The Billionaire's Deception (The Blank Check Series Book 5)

by Jeannette Winters

  When he handed it to Ethan, it was like a punch in the gut. Kollette. “Don’t tell me she’s a bank robber or something like that, because I wouldn’t believe you.”

  The deputy shook his head. “Nope. Her daddy is looking for her. He said he tried calling her but she hasn’t returned his calls.”

  “And he thought she’d be at the Potters?”

  The deputy laughed. “Not this woman. She’s the daughter of one of the biggest hotel chains in the States. What the hell would she be doing at the Potters?”

  Getting away from it all. But then again, there could be more to it. For all he knew she was hiding, running from her father. She hadn’t mentioned anything that made it sound like there was trouble at home, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t.

  Ethan wasn’t about to tell the deputy where to find Kollette, even though he should. Right now he wanted to get back to the cabin and do his own investigating. If Kollette was in trouble, she might need his help.

  “What did you say her name was?” Ethan asked.

  “Kollette Sommers. Guess she was supposed to be here for work.”

  The name didn’t sound familiar to him, but then again, he normally didn’t stay at a hotel when he travelled. And if the Sommers hotels were in Miami, he definitely didn’t go. What he needed was in New York City, and the rest, here on the mountain. “What type of work?”

  “Mr. Sommers didn’t say, but I have a feeling they are looking at property to buy for a new hotel. It’d be real good for the county, but I can’t picture where they’d put a place like that around here.”

  “Got me.” The mare must’ve been picking up on Ethan’s emotions and started to get agitated. “I better start heading back up to the Potters.”

  “Tell them I said hello and we’ll make sure their road gets cleared within the next few days.”

  “Will do.” Ethan tugged on the reigns and started heading back towards the cabin. He wanted to give her a kick and get her moving faster, but the slippery slope required them to take their time.

  Ethan switched gears into business mode. The Potters definitely owned prime property, hell, half the mountain was theirs. It wouldn’t be ideal for a luxury hotel, but a sweet location for a five star lodge. He could see why someone would be interested in this place. Like a knife twisting in his gut, he couldn’t help but think how fucked up it was if that’s why Kollette was really there. Was she being all nice and friendly to Roy and especially Mabel, only to rip this place out from under them?

  It wouldn’t take much for that to happen, because the Potters didn’t have much money. Each time he came and stayed, he tried to give them some. Told them whatever they needed, just ask, he’d get it. They never asked, so he always had to guess and hope what he brought was filling the need. But if a hotel giant did want their property, the Potters would be no match for them. He knew all too well what money and power could do. He’d seen it too much first hand. Hell, it was hard to hold back using the Lawson name sometimes. I might just have to change that if the Sommers try messing with the Potters.

  He was getting ahead of himself. Right now all he knew was what the deputy thought, but that wasn’t based on any facts. And even when he arrived at the cabin, it wasn’t like he could just walk up to her and start accusing her of anything. There could be a real simple explanation for all this.

  Ethan had made better time going back up than he had thought he would. The cabin was in sight. But the mare needed to be taken care of before he could even think about going inside. As he approached the barn he noticed Kollette was outside cleaning off her Jeep. He hated to be the one to tell her, but even with a Jeep, she wasn’t making it out of there today, or tomorrow. Was she anxious to get off the mountain and report back to her father? God he hoped that wasn’t the case.

  He noticed Mabel and Roy were standing on the porch watching over her. They had really taken to Kollette. Why wouldn’t they? She was sweet, funny and…in Mabel’s words, lovable. Ethan wasn’t sure if Kollette knew just how much the Potters liked her. Mabel never let anyone touch her things in the kitchen, yet each day, she had Kollette in there working beside her as she passed down her love of cooking. And Roy never said anything, but Ethan noticed he always made sure there was extra wood on the fire just so Kollette wasn’t cold. He hoped Kollette cared equally about them.

  Tonight, instead of playing any games, it was time to put all the cards on the table. He would come clean with why he was there, and hopefully so would she.

  Kollette didn’t think about the possibly of the battery dying until Roy mentioned it. In Miami, batteries didn’t lose their charge due to cold weather. As she had expected, Roy had offered to go and start the Jeep for her, but they had already done so much. And it wasn’t like she couldn’t clean the snow off a vehicle herself.

  He was right. The Jeep didn’t start on the first try, but eventually the engine turned over. She figured while it ran, she might as well shovel the snow away from the Jeep too. Hopefully they wouldn’t get another storm before she left.

  As she saw Ethan approaching on the horse, her first thought was how damn sexy he looked up there. He must’ve borrowed one of Roy’s cowboy hats, but it looked real good on him. She used to wonder what he’d look like all dressed up in a tux. Now she didn’t care. Keep that man in jeans because this rugged look was so much more appealing.

  Kollette usually dated well-to-do businessmen. It was natural since in her line of business, that’s who she crossed paths with. She had to admit, it was nice meeting someone who didn’t have more money than God and wasn’t out flaunting it for all to see. Ethan was just an average guy who enjoyed simple things. Things that she found she enjoyed as well. All she needed was a bit of time away to realize that.

  She wished she had packed warmer clothes, or at least stopped and purchased some. Because now she regretted not taking him up on the offer for the horseback ride to the hunters cabin. Although she was enjoying staying with Mabel and Roy, she wouldn’t mind a little alone time with Ethan. Not that she wanted things to go any further than they had last night, but even that wasn’t something she wanted the Potters to walk in on.

  Kollette gave Ethan a wave, one that probably showed more excitement than needed. Oddly, his didn’t. He looked upset. The news regarding the road must not have been good. Although he probably was cold and tired too, since he been gone a good part of the day.

  She watched as he entered the barn. Kollette didn’t know much about horses, or any animals for that matter, but she knew it wasn’t as easy as getting off and closing the door. A part of her wanted to go and offer assistance. The fact was she’d slow him down. He’d have to tell her what to do each step of the way. If he was tired, that was the last thing he’d want.

  Kollette turned off her Jeep and headed back towards the porch. “Ethan’s back,” she announced. That was silly for her to say, since they had been standing there and obviously had seen the same thing she had.

  “He doesn’t look happy. Guess the roads aren’t cleared yet,” Roy said.

  “I guess.” If that’s what was troubling him, then maybe he wanted to leave and knowing he couldn’t, put that scowl on his face. Maybe he thinks last night was a mistake. That I wanted more than just that kiss and he…he didn’t.

  Roy added, “He wanted to make sure you would be okay if you needed to leave.”

  “Me? He went to check because of me?” she asked.

  “Isn’t that sweet of him?” Mabel added. “He’s a fine young man. Just like my Roy here.” She leaned into her husband. “Men like this are hard to find.”

  Roy leaned over and gave Mabel a kiss on the top of her head. “And there ain’t no woman like you. My Mabel’s got to be special to put up with me all these years.”

  The way those two looked at each other, she didn’t think either remembered anything but the good times. What a beautiful thing. If she was looking for a relationship, she’d want what they had. But she wasn’t looking. It didn’t fit into her plan.
A relationship took time and she had none to spare. She even felt guilty for being away from the hotel this long. As she turned back to the barn she knew there was something that she didn’t regret: meeting Ethan.

  If things were different, if they lived closer, maybe they could talk about seeing each other after they left here. But he lived in New York somewhere. She wasn’t even sure if it was the city. Either way, it didn’t matter. A long distance relationship was only going to mean putting more time and effort in. It would be doomed to fail. Not because of Ethan, but because she knew herself. She was married already. To her job. There wasn’t room in her life for anything or anyone else right now. Maybe never.

  Guess it doesn’t matter if he’s one of the good ones. He deserves some woman who can be there to appreciate it.

  “I think I’m going to go inside and warm up. I’m not a fan of this cold weather and can’t wait to get back to Miami.”

  At least there she pretty much knew what to expect each day. Something breaking, an irate guest, or an argument between employees. All things she knew how to handle and did so very well. But these feelings that she was developing for Ethan, well that was an internal battle that she knew either way, she’d end up losing.

  No different than not wanting to hurt the Potters, she found herself also not wanting to hurt Ethan either. She didn’t need Mabel to tell her he was one of the good guys. She’d already seen that with how he cared for the Potters. She needed to get out of here before any of them figured out who she was. Because I’m not one of the good ones.

  She didn’t even stop to warm by the fire. Instead she went into her room and closed the door. As she did so, her cell phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket and noticed it was her father.

  Answering quickly before she lost service she said, “Hi. I know the connection is bad, so we should make this quick.”

  “Kollette, I’ve been so worried about you.”

  “Sorry. There is not much cell service here,” she stated. “And now I’m snowed in.”

  “Snowed in where?” he asked.

  “At Potters Peak,” she said.

  “You’re at Potters? Did you register under an alias because no one knows you’re there.”

  “They are extremely laid back here. They didn’t take my name or have me sign in. They don’t even have a computer here, a television or a phone.” But they do have Ethan which makes up for it all.

  “Kollette, what are you talking about. Of course they have all those things,” her father said adamantly.

  “Then they have hidden them very well, because they are nowhere in sight. All we have been doing is cooking and playing board games the entire time. Well I mean when I wasn’t doing the research. Which by the way, this place won’t work for what you want.”

  “First of all, you don’t know what I want, and secondly, there is no way you are at Potters Peak. They have a heated pool, a Jacuzzi, and every other amenity you could want. I’m not sure where you are, but it’s not where I sent you.”

  She knew her father wouldn’t joke about something like that. Actually she never heard him joke about anything. “I…I don’t believe it. I’m…I’m at the wrong place.”

  “You said you were at Potters Peak,” he reminded her.

  “I guess I’m just at Potters. On my way, the GPS kept redirecting me and sending me in circles. I guess it was because of the huge storm that was brewing. But somehow it had me turn off the main road and I ended up here. I feel so…foolish.” Stupid was more accurate. If he was just her father, that wouldn’t be an issue. But no way was she using that word to her employer.

  “Kollette do you really believe I’d send you to a place like what you described? I can’t even believe you have been able to manage staying there.”

  “Actually, the Potters, Roy and Mabel, are wonderful people. They welcomed me without question.”

  “And they run a lodge like that? What kind of people would go and stay there?”

  Ethan. Me. “Guess someone who wants to disappear for a while.” Even though it had only been a few days, she got used to being off the grid. In a way, it was the first time she didn’t feel so…stressed.

  “Do you need me to send someone to get you out of there? To bring you home? I can call Connor and he’ll go. He’s not far.”

  “No. I’m fine. Once they clear the snow off the road, I’ll head back to Miami.” She wasn’t so much in a rush to get back, but obviously her father was. “That is if you don’t mind waiting a few more days.”

  “I’m just glad you’re okay. I was…worried. I thought…well…I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  Her father never fumbled for words. And she surely hadn’t meant to worry him. “I love you too,” Kollette said.

  “I’ll see you when you get back. And please call me when you are leaving so I know when to expect you,” he directed.

  “I will.”

  She saw the phone say call failed and the line went dead. There was no need to try calling him again. At least he knew where she was. And hopefully that this Potters place wasn’t what he was looking for.

  With that over she didn’t need to worry any longer. She could just continue being Kollette, the random guest, and no one needed to be the wiser. But to keep that secret going, it meant whatever thoughts she had of her and Ethan seeing each other off the mountain, would need to live in her dreams.

  5

  Ethan couldn’t stop looking at her. That wasn’t anything new, but the reason behind it was. He was looking for anything that might say the deputy was right. But she didn’t appear to be scoping the place out. If anything, she looked more relaxed now than she had since they’d first met.

  “Are we playing games again tonight?” she asked.

  Have you been playing? “I’m not sure. What do you say we just sit by the fire and…talk?”

  “When you say talk, do you mean…”

  “Talk,” he stated. It wasn’t going to go over well, but he needed to tell her about what happened today. Even if she was here purely innocently, she needed to know her father was concerned.

  Kollette briefly had a look of disappointment, that quickly vanished. “I think that sounds nice. How about instead of coffee tonight, we try hot chocolate with marshmallows?”

  “I don’t think I’ve had that since I was a kid.”

  “My step-mother used to make it for me and Connor all the time.”

  There was a sadness that crossed her face. “And she doesn’t make it any more?”

  She shook her head. “No. She had pneumonia and because she had Lupus, it was even more of a complication. She ended in the hospital, but they couldn’t do anything. She passed a few days later.”

  Ethan reached out and covered her hand with his. “I’m sorry.”

  “It was almost two years ago.”

  “I’m sure it was very difficult,” he said. Ethan hadn’t experienced the loss of anyone close to him.

  “Guess we all handled it the same. Bury ourselves in work. My father and brother were even worse than me. Maybe that’s because all he feels like he has left is…work. And Connor, well he left his job and that probably was a good thing.”

  She had opened the door to questions. It sucked that he was going to use this topic as the way to get some answers. “What type of work do you do?” He wasn’t sure how she was going to answer. He hoped she wasn’t about to lie.

  “I work for my father.”

  That didn’t really answer his question. So he switched it up to focus on her brother. “And how about Connor?”

  “No. He didn’t want anything to do with that. Actually for years he worked undercover for the DEA, but he left after his mother died. Now he works for some family in New York or Boston. Not sure. One of those New England states.”

  “What didn’t he like about the family business?”

  Kollette shrugged. “I guess he looked at everyone like they could be a suspect for something instead of just a guest.”

  “A
guest?” Just say it!

  “At the hotel. That’s what my father does. He owns a few hotels. I’m one of his managers.”

  Finally. Thank you. “In Miami?”

  “Yes. I actually heard from him today. Can you believe it? My phone actually rang and I could answer it.”

  “I’m sure you were happy to hear his voice,” he said.

  She smiled. “Not as happy as he was to hear mine. You’d never believe what happened if I told you.”

  “Try me.” Because I really want to know.

  “Guess he thought something had happened to me. See I didn’t show up where I was supposed to. Instead, I stopped here. But when my father couldn’t reach me, I guess he panicked. I explained to him what happened and he’s calm now.”

  “So this wasn’t your original destination?” Internally he crossed his fingers that he had heard correctly.

  “No. But GPS and the universe had other plans for me. So once I was here, I stayed. And the rest is history,” she said. “I’m actually glad I got lost.”

  So am I.

  “You know, that’s how I found this place too. But that was almost twelve years ago. This place grows on you and you find yourself coming back again and again.”

  “You know, I could give them some pointers which might help them get guests on a regular basis,” she said.

  “Why would they want that?”

  “As far as I can tell, no one knows about this place.”

  “I do. You do. And I’m sure there might be a few others.”

  “Yes but how do you build a business without a firm business plan?” she asked.

  Ethan was confused. “Do you think this is a business?” She nodded. “Kollette, open your eyes. You’ve been here for a few days. This isn’t a hotel, or a lodge. It’s their home. That’s all it is. They don’t rent rooms. They open their doors to strangers and welcome them in as friends. They ask for nothing and yet they give everything they have. They don’t need a business plan to show them how to be kind. If anything, they could write a book on it.”

  Kollette just stared at him as though trying to take it all in. Then she said, “I don’t know what to say. I should’ve realized that when I tried to pay. They never said anything. It actually looked like they were expecting me when I arrived.”