Her Billionaire Betrayal (Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove Book 3), page 1
part #3 of Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove Series
Her Billionaire Betrayal
Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove
Danni Lee Nicholls
Copyright © 2020 by Danni Lee Nicholls
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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Contents
Her Billionaire Betrayal
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Also by Danni Lee Nicholls
About the Author
Her Billionaire Betrayal
She doesn’t want to love again.
He’ll never cherish another woman.
The truths they’ll uncover have the power to make their wishes come true or throw them headlong into love.
Indigo Williams left love behind the day her husband died.
Cole Demetrius wants to gets past a bad breakup with an embezzling blond.
They have nothing in common except a desire to help children discover their best selves through dance. When they come together for the good of others, sparks fly against Indigo’s wishes and Cole’s better judgment.
This sweet billionaire romance will hold you spellbound as old betrayals create new wounds. Because sometimes love hurts, but it also has the power to heal.
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This story is a clean contemporary Cinderella novel you can't miss.
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Chapter One
“Here goes everything,” Indigo Williams whispered as she stepped out of her older-model Subaru and looked over the two-story nondescript square building. She took a deep breath, pulling in the sharp smell of winter. Running her hand over the smooth manila folder that held her résumé, she climbed the stairs to the second-story dance studio and walked in.
Light flooded through the large wood-wrapped windows facing the street and from the fixtures attached to the ceiling, showing off the warmth of the wood floor’s varnished surface, dimpled and pocked from years of use. The back wall of the building also had windows, but they faced the dripping limestone rock the building butted against. The smells of old varnish and paint mingled with the sweat of young dancers. Still, nothing diminished the bright cheerfulness of the studio. Bleachers the height of a man were pushed against one wall, where parents watched six preteen boys and six girls in pairs, who were listening with rapt attention to the couple dressed all in black, instructing them on the proper stretch of the girl’s spine and the head tilt for the ballroom hold.
Checking her watch, Indigo settled onto the edge of the bleacher. It didn’t hurt to be a few minutes early to see how the children moved and twisted through their ballroom dance steps. The boys were dressed in black dance pants and shoes with various colored T-shirts, while the girls wore light-pink, gray, or black leotards with tights and low-heeled black shoes. Indigo studied each child as they moved. She was here to design and sew costumes for these very kids. Hopefully. This young dance troupe was scheduled to perform for the Arts in the Park festival in June. If Indigo was lucky enough to get this job, it would keep her busy for the next four months and provide the final bump in her bank account needed to open her own shop.
The Silver Stitch close to downtown Eureka Springs, Arkansas, was her fondest dream. Having her own storefront where she could continue to sew costumes and alter apparel, including wedding dresses, was like a whisper of hope in every breeze. She already had several clients whose big days were fast approaching, but she was eager to broaden her scope of work and her reputation.
For fifteen minutes, Indigo watched the kids glide through their dance steps, their preteen awkwardness diminished by skill and practice. The music came to an end, and the dancers glowed with a sheen of sweat. Their cheeks wore blushes from the exercise as they moved with one another in good-natured ribbing after an enjoyed and successful practice. Their dance instructors, Cara and Phillip Matheson, moved among them, congratulating them on a good rehearsal.
The parents began picking up their various belongings and moving toward their children, except for one man who stayed rooted to his spot in the far corner. Indigo studied him. He wore jeans and a soft green plaid flannel shirt over a gray Henley T with leather loafers. Thick black strands of hair were pushed back from his face, curling along his ears and collar. His dark eyes were almost as black as his hair, and the outline of his jaw sported a five-o’clock shadow. He watched the kids with their parents with serious intensity, his thumb brushing over his bottom lip.
Not wanting to be caught staring, Indigo turned from the man as he moved from his place, but she couldn’t help glance again at his tall, lean form. One of the women in the crowd of parents sidled up to him, her body brazenly against his, her daughter in tow.
The girl blushed furiously. “Mom,” she muttered under her breath.
“Shush,” the mother said. “We just need to make sure that we thank Mr. Demetrius properly for all he’s doing.” She turned her face toward the man. “Truly, we’re so grateful. If it weren’t for you, Isabella wouldn’t—”
“Mom!” The girl tugged at her mother’s sleeve.
The man smiled good-naturedly as he sidestepped the eager woman’s grasp, giving them both some space. “It’s a pleasure, Ms. Smithers,” he said quietly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with Cara and Phillip.”
“Yes, of course.” The woman smiled adoringly. Her daughter wilted beside her.
Embarrassment sloshed through Indigo for the girl, who was no bigger than a sprite. The girl’s eyes met hers, and Indigo turned away. It would be easier for the girl if she thought no one was watching.
She flicked her attention toward the two dance instructors, who came from the floor, greeting her with outstretched hands. “Welcome. You must be Indigo,” Cara Matheson said.
Indigo’s attention was divided between the warmth of Cara and Phillip’s welcome and the dark-haired man standing just behind them, occupied by his phone. She focused on the couple. “Yes.” She smiled. “I’m so pleased to meet you.”
Phillip returned her smile. “Thank you for answering our ad. Let’s go into the office and talk.” Phillip turned toward the man, “Cole, will you join us?”
The man looked up from his phone. “Yes. Of course.” His voice was smooth and low.
Indigo’s heart fluttered somewhere up around her throat. Who was this man, and why was he joining them during the interview that would hopefully land her the best job in Eureka Springs? Already, her nerves were jumping just under her skin. She didn’t need this dark and intense man tipping the interview process out of her favor by distracting her.
Chapter Two
The smell of the old building and new dust mingled in the air as Indigo settled in the seat across from the desk covered in papers and notebooks. She ignored the general mess and tucked her hair behind her ear before handing Cara the folder containing her résumé.
With her hands free, she began fiddling with the small eternity wedding ring on her left hand, her reminder of Sam. She shut out the picture of his warm and encouraging smile. Sam was gone, stolen from her by the cancer that had ravaged his body and taken pieces of his soul and hers before it was finished with him. She tried to channel Sam for a sense of support, but nothing broke through her nervous energy. She was on her own.
She swallowed. “I think you’ll see that I’m fully qualified for the work you’ve outlined in the ad. I’d love the opportunity to help with this production.” She glanced at Cole, who was seated near the corner of the desk, separate from Cara and Phillip but still facing her. He neither smiled nor frowned. But his intense gaze stole her attention, making her fidget. Who was he? She turned her body away from him slightly, trying to eliminate the growing diversion that came with his presence.
Cara opened the folder, studying its contents for a moment before handing it over to Phillip, who also read through it. He turned to Cole. “Would you like to see this?” Phillip asked.
Cole glanced in Indigo’s direction. “Yes, please.” His voice resonated inside Indigo as if a guitar string had been plucked.
The room grew silent as he studied the résumé and returned it to Phillip.
Cara turned back to Indi
Indigo swallowed. What to say? She didn’t want to share her personal reasons for leaving her hometown of Eugene, Oregon. It would be better if she didn’t talk about Samuel and the love she still carried for him. This simple truth was best left unspoken. She fiddled with her wedding ring. “My best friend from college is from here, and I wanted a change. I’m living with her.”
Phillip crossed his ankle over his knee. “Do you plan on staying? This project will probably be a good four months in the making, and we’d hate for you to miss home or …” His eyes dropped to her ring and back up. “Someone back home and head back to Oregon.”
Indigo’s shoulders drooped. There was no denying that she missed her lovely Pacific Northwest with its bright summers and cool misty winters. But everything there reminded her of Sam. “I love Eureka Springs.” Another truth. “I have no plans to head back to Oregon.”
Cara smiled. “You’re the fourth seamstress we’ve talked with and the most qualified. Can you give us just a minute to discuss this?”
Her earlier anxiety broke, lifting her hopes. She was glad to hear that Cara found her the most qualified, but perhaps one of the other four seamstresses would be a better fit or was local and had known them for longer.
She rose from her seat. Closing the door behind her, she heard muted conversation take place in the small office. Cole’s strong voice was soft and his words were inaudible, but Indigo couldn’t miss the fact that he definitely had input.
Who was he?
She didn’t get any weird vibes from him. In fact, she wanted to like him. It appeared as if he was deeply involved in this production. Would they end up working together? The thought gave her a little thrill. She knitted her brows in consternation. Where did that come from? She wasn’t interested in any thrill, small or otherwise. Even though Sam had been gone for a year and a half, she still wore his ring. The last thing she wanted was a complication in the form of a man, no matter how attractive.
The door opened, and Indigo was invited back into the office.
Cara sat behind the desk with Phillip. “We’d love to offer you the job,” she said. “But there are some requirements that go along with it.”
Indigo nodded and smiled, hoping to cover some of her curiosity. Did the requirements have to do with the dark-haired, handsome man?
Cara nodded toward Cole, who spoke. “Mrs. Williams—”
A shock ran through Indigo at the sound of her married name coming from this man. The reminder brought her both comfort and sadness. “Call me Indigo.”
Cole settled in his seat. “Mrs. Williams.”
A pulse of exasperation throbbed in Indigo. Was this man rude or arrogant? Or both? She squinted slightly in an effort to focus on Cole’s words.
“I’m paying for this production from start to finish, which means I’ll be paying for everything that goes into these costumes.”
At least she knew he was the money behind the whole thing. She took in a breath. “I see. And you want this done as cheaply as possible. Is that it?” Her words came out like a sharp jab, showing her frustration. She bit the inside of her cheek. Ever since Sam’s death, Indigo’s level of tolerance had hit an all-time low. It’d be best if she could curtail her annoyance if she wanted to work with these people.
Cole gave her a measured look, but the corner of his mouth tugged upward. “Not exactly.”
Indigo blinked. What was going on?
Cole continued, “I want the best quality for the best price, of course. But that’s just it. I want quality. I want costumes that are going to look professional grade and be able to withstand preteens.”
Indigo leveled her gaze. “I assure you, Mr. …” What was his last name? The woman with the embarrassed daughter had purred it like a cat. “Demetrius. Mr. Demetrius, that my work is top quality. But what happens to it after it leaves my hands isn’t my responsibility.”
Cole nodded. “Fair enough.” He leaned forward. “One more thing. I’ll want to see all receipts, fabrics, and fittings.”
This was too much! She wasn’t a child turning in homework. “Of course I’ll be turning in my receipts, but let me get this straight. You’re telling me I’m going to need to schedule each fitting with the participant and his or her parent, and you?”
“Cole,” Cara said gently.
Cole threw Cara a quick look. “I want to keep track of the progress.” His voice softened. “And I don’t want any surprises.”
Indigo pursed her lips together. What surprises? Didn’t this man have anything better to do than follow around a bunch of kids getting fitted for dance costumes? This wasn’t the New York Ballet Nutcracker! It was a small-town production of a summer ballroom dance that would be held in the park. She wished she didn’t need this job. Already, Mr. Money was creating a bigger complication than she expected. “I’ll do my best, Mr. Demetrius, but most of us are pretty busy and the kids and their parents’ schedules will come first.”
Cole knitted his brow but said nothing. Indigo guessed not many people told him no.
“That’s fair,” Cara replied, smiling at Indigo. “And we’d love for you to work here, in our space.”
Another surprise for Indigo. “Where are you thinking?”
“That curtained-off area is where we keep some of our sound equipment and other materials. Most of that can be shoved into a closet. It would allow privacy when working with the students, and you wouldn’t have to haul yards of fabric and dresses, along with your dress form and other supplies. The lighting is good, and there are mirrors back there, too. You can keep it all right here.”
Indigo liked the idea. It would eliminate a lot of hassle, not to mention the possibility of a dress getting ruined through transport.
Cara continued, “We’d love to have you work with us on this project. What do you say?”
Indigo turned her attention back to Cara before stealing one more glance at Cole. She couldn’t discern his expression, but she didn’t much care. Phillip seemed completely unperturbed by the events, and he offered her a winsome smile and a quick nod of the head.
Indigo’s earlier enthusiasm for the job flagged. She focused on Cara. “Yeah. Okay.”
Cara stood. “Good! Are you free next Tuesday at around six o’clock in the evening? We’ll have some sketches and plans for you. The kids will be rehearsing their program, so you can see exactly what we’re doing and what the kids would need in regards to mobility.”
“Sure. That sounds like a good start.” Indigo followed Cara’s lead and stood. The men also rose from their chairs, and everyone shook hands. Facing Cole, Indigo hesitated.
He extended his hand, and she took it, surprised by the warm grip that offered just the right amount of pressure. The feel of his palm against hers sent pleasant energy flushing through her, and her eyes flew to his for a brief glance before she hastily withdrew.
Indigo shouldered her purse. “Thank you for the job. I’m looking forward to the opportunity.” She focused on Cara, who offered her another warm smile.
“You’ll be the perfect addition to our team. Don’t you think?” Cara turned to the men.
“Absolutely,” Phillip responded.
Cole offered a small nod.
Indigo hurried out of the building and into the bright late winter sun and biting breeze. The bare trees reached up, scratching against the blue expanse of sky with their empty branches as if reaching to the heavens in a petition for spring.
