The Billionaire's Island Bride Page 2

  Instead he put away his “let’s be friends” face, choosing instead a more businesslike manner. “I’ll be honest. I would like to buy your property.” He figured it wouldn’t hurt to sweeten the pot. “What I’m prepared to offer can set you up somewhere very nicely.”

  His initial offer had been for three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The house would likely need renovations and the dock definitely needed work. It had been...reasonable.

  “Would you pay me a million dollars?”

  Her gaze was sharp and pinned him in place, but he’d been in business a long time. He knew how to hide his reactions, and right now he wanted to chuckle a little bit. He’d paid seven million for the rest of the land and house and considered it a steal. Her property accounted for maybe, at best, a sixth of the island. A million wasn’t that outrageous, really. Not considering the buildings on the property and the dock access.

  “Yes.” Heck, if all it took was a million bucks to get her to sign away the deed, he’d do it happily. Jeremy had been the one to recommend lowballing. Cole didn’t mind upping the ante. “Yes, I’m prepared to offer you a million.”

  She started at him a long moment and then turned away. “I don’t think so,” she said and started walking toward the house. “Come, Marvin.”

  The dog jumped up and trotted at her heels. Meanwhile, Cole stood flummoxed on her front path, staring at her as she went in through the screen door, took Marvin with her and let the door fall shut with a loud snap behind them.

  Huh. So, round one and two to Ms. Graves. But Cole wasn’t done yet. He had a history of getting what he wanted, and this was nothing more than a challenge.

  CHAPTER TWO

  BROOKLYN SAT IN her favorite chair, yarn trailing perfectly from her yarn bowl to the needles, and adjusted the weight of the shawl she was knitting. It was a simple pattern but incredibly lovely, both stylish and warm, and this was one item she was knitting for herself and not to sell.

  The click of the needles in the silence gave her comfort, which was good. She’d come inside yesterday after talking to Cole Abbott and had shaken for a good thirty minutes. Confrontation was not her thing. She knew how to be strong but it had cost her, stealing her energy, prompting a near panic attack.

  Marvin had stayed close all evening, soothing her and being steady and reliable with his company. At one point her therapist had asked if she wanted to get a service dog, but Brooklyn had declined. She had Marvin. And she’d come a very long way since she’d started counseling. She’d come to the island to escape and heal, but she’d stayed because she’d built a life she truly loved. And if she was occasionally lonely...oh, well. She’d learned that there were worse things in life than loneliness. She had everything just the way she wanted it here. No surprises.

  Her needles slowed. Still, she’d coexisted with Ernest and his extended family without any trouble, and she’d admit—only to herself—that just knowing someone else was on the island had been a comfort. She wasn’t sure she could say the same about Cole Abbott. His very presence threatened the life she’d built for herself.

  Maybe she should head over to the mainland tomorrow and get out for a bit. Pick up a few groceries, perhaps go for a coffee with Delilah or Jen, the sisters who ran the yarn and craft store in Liverpool. Hadn’t she just told herself that she needed to be patient? Mr. Fancy Man wouldn’t be on the island forever. It would be another plaything he’d tire of and move on. But her life...it would remain unchanged. Just the way she wanted it.

  * * *

  The morning dawned foggy, but by ten it had burned off and the mellow September sun had warmed the air. Brooklyn carried a large handbag over her shoulder, which contained fabric shopping bags, her wallet, her phone, and a leash for Marvin, who always joined her on her trips to town. In her hands were five small shipping boxes containing orders ready to be shipped to customers of her online store. She turned the corner toward the dock and stopped short. There was a second boat anchored there, and Cole stood on the dock while another man moved around, taking pictures with his phone.

  What the heck were they doing? It wasn’t as if Cole didn’t have a reason to be there. He did. Their access to the dock was shared.

  The sight of him, though, was unexpected. And she couldn’t deny that she rather enjoyed seeing him in faded jeans and a dark blue windbreaker. He looked...normal. Not like some rich tycoon, which he most certainly must be.

  He caught sight of her and smiled, then waved. “Ms. Graves. Good morning.”

  “Good morning,” she replied and wished she’d put Marvin on his leash, because at the friendly sound of Cole’s voice, the dog trotted off for more pats and head rubs.

  Traitor.

  “Marvin, come,” she called. But Marvin was too busy having his ears rubbed to pay much attention. Brooklyn sighed and went toward the two men, both to get Marvin and to satisfy her curiosity about what was going on.

  “I’d say you’re spoiling him, but I’m not sure it’s possible to spoil a dog with pats,” she said, trying to be friendly. Things had been tense during their earlier conversation. Establishing a little peace didn’t mean she’d changed her mind.

  “He’s hard to resist. What a friendly guy.” Cole’s tone left a hint of insinuation, perhaps that her dog was more amiable than she was. Which was true.

  “Is there a problem or something?” She stared pointedly at the other man, who was now at the end of the dock, writing something on a clipboard.

  “Oh, Mike. Hey, Mike, come meet Brooklyn Graves. We share docking privileges.”

  Mike came over and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Brooklyn.”

  Cole turned to her. “Mike’s going to make some repairs and mods to the dock. It doesn’t quite suit my needs.”

  Her heart stuttered. Sure, the dock was old but it was sturdy and sound. She adjusted her packages and briefly shook Mike’s hand. “What sort of needs?”

  Cole answered. “Your boat’s small, but I need to be able to accommodate bigger vessels. I’ve hired Mike to expand it and also make any repairs necessary.”

  She wanted to be angry, and she would be later, but right now all she felt was shock and amazement at his audacity. “Um, you do remember that we share the dock, right?”

  He bestowed another one of those charming smiles on her. “Well, of course. I’m sure Mike will have no trouble splitting the invoice between us.”

  Another layer of shock rippled through her. Share the cost? How was she supposed to pay for that? A hole opened up in her middle, the place where worry and panic seemed to live. The hole was soon filled with indignation.

  “You can’t do that without consulting me first.”

  At her sharp tone, Marvin moved away from Cole and went to sit at her heel. Mike discreetly left the conversation and continued on with his assessment.

  “Oh. Well, I could just foot the bill, if...”

  Her mouth tightened as she finally let the anger in. “If I sell to you, right? That’s what this is all about? I won’t sell so you’re going to bankrupt me with foolish repairs?” She mentally calculated her equity between the house, business and her savings account, and lifted her chin. “Do I need to consult my lawyer on this, Mr. Abbott?”

  She was reasonably sure that he couldn’t just do repairs without getting her to sign off on them. But he’d make sure she spent legal fees to guarantee it, wouldn’t he? Fire burned in her veins. Why did successful, rich people always have to get their own way and swing their power around like a mace?

  “Now, Ms. Graves...”

  She stepped back. “Don’t you dare Ms. Graves me, especially in that patronizing tone. At this rate, Mister Abbott...” she paused and let the emphasis on the word ring in the air. “...I would not sell to you for a million dollars. Or two million. My great-grandparents were the first people to live on this island. My great-grandfather was a fisherman, like hi
s father before him. My grandparents lived here and brought up five children. I spent every summer as a kid here and I know each square foot of it better in my sleep than you ever will. Maybe our family doesn’t own the entire island anymore, but my corner of it is still mine. And I am not for sale.”

  Her hands were shaking, so she clutched the boxes tighter as she stared at him.

  “Noted,” he said quietly.

  “Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to get on my boat and pilot it to the mainland. Marvin, come.”

  This time Marvin obeyed immediately, falling in at her heel without need of a leash or a second urging.

  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.”

  And that required him to be in New York. Not on an island in the Atlantic off the coast of Nova Scotia. The island was to be his retreat. And hopefully he could offer the same to his own executives.

  The hum of the garage door opener interrupted the silence. “Tori’s home. Are you staying for dinner?”

  Cole looked at his watch and then shook his head. “Naw, but thanks. I have those errands to run and then pick up the boat. I’m leaving the car at the marina garage.” He looked up as Tori came inside, a bag of produce in her hands. “Hello, gorgeous.”

  “Hey, Cole. How are things on the island?”

  Jeremy jumped in. “The farmhouse owner is a hottie.”

  “Of course she is. Brooklyn has a really neat business, too. She runs an online store and ships all over. Knitted items but she also dyes her own yarn and sells it. And her big thing is patterns. She develops patterns and sells them. One was even picked up by some big magazine last year. She’s wicked smart. Her overhead is really low and she doesn’t have a mortgage since she inherited the house from her grandparents.”

  Cole stared at her. “You knew?”

  Tori laughed and started taking vegetables out of the bag. “Of course I knew. This is a small town and I’ve lived in the area my whole life.”

  “You didn’t say anything in the summer, when we went over there.”

  �
��Why should I? You were buying the rest of the land, not hers.” Her brows pulled together in confusion. “Why? What happened?”

  Jeremy put the bottle down and put Rose up on his shoulder as he patted her back. “Cole offered to buy her out, and made her pretty angry from the sounds of it. She threatened to lawyer up.”

  Tori nodded. “Good for her. That place means a lot to her.”

  “It does?”

  Tori seemed to hesitate, her hand resting on a large bundle of leeks. “It’s been in her family a long time,” she finally said. “And Brooklyn moved there permanently a few years ago.”

  Cole thought about it. The only reason he could see for moving somewhere so isolated was if someone was running from something. He certainly was, or at least using it to shape his life differently. But what could someone like Brooklyn be running from?

  “I’d better go. Thanks for the coffee, bro. I’ll be in touch soon.”

  “Good luck. And stop in any time.”

  “Let me know when Branson is back. I’m kinda worried about the guy.”

  “Me, too.”

  Cole stopped and gave Tori a kiss on the cheek, then made his way to the front door and put on his shoes.

  Maybe he’d messed up the first two times he’d encountered Ms. Graves, but the third time could be the charm. And he knew just what he had to do to get past her thorny exterior.

  CHAPTER THREE

  THE DAY AWAY hadn’t settled Brooklyn’s thoughts, so she spent the next morning cooking. She did this every few weeks, making large quantities and then freezing in portion-size dishes. Cooking for one could be a lonely enterprise, but spending a day in the kitchen fed her soul as well as her body.

  Today it was her grandmother’s baked beans, done in her slow cooker, and fish cakes. She’d do them up and freeze them, and then fry a few off for tonight’s dinner. Combined with the chow she’d just made this summer—a Maritime recipe of pickled green tomatoes—and she’d have the perfect dinner.