, I can’t even tell you.”

  “I never thought I’d hear you say that. Ethan Smith was amazing. He was so brave running—no, sprinting—into the burning truck to rescue you.”

  “You mean the place was already on fire? I thought it happened after I ran out.”

  “He’s our hero.” Mrs. Strickland lowered her voice. “And here I’ve been thinking he was taking advantage of you living here the past month.”

  “He pays all the bills, Mother. He owns the house. And because of the rental agreement mix-up I get the house for nothing until September first. You could say I’m taking advantage of his generosity.” Of course, there was the whole break-in to her bathroom on that first night. If she’d had a .22 in the shower, Ethan Smith might have been carried out on a stretcher, but she wasn’t going to tell her parents that. Instead, Allie smiled sweetly.

  “You know there are other ways to take advantage of a young girl,” her mother went on.

  “I’m a woman, Mom. And Ethan has never been anything but a perfect gentleman. In every way.”

  “If you say so, dear.”

  Just then, Ethan returned to the front room with drinks for everyone and raised his glass to toast Allie’s health and recovery. There were cheers and Allie widened her eyes to glare at him. She sidled up to him. “You know I want to punch you in the arm good and hard.”

  He grinned. “I’m looking forward to it. Arm wrestle? I’ll even let you use your un-burned arm.”

  “You’re impossible.”

  “I know.”

  Allie sat back down on the couch, frowning as she realized that she and Sean had never bantered like this. She’d never had any real fun with her lawyer fiancé.

  Several doctor appointments, fresh bandages, a dozen movies, five pounds of chocolates, and two weeks later, Allie was healing much better than she expected.