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

What if she came to New York for a while? It was still East Coast weather in the winter, but without the isolation. The more he thought about it, the more the idea had merit. She said she hadn’t traveled, hadn’t she? They could stay in his penthouse. Maybe do Thanksgiving at the family home in Connecticut. If it went well, she could go back in January or something, stay for a while. They could...

He sat back in his chair. What he was considering was having a relationship. And for the first time in his life, he wasn’t afraid of the word.

How had this even happened?

Maybe because, for the first time, he’d been with a woman who he knew wasn’t after his money. She’d turned it down, for Pete’s sake! And had insisted on paying him back for the hotel and vet bills. She had so much pride. With Brooklyn, he got the feeling that his status worked against him, rather than for him...but she liked him anyway. She’d shared things with him, about her painful past. Was it possible she could love him, too?

“Are you all right, Cole?” Raelynn’s voice interrupted his thoughts and he picked up his spoon again.

“Oh, yes, thank you. This is delicious.”

“Brooklyn gave it to me last week. It’s her grandmother’s corn chowder recipe. I think her grandmother was a good cook from the sounds of it. I was thinking of asking her for more regional recipes for when I’m cooking for guests here.”

“That’s a great idea.” Cole smiled up at her. “Thank you, Raelynn, for everything.”

Raelynn’s smile slipped, and she sat down in the chair next to him. “Cole, there’s something I want to talk to you about, just to think about, of course.”

Her face was tight with anxiety, her eyes worried. Cole frowned and pushed his near-empty bowl away. “What is it? Did something happen while we were gone?”

“No, not at all. We managed fine.” She sent him a weak smile. “It’s just...well, Dan would be upset if he knew I was talking to you, but I think it’s only fair to be open and honest. The truth is...we’ve been talking about trying for a baby. You hired us here together, and I can still do the job after a short maternity leave, but it...might be on the radar in the near future.”

That was all? He smiled at her. “Of course you two want a family. Are you pregnant already? Should I not have asked that?” He was unsure of the protocol of these things, but Raelynn’s face relaxed at his reaction.

“No, not yet. I certainly wouldn’t have indulged on the night of the storm if I had been. It’s just that we both really like it here. And living above the garage is fine for the two of us—”

“But not for a baby.”

“We could manage, but it’s not optimal, no.”

“Of course it’s not.” He had known that when they’d fi

rst arrived weeks ago, but there hadn’t been a huge rush to make adjustments. There was probably room in the house, but he could also understand the couple wanting to have their own space for their family.

As far as the island went, Brooklyn’s house was still the perfect solution. Except she wouldn’t sell it...and she’d thanked him for letting the idea go. Which meant that idea was firmly off the table.

Unless it wasn’t...

“Leave it with me,” he said to Raelynn. “I’m sure we can come up with something. You’re coming to New York for Thanksgiving, though, aren’t you? I’m sure your families would like to see you.”

She nodded. “That’s the plan, for now, anyway. Unless you need us here.”

He already knew there were no events planned for that weekend, and he would still be in New York. There was no reason for Dan and Raelynn to stay.

Which put Brooklyn here on the island alone—unless he could convince her to come along.

“I’ll be back at dinner time,” he announced, getting up from the table. “I’m going down to Brooklyn’s to see how Marvin is settling in.”

It wasn’t subtle at all, and by the look on Raelynn’s face, she wasn’t buying it, either. He didn’t really care. They needed to talk after this morning.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

BROOKLYN EXPECTED COLE to show up, and he did, right around three o’clock. She’d settled Marvin and put his inflatable collar on. He looked ridiculous, but it kept him from being able to reach his incision and that was all that mattered.

The dog was pouting on his doggy bed and she’d changed into jeans and a warm sweater. She’d put on a pot of coffee. When she saw Cole walking down the lane, she reached into the cupboard and took out her special bottle of Irish cream. The conversation ahead might require a little fortification.

Marvin popped his head up when Cole knocked, but that was it. She answered the door and when they went back into the kitchen, Marvin’s tail was thumping against the fabric of the bed. There now. He might not be himself, but he was happy to see Cole.

As she was. And that wasn’t a good thing, she was thinking.