The Housekeeper's Billionaire Boss (Caprock Canyon Romance Book 3)

by Bree Livingston

  He crossed the room and stopped in front of her. “No, Molly, I’m a billionaire. Do you remember a few years ago, that lottery that rolled over forever? The one that was so big that people were buying hundreds of tickets at a time?”

  Now that he said it, she did. She’d even purchased a ticket. Of course, she’d known it was a waste of a dollar, but it had been fun to dream. “Yeah.”

  “My brothers and sister and I won it. That’s how Bear bought this ranch. We won that lottery. I’m a billionaire.”

  Her eyes widened. “Wow.”

  “That’s what I thought.” He chuckled nervously. “I’m still not used to it. Nothing about me has changed. I’ve invested some of it and given some away, but for the most part, it’s just sitting there.”

  Based on his truck, she believed it. It wasn’t new, and if he’d been changed by money, the truck would have been the first thing to upgrade. He was a Texan, after all. “You’re the anonymous person who paid all those medical debts off, aren’t you? The one in the story who was all over the news and social media?”

  A tiny grin spread on his lips, and he shrugged. “Yeah.”

  As much as she appreciated his offer, she couldn’t take his money. It wouldn’t be right. “Still, this isn’t your problem. I need to take care of this.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. You’re my friend. Your problems are my problems.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Your mom is not taking Ellie.” There was a determination in his voice…and it was kind of cool. The normally happy, easy-going guy was in Mortal Kombat mode.

  Molly placed her hand on his forearm. “I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you. What you’ve done already is more than I could have ever dreamed of. I’ve loved being here.”

  His arms dropped to his sides. “You aren’t. I’m offering, and I’m telling you, Ellie is staying right where she belongs. With you. I have a friend who is a lawyer. He’ll point me to the right person.”

  Molly hugged him around the chest. “I don’t know how to say thank you.”

  “I like hugs,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “So this works.”

  The hug continued, and the longer he held her, the more she wanted to stay right where she was. Closing her eyes, she inhaled, drinking him in and reveling in his comfort. For the tiniest moment, she could picture them standing just like this while they watched their children playing in the backyard.

  Leaning back, she lifted her gaze to his, and the battle between her head and her heart hit an all-time high. She wasn’t going to date. It was a promise, a sacrifice she was willing to make for Ellie, but…her stomach twisted in a knot as the battle reached a new intensity.

  She palmed his cheek, and her gaze drifted to his lips. She’d never wanted to kiss someone as much as she wanted to kiss him.

  Josiah covered her hand with his and touched his lips to hers. She slid her hand along his jaw and rested it on the back of his neck, drawing closer and soaking up his warmth. The soft kiss continued, and she couldn’t get enough.

  As she circled her arms around his neck, his arms tightened around her. She’d always wondered what a foot-pop kiss felt like, and this had to be it. The kind that melted her brain, turned her inside out, and made her forget that problems existed. It was the kind of kiss that made her rethink everything.

  He broke the kiss, and she held his gaze. She had no idea what he was thinking. For that matter, she didn’t know what she was thinking. Well, other than she liked it. A sweet kiss from an equally sweet guy.

  “Look, I’m—” he began.

  Before he could finish the sentence, she cut him off with another longer kiss. The first one was amazing, and this one was even better. Either he was just that great at kissing or she was falling so hard a peck on the lips would have knocked her socks off. It didn’t take a lot of thought to decide on the latter of the two. This time when it broke, she smiled sheepishly. “It was a quality control check.”

  The corners of his lips quirked up. “How’d it go?”

  “I don’t know yet.” She hadn’t planned on kissing him, but she could feel the apology coming from him. There didn’t need to be one. Not that she wasn’t confused, because she was completely confused. She just didn’t want to shut down the possibility that it could happen again.

  His gaze dipped to the floor, and his cheeks turned the most adorable shade of red. “Is it okay if I thought it was great?”

  “It was pretty great.” Not just great, fantastic, and she could feel the want for more growing.

  “I know you’re worried, but I’d come up here to see if you wanted to play cards.”

  She circled her arms around his neck. “Thank you…for everything,” she said and stepped back.

  “You’re welcome.” He took her hand and tangled his fingers in hers. “I will not let anyone take Ellie from you, ever.” He held her gaze. “I’ll go bankrupt before I let that happen. You have my promise on that.”

  How had she lucked out to find someone like him? Better, who had been watching over her? It had to be more than luck. A guy like Josiah didn’t just show up. Not when she needed him the most.

  He squeezed her fingers. “When I say I won’t let anyone take Ellie, I mean I won’t let anyone hurt you either.”

  More than once, Molly had been let down by people she trusted. And there was a possibility that no matter how hard Josiah fought, they’d still lose, but it was comforting to know she wouldn’t be alone.

  Silently, she thanked whoever it was looking out for her, for sending Josiah. Not just because he’d help fight for Ellie, but because as much as Molly tried to convince herself she could handle life on her own, it was nice to know she didn’t have to.

  Chapter 12

  Finding out that Molly’s mom wanted custody of Ellie was a shock to Josiah. Why would she want to do that? She had to know that would not only hurt Molly, but it would hurt their relationship too. Molly was a wonderful mom. Yes, money made things easier, but it certainly didn’t love.

  Even more shocking were the kisses he and Molly had shared. One second she was looking at him, and the next, he was kissing her. He didn’t regret it, but it had been a bold move on his part. Especially knowing she didn’t want to date. Granted, kissing and dating were two separate things, but typically, they kind of went hand in hand for most people.

  The best part was her kissing him. He’d started to apologize, and wham, she was kissing him. She’d called it quality control, which he had to admit was funny. In his mind, it had been the better kiss because she was making the move. Plus, he didn’t get the chance to apologize and say he wouldn’t do it again. He definitely wanted to kiss her more.

  It was Saturday, and that had been a few days ago. Since then, things had felt a little different between them. They had kissed, so it was bound to change things—at least, in his mind.

  At the moment, Molly and Josiah had sequestered themselves in Bear’s study with the phone on speaker so that if Case had questions, Molly could answer them. Plus, Josiah thought it was only right that she was part of the conversation. He knew if the situation was reversed, he’d want to be included.

  “Hey, Josiah, what’s up?” Case asked, sounding out of breath. Not unusual as he was training for a half marathon that was coming up soon.

  “I was hoping you might be able to point me to a family lawyer.”

  “Family lawyer? Yeah, I can, but what’s up?”

  Molly relayed everything to him, and by the time she was done, Josiah could tell Case had stopped running to pay attention.

  Ellie began fussing, and without even asking, Molly handed her to Josiah. He gave Molly a cheesy grin, and she wrinkled her nose at him. Since the call with her mom, he’d gone out of his way to try to make her smile or laugh.

  “So, if I’m understanding things, the adoption isn’t final. They can challenge it.” He paused. “Do you believe your mom offered them money?”

  Mol
ly crossed her arms over her chest, putting her thumb to her lips and chewing on it. She nodded. “I think so. My brother has been in and out of jail. The last time I cut ties with him was because he stole my credit cards.”

  Case’s breathing had slowed enough that he was no longer panting. “Do you think there are drugs involved?”

  “No,” Molly said. “He’s a thief, but he’s not a drug addict, and neither is Brenda. Ellie is a happy, healthy baby girl.”

  “Okay,” Case said. “I think I know someone who can help. She’s expensive, but if someone is going to bat for you, you want her.”

  Josiah nuzzled Ellie with his nose. “If she’s the best, then that’s who I want.”

  His friend laughed. “I hope you’re really good at real estate.”

  Molly caught Josiah’s gaze and held it, narrowing her eyes. He knew there was a question there, and he’d be answering once the phone call was over.

  “I’m great at real estate.” He smiled.

  “Okay. I’ll text you the number and call her to give her a heads-up. These family cases can be time-sensitive.”

  “Thanks, Case.”

  They said their goodbyes, and Josiah ended the call.

  “He has no idea you have money, does he?” Molly asked. Yep, he’d called it.

  “It’s not something that comes up. I was being honest when I said I don’t feel any different. I’m just me with a lot more zeros.” He laughed and then looked down at Ellie. “I love her. I don’t doubt your mom wants what’s best for her, but she should have offered to help you, not take her.”

  Sighing, Molly stood. “I think she wants a do-over since she didn’t do so well with us. After my dad left my mom, she dated a lot of guys. A lot. Or it felt that way. I wonder if she’s always thought the same thing. That she could have done things differently, and maybe my brother wouldn’t have been in and out of jail so much.”

  “But you turned out awesome.”

  Molly’s cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. “Thanks. I just wonder if my mom wants Ellie so she can try again and also as a way to make it up to Derek.”

  Josiah could understand that. “Did Derek not like your stepdad or something?”

  She shook her head. “No, we both love him and refer to him as our dad because he’s a good man and always treated us like we belonged to him.”

  “Yeah?”

  She nodded. “After he and my mom were dating for a while, he took my brother and me to dinner. It was a super expensive place where the portions were tiny and the dishes were named things we couldn’t pronounce. He asked us if he could marry our mom. No guy had ever done that before. He always included us in everything.”

  “Sounds like a good guy.” Josiah could admire that.

  “He picked me up after school one day, and I asked him about it. All the other men my mom dated looked at us like we were just included in the package. But not him. Yes, we came with my mom, but he loved that we were a part of the deal. He said that if he was going to love my mom, he was going to love us too. After that, he was just Dad. He loved us, wholly and unconditionally. Sometimes, it even felt like he loved us more than our mom did.”

  “Wow. Great guy.” Josiah shifted Ellie to his shoulder and patted her rear. “I think he had the right attitude. I know that’s how I’d be.” He paused a beat, the statement ringing true because Josiah sure felt like Ellie’s dad. If given the opportunity, he’d happily step up to the plate. “You think he’s wanting this too?”

  “No, I think he’s hoping my mom changes her mind once she realizes that it’ll hurt me.” She hugged herself. “I just feel so blindsided. Derek and Brenda lived with me for four months before she had the baby. Brenda and I talked a lot. The reason she picked me is because she wanted Ellie to have a good life, and money doesn’t always equate to good.”

  Boy, was that true. “No, it doesn’t.”

  “But you and your family are amazing. I kinda think you were the lucky winners of the lottery for a reason.” She smiled.

  Warmth ran from his stomach to his ears. “I don’t know what to say to that.”

  She walked to him and put her arm around his shoulders, rubbing Ellie’s back. “She really likes you.”

  In an instant, Josiah was seeing his family. Molly, Ellie, and him. A neat little package wrapped in a baby-scented bow. But she already had enough stress on her plate with not just someone trying to take her child, but her mom. He’d just met Ellie, and he felt fiercely protective of her, so he could only imagine how Molly felt.

  “She’s got good taste.” He chuckled.

  “Josiah, I don’t know what I’d do if it weren’t for you. I’d have no way to fight this, and I don’t know how to repay you.”

  He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her tight against him, kissing the top of her head. “We’re a team, so you don’t have to worry about that.” He paused. “Besides, you said you’d fight off a sugar-free gummy bear for me. I’m just saying that’s A-game material right there. At this point, it’s go big or go home.”

  Laughing, Molly looked up at him, and in an instant, the air in the room was gone. She touched her lips to his, and the world faded away. If this was another quality control check, it would get a sticker with two thumbs up.

  Deepening the kiss, he pulled her closer, loving the feel of her against him. More than anything, he loved the fact that he was holding Ellie and her mom in his arms, knowing they meant the world to him. It felt right to have them there. Like they’d belonged to him before he even knew it.

  Slowly, the kiss came to an end, and he touched his forehead to hers.

  He’d passed from falling to fallen. These two people were at the center of his sphere. He wanted them both. Maybe with time, Molly would see he wasn’t some fair-weather man or part-time wanna-be dad. He wanted this life, and he was willing to be patient and earn it. Molly and Ellie were worth it.

  Chapter 13

  It had taken a couple of days to set up a time to speak to the lawyer Case had referred Molly and Josiah to, Diane Salinas. Apparently, she was in serious demand, and it was for a reason.

  Josiah’s friend had called her tough, and he wasn’t joking. Molly had painstakingly gone over every detail with Diane, starting from the second Derek and Brenda showed up on Molly’s doorstep. It was like an interrogation, but Molly understood why.

  Then they’d discussed her childhood as well. The lawyer also wanted all the paperwork Molly had filled out and the names of any courthouse employee she’d come in contact with. They’d ended the long, emotionally draining few hours with Diane saying she’d be in touch when she had a chance to review everything.

  Since the call, Molly’s emotions had been all over the place. One second she was deliriously optimistic, and the next, she was in a ball, crying. She was on rinse and repeat. Get up, worry, and then go to bed and worry even more.

  Pushing the covers off, Molly stood and walked to her bedroom door. She needed coffee, and she’d get ready for the day after that. Just as she opened it, Josiah came into view. She startled and jumped, not expecting anyone to be there.

  He took her by the arms. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  She let out a long breath. “It’s okay.”

  Josiah had been nothing but extraordinary. He’d listened to her talk about the same worries over and over without showing even a sign that he was upset or bored. He’d held her more than once while she cried. He was her idea of Superman, offering comfort and care.

  Molly stepped into him, and his arms wrapped around her as she laid her head on his chest. “I want to stop being worried. I don’t know how you do it,” she said, leaning back and locking eyes with him. He seemed so confident all the time.

  “I’m worried, but you’re her mother. I figure when we win, I’ll show a crack in my armor.” He smiled. “My job right now is to take care of my two favorite girls in the whole wide world.”

  “Where is Ellie?”

  “My mom has
her. That’s why I was coming up here. It’s the farmer’s market this weekend at Wyatt and Gabby’s. It’s the weekend before Christmas, and this one is bigger than their normal ones. I was going to see if you wanted to go. There will be pie.” He winked.

  With a chuckle, she nodded. “That sounds amazing.”

  “Okay.”

  He touched his lips to hers, coaxing them to part, and tightened his hold on her as the kiss deepened.

  Being with him felt right. All the indecision she had about men would disappear when she thought about life with him.

  She circled her arms around his neck, clinging to him as if he were a life preserver. Not because of anything he did, but because of his heart. She’d never met a man more gentle and kind. He’d rescued her when she’d lost her job, and now he was rescuing her by holding her when the earth under her feet felt like quicksand.

  Her rule about dating had become a whispered nuisance in the back of her mind. It had been made with the intention of keeping Ellie from being hurt, but what she’d begun to realize was that it was her own heart she was worried about. How did she trust someone to hold it and not crush it?

  She broke the kiss and set her forehead against his chest, trying to fill her air-deprived lungs. “These quality control checks are getting more serious.”

  “Yeah, they kinda are.”

  Something in his voice made her look at him. “What?”

  Josiah chewed his bottom lip. “Nothing.”

  Molly narrowed her eyes. “That didn’t sound like a nothing.”

  “How is a nothing supposed to sound?”

  Shrugging, she said, “I don’t know. But that was a Sarah Walker nothing, and we both know when she said nothing, it meant something.”

  “The fact that I can follow along with what you just said tells me I need to get out more.” He laughed. “So? Farmer’s market and pie?” A smile quirked on his lips, and she melted all over again. That smile. Anytime he looked at her like that, she expected to come away sunburned.