The Lawman’s Blackmailed Bride (Billionaire Brothers 3): BBW Romance (10 page)

Cole laced his fingers through hers as they approached the store. The screeching bell warned the occupant of their arrival.

“We’re closed,” a muffled voice echoed from the back room. A moment later, Victor emerged, looking just as dapper as the day Phoebe fled the store with the coin. But his eyes looked strained and his hair didn’t look quite as polished and pomaded as usual.

“
You!” The snarl in his voice almost made her jump. “I’m going to call the cops and have you arrested.” He reached for the phone.

“
Before you do.” Cole’s grim voice halted the other man’s movements. “You might be interested to know exactly what Phoebe did with the coin.” He nodded encouragingly at her.

She straightened her shoulders. “I acquired a proper, written valuation from a coin expert in South Dakota and I’ve already returned the coin and the valuation to Mrs. Miller.”

“South Dakota.” Victor scowled. “No wonder I couldn’t find you.”

“
You came after me?” Her heart rate accelerated.

“
You took something that belonged to a client. Of course I looked for you. Kurt and I scoured Cheyenne.”

“
Only Cheyenne?”

“
Yes. 
Why?”

“
Just checking.”
Victor hadn’t been the man she’d overheard in the motel parking lot last night. S
he drew
in a deep breath. “You know I overheard you talking to Kurt about your plan to switch the coin with a practically worthless one. That’s why I took it. I wasn’t going to let you cheat that nice old lady.”

“
Prove it.” Victor curled his lip.

“
She doesn’t have to,” Cole informed him. “I’ve got contacts on the force and they’re already doing everything in their power to ensure you’re arrested for
anything
you’ve gotten up to in the past few years.”

Victor paled under his tanning bed tan.

“They already suspect you’ve used muscle to stop the people you’ve duped from pressing charges. The police will re-interview those people very carefully. It’s over, Blackwood,” Cole continued. “Your nice little sideline in swindling people out of valuable antiques has come to an end.”

“
Get out!” Victor shook with rage. “And don’t come back here again, either of you.”

“
I wouldn’t want to. I quit!” Phoebe tossed over her shoulder as Cole held the door open for her. She wasn’t sure what the future held, but right now she didn’t care. She felt empowered. And she’d never experience another morning feeling dread inside her when she woke up and realized she had to work at the store.

“
We did it!” She threw her arms around Cole, hugging him tight.

He hugged her back, his arms wrapped around her waist, then drew back to look into her upturned face. “
You
did it. You trusted your instincts and went for it.” He kissed her deeply. “I was just the guy lucky enough to have you jump into my car.”

Phoebe looked at herself in the mirror, noting the way her new peach dress flattered her curves instead of hiding them. Cole was coming over tonight, and she wanted to look perfect.

For the last three months, she and Cole had been dating. Exclusively.

They saw each other most nights, with Cole usually staying at her apartment until dawn, when he would go home, grab a shower and clean clothes and head to his office.

And on the weekends, Phoebe stayed over at his log cabin. They hiked his property, relaxed in the shade, made love multiple times, and she’d even joined him fishing. Cole had led her down to the lake on the edge of his property. For a few minutes they sat side by side in silence, their fishing rods dangling in the water, until Cole leaned over and kissed her. That kiss had led them to making love al fresco, secure in the knowledge that the lake was secluded. Whenever she thought of fishing, a faint blush rose to her cheeks.

She’d met Garrett and Maddie and Alex and Laura when each couple returned from their honeymoon. Maddie had been pleased she’d been able to help Phoebe in a small way with her borrowed clothes, and waved away her offer to reimburse her for the borrowed panties. In fact, Phoebe had enjoyed hanging out with Maddie and Laura, and hoped to see them again soon.

The doorbell rang, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Opening the door, she gazed at Cole, looking sexy in a white button-down shirt and neatly pressed jeans.
“Hi.”

“
Hi, sweetheart.” He cupped her chin, drawing her to him for a long kiss.

Her cheeks flushed, Phoebe eventually pulled away. “Come on in.”

He followed her into the kitchen, where he watched her bustle about the small space, getting plates and glassware ready for their meal.

“
Hungry?” she asked, tossing the salad.

“
Always - for you,” he replied, his eyes gleaming with desire.

Phoebe tried to hide a smile.
She’d never known a relationship could be so incredible. Thinking of the sparse few boyfriends she’d had in the past almost made her shudder, especially Scott, who’d told her he loved her and then stolen her Clarice Cliff vase.

They sat down at the small dining table. 

“How was work today?” Cole inquired.

“
Good.” She smiled. “I sold that farmhouse table my boss said had been in the shop for years.”

“
I’m glad they offered you a job when the newspaper article came out.” He grinned, attacking his steak.

When she and Cole returned from their cross-country quest, Mrs. Miller had been so delighted with Phoebe
’s dedication to uncover the coin’s provenance that she’d given an interview with a local newspaper. Another antiques store in Cheyenne had offered her a job, without even requiring her to interview for it. Luckily, her new boss seemed honest and was a lot nicer than Victor. In some ways, her new job reminded her of when she worked with Mr. Dawson.

“
Dessert?” She inquired, already rising from the table. She’d made chocolate mousse for tonight. 

“
Wait.” He laid his hand on her arm.

“
What is it?” She sat back down at the table, looking at him wonderingly. 

“
Sweetheart.” He cleared his throat. “We’ve been dating for three months now.” He paused.

“
Yes.”
The best three months of my life.

“
I’ve got something to tell you.”

He looked so serious. Anxiety tickled her spine. Was he sick? Did he need her to help him with a case? She’d gladly do whatever she could to assist him.

“I’m a private investigator, but I pick and choose my cases.”

Phoebe’s hands relaxed in his. If that’s all he had to say, she didn’t know why he suddenly looked so worried.

“Sometimes my clients can’t afford to pay me--”

“
You wouldn’t let me pay you after we got back to Cheyenne.” She flushed guiltily.

“
I know, sweetheart.” His hands tightened on hers. “I don’t want or need your money. You see,” he took a deep breath, “I’m financially independent without being paid for my investigative work.”

Her brow furrowed. These days, a lot of people bandied around that term, financially independent. “What does that actually mean?” she whispered.

“It means I can afford to invest in businesses or buy a luxury SUV whenever I feel like it.” He smiled ruefully. “My grandfather had a lot of money and left it to me and my brothers. On the one condition that we didn’t get involved in a serious relationship.”

“
What?” She tried to withdraw her hands, but his grip tightened gently.

“
It’s okay,” he soothed. “My brothers and I were never going to let his money interfere with our lives that way. My brother Alex is a businessman and a whiz on the stock market. We’ve taken his advice on most things, used some of our inheritance as seed money, and now can live comfortably doing what we want to do, not what we have to do to make a living.”

“
Why would your grandfather do something like that?” She stared at him, trying to process everything he said.

He shrugged. “He was a very bitter person. My grandmother eventually left him for another man because she just couldn’t live with him any longer, and nobody blamed her.”

“And your parents?”

He cleared his throat. “I was going to ask if you’d like to meet them. They run a B&B in Vermont. We could fly there this weekend.”

Her heart melted.
He wanted her to meet his parents!

“
The reason I’m telling you this is because I’m in love with you, Phoebe.”

“
What?” She stared at him.

“
I’m in love with you.” His thumb caressed her hand.

She froze. Scott had told her he loved her, just before he betrayed her. Although Cole had proven she could trust him with the coin, how could she trust his words of love? And this time, not just her pride would be hurt when Cole tired of her. 

His declaration of love changed everything.

Why would such a handsome, rich man be in love with her? She was nobody special. Cole could have any woman he wanted. Why would he want a plump girl like her? She was just a glorified store clerk.

She tugged her hands free. He would grow bored with her - and her figure. Soon, he would probably wonder why he’d ever been attracted to her in the first place.

There was only one thing she could do …

“I think you better go.” Her lips were so stiff she could barely get the words out.

“
What?” He looked at her, shocked. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

“
Everything,” she choked, moisture stinging the corners of her eyes. “We don’t belong together, Cole.”

He reached over the table and grabbed her hands. “I’ve just told you I loved you, dammit.”

“That’s the point,” she whispered, looking everywhere except at him. She just couldn’t meet his gaze. Her heart felt like it was cracking in two. But wouldn’t the pain be much worse in a few weeks or months when he realized he didn’t really love her after all?

“
Phoebe, you’re not making sense.” He frowned.

“
I’m making perfect sense.” Her head started to throb. “Please Cole, please go.”

“
No.” He relinquished her hands and walked around to her side of the table. “I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s wrong.”

Feeling cornered, she finally glanced at him. Worry and consternation etched his face. “You can’t be in love with me.”

“Of course I can.” He placed his hands on her shoulders, as if his touch would soothe her. Instead, it just made her feel worse. This would be the last contact she’d ever have with him.

“
No.” She didn’t dare trust his words.

“
Do you love me, Phoebe?”

“
I …” she didn’t think she could lie to Cole, but she couldn’t tell him what her feelings were toward him. And right now, she didn’t have a clue what she was feeling. Except she needed to protect herself from heartache.

There was a long pause. “I see,” he said heavily. “I’ll go. But I’m not giving up on you - on us.”

***

Cole drove home in a fog, only one thing on his mind. Phoebe. Everything had been going so well until … he told her he loved her. And about his grandfather’s will. These days, no one in the family cared two hoots about Abel Trask’s ridiculous will. He and his brothers had abided by the terms when they’d been young and wanted to make their mark on the world. But when they realized just how constraining that will actually was, they decided they’d control their own lives, not let their dead grandfather do so.

And now, somehow, his grandfather was affecting his life again. Cole scowled. He wasn’t going to let Phoebe push him away. He knew she had feelings for him, even if she didn’t love him - yet. There was no way she could fake the passion in her kisses or all the little ways that showed she cared about him.

He was going to make sure she knew just how much he loved her.

***

In the days and weeks that followed, Phoebe constantly thought about Cole. Why did he think he was in love with her? Why did he have to be wealthy? What was he doing right now?

No wonder he owned a luxury SUV, co-owned a helicopter, had plenty of cash in his wallet when they’d traveled to Jackson Hole, and could help people in need.
Like her.
Now she understood why his log cabin had unexpected touches of luxury, like the whirlpool spa in the bathroom, the pretty stained glass window in the living room, and a gourmet kitchen.

When she’d met his brothers, Garrett and Alex, she’d assumed they were financially comfortable as well, but not to the extent that they could afford not to work
ever again
if they felt like it. She still found it hard to wrap her mind around that fact.

Every day, a new bouquet of flowers arrived at her apartment. Sometimes they were red roses, other times they were her favorites, pastel pink and yellow gerberas. She’d mentioned that fact to Cole once, and he’d remembered. And a card was tucked in with every arrangement of blooms, in his distinctive handwriting, with three simple words: “I love you.”

He often popped into the store to see her, not even bothering with an excuse. Sometimes she allowed him to persuade her to have lunch with him, although she always returned to the store wondering if it had been a good idea. Her heart ached like crazy whether she was with him or not. Knowing he was off-limits to her, despite him continuing to woo her, made her miserable. But the thought of
never
seeing him again was something she just couldn’t bear to contemplate.

Since that night, Cole hadn’t touched her or kissed her. He didn’t even try. He was just there, his dark brown eyes watching for the slightest sign of encouragement. But she just couldn’t give it to him.

He’d even cajoled her into attending a picnic with Garrett and Maddie, Alex and Laura. Phoebe told herself the only reason she’d accepted the invitation was to see his sisters-in-law again. But she couldn’t deny the pleasure she experienced in his company, even if it was tinged with the knowledge that they could never be a couple again.

She knew she should just tell Cole to give up on her. She was a big, fat coward.

The shop door opened. Phoebe looked up from her doodling, realizing she’d just written Cole’s name twenty times in her small notebook.

“
Hello, dear.” Mrs. Miller walked up to the counter.

Phoebe summoned a smile. “Hi, Mrs. Miller. How are you?”

The elderly lady beamed. “Wait until you see my new car. I’ve parked it out front. I sold the coin to a museum and they paid me sixty thousand dollars!”

“
That’s wonderful!” Phoebe left the counter and headed toward the window, her eyes widening. “Is it the blue convertible?”

“
Yep. Electric blue, the salesman called it. I won’t have any trouble finding it in a parking lot.”

“
That’s for sure,” Phoebe murmured, the bright blue paint reflecting in the morning sunlight and shining directly into her eyes.

“
I wanted a car just like your young man’s, but it was a bit of a job clambering into the driver’s seat. I tested five different models, but hopping in and out just wasn’t as much fun as I thought it would be.”

“
It can be a bit difficult at times,” Phoebe agreed, thinking back to the times she’d worn a dress and heels when on a date with Cole -
before.
 

“
And how is your young man - the private eye?” Mrs. Miller peered at her. “Still seeing him?”

“
Not exactly.” She bit her lip. “We … sort of broke up.”

The other woman tsked. “That’s too bad. He sure was easy on the eye. And seemed a very nice man, too.”