Falling For the Billionaire

by Christina Tetreault

When the elevator door opened, she stepped inside and considered the fact he hadn’t hesitated to say he’d see her the following weekend instead.

  “Can you please press floor eight,” a woman holding a large arrangement of flowers asked, stepping in after her.

  “Sure.” Paige reached out and pressed the round button. “Visiting family?”

  The woman nodded. “My mom. She fell and broke her hip yesterday.”

  Regular pleasantries aside, she assumed the rest of the ride would be silent.

  “You look like the woman in Sunday’s paper. The one with the Scott Belmont outside the Sherbrooke Hotel in Newport before the orchestra performed. Was it you?”

  Paige didn’t bother with the newspaper. She assumed when she wanted the news the Internet made it easy enough to learn anything, but she hadn’t logged on much since the weekend. How should she answer? Whatever photo the reporter had gotten on the Fourth had obviously made it into the Providence Gazette. Unless there’d been other reporters around and she’d missed them. She hoped not.

  She’d never cared much for lying regardless of whom she spoke to. And while she would most likely never see this person again, it went against her values to lie now. “He’s a friend and we attended the show together. The music was wonderful.”

  “I wouldn’t mind having some friends who looked like him.”

  The elevator stopped at Paige’s floor, and the door slid open before the other woman said anything else, saving her from further questions. “Have a nice visit. I hope your mom gets better soon.”

  With the exception of when she’d run cross-country and track in high school, she’d never had her picture in the paper prior to the auction. Even back then it’d been buried in the high school sports section where few people looked unless they had a child who competed. Paige suspected the picture the woman spoke of had appeared in the society section, a portion of the Sunday paper many people checked. Even her mom read through it from time to time. Despite more and more news being available on the computer, her parents remained die-hard newspaper readers, often picking up a copy if they stopped for gas or coffee. And every Sunday they still had a paper delivered to the house. Her father enjoyed the local news. Her mom loved to look over the local news section, the weekly commentary, and the various sales advertised. They both fought over who got the sports section first. Most of the time her mom conceded first, especially if dad promised to make waffles and bacon for breakfast.

  So if her picture had appeared in the paper again, there was a good chance her mom had seen it this time—or would, because she didn’t always get through the whole paper on Sunday—which meant she’d be calling soon. She’d never told either of her parents about Aunt Bebe’s stunt at the auction. Since Mom had never called, Paige assumed her mom had skipped reading the society section the weekend of the fundraiser and thus didn’t need to know. Paige doubted she’d get that lucky twice.

  Already she knew Dad would find Aunt Bebe’s actions amusing. Mom, well, she wasn’t sure what her thoughts would be. While Mom and Aunt Bebe got along well, she sometimes complained that Aunt Bebe went overboard when it came to Paige and Joe. In Paige’s opinion, Aunt Bebe’s actions this time qualified as overboard. She suspected her mom would have a similar opinion.

  Overboard, but perhaps a good thing, she reminded herself. She still hadn’t decided. He said he’d enjoyed their time together, a sentiment she shared. While it might be a stretch, maybe something would develop. He’d called her. He said he was thinking about her. He wanted to see her again soon. If he were indifferent to her, none of those would be true. Don’t forget his kiss. A man didn’t kiss the way he’d kissed her if he wasn’t at least a little interested.

  She set down her iced coffee at the nurses’ station and envisioned their kiss again. Why did I agree to cover for Anne this weekend? If she’d said no, she could’ve made plans with Scott and possibly received another kiss similar to their last one. She would’ve done it for me if I needed the time off, Paige reminded herself, although it didn’t lessen her disappointment. At least she had the following weekend to look forward to. It would have to do.

  ***

  “I’m heading downstairs for dinner. If you need anything, Shelly is covering for me,” Paige told the patient and her husband in room 323 late Saturday afternoon. “To reach her, dial the same number you do to get me.”

  “But you’ll be back, right? You’re Hilary’s favorite nurse,” the husband asked. From what Paige had seen the man hadn’t left his wife’s bedside since she’d been brought up from the operating room two days ago.

  “I’m on until seven tonight.” She considered suggesting the man take a break himself. He looked as if he needed it. “There’s a decent selection of food in the cafeteria if you’re hungry. I can show you where it is.” While not the best food she’d ever tasted, it beat the cafeteria food she remembered in high school, and it served good coffee.

  “My son promised to bring something later today.”

  She wondered if that was the son with the blue hair and spiderweb tattoo on his face or the one who came on Thursday wearing a jacket with the name of a motorcycle club on the back.

  “Okay. Remember, call Shelly if you need assistance.”

  Paige stepped out of the room, food and coffee the only two things on her mind. Her patients were in good hands with Shelly. She managed three steps before a hand clamped around her bicep and gave it a tug, pulling her into an empty patient room.

  “You’ve been holding out on me. Who’s the hot new guy?” Shelly whispered. “And does he have a brother?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Shelly rolled her eyes. “The one who walked in asking for you and who’s waiting by the nurses’ station.” The phone attached to a pocket on Shelly’s pants rang, an indication a patient required her help. “Seriously, now?” She pulled the phone out. “Later I want to know who he is.”

  You’re not the only one. Paige watched Shelly walk away. No one visited her at the hospital. Even when she’d been married, Benjamin hadn’t stopped by during her shifts, and he’d worked in the hospital too. “Only one way to find out,” she said, stepping out into the hall.

  The sight of Scott standing there in faded jeans and a T-shirt caused her heart to pound so loud she didn’t need a stethoscope to hear it. She’d never seen him dressed so casually, and while she’d thought he looked great in a suit, he looked even better in jeans. She finished her visual inspection, something she could’ve spent a lot more time doing, and used her mind for more useful things, such as asking what he was doing here. He’d said he’d call her this weekend, not show up unannounced. Yet here he was, waiting for her while at the same time distracting every female nurse on the floor.

  “Scott,” she said, walking up to him. The other nurses nearby sent looks of approval her way before going back about their business. Or at least they made it look as if they were minding their own business. Paige guessed about half of them were paying more attention to them.

  He gave her a smile hot enough to melt chocolate before giving her a hug.

  “What are you doing here?” Considering Scott had family in the area, it was possible someone he knew was a patient in the hospital. “Is someone sick?”

  “Since you had to work this weekend, I decided to stop by and say hello. Hope you don’t mind.”

  He’d come all the way from New York, or wherever he’d been, to say hello? “Don’t mind at all. I’m heading to the cafeteria now for dinner, if you want to come.”

  “Good, I got the timing right. Hoped I would.”

  And how did she respond to that one? “Give me a minute, I need to grab my things from my locker.”

  Paige sensed many of her coworkers watching her as she walked away and into the locker room. Later she’d get a lot of questions from people. Although she didn’t usually work weekends anymore, she knew enough of the staff on today that they wouldn’t think twice about asking her about Scott. And of cour
se Shelly would want some answers too.

  Neither said anything until they stepped into an elevator and the door slid closed, leaving them alone and thankfully away from curious eyes. “Sorry, I’ve got to ask. How did you know where to go and when to come?”

  “The night of the auction you told me you worked in the CCU. And when I called on Tuesday you were on a break. I hoped you’d have the same schedule today.”

  Punctual, handsome, and he had a good memory. The man’s list of attributes kept getting longer and longer.

  “I was so nervous the night of the fundraiser, I don’t remember much from our conversation.” With her first two questions answered, she saw no reason not to question him more. Considering he’d showed up out of the blue, he had to expect that she had questions. “When did you get back?”

  “Arrived in Boston late yesterday afternoon. Spent the night at my parents’ house in Weston and drove down here this afternoon. I stopped and visited my cousin Trent before coming here. He lives in Providence with his family.”

  Everyone knew Trent Sherbrooke lived in Providence. Just like everyone knew about his whirlwind romance the previous summer, his wedding in January, and the birth of his son earlier this summer.

  Only a few tables inside the cafeteria were occupied when they walked inside, which wasn’t unusual for this time of day, and she headed straight for her favorite one. “I brought food from home, but I’m going to get a coffee. Do you want one?” she asked, setting her purse and lunch bag on the table.

  “Have a seat. I’ll get it. Cream and sugar, right?” He pulled out the vinyl-covered chair and waited.

  He remembered where she worked, when she took her break, and how she liked her coffee. Was there anything the man didn’t remember? Her ex-husband had had trouble remembering her birthday. Both years they were married, he’d forgotten. Paige nodded and handed over a five-dollar bill.

  Scott ignored the money and said, “Be right back.”

  She took out the sandwich and yogurt she’d packed, but her eyes never looked away from him. Jeans had been made for the man’s ass.

  A few tables over she caught a gray-haired woman pointing in Scott’s direction before saying something to her companion. Immediately, the companion turned her gaze on Scott and she spoke as she watched him stop at the cashier. Paige couldn’t hear what either said, but she had a good guess. She wondered if he realized how much attention he got from women of all ages. Probably. Good-looking men usually did.

  “Added the cream, but not the sugar. I wasn’t sure how much you liked.” Scott placed a large paper cup in front of her along with several packets of sugar.

  The two women from the other table didn’t even bother to pretend they weren’t watching them as he sat down across from her.

  Paige tried to ignore the stares coming their way, a difficult task since not only were they staring but they were whispering to each other too. “Three or four is usually good in a coffee this large.”

  “Would’ve guessed more, considering how much you like sweets.” He smiled at her over the rim of his cup, and for a moment she felt like a sixteen-year-old getting smiled at by the boy she liked.

  “I know you’re here until seven. What are your plans afterward?”

  Plans after work? Now that was funny. Some nights after work, she had barely enough energy to drive home, never mind go out and do anything. “Hot date with my couch and television. I have two weeks of my favorite television shows waiting for me.”

  “How do you have the energy after being here?” He sipped his coffee before setting it down, his expression serious.

  Paige considered his question while mixing her peach yogurt. Joking around with him was so easy. Not to mention enjoyable. If she hadn’t spent time with him, she never would guessed he’d be so good at making her laugh. “It’s tough, but you do what you have to.”

  “Would company fit in with your hot date tonight? I’ll bring chocolate brownies.”

  She pictured them standing together on his roof kissing. If he came by tonight, there was a good chance they’d do more of that. “You—”

  “I’m sorry. I have to ask,” one of the two women who’d been watching them said, stopping at their table. “You look familiar. You play the new doctor on Code Red, don’t you?” She directed her question to Scott.

  “No, sorry. I’m not on television.”

  “See, I told you.” The taller of the two women nudged the other in the arm. “He’s one of the men featured in the article about the bachelor auction. He’s the president’s nephew, Scott Belmont.”

  “Not possible. He doesn’t look anything like the president. Everyone in that family looks alike.” The shorter gray-haired woman said before Scott could confirm or deny.

  “I’m telling you, Pam, it’s him. I’ve read every article printed about the auction. ” The woman’s voice went up several decibels when she spoke, and Paige was glad the cafeteria remained fairly empty. “And I read the newest biography released about the Sherbrooke family last year.”

  “Denise, you don’t know everything.”

  Paige remembered the release of the book. It had been advertised as the tell-all book about the family. For several months it had stayed on best-seller lists. Once the family sued both the author and the publishing house and the so-called secrets inside were proven to be fabrications, it had disappeared from bookshelves.

  Judging by Scott’s expression, he hadn’t forgotten about the book or the lies printed inside.

  “Ladies, please.” He looked at the shorter woman. “Pam, your friend is correct. I did participate in the Helping Hands fundraiser and the President is my uncle.”

  “See, I was right,” Denise, the taller of the two women, said.

  Considering the way the two ladies kept bickering, she wondered if they were sisters.

  “I’d really appreciate it if you give us some privacy so my friend can finish her dinner. She doesn’t have much time left before she needs to go back upstairs.” Somehow he managed to keep his voice kind and friendly.

  “Let’s go, Pam. I told you coming over here was rude. But you never listen to me.” Denise took the other woman by the arm and tugged her away.

  “Knock it off, you dim-witted ninny. He didn’t seem to mind.” Pam’s voice floated back toward them.

  Paige covered her mouth to hide her giggle and watched the two women walk away. Judging by their gestures they continued to bicker as they walked.

  “You didn’t tell me there would be entertainment in here.”

  Scott’s comment sent her over the top, and there was no holding back her laughter. “Those two were arguing like a couple of toddlers.”

  “Huh, they reminded me of an old married couple.” He turned in his seat and watched as they exited the cafeteria. “Sisters?”

  “That’s my guess.” Paige reached for her yogurt, which she still hadn’t taken a bite of.

  “Anyway, what’s your verdict? Can I crash your hot date with the television tonight?”

  Rubbing her chin, she pretended to consider her answer. “Since you promise to bring brownies, I’ll allow it. Bring brownies with walnuts and I might even let you pick what we watch.”

  Scott winked. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Chapter 7

  Paige sang along with the music playing while she searched through her drawer. Should she go with shorts or jeans tonight? All day the temps had remained high, but the channel six meteorologist promised the temperature would dip into the high seventies after sunset. Definitely still shorts weather. However, they’d be outside for the baseball game, which meant possible mosquitos. She had no desire to be supper for some hungry bugs. Bites or sweat, what wonderful choices. Tonight, she’d take her chances. The game started at five; perhaps it’d be over before the bugs became too intolerable.

  After she finished getting ready, she tossed a light sweatshirt over the back of a kitchen chair so she could take it with her. Predicting the weather was not a perf
ect science. Better safe than sorry.

  “Nothing to do but wait,” she said to Ryder, who’d followed her into the living room. Although she didn’t think she’d wait long. When they’d last spoken, Scott had promised to swing by around three thirty. So far he’d proved to always be punctual. He even called when he said he would, something he’d done several times since the previous weekend when he’d surprised her at work. Actually, since he’d left her house Saturday night, he’d called her three times. Each conversation had lasted longer than the one before it. Thursday, the last time he’d called, they talked for almost two hours. The last time she had a phone conversation last so long, she’d been in high school. And during his calls, she’d learned more than she would have ever learned from any magazine or Internet article. She liked that he didn’t mind answering personal questions. He also shared things she wouldn’t have thought of asking. She made an effort to reciprocate his openness. If he asked a question, she answered. The only difference was, she was more selective about what personal information she shared voluntarily. Some things he didn’t need to know, at least not now. Perhaps not ever.

  She’d dated enough before her marriage to recognize the signs. Something was developing between them that had nothing to do with the auction and the dates Aunt Bebe had paid for. The unexpected visit last weekend and the kisses they’d shared afterward put the notion in her head. The multiple phone calls and long conversations during the week confirmed it. But this thing between them was still new. They could spend some more time together and decide it wasn’t working. Prior to her marriage, she’d had plenty of short-lived relationships, several of which had seemed to have potential in the beginning and then just fizzled out. There was no way of really knowing a person after just two or three dates. Getting to know someone took time and effort, two things she was more than willing to put into this thing with Scott. She got the impression he was too.

  Ryder jumped to his feet and bolted out of his sunny spot on the floor and toward the kitchen. Normally, only two things got him to move so fast when he relaxed in the sun: the promise of food or a noise outside. Since she hadn’t mentioned food, Ryder must have heard something she hadn’t.