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

Brooklyn’s face was pale and he wondered if she was afraid of the helicopter or for Marvin. She’d mentioned going on a ride with Ernest once, but that wasn’t in the dark in nasty weather, either. He patted her hand and gave her a headset. Then he put on his own.

“Don’t worry,” he said into the mic. “Dave’s a former navy pilot. He’s used to landing on a pitching deck. Dry land is a breeze, right Dave?”

“Yes, sir,” Dave answered. “Ready?”

It was not an easy trip, even though it was, as Dave promised, a short one. Wind buffeted the aircraft and more than once Cole’s stomach did a hollow flip. Brooklyn’s fingers were tight in Marvin’s fur, and Cole’s brow wrinkled in concern as Marvin panted heavily. Was it the stress of the ride, or his illness? Thankfully, they weren’t in the air very long, and were soon nearing the tiny Liverpool airport. Dave set the chopper down expertly and promised to stay nearby for the return trip whenever Cole required it.

For the third time, Cole lifted Marvin—still bundled in the blanket—out of the helicopter and to the waiting cab he’d convinced to pick them up.

The cabbie lifted an eyebrow at the sight of the dog but said nothing about it as he opened the back door for them. “Dr. Thorpe’s vet clinic,” Cole said as Brooklyn crawled in the other side. He realized that the dog had always been sandwiched between the two of them since he’d started getting sick.

“Have to take the long way. One of the roads is flooded. Heck of a storm,” the cabbie said.

“Whatever gets us there fast and safe,” Cole replied.

The sun wasn’t yet up, and power was out, making everything eerily dark. The headlights illuminated a narrow swath, but enough that Cole could see downed branches and a few trees snapped off. Lights were on at a square building, though, with a parking lot out front. “Looks like the doc has a generator running,” the driver said, pulling in. “Lucky for you, eh?”

“Very.” Brooklyn leaned forward toward the front seat. “Thank you so much for coming out to get us. It means a lot.”

“Oh, no problem.”

Cole knew it was no problem because he’d paid handsomely for the service. But he admired Brooklyn’s kindness and courtesy. She appreciated people, and he liked that about her.

Dr. Thorpe came out and met them at the door, and for the first time, Cole didn’t have to lift Marvin. Cole was in good shape, but eighty pounds of deadweight dog was a challenge. He and Brooklyn followed the vet into the building and then into an exam room. Cole stood back while Brooklyn relayed Marvin’s symptoms, and then the two of them went to the waiting room while Dr. Thorpe and his assistant, who Cole quickly learned was his wife, did the examination.

He looked over at Brooklyn, who was leaned back in the chair with her eyes closed. She looked exhausted, with circles under her eyes and swollen lids where she’d cried. “He’s gonna be okay,” Cole reassured her. “He’s in good hands now.”

She opened her eyes. “I know. Part of me is relieved and glad that we’re here. The other part of me is now nervous for the diagnosis.”

“Get some rest. You’ve been up all night, and it’s nearly time for the sun to come up again.”

“I will once Dr. Thorpe has come out to talk to us.” But she turned her weary head in his direction. “But thank you, Cole. You moved heaven and earth to get us here. I can never repay you. You’re a good man.”

Cole flushed under her praise, but the words that rang in his ears were the ones calling him a good man.

He was a successful man. A relatively smart man. A very rich man. But he wasn’t sure he’d ever been called “good,” and the compliment went straight to his heart.

He wanted to be a good man. And more accurately, he wanted to be a good man for her.

Wasn’t life just full of surprises?

CHAPTER TEN

BROOKLYN NEVER DID fall asleep. It seemed hours until Dr. Thorpe came out and told them that Marvin had a foreign object in his stomach, and that he needed to do more tests. He further explained that exploratory surgery was most certainly necessary and as quickly as possible, to remove the blockage and ensure the fastest recovery. Brooklyn agreed right away, and Dr. Thorpe had disappeared to carry on.

Now she couldn’t sleep. Not while she was waiting. She was exhausted, and sometimes she sat with her eyes closed, but that was only because her lids were so heavy. Her brain was too busy to close down, as well.

Cole didn’t sleep, either. He sat next to her and held her hand. Dr. Thorpe had told them to feel free to use the coffee machine, and Cole got up and made her a cup of coffee and handed her the paper cup before making one for himself. Minutes ticked by, lots of them. The sun came up, and at seven thirty one of the front office staff came in. “Oh,” she said. “I didn’t realize there was an emergency call. Do you need anything?”

“We’re fine, thank you,” Brooklyn said.

“Well, let me know. I came in to cancel today’s appointments and to feed the animals we have kenneled in the back.”

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Dr. Thorpe returned with a smile on his face. “Good news. Turns out it was a bit of netting. We removed it and will watch him carefully for the next bit, run some fluids and make sure there are no complications. In a few days, he should be good as new.”

Brooklyn let out a massive sigh of relief. This whole time she had been fighting against the thoughts about what she’d do without her beloved pet, but now that he was going to be okay the possibilities crowded her mind and she was both thankful and overwhelmed.

Cole stood and shook the vet’s hand. “That’s great news.”