Her Billionaire Betrayal (Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove Book 3)

by Danni Lee Nicholls

  Indigo looked down in her bowl of swimming cereal. She too was drowning in debt, but she chose not to think about it. She paid each bill as it came, and when she sent it away, she closed that part of her mind. She tried not to think about interest, minimum payments, or how her debt kept her tethered to Sam and his selfish choices and then the illness that had befallen him. She only wanted to think about Sam and the time they’d shared when they were kids. When a day on the river meant tubing from Hayden’s Bridge to Armitage Park, or spending a soft Saturday with Sam as he fished for spring Chinook.

  In the cool mists of winter, they’d drive up to the Cascade Mountains, where they’d hike the trails to see water tumbling over rock and marvel at the power and artistry of nature. Sam knew the river like his own skin, and in those moments, it wasn’t hard for Indigo to imagine they were the only two people on earth, surrounded by such pristine and rugged beauty. She loved Sam, then. Loved how he transported her to places that cast a spell over both of them. But in the end, it wasn’t the cancer that took Sam from her. It was the river.

  After they’d married, work, along with other responsibilities, took up the majority of their time together, but all he talked about was getting back to the river. His every free moment was spent on its banks or boating in the deep pools of cold, clear waters where fish swam below the bluish-green surface. Indigo could come if she wanted, but her company was no longer paramount. He hungered for the river in a way he used to hunger for her.

  When cancer struck, Sam’s dying wish was to be near the river. Instead, he died at home, in their cramped apartment with Indigo holding his hand and his parents sobbing nearby. There was no funeral, and after dividing his ashes with his family, Indigo spread what was left of Sam to the McKenzie, his first love.

  She stood from the table, tears streaming down her face. She didn’t know what to do with herself. She was caught in the rapids of grief; they were breaking her as they threw her about with complete abandon over rocks, keeping her submerged with their plunging force.

  She covered her mouth with her hand and was about to sink to the floor, when Kelsey came to her and put her arms around her. “I’ve got you,” Kelsey whispered fiercely. “I’ve got you.”

  Indigo wailed as her strength fled. “I loved him!” She sobbed. “I loved him. I don’t want to know this about him. I don’t want to remember how the river was everything, and I was—” Her sobs overtook her.

  “I know,” Kelsey whispered. “I know.”

  Indigo quieted. “I don’t want to remember that Sam chose the river over me.”

  “You can hold this,” Kelsey said. “You can hold it right next to the good times. There’s room.”

  Indigo sobbed until she was exhausted, her grief spent. She rested in her best friend’s embrace for a moment before moving to the couch. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Kelsey patted her hand as Indigo closed her eyes. A crying headache was coming on, but some part of her vessel was cleansed by the tears, and now it was open, ready for something of Indigo’s choosing to fill that lovely expansion.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The following Tuesday evening, Indigo arrived early at the studio. Something in her had stilled since her revelation about Sam. In some ways, she tried to be grateful to Cole for forcing her to see the uglier part of her marriage. But she still couldn’t quite forgive him for his overbearing accusations and recriminations that ripped apart the fragile seams of her memory and tore at the tenderness that had been a part of what she and Cole shared.

  She did her best to put him out of her head and focus on work. With the beginning of April budding into a bright and promising spring, brides lined up for alterations. She’d finished the Regency costumes weeks ago and turned them over to Emily and Hattie, who were thrilled with the results. Her work on the dance costumes was also in full swing, with one ensemble completed and the skirts in place with the rest. This would be the first day the girls would try on their full dresses. Fragile eagerness blossomed within Indigo like the Arkansas spring.

  Greeting Phillip and Cara, she showed them one of the costumes. Her grin was as bright as the morning as she took in the pleasure that came from seeing the fruition of her own hard work.

  Cara reached out to finger the chiffon. “It’s beautiful,” she murmured. “I can’t wait for the girls to see it.” She pulled back. “Oh, I need to ask, have you seen Cole? Phillip and I have tried to reach him since yesterday without any luck. We needed to talk to him about the funds for renting the park. We’ve made the reservations because he gave us the go-ahead, but we never like to take his funding for granted.”

  Indigo stiffened at the sound of Cole’s name, but she covered it with a smile. “I’m not sure where Cole is these days, Cara. I haven’t spoken to him since Saturday.”

  Cara’s face changed for a brief moment before she recovered. “Yes, of course. It was silly of me to ask. I’m sure he’ll show up sooner or later. We might even see him today.” Her look offered a warning, but it wasn’t something Indigo hadn’t already considered.

  Indigo shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

  They were interrupted by several kids laughing and joking as if the springtime had awakened them, too. Isabella’s long blond hair ran in a French braid down her back with flyaway strands that captured the light, giving her face a peachy glow. Pamela came up behind along with several parents. She didn’t look at Indigo but kept her attention on Abigail’s mother, who was telling a story, making them both laugh.

  Indigo noticed that Pam’s attire had changed. Gone were the skinny jeans, tight sweaters, and stilettos. In their place was a more tailored look of gray slacks and a mint-green sweater and ballet flats that matched her pants. Her hair was soft and loose around her face, and her makeup was a pale comparison to the garish colors she used to wear.

  “Is that the dress?” Isabella rushed toward Indigo.

  “Yes, it is!” Indigo’s enthusiasm matched the young girl’s. “And today, you’ll get to try it on.” She kept her focus on the girls, who were now surrounding her with their excited babble. “Who wants to be first?”

  “Oh, me!” Isabella raised her hand.

  Indigo smiled. “Sure thing, then. C’mon.” Isabella followed Indigo into the curtained partition where she hurriedly changed into the costume. Within minutes, the young girl was transformed into a lithe dancer.

  “It’s gorgeous,” Isabella whispered in awe. She ran her hands down the Lycra-and-lace bodice and fingered the skirt.

  “It’s not quite finished,” Indigo said. “I’m going to place rhinestones along the waistline that move into the folds of the skirt so that when you twirl, they’ll show. I hope it’ll look like water dripping from leaves.”

  Isabella twirled. “That’ll be the perfect touch. I’ve got to show my mom.” Before Indigo could speak, Isabella poked her head out between the curtains. “Mom! You’ve got to see this. Hurry!”

  Pamela left her conversation and squeezed into the partitioned area. Her mouth dropped open when she saw Isabella dressed in her costume. “Oh my. Don’t you look like a dream,” she said, caressing her daughter’s face. “You’ll be so beautiful. I can’t wait for dress rehearsals.” She turned to Indigo, her eyes betraying nothing. “You’ve done lovely work.”

  “And it’s not even finished!” Isabella broke in. She explained about the rhinestones.

  “Yes. It’s gorgeous.” Pam fidgeted in the tight space. “We need to make sure we thank Mr. Demetrius for spending the money on these things. Now, let’s get you back into your practice leotard so you can get to rehearsal.”

  “But I don’t want to take it off.”

  “Your mother’s right,” Indigo replied. “Other girls need to try their dresses on, too.”

  “All right.” Isabella hurriedly changed and rushed from behind the curtain, leaving Indigo alone with Pamela.

  Pamela was about to leave when Indigo grabbed her by the arm. “Make sure you thank Mr. Demetrius for the mon
ey it took to remake that costume,” Indigo said. “It was your own daughter’s dress you snagged that day, and he paid for the remake.”

  Pamela’s eyes flew wide before a self-satisfied look came to her face. “Something tells me I’ll be talking to him before you.”

  Indigo’s chest hurt with the stab in Pamela’s words, but she refused to break the other woman’s gaze. She dropped Pamela’s arm but held her eyes. “You’re right about that.”

  Pamela gave a smug puff of a laugh before moving from Indigo’s sight.

  Indigo leaned against the table and closed her eyes as hurt sprung up from some unknown well. She missed Cole. She hated to admit it, but the truth wouldn’t be denied.

  With intentional effort, she tried to recall their Saturday afternoon conversation full of criticism, condemnation, and censure, but she couldn’t erase his kind patience about her marriage to Sam and the understanding he’d offered when he’d realized she would always want to remember her husband. Cole had made it clear he didn’t want to erase Sam from her memory; instead, he wished to live alongside it in her present moment. That was a rare gift many men wouldn’t offer.

  Indigo shook the thought away. It didn’t matter what Cole had presented. There was nothing between them now.

  Pamela’s voice floated back to her as she bragged about how beautiful Isabella looked in her costume to another parent. Indigo tried not to hold any bitterness toward Pamela. Instead, she made an effort to remember she was only the messenger and it was enough to make sure she wasn’t like her.

  Opening the curtains, she was about to call the next girl when she saw Cole talking to Cara and Phillip in low tones. He looked up at her the minute she drew back the curtain. The pain from her conversation with Pamela mingled with the hurt Cole had dished out on Saturday. It cinched her heart, making it hard to breathe.

  She swallowed hard, tears filling her eyes. She stepped back behind the curtains and took a deep breath. She expected to see him someday, but his presence was still a sharp blade of surprise. She needed to gather her thoughts before asking for another young woman to try on her dance costume. Focusing on the table in front of her, she gathered her scattered receipts. Cole needed these copies. She placed them in a pile, deciding to hand them over on her way out. The sooner she was finished with the fittings, the sooner she’d be able to leave.

  For the next forty minutes, she worked with each girl and their costumes, knowing where to take in or let out a little fabric and marking the changes with pins and chalk. She kept her attention focused in hopes of crowding out any thoughts of Cole. Soon, she was finished.

  Cleaning up her work area, she grabbed the receipts and was about to leave when she heard Cole’s voice. “Knock, knock.”

  Her heart leapt into her throat. “Yes?”

  “Everyone decent in there?”

  “Yes, but I don’t have much time.”

  Cole came to her side of the curtain.

  Indigo gave him a pasted smile. “I’m glad to catch you,” she said, handing him the pile of receipts. “You’ll find everything in order.”

  Cole put the receipts down. “Indi.” His voice was warm and intimate.

  Indigo swallowed her fresh batch of tears. She was unprepared for the tenderness that emanated from him. His gentleness and masculine scent, coupled with the affectionate and familiar way he said her name, made her heart stop. She shook her head, mostly to rid herself of the want that rose with the hurt. “Don’t.” Her whisper was raspy as she put her hand up between them. “You’ve made your position perfectly clear.” Grabbing her purse, she threw the curtains open and hurried away, leaving Cole behind.

  The now familiar music swelled, and Indigo wondered if she could make it across the dance floor without weeping. The few but luscious memories of the closed and loving space she and Cole shared while dancing came back to her, swift and unbidden, much like memories of Sam. But this time, she turned away from the warm and soothing charm they offered, refusing to invite them in. She had a job to do, and in a few months, she’d be finished here. By then, her heart would be finished with Cole, too.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Cole sat on the bleachers, the receipts in his hand. He worked through each one without really seeing them. He had considered following Indigo outside but decided against it after watching how she held herself as she left the studio, stiff and unyielding.

  Cara’s eyes had followed her and then flew to Cole, who shook his head before sitting down. There was no use in going after Indigo today. She didn’t want to be near him, and he didn’t blame her.

  Ever since his conversation with Landon, Cole couldn’t shake the fact that he was responsible for ripping open a wound Indigo had wished to remain closed. In his eagerness to replay a scene with Jessica that only happened in his head, he’d unwittingly exposed Indigo and the messiness of her marriage to Sam. He should’ve known better. It had taken him years before he told anyone but his family about Jessica, and yet he expected Indigo to spill her story on his timetable.

  Cole considered writing Indigo an old-fashioned letter, explaining everything, but he changed his mind. It would be too easy for that to become their final correspondence if Indigo refused to answer. That was the last thing he wanted.

  Pamela sat next to him as he finished staring at the final receipt. She kept her distance this time, and Cole appreciated not being nuzzled.

  “I spoke with Indigo.” Contrition laced her words.

  Cole’s head jerked up, and he gave Pam an intense look.

  Pamela’s gaze fell to her shoes. “She told me you ended up paying for the snag in Isabella’s dress. That was thoughtless on my part, and I’m sorry.”

  Cole studied the woman next to him. She looked different. Her hair was soft, no longer stiff with hairspray, and her clothes draped over her body in understated elegance. But none of this mattered. A wedge of distrust rose up between them. “I appreciate the acknowledgment. Did you apologize to Indigo? She was the one who had to spend extra time remaking the costume so Isabella could have something perfect.”

  Pamela shifted in her seat, inching just a little closer, but she didn’t touch him. “I know I’ve behaved badly.”

  Pamela’s response made her answer clear. She had not offered amends to Indigo. Anger built up like steam in Cole, but he chastised himself. It would be easy to blame Pamela for what had taken place between him and Indigo. After all, she’d offered the lure with all of the information she had gathered. But he’d taken the bait and used it to hook another in a tender place. He looked at Pamela. “We both have behaved badly.”

  “Maybe we can fix this together.” Pamela’s voice held hope.

  He turned away and sighed before shaking his head. “And how do you propose we do that?”

  “If we become a couple, we can—”

  Cole held up his hand. In spite of the changes in Pamela’s physical appearance and her contrition about her behavior, nothing was different. He still preferred her to be Ms. Smithers. He would never trust her. His patience thinned, and he clenched his jaw. “We are never going to be a couple, Ms. Smithers. Never. I think I’ve made that abundantly clear. There’s nothing more to say about it. That conversation is dead. If you really want to do me a favor, you’ll stay away from me.” He stood and without a backward glance, he strode out of the studio.

  The warm spring sun bathed him with its light, mocking him with its cheerful hope. Cole was at a loss as he stood next to his car. He should go home, but there wasn’t any particular reason to be there. Folding himself into the Tesla, he moved in the opposite direction of Mountain Cove, working his way down North Main, where the old Victorian Indigo had chosen for her future business stood. Cole brought the Tesla to a stop. The big established home had been remodeled for business. The storefront Indigo admired was empty. Cole couldn’t remember what had leased the defined area. After finding a place to park, he walked back to the vacant shop and noticed the sign that offered the space for lease, along wi
th a number. He wondered if Indigo knew. Should he tell her? Without another thought, he whipped his phone from his pocket and sent her a quick text.

  Did you know that cute Victorian storefront you like on North Main is vacant?

  Cole second-guessed himself the moment his text flew from his phone. If Indigo’s demeanor was any indication, she didn’t want anything to do with him. But he couldn’t ignore this possibility of good fortune for her.

  The reply was immediate. Thanks for letting me know. Yes. I’ve already spoken to the landlord, and it wouldn’t be a good fit.

  Deep regret filtered through Cole. This was Indigo’s dream, and it was slipping through her fingers. I’m sorry.

  There was no reply.

  Turning back to the vacant window, he punched the number on the sign into his phone. A man answered. Cole got right to business. “I’m standing outside your building on North Main. I’ve noticed the front room is for lease. Can you tell me how much you’re asking for rent?”

  The landlord quoted him a price.

  “If I paid you three hundred dollars above that, would you allow me to sublet it?”

  “That doesn’t sound like a very smart business move on your part,” the landlord stated. “That’s above market value, and you won’t recoup your investment.” He hesitated. “I’ve never been a fan of subletting. It makes me think there’s something shady going on.”

  “Nothing shady. I just want to help out a friend.”

  “Isn’t that how all shady things start?”

  Cole ignored the landlord’s dim view of good will, his mind flying to the next option. “Would you consider selling?”

  The landlord was quiet for a moment. “Who is this?”

  “I’ve gotten ahead of myself. I’m Cole Demetrius, and I’m interested in buying your retail property on North Main.”

  “Cole Demetrius … the name sounds familiar. You’re that billionaire who drives the red Tesla.”