The Billionaire's Island Bride (South Shore Billionaires 3)

She made it to the boat with sure steps, got them both aboard and stowed her bag and parcels. It wasn’t until she’d untied from the dock and steered away that she relaxed her shoulders and tried to suck in big, calming gulps of air.

She was okay. This was not the same as...that other time. He did not have a weapon and she was not in danger. Her body response had been triggered but she worked her way through the reaction until she wasn’t shaking any longer. She looked over her shoulder and couldn’t see the dock anymore, or Cole and Mike. It was almost as if it had never happened.

No, Cole Abbott hadn’t threatened her person. Instead, he had threatened her security and the life she’d built for herself. Maybe it wasn’t as frightening as an assault on a visceral level, but the idea of change was terrifying to her.

How many times was someone supposed to start over? Maybe in the past she’d given up too easily. Well, not this time. This time she would fight tooth and nail to preserve what was important to her. And if that meant dipping into her very small savings account for a visit to the lawyer, then that was what she’d do.

* * *

Cole had messed up again. He’d planned on the conversation with Brooklyn going differently. The idea had been for him to do the dock repairs as a gesture of goodwill. But he’d teased, and she’d taken him seriously, bringing legal advice into it. He’d miscalculated.

Now he too was on the mainland, sitting in his best friend, Jeremy Fisher’s rather large kitchen, drinking coffee and feeling grouchy about it all. His other pal, Branson Black, was back in New York, dealing with getting his brownstone ready to sell. While Jeremy was settled with his new wife and baby, Branson’s love life was up in the air since the departure of artist Jessica Blundon, who had spent the summer on the south shore.

Cole’s love life was nonexistent, and he was okay with that. For now, anyway. He had too much going on to devote much time to a relationship. Even a casual one. And he wasn’t sure he was capable of any other kind. It wasn’t like he’d had a stellar example growing up.

“So she threatened to go to her lawyer?” Jeremy reentered the kitchen, his baby daughter on his arm. She’d just awakened from a nap, and Jeremy’s wife, Tori, was running errands. It was still an adjustment, seeing his friend so settled into domestic life.

“I know. I meant to tell her that I would cover the cost since I was the one needing the modifications, but she got the jump on me and I took the bait. She’s very prickly about the fact I made her an offer.” He took a sip of his coffee. “This morning she told me she wouldn’t sell for two million dollars.”

Jeremy laughed. “Well, it’s her home. And clearly she’s attached to it. What’s the big deal, anyway? It’s not like there isn’t enough room for the two of you. You’re not even going to be there all year round.”

Cole thought about it. “I’ll be honest. Some of it is ego. I mean, I don’t like being told no and I look at it as an extra challenge to get my way.”

Jeremy met his gaze, his eyes alight with humor. “How very self-aware of you. But gee, Cole, you were never competitive in school.”

“I see you haven’t lost your talent for sarcasm,” Cole answered. “And hey, I know that trait can be a strength or a weakness, depending on the situation. She’s not what I expected.”

“How so?”

“You said she ran some sort of business from her home, knitting or some such. I was expecting someone...hell, someone not young and pretty and...”

His voice trailed off. The truth was, as infuriating as their two conversations had been, he had found them invigorating.

Jeremy’s laughter drew him back to the moment. He held Rose in one arm as he prepped a bottle with his free hand. “So she’s pretty.”

Cole sighed. “To be honest? Stunning. Beautiful hair, big eyes, nice body. But it’s more than that. She’s a strong woman, Jer. She’s got to be, to live out there by herself. It’s not far offshore but it’s cut off from everything, especially in bad weather. She hopped on that boat today and steered away the way we’d get in a car and drive to the store.”

“Ah. A woman who is capable and doesn’t need rescuing. Interesting.”

“Shut up.” He took a long drink of coffee and grinned behind the rim. A bit of ribbing from his best friend made the world seem all right after all.

Rose was grumbling, so Jeremy tested the bottle and then began to feed her, standing right there in the kitchen. Cole was not good with babies. Not even a little. But even he had to admit that Rose was cute. There’d been a recent health scare as she’d contracted measles, but she seemed completely recovered now.

“So what’s your game plan now?” Jeremy asked, perching on a bar stool across the counter from Cole.

“I don’t know. She’d see right through flowers or some sort of gift. Maybe I should just apologize and do a better job of explaining.”

Jeremy looked at him for a long moment. “Cake. Take her cake. Or a bottle of wine or something. Just don’t go empty-handed. And yeah, maybe explain that you got off on the wrong foot.”

Cole considered for a minute. “Good suggestions. Or at least half of a good suggestion. I have an idea for the other.”

“You sure you’re not interested in her?” Jeremy asked, removing the bottle and wiping Rose’s chin before giving her the bottle again. “When was the last time you went on a date?”

Cole’s smile slipped away. The last time had been over a year ago, just before his world had come crashing down.

Not that anyone really knew anything about that. He’d been able to hide it really well. Faking his way through stuff was his specialty. Even Bran and Jeremy didn’t know the true extent of what had happened.

“It’s been a long time. But no, that would just get messy, wouldn’t it? Besides, as you say, I’m only planning to be here part of the year. I do still have Abbott to run.”