Billionaire's Second Chance

I held my grin, knowing that Kim wasn’t coming unless Rebecca told me no. I had every intention of preventing that, and I walked into the living room and set my briefcase down as she leaned against the wall. “That works for me.”

“You look different. You look like my old Austin.”

I paused in my movement. Was that hope that I heard in her voice and a little bit of love left over for me?

“I am different, Rebecca. I’ve learned a lot in the last few weeks, and I have done a lot of thinking.” I looked at her and gestured for her to join me on the couch. Her body language was cool as she walked in to sit down, sitting stiffly a few feet away from me. “Have you heard anything on the news about business lately?” I asked.

She gave me a strange look. “Why would I? That’s not my thing, and I asked Mary to stop watching the news so much at the salon.”

“Allow me to show you, then.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and Googled my favorite site for the latest business news. I found the article and handed the phone to her to read it.

It was a great shock to everyone that I was selling off large amounts of my controlling interest in some of the companies that I invested in and huge news all over the media. I watched Rebecca read it with a troubled frown before she handed the phone back to me.

“Why would you do that?” she asked me quietly. I pulled up something else on my phone. “Business is your life.”

“That’s only one thing of many that I want to show you,” I assured her. I pulled up the email from my realtor, detailing the sales of all my homes in New York. It was specific with listings for each one, and I handed the phone to her again. Rebecca read that and opened her mouth in surprise as she clicked on the various properties. “I am selling every one of them, Rebecca.”

“I don’t understand, Austin. You were going back there, and now you won’t have any of your homes. Are you going to buy a new one?” Confusion painted her face.

I smiled gently at her. “When did I say I was going back, Rebecca?”

Her confusion seemed to deepen. “I suppose that you didn’t, but New York was all you ever wanted,” she said in a small voice. “You dreamed of that for so long.”

“I dreamed of that before I knew what I really wanted from life, Rebecca. I went running to New York with the idea that it was going to be it for me, but I avoided coming back here. Do you know why?” She shook her head. “Leaving you was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made in my life. Asking you to go with me was selfish and the only way I could think to have it all. When you said no, I knew I couldn’t come back here and see you. I couldn’t stand the idea of being reminded of my mistake. I avoided coming back to North Reed for years, until Mom insisted that I join them for the holidays.” I looked at her as her eyes widened. “The first place I went was Grayson’s, Rebecca. I didn’t even think about it, and the car parked itself. I needed to see you and realized that you were still the same beautiful woman who I was in love with years ago. By the way, that car is gone.”

“The rental?” she asked. I nodded with a soft smile. She turned her head toward the front of the house. Rebecca stood and went to the window to look out, taking a moment before she looked back at me. “I like that. It’s more suited for North Reed, though a truck would have been perfect, you know?”

“Touché,” I said with a chuckle. “I did learn in New York that I love SUVs. That is one part of my city life that I’ll keep, but otherwise, I am a Texas man.”

Her eyes softened as she moved to sit back down. “What do you mean?” Rebecca asked.

I took a deep breath and reached for my briefcase. This was probably the last time I’d need it, and I pulled it closer to me.

“I am selling a lot of shares in my businesses and homes back in the city, as you know. I am giving that life up, Rebecca. I was reminded being here that North Reed is a wonderful place. I love my family here, and I love you.” I clicked the case open and pulled out a folder.

“What about Mia?” she asked in a whisper.

I shook my head at her. “There was never anything with Mia here. That was a setup and the last reminder for me that I didn’t want that life anymore. I’d found the woman who I love.” A tear slid down her cheek, and she looked down at the floor for a moment. “Here. Read this.”

I slid the folder to her and Rebecca took a deep breath before she leaned forward to place it on the table. She read the papers carefully, and I watched her hands shaking as she took it all in.

“Austin?” Rebecca asked as she stared at me with understanding crossing her face. “You’re going to stay here?”

I looked into the briefcase, seeing the dark blue velvet box. This was it. “I’ll stay if you agree to be my wife, Rebecca Silver.”

I pulled out the box. She started to cry, pressing her hands to her face. I lifted the lid, and Rebecca looked from my solemn face to the delicate diamond band with a small center diamond. I knew that it was beautiful and tasteful, as well as perfect for the love of my life. “I called your dad and asked him for your hand in marriage two days ago, and he told me that he knew I’d come to my senses.”

“They all know about this?” Rebecca moved closer to me as she continued to cry. “Kim?”

“Yes. I made a lot of plans for this night. I needed something to distract me from not being able to see you.”

She started to laugh through her tears. “I’ve wanted this since I met you, Austin. I wanted a life here in North Reed with you, getting married and having babies. I can’t believe that it’s finally going to happen.” She looked at me with a shimmering, worried gaze. “You do want that, right?”

“I bought you a house, Rebecca.” I chuckled as I gestured to the paperwork on the table. “Of course, I want that. It’s a nice four-bedroom farmhouse to start us off. It’ll need a little work, but I have missed working with my hands. I look forward to making it our own.” I met her gaze and pulled the ring out of the box. “So, what’s your answer? Will you marry me?”

“Yes!” Rebecca shot across the cushion to hug me tightly. “I can’t wait to marry you.”

“I have enough money to live on for a long time, but we’re going small town, baby. I’m going to make our house perfect for us and the babies that we’re going to fill it with.” I held her close with the ring still in my hand, kissing her hair. “I don’t want to change anything about you, Rebecca. I want you to make a better person out of me.”