Falling For the Billionaire Read online

  Scott listened, not commenting, and unfortunately his expression didn’t tell her anything. She’d have liked to know what he was thinking. He hadn’t met her dad and had no way of knowing what a great man he was. Sure, he’d made some bad decisions in his early twenties, but he’d overcome them. Paige hoped Scott didn’t form an unfavorable opinion of him before they even had a chance to meet.

  “Granddad tried hard to convince both of us to join the family business. I think he wanted Joe to take over someday instead of my cousin Nolan. Neither of us budged though.”

  “So you get along with your grandfather?”

  “Oh, yeah. Joe and I would spend two weeks in Texas every summer with him and he’d visit around the holidays. I don’t get there as often anymore, but he sends me e-mails and calls. He came to my wedding and Joe’s. Paid for both our honeymoons. He even visited Joe and Trish at the hospital when Gabby was born. But Joe and I are both closer to my mom’s parents and Aunt Bebe. She still hasn’t forgiven her brother for what he did. They can’t be in the same room together for long without getting into an argument.”

  A smile tugged at his mouth. “Your aunt doesn’t seem like the type you’d want angry with you.”

  “She doesn’t lose it often, but she’s got a temper and doesn’t forget anything.”

  Scott let the smile spread across his face. “I’ll be sure to stay on her good side. In your father’s case, it sounds like her anger was justified. Your grandfather’s actions were extreme.”

  “I agree, but my dad wasn’t entirely blameless either.”

  “Still, it was his son. Your grandfather could’ve found another way of handling the situation. You don’t abandon family like that.”

  Countless times she’d heard or read that the Sherbrookes were a tight-knit family despite its size and wealth. Her own core family was close too, even though Joe and his wife had moved. And if she ever had a family of her own, she’d want it to be close in the same way. Unfortunately, having a family of her own might not be in the cards for her, a fact she tried not to think about often.

  Chapter 8

  Scott’s conversation with Uncle Mark ended when his wife, Abby, called him over for assistance. Left alone to mingle, he went in search of his cousin Derek. Since this was his and Brooklyn’s engagement party, the guy had to be hanging around somewhere.

  For the most part, he hadn’t seen much of his family since before the foundation’s auction back in June, so numerous times as he wandered from room to room a cousin or uncle wanting to catch up stopped him. Despite its size, the Sherbrooke clan remained close, something he loved about his family. Sometimes he forgot other families weren’t the same way. Just look at Paige’s family. Her grandfather and father had gone years without even speaking, let alone visiting each other. He’d had trouble comprehending that her grandfather had skipped his own son’s wedding. Nothing short of either death or a natural disaster would keep his dad away when he married someday. The same was true for any of his uncles and aunts. When he married, every Sherbrooke and Belmont alive would be there.

  Thoughts of marriage brought Paige to mind. He’d invited her along today. He wanted her to meet his parents as well as the rest of his family, but a bridal shower for a college friend prevented her from coming. Now, as he looked at the family members around him, he wondered if perhaps it’d been for the best she couldn’t come. Meeting his entire family at once might be too overwhelming. A more gradual approach of introducing her to only a few at a time might make it easier. Starting with his parents.

  Coming around the corner, Scott spotted his mom with just the man he wanted to see. Derek stood talking to her, his twin sister, Allison, and Brooklyn. Before Scott reached them though, all three women left.

  Scott dropped a hand on Derek’s shoulder when he stopped alongside him. Right away his cousin turned. “Congrats,” Scott said. “Suspected you and Brooklyn would get together someday.”

  “You’re not the first person to tell me that. Wish I’d figured it out years ago myself.” Derek kept his eyes on his fiancée across the room as he spoke. “Where’ve you been hiding?”

  Scott hadn’t seen Derek since the auction in June, which was unusual. Although he lived in Manhattan and spent the majority his time there, he visited his place in Newport as often as possible, especially in the summer. Often he spent entire weeks there when he could. Whenever he did, he called Derek and they got together. Not once so far this summer had, he called or messaged his cousin.

  “New York and London. Other than the weekend I took Paige on our first date, I haven’t been back to Newport since the fundraiser.”

  “You’re slow. Colton already fulfilled all four of his dates. He couldn’t get rid of Tyanna fast enough.”

  Scott gave a slight shrug. “Our schedules have conflicted. No big deal. I’m not in a big rush. Paige isn’t either.”

  “Who is she? Before the fundraiser, I’d never heard of Paige Foster. Asked Allison. She never heard of her either.”

  “Her grandfather is Michael Foster. As in Foster Oil.”

  “I thought he only had daughters,” Derek said.

  “It’s complicated, but Foster’s son, Jeremy, and his daughter-in-law live in Scituate.” Since Paige said the man didn’t go by Michael any longer, he wouldn’t call him by that name. He also wouldn’t share the family history she’d told him. Not only was it personal, but also his cousin didn’t need to know.

  Derek shrugged and accepted his explanation. “Brooklyn and I are taking the Affinity to either Block Island or Martha’s Vineyard tomorrow. If you’re around, join us.”

  “Appreciate the offer, but I have plans with Paige.”

  “Getting your second date taken care of?”

  “Yeah, something like that.”

  “Bring her too. Brooklyn won’t mind.”

  They only got tomorrow together before he flew out again. While he enjoyed spending time with his cousin and didn’t doubt the four of them would have a good time, he wanted Paige all to himself. “Thanks for the offer. Maybe next time.”

  “If you change your mind, call me. We won’t leave until after breakfast.”

  From across the room, his mom waved him over. “Looks like you’re being paged,” Derek said.

  “Talk to you later.”

  Mom hugged him before he managed a hello. “I’ve missed you,” she said. Even though her children were all adults, she liked keeping in contact with them. Usually he didn’t allow so much time to lapse between either visits or phone calls. “Have we even spoken since the fundraiser?” she asked.

  He’d considered calling her a time or two, but then other things had come up and distracted him. “No. Sorry. This new project in London’s been insane. I’m flying back over Monday morning.” He hadn’t even bothered to check out of his hotel there. Instead, he’d left everything in his suite and hopped a plane for Rhode Island and his cousin’s party.

  “Well, at least you made it here today. Can you believe they’re getting married Labor Day weekend? It’s crazy. No one can put together a proper wedding in a few weeks. Derek said Abby’s already started helping them. And of course I will too, but still. They should wait. Give us at least eight months to plan. Have a nice early spring wedding. I don’t see the rush.”

  He noticed his mom mentioned Derek’s stepmom but not Brooklyn’s mother. Didn’t most mothers get involved with the planning of their daughter’s wedding? “Isn’t Brooklyn’s mom helping too?”

  Marilyn shook her head, surprise on her face. “Didn’t Derek tell you?”

  “Tonight’s the first time I’ve talked to him in weeks.”

  His mom stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Brooklyn and her parents are no longer speaking. They weren’t pleased when she and Derek announced their engagement.”

  He’d not seen either Scarlet or Donovan Novak tonight, although he had spotted Brooklyn’s cousin and her sister. He’d not thought anything of it. People were spread throughout Uncle Mar
k’s house. He hadn’t even seen his own father yet.

  “Since Brooklyn doesn’t have her mom to help, Abby stepped in. And I promised to help with anything they need.”

  He and just about everyone else in the family knew Brooklyn’s father disliked Derek. Nobody including Derek and Brooklyn knew why though. Or at least they hadn’t. Maybe they’d finally asked. Regardless of the man’s feelings, cutting his daughter out of his life was taking things to the extreme.

  “Hopefully things will change between them soon. It’d be a shame if her parents miss the wedding,” she said, echoing his thoughts.

  “But let’s talk about something more pleasant than Scarlet and Donovan Novak. How did your dates go after the auction? You did go on them, right? I know you’ve been busy, but sometimes you must put work aside.”

  How many times had he heard a similar statement from her? “We’ve been out, Mom. I invited Paige here, but she had other plans. I’m seeing her tomorrow.”

  “Really.” Mom smiled and he imagined wedding bells now rang in her head. “You must like her a great deal. I can’t wait to meet her. Does she live nearby or is she closer to you? I didn’t recognize her name.”

  He’d already had this conversation. Looked like he was about to have it again. “She lives outside of Providence and grew up in Rhode Island. Her parents live here too.”

  “Odd. I don’t know any Fosters in New England. All the ones I know live in Texas.”

  His mom had grown up in Rhode Island and considered New England home despite the estates she and Dad owned elsewhere. And much like his aunts, she was a prominent member of society. Mom knew everyone and everyone knew her. “Paige’s grandfather is Michael Foster. She attended the fundraiser with Bebe Fleming.”

  “Her father’s Michael Foster Jr.?” Scott couldn’t remember the last time Mom sounded so surprised.

  “He goes by his middle name now, but yeah. Do you know him?”

  “More like his reputation. I’d compare it to Trent’s before he met Addie. I saw Michael a few times at parties, but we never spoke. He did date several of my friends. Then one day he disappeared from parties and magazines. I haven’t heard his name since.”

  Again he skipped the full story and gave his mom an abridged version. “He and his wife live in Scituate and have for a long time. Paige and her older brother grew up there. Now Paige lives in Lincoln and works at Rhode Island Hospital.”

  “Well, I look forward to meeting her. Bring her over soon.”

  He planned to.

  ***

  She watched Cathy, her only remaining unmarried friend from college, unwrap another bridal gift. She’d been at it for a solid ten minutes and had barely made a dent in the pile of gifts. Paige wondered what was in half of them. Cathy and her soon-to-be husband had done bridal registries at four different places including a store that only sold camping, skiing, and rock climbing equipment. Not exactly her idea of bridal shower gifts.

  “So I noticed a gorgeous Aston Martin in your driveway again last weekend. Would its owner happen to be Scott Belmont?” Clarissa, who sat next to her, asked, her voice low so others at the table wouldn’t overhear.

  Most of the time Clarissa made frequent visits over but over the past week she’d kept more to herself. Paige had intended to ask her about it today.

  “Yep.” She’d expected questions from her friend long before now. After all, Scott had come over several times, and it was hard to miss his car. It wasn’t the type usually found in their neighborhood.

  Clarissa scooted her chair closer and lowered her voice even more. “It’s been over a month since the auction. It’s taken this long for you and him to go on four dates?”

  Other than on the Fourth, they hadn’t really gone on any dates, or at least not the type of dates Clarissa imagined. They’d spent a lot of time with each other, but they’d not gone on any elaborate outings like their first night together. She didn’t mind either. Actually, she preferred seeing Scott at her house. No nosy reporters or photographers showed up. They could say and do anything they wanted without worrying who might hear or see them. When they did go somewhere, it was to the movies or one of her favorite local restaurants. Once they’d gone for ice cream at the popular dairy farm in town.

  “Things have sorta progressed past that.”

  “Ooh, do share. I want all the details.”

  She’d shared all the details of her past relationships with Clarissa. She saw no reason not to do the same now. “He’s traveled back here every weekend since the Fourth to see me. He even asked me to his cousin’s engagement party today.”

  “Which cousin?” she asked before waving a dismissive hand. “Never mind. Tell me later. Sounds like there’s something really between you two.”

  Oh, there was more than something between them. She’d not said it aloud even when alone, but she suspected she loved Scott. “I’m going to ask him to come to Virginia Beach with me.” She’d never cut her visit with her brother and his family short, but she hated the idea of going so long without seeing Scott.

  “I guess things have progressed.”

  Paige considered her next words. She trusted Clarissa. Whatever she told her wouldn’t go any further. “Being with him is much different than when I was with Benjamin. Or any other man. I’m pretty sure I love him.”

  “I’m glad. You deserve a great guy in your life. Especially after that jerkwad ex-husband.”

  Since the divorce, none of her friends ever had anything nice to say about Benjamin. A few had even disliked him before they got married. “You don’t think it’s too soon? We haven’t been together that long.”

  “Time doesn’t always matter. My parents were together a month and got married. And they’re quite happy together. They celebrated their thirty-eighth wedding anniversary this spring.”

  She didn’t see them getting married anytime soon, but Clarissa’s words helped ease her doubts.

  “Your heart decides when to fall in love. It doesn’t count the days on a calendar to make sure it’s been long enough.”

  Despite the seriousness of their conversation, Paige laughed. “When did you become so philosophical?”

  Clarissa nudged her in the arm. “Keep it up, and I won’t bring you back any more maple candy when I visit Vermont.”

  “Fair enough. But thanks. You’re right. We can’t control when we fall in love.”

  ***

  “Time to get off that.” Paige tugged the towel out from under Ryder.

  She’d dumped a basket of clean laundry on her bed so she could fold it. Not wanting to be left alone, the dog had followed her into the room and then proceeded to make himself comfortable. The towel he’d spent the last ten minutes lying on was the last thing from this batch she needed to fold. A second full basket sat on the floor, but she doubted she’d get it all folded and put away too. Any moment Scott should be there.

  “What do you think he’s got planned?” she asked the dog, who’d stood, walked over to the pillow, and curled up again after she’d disturbed him. When Scott had called last night after his cousin’s party, he’d given her no specifics. He’d only told her to dress for outdoors. The tiny hint didn’t help much. She could think of at least half a dozen things they could do outside on a sunny August day.

  Without warning Ryder’s head jerked up, then he took off, knocking a stack of folded towels to the floor. Paige picked them up and left them in a pile. She’d refold them later.

  Before even saying a simple hello, Scott pulled her close and proceeded to kiss the breath right out her. “This is for you.” He handed her a silver box. “My cousin Allison told me Favre makes the best chocolate in the world. I bought a box while I was in London so you can try it.”

  “You’re the best. Their chocolate is incredible, and my stash is running super low.”

  “You’ve had it before,” he said, sounding disappointed.

  She couldn’t resist opening the box and taking out a truffle. “Aunt Bebe introduced me t
o it. Try it. You’ll be spoiled for anything else.” She held the truffle up to his mouth.

  He accepted the offering and while he chewed she selected one for herself.

  “Mmm, you’re right. When I go back, I’ll need to get myself some.” He helped himself to a second candy as he spoke. “We should go if you’re all ready.”

  “Go where?” Nothing about the way he was dressed gave her any hints about their plans.

  Scott smiled, his eyes dancing with mischief. “That’s a surprise, babe. But I promise you’re going to love it.”

  In the past, she’d cringed when she heard a guy call a woman babe, because she found it both chauvinistic and degrading. Words like sweetheart and honey made much better pet names. The way Scott looked at her combined with the tone of his voice had her reassessing her view.

  “Let’s go then.”

  Too curious, Paige made guesses about their final destination during the first half of their ride. Each time Scott either shook his head or insisted she’d just have to wait and see. By the time they merged onto Interstate 95, she gave up and asked about his cousin’s party instead.

  “I meant to leave earlier, but getting out of there last night was impossible as usual. Everyone wants to catch up when we get together like that. I wish you could’ve made it.”

  “Maybe next time.” She’d breathed a huge sigh of relief when he’d invited her, and Cathy’s bridal shower gave her a perfect out. Thanks to the media, she’d heard about his family her whole life. No matter how nice Aunt Bebe insisted the family was, meeting them all at once put a knot the size of a boulder in her stomach. Even just thinking about meeting one or two of them sometime in the future had her stomach doing backflips.

  “When I left Mom was trying her best to change Derek’s mind about getting married so soon,” he said. “I don’t see it happening. Derek sounded adamant about Labor Day weekend.”

  “Wow, that’s not far away.” Paige glanced out the windshield. Since they’d started talking, she’d paid more attention to Scott than her surroundings. But she recognized where they were. “Are we doing something in Boston?”