Billionaire's Secret (Carver Family)

by Lyz Kelley

  Sophie pressed her head against Courtney’s chin, marking her, giving Angel proof that everything would be okay.

  “I’m hungry.” Weston wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “What sounds good? Empanadas? Chinese? Meatballs? Sushi?

  Her taste buds exploded.

  “Chinese.” Both Courtney and Angel said, almost in unison.

  Angel started to giggle. Courtney joined in, then Weston added his laugh.

  She couldn’t decide whether Weston’s expression or Angel’s laugh were most responsible for soothing the lonely ache inside her. She loved both the image and sound.

  Who knew life could be filled to the brim with such joy?

  Chapter 31

  “Angel, would you mind ordering lunch? I have something to show Courtney.”

  “There’s more?” Courtney set free the laughter she’d been holding back. “I knew it! You have a hidden closet where you keep all your gadgets.”

  “There’re no hidden closets here.” Angel’s eyes had turned serious. “I wish there were. The only cool things up here are the bats. They eat bugs and things and are gnarly-looking.”

  Weston wrapped his arm around Angel’s shoulder and kissed the top of her head. “I’m not so sure we’ll keep the bats. Now the bearded dragon, he’s cool. You can feed him the kale you hate.”

  “Stellar. No more kale.” Angel wiggled out of Weston’s embrace. Her hips and arms doing a happy dance. She glanced at Courtney. “What kind of Chinese do you want?”

  “I like all kinds, especially the shrimp with cashew selections.”

  Angel tipped her head back to look at him. “I’ll order all our favorites. That way there’ll be leftovers. Can I use the card?”

  “The prepaid card is for food, clothing, and transportation.” Weston hugged her again close to his side. “You don’t need to ask.”

  “I know, but …” Angel shrugged and looked away. “…thanks.”

  Courtney returned Sophie to Angel, who instantly curled into her human mom’s arms. Angel turned. “Sophie, we’re gonna have lots more friends,” she murmured as she made her way toward the stairs.

  “You were amazing with Angel.” His smile spread even wider. “She rarely comes out of her room, and very seldom talks to anyone.”

  “She’s afraid I’ll take her place in your life. Fear makes people do—or avoid—a lot of things they wouldn’t normally. I’ve done a lot of stupid things out of fear. You just need to reassure her she has her own space in your life.”

  “Good point. I’ll make sure she knows she’s a part of my family now.” Weston led Courtney into his bedroom and opened the top drawer of his dresser, pulling out a wooden box with a “C” engraved on the top with scrolled gold lettering, and sat on the wool carpet at the end of his bed. She slid down beside him, leaning back against the bed as he cradled the box in his hands.

  “Is everything all right?” she asked, hyper-aware of uncertainty hovering between them.

  “Besides my sisters and mom, there’s only one other very special woman in my life, besides you.” His thumb brushed over her skin, his touch soothing. “I wish you had met my grandmother. You both have the same passion for helping others. She had a softness about her that everyone in our family wanted to protect. After she lost my grandfather, I saw a different side of her. She had a quiet strength I also see in you.” His face softened with a silent memory.

  “Meeting her would have been nice.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “She sounds like an extraordinary woman.”

  “I wasn’t sure I’d find anyone as wonderful as she was until I met you.”

  Her awareness of him, his movements, his breath, became acute, and she snuggled closer. “I wasn’t sure I’d ever find someone to trust. It seems we’re alike in lots of ways.” An easy peace settled into her soul. “It’s because we both have scars. We’ve both been hurt, therefore we can sense and appreciate kindness.”

  “And that’s what I love about you. You listen,” he said, almost in a whisper. He lifted a small velvet box out of the handcrafted wooden container. “This was my grandmother’s.” He opened the lid. The multi-carat diamond solitaire set in a white gold filigree setting was breathtaking. The design was timeless.

  She pressed a hand to her chest. “It’s gorgeous.”

  “My gran told me to keep it safe until I found The One. You’re my One, Courtney. The One I want to be with the rest of my life.”

  The symbol of love connected her to his past and future. “Oh, Weston. Are you sure? I’m not the typical person a guy like you would marry.”

  He rolled his eyes and gave her a tiny smile. “I’m not like other men, but out of curiosity, who do guys like me marry?”

  “Well, you know,” she shrugged. “Drop-dead gorgeous, fashionable women available to travel and look good for the camera. I spend most of my days with pencils sticking out of my messy hair, doing paperwork, talking to other social workers, tracking down women, and, when necessary, cleaning toilets.”

  “You sound perfect.” He leaned in and kissed her neck.

  Her thoughts whirled.

  She couldn’t respond, physically or verbally.

  All movement stopped, and he pulled back snapping the lid shut. “Maybe I was a little hasty.

  She grabbed his arm when he went to stand. “Wait.”

  “You don’t need to decide now. I’m a patient man. Over time you’ll see and believe that you’re the one for me, Courtney Kramer.” He kissed her nose. “I’ve waited for years to find you. I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

  “I am ready. You just caught me off guard, that’s all.”

  He looked at her with his signature quizzical brow.

  “You are the most giving and kind man in the world, and I would be honored to be your wife, and wear your grandmother’s ring. My concern isn’t about you or marriage. It’s about working around women who’ve had to leave everything behind. Such a treasure might be stolen, and I’d be afraid to wear it. I hate to think ill of the women coming to my shelter, but it’s better to invest in an ounce of prevention than be disappointed.” She linked her hands with his and folded their arms against her chest. “I don’t need a ring, Weston. You gave me the job I’ve always wanted and the resources to implement my ideas. Every day that I see a woman or child walk out of one of our shelters for the last time, I will feel your love encircle me. I don’t need a ring to remind me you love me.”

  “I can’t wait until I can call you Mrs. Carver.”

  “What are you doing tomorrow?” She asked, not wanting to waste one more minute.

  “My parents would kill me.” His kiss was hard and demanding and pure love. “Courtney?”

  “Yes, Weston. Tomorrow. Next month. A hundred years from now. It will always be yes.”

  Chapter 32

  “Hey, bro. What’s up?” Liam Carver pushed open the door to the building’s roof.

  Weston turned. “On time. What a surprise.”

  “Shut it. I’m always on time if the barista line isn’t too long. Who knew it would take so long to pour boiling water in a cup and stick a tea bag in?”

  Weston reached out to shake his brother’s hand, then haul him in for a hug. “Nice to see a smile on your face. It’s been a couple of challenging months.”

  “I’ll say,” Liam glanced around the rooftop and then lifted his face toward the sun. “I’m having fun prosecuting the bastards who set us up. All those hours studying to be a lawyer are paying off.”

  Weston slid a hand in his pocket. “I’m glad you took the second chair instead of trying the case. That would have been hard for everyone who’s emotionally involved.”

  “I wouldn’t want the prosecutor's chair since I don’t have trial experience. But I did know where to find the nastiest trial attorney in New York.”

  “You were always one to even the score. Remember the time you showed up just when I was about to kiss Penny Jameson? I never did get her to kiss me.”

  “Ser
ves you right. You shouldn’t have told Sarah McKinney I wanted to take her to homecoming. The rumor spread all over the school before I could invite her to the dance. She was so embarrassed she called me out at soccer practice. Now that’s embarrassing.”

  “I was helping.”

  “Helping?” Liam took a sip of his tea. “Not so much.”

  “Hey, guys. Sorry, I’m late.” McKenzie Carver strode along at her usual warp speed while carrying a long tube. “I have the drawings.” She waved the brown carton. “I made the corrections you wanted last night.”

  “What plans?” Liam looked at his older sister. “What corrections?”

  “I need your help.” Weston moved to a makeshift table made of two metal drums and a piece of plywood board.

  Liam’s jaw dropped open enough that Weston could shove in an entire hamburger inside.

  “Since when do you ask for help?” Liam wheezed.

  “Since I met Courtney. I keep asking her when and where she wants to get married, and she keeps telling me she doesn’t care, as long as it’s soon.”

  “I find that odd,” McKenzie slid the lid off the brown tube. “Every woman has her version of an ideal wedding.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I always thought.” Weston appreciated his sister siding with him. “She insists we shouldn’t waste money on extravagance, says she’d rather spend the money on helping others. So I came up with a plan.”

  “You should get married and soon. Courtney has been good for you.” Liam nodded. “It’s been more than nine months, and she’s never asked the family for anything.”

  McKenzie rolled out the paper to display a rooftop garden. “That’s why I designed something I think she’ll like.”

  “Wow,” Liam laid a hand on one edge of the paper to stop the page from re-rolling. “I could hang this on my wall. It’s a piece of art.”

  McKenzie shrugged the comment away, like always. What was it with the women in his life never taking credit for the beautiful things they created in the world? “If you two would stop with the last-minute marketing rollout plans for our medical equipment, I might get to practice and paint more.”

  “You don’t need to practice. You just need to paint.” Weston dropped an arm across her shoulders. “Your design looks perfect. How long do you think it will take to complete the project?”

  “Depends on how long you want to keep your idea a secret.”

  Weston leaned over the drawing. “I don’t want to keep secrets anymore. Not from you, and certainly not from Courtney.”

  “You and Kirsten always hid your hurts,” McKenzie’s voice softened. “I miss her, but I’m so glad to see you start living again. It would be hard for me to lose either of you, but I can’t imagine losing a twin.”

  Weston’s chest began to ache in that familiar way. There wasn’t any way to respond to McKenzie’s insight. It was the truth. Both of them were independent, stubborn, and, in the end, suffered for it by never asking for help.

  “But that’s in the past.” Liam slid his sunglasses down to the tip of his nose and glared over the top of the rims. “Right, bro?”

  “Right.” Weston pointed at the garden design. “So, are you two going to help me, or what?”

  McKenzie and Liam exchanged a look. “Are you good with letting others in on this project?”

  “The only one I don’t want finding out about this is Courtney. Why?”

  McKenzie nodded. “Give me a second.” She retrieved her phone from her back pocket. “We’re good to go. You can come up now.”

  Weston turned as the roof door opened.

  Linda held the door open as Haley, Mike, and several dozen more people wearing jeans and T-shirts, and carrying shovels and boxes of tools swarmed in, their grins contagious. He took a deep breath, choked, then coughed into his fist to hide the emotions.

  Friends, family, even people he didn’t recognize, showed up today to help him implement a dream. A little boy waving his hands ran up to his side. “Mr. See, Mr. See! I brought the worms.”

  The sting behind his eyes made it impossible to say a word. He hugged the little guy, Tyler, to his side, tears welling. He blinked and nodded to the crowd surrounding him.

  Liam dropped a hand on his shoulder. “It’s about time we did something for you. You’ve always been our rock, and we love you, man.”

  Weston blew out a breath, nodded, then dropped his sunglasses on his nose. Not to hide, he refused to hide anymore—but to get to work, because working was what he did.

  “Gather ’round, folks. My amazing sister has designed us a plan to help the families of New York.”

  McKenzie put an arm around his waist. “Today we’ll begin building the best garden Manhattan has ever seen.”

  The crowd cheered as both Liam and McKenzie stood on either side of him, telling him in their own way that they were glad to be pillars in his life.

  He wouldn’t have recognized the trait in his younger siblings if Courtney hadn’t set him on the path of discovery.

  She was his light. His truth.

  Chapter 33

  The past ten months were a whirlwind.

  Courtney had been busy implementing her Empower House plan, closing the Lower East Side shelter, and moving Safe Embrace’s women and children to upper Manhattan. Retraining her managers to properly address the needs of the incoming residents. Hiring new staff. The list went on and on and on.

  When not working or sleeping in her three-hundred-foot apartment on 10th Avenue, she was comfortably tucked into Weston’s embrace on the Lower East Side.

  Even he was exhausted from splitting time between Carver International and helping her get settled into her new job. The money she refused to spend on her former building had paid for several new programs, which meant she was helping even more people.

  Her plan was coming together, and she couldn’t be happier.

  Well, almost. She wasn’t married, and she wanted kids.

  She’d never considered having children until she met Weston. He’d be the perfect father, and her longing to have his children grew every day. Once the desire surfaced, her body clock began ticking louder and louder. She even bought a superhero costume for a twelve-month-old infant. Not that she’d figured out when or if she’d be able to use the outfit.

  Weston had suggested a time or two that they should set the date, but she couldn’t find time on the calendar between his traveling and her revitalizing work. Besides, picking a dress, getting invitations out, seating charts—just the thought of it overwhelmed her. She wished he’d taken her up on her offer to get married at the courthouse.

  Courtney smoothed her cream, sequined dress, which reminded her of the Gatsby era with its hip-hugging lines and flowing skirt. She’d paired the dress with gold sandals, perfect for the hot summer weather, and checked her watch again. “Weston’s going to kill me. I’m sooo late. “ She grabbed the sparkling silver bag, “Valerie, see you tomorrow.” She waved toward the kitchen as she rushed toward the door.

  “Have a good time,” Valerie’s wishes followed her out the door.

  She’d raced down the stairs, only to find a car waiting for her. “Mike? What are you doing here?”

  “Weston assumed you’d be running late and sent me to escort you tonight.”

  “That was generous of him, and you. I’m always behind schedule these days.”

  “Ms. Kramer, if I may.” Mike held open the back door of a sleek black sedan.

  She settled in as Mike slipped behind the wheel. “I just need to make one stop. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “We’re already late. What’s a few more minutes?”

  Six blocks later, Mike pulled to the curb in front of a set of brick buildings. He jumped out of the car and ran around the back, startling her when he opened her door and offered her his hand. “Courtney? Do you have the key Weston sent you?”

  Love, bring this key with you tonight. I have a surprise for you, she remembered Weston’s note. “Yes. It’s in my clutch.�
�� She accepted Mike’s hand and got out. As she gazed at the building, an uneasy feeling made her fingers go numb.

  She fumbled with the purse lock and reached to retrieve the key. She drew in a sharp breath.

  “This address.” She dangled the key in front of Mike. “The engraving looks just like the one on the building.” She took in the block of five-story walkups. A mixture of excitement and reluctance kept her from moving. “What’s going on?”

  “Why don’t you go open that door and find out?” Mike swept his arm toward the door.

  She sucked in a breath and moved to unlock the door. Once the lock clicked open, she eased the door wider to peek inside.

  On the floor was a trail of fresh rose petals in creams, pinks and reds. She lifted her floor-length skirt and stepped around each precious petal and continued up the stairs. She climbed up the five flights to the roof.

  Inside the front door sat a coffee tin of rosemary, thyme, lavender, and narcissus, and above it a chalkboard sign that said “Come In” in swirling letters. She lifted and cradled the can in her arms while she opened the steel roof door to a wonderland of greenery.

  Trees bordered rows upon rows of herbs and vegetables.

  Tears stung her eyes.

  This is Weston’s doing...but where is he?

  Movement on the far side of the roof drew her attention. Forcing herself to ignore the garden for the moment, she walked toward the sound of birds chirping and a piano playing.

  Making the final turn, she spotted him. He was facing the opposite direction, but he must have sensed her presence, because he turned toward her and took his hands out of his pockets.

  His smile calmed her chaotic world, and she slipped into a slower, more tranquil state.

  “You did this.” She took in every planter box and tree, one at a time. “It’s... I’m... speechless.”

  “I wasn’t able to give you your building, so I bought four instead. This entire complex is yours to do with what you want.”