Melody Anne's Billionaire Universe: Refuse to Settle (Kindle Worlds Novella) (7 page)

Chapter 12

Jilly finished up a batch of scones and once they were cool, plated them and added them to the display case. It felt like it had taken forever. So much longer than normal. But normal before hadn’t included an amazing man waiting for her. She just wanted to get out of the café and see Colin.

She decided to surprise him at his car shop, pretty excited to see what it was all about. This thing that made him so happy. Walking in through the open garage door, Jilly found several men in mechanic jumpsuits, covered in grease and dirt. Finally she found the grease and dirt-covered man that belonged to her.

“Hey you,” she said as she approached, feeling far more turned on than she anticipated.

“Hey right back.” His smile beamed and he leaned to her for a quick peck kiss. “What are you doing here?”

She held up a box. “Cookie delivery. And I had to check out the place.”

“Did someone say cookies?” A similarly dressed guy appeared at Colin’s side.

“I did,” she said and handed over the box. “Enjoy.”

The guy took it and the rest crowded around.

Colin looked to her. “I hope you didn’t mean for me to have one of those. I guarantee they’re already gone.”

“Oh, I have special cookies for you.”

“I like the sound of that.”

It was killing Jilly to not throw her arms around him. Change of topic. “So when do I get my tour?”

“Right now.”

Colin washed his hands then led her around the garage, pointing out each station, introducing her to each employee. Great guys who seemed to love their work as much as he did. They got to his office and he peeled off the jumpsuit to reveal clean clothes underneath. She didn’t know how a man could look so good in jeans and a tee.

“Can I hug you now?” she asked.

“I’m thinking a whole lot more than hugging.” He pulled her to him, his lips instantly connecting with hers.

As Jilly ran her hands up his body, his on hers, the scent of him swirling around her, she yearned to be somewhere a lot more private than his office.

“When can you get out of here?” she asked between kisses.

“Anytime you want.”

“Is now good?”

He grabbed her ass and tugged her lower region toward his, the length of him pressing into her stomach. “I’d say I’m ready to leave.”

“Your place or mine?”

“Mine’s closer.”

“You win.”

He tugged her toward the back entrance then hopped in his truck, promising to bring her back later to get her car. They made out the entire elevator ride up to the penthouse, barely making it to his couch before their clothes were off, condom in place. Colin plopped down and yanked Jilly onto his lap. She’d never had couch sex before. It was off-limits at her place, a rule she and Charlene had made after an awkward incident. So she was most definitely enjoying it now.

Spent from their couch quickie, Jilly sat across Colin’s lap, wrapped in his arms. “Why are there boxes everywhere?”

“I’m moving.”

“Really? This place is gorgeous. Why would you ever want to leave?”

“My dad kicked me out.”

He said it so nonchalantly, but dread filled her core. “Because of what happened the other night? Because of me?”

“God, no!” He looked deep into her eyes, his palm to her cheek. “None of it was because of you. I told him I didn’t want to take over at Rutherford, so he kicked me out.”

“Where will you go?”

“I have a lead on a new place. If it doesn’t pan out by the end of the week, I’ll put everything in storage and stay at a hotel.”

“He was pretty mad, huh?”

“Yeah. He doesn’t understand me. I don’t want his life and I won’t settle. I want to create my own life, my own legacy.”

She understood completely. She might be just a pastry chef with a small café, but it was all hers. The difference, though, she didn’t have anyone to disappoint. It had to be tough having a father who didn’t get it.

“So are you okay?” she asked. “Did it upset you?”

“No.” More nonchalance. “It is what it is. I’m doing what I have to do, and he is as well. I’ve got a business I love and you in my arms, and that’s all I need.”

*   *   *

Six a.m. came real damn fast, especially after lots and lots of sex and very little sleep. Colin lay in bed watching Jilly get dressed, no desire to get out of bed. He wasn’t normally up this early. He didn’t go into the shop until nine, sometimes ten.

“Come back to bed,” he begged.

“Can’t. The café opens in an hour. And you know you have to drive me to pick up my car, right?”

Shit. He’d completely forgotten. “Just take my truck.”

“I can’t drive a standard.”

“Then take one of my other cars.”

She shook her head. “No way. I’m not going to be responsible for a crazy expensive vintage car.”

“It’s fine. If you break it, I’ll just fix it.”

“Come on, lazy bones.” She pulled on his arm and he let her yank him out of bed, though he would have rather yanked her back in.

He pulled on a pair of gym shorts and a tee shirt and grabbed his keys. “Let’s go so I can get back to my bed. I’m exhausted. You kept me up all night.”

“
I
kept
you
up? You’re the one who initiated round three.”

“I was content to just fondle you until I fell asleep. You’re the one who begged me to put it in.”

“
Begged
? Surely I didn’t beg.” She grabbed her purse and he followed her to the door.

“It’s okay to admit it.” He stepped to her, his chest pressed to her back, his hand curling around her waist as they waited for the elevator. He leaned in to her ear. “I like it when you tell me what you want.”

He let his hand travel into the waistband of her leggings, into her tiny panties. Her body shuttered against his as he rubbed a finger over her bud, already swollen with desire. He loved that it only took a few words for her to get like that. The elevator dinged and the door opened, but they ignored it. His finger worked her button and she parted her legs slightly. The doors slid shut as he slid his finger between her slick folds, supporting her weight as her body vibrated then melted against him.

When she regained her strength, she spun around to face him. “You’re so bad.”

“And you like every second of it.”

She didn’t deny it, letting her wicked grin confirm the statement, then turned and pressed the elevator call button again.

Colin drove Jilly to the shop to fetch her car and after a steamy goodbye kiss, he headed back toward the apartment. He was awake now. Might as well get some more packing done.

As he looked around the apartment that had been his home for the last decade or so, he knew he would miss it. He wouldn’t admit it to Jilly last night, but the way his father acted had bothered him. What son doesn’t seek his father’s approval? But Colin Rutherford III had raised him to be strong and independent, just as he had been raised. That’s how all Rutherford men were trained. His father really shouldn’t have been surprised that he wanted to pursue his own career path.

Colin had hoped his father would understand, and maybe someday he would, but for now, he couldn’t dwell on it. He needed to concentrate on proving his father wrong.

*   *   *

Jilly woke in Colin’s arms, again, after a week of pure bliss. She’d never felt so happy and at peace in her life. It was like a dream, but real, and she wondered if she was going to wake up and be right back where she was before she met Colin. She decided to just live in the moment and enjoy every second of pure bliss.

She’d spent every night with Colin—his last few nights at the old place and the first few in the new one. They’d christened every room then revisited a few. Each morning she went to the café and he went to the shop, then they met up in the evening for amazing meals all over the city with deep conversations about life, dreams, and goals, followed by mind-blowing sex that left her satiated and sometimes sore, but always ready for more. She just couldn’t get enough of him. And he seemed pretty addicted to her, too.

Jilly’s phone rang in her pocket just as the oven timer went off. Charlene could wait until her muffins were out.

“Hey Char! What’s up?” Jilly asked when her roommate answered the returned call.

“She’s alive! My best friend lives!”

“Don’t be so dramatic.”

“I haven’t seen you in like a week. The only reason I know you were at the apartment is because some of your things are missing. Wouldn’t Mr. Moneybags pop for a toothbrush?”

“Ha ha. Sorry. But you know how it is.”

“I do, so I won’t razz you too much. How are things with Colin? As if I even need to ask.”

“So good. I can’t even put it into words.”

“Well, you better, cause I need something. I’m so bored and lonely!”

“It’s all just…perfect. And I hate to use the word, but it really is.”

“Someone’s in
looove
.”

Jilly knew it, but she wasn’t ready to let anyone else know. “It’s too soon for that.”

“Nope. When it happens fast, it’s real.”

Was there truth to that? Possibly. She didn’t want to give it too much thought. “Love or not, the sex is fantastic.”

“Details!”

Jilly obliged. “I never knew just being naked all day could be so fun.”

“Seriously…you need to hook me up with one of his friends. He’s gotta have someone for me.”

Jilly rolled her eyes. “I’ll ask, but if he’s not comfortable with it, it’s not happening.”

“Agreed. But make sure he’s hot. You know what I like.”

She hung up with Charlene and got back to work. The café picked up for the lunch hour, which was good, but dropped off once again. Which gave her the opportunity to go over her accounting and pay some bills. And once she started, she remembered why she avoided it. She paid a couple bills but her account was too low to pay the others right now. Next week. They’d only be a little over due.

Chapter 13

Colin wasn’t much of a cook. He could manage toast and eggs and not much else. He liked to order in and go out. But when Jilly offered to make him a feast in his new kitchen, how could he say no? Even if the feast was vegan.

“We’ll start with a cucumber tomato avocado salad with cilantro vinaigrette. The entrée is balsamic mushroom pasta that’s so hearty you won’t even miss the meat. And lastly, a chocolate and a salted caramel tart for dessert.”

Hot damn, that sounded sexy as hell. He couldn’t wait to devour it all, then move on to her. It completely turned him on to see her in his kitchen, cooking for him, her hands creating something magnificent out of a bag of random groceries.

And she was so right. It was spectacular.

“See. I told you it would be good. Think you’ll go vegan someday?”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but you’re definitely opening up my eyes to new things. You’re an amazing chef.”

“Thanks.” She took another bite of pasta then dabbed at the spot of sauce on her lip. “So…this is awkward, but do you have any cute single friends?”

He stopped, the fork midway to his mouth. “I’m sorry I won’t give up meat, but is that really a reason to trade me for a new model?”

“Of course not.” She tossed her napkin at him. “It’s not for me. For Charlene.”

“Oh. I don’t know. Maybe… Actually, yeah.” Joe at the shop was a great guy. Colin wasn’t sure if he’d like being set up, but it was worth a shot. “Maybe we can do a double date kind of thing.”

“Perfect.”

They continued the night in domestic bliss, the kind of thing he’d never thought he’d enjoy. Mundane tasks like putting away leftovers, washing dishes, snuggling on the couch with a movie, bedtime routines. They didn’t even make love that night, and that was okay. He just liked having her there.

Colin didn’t have many examples of normal healthy relationships in his life, but if this was what one was like, maybe he could see himself getting married some day. Maybe to Jilly. He was starting to have all kinds of ideas and plans for his future, and they all involved her.

*   *   *

Jilly was starting to really love Sundays. Charlene had agreed to fill in for her for the foreseeable future, since she had no love life of her own. That allowed Jilly the opportunity to lounge in bed with Colin, naked and warm, without having to dash out of bed and get ready for the day. Heaven.

“I’ve been thinking,” Colin started. “And I have a proposition for you.”

“Oh yeah?” Jilly faced him, eyebrow raised. “I like propositions.”

“This is one of the business sort, not sexual.”

Damn. She stuck out her lip at him.

“Don’t worry. I have a sexual proposition for later. But right now I want to talk about your café.”

“What about it?”

“We’ve talked a lot lately about our businesses and what we hope to do with them in the future. I know you’d like to expand, and I was serious about giving Keebler a run for their money. I think you have a really unique product that would go over well with consumers. I’ve done some research and people want all natural products. And if we get your cookies out to the masses, starting small with local grocery stores, it will draw more business for the café.”

“You think so?”

“Absolutely.”

“But we have one major problem. Mass production takes bigger ovens, employees, fancy packaging. It all takes money that I do not have.”

“Guess what? You have a boyfriend who has tons of money.”

“What?”

“Jilly, I want to invest in you. In us. I want to do this together. I think we could make a great team.”

Jilly had never been part of a team. She’d never had anyone believe in her that much. Holding back tears, she threw her arms around his neck. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes.”

Her head was a mix of emotions. No one had ever wanted to invest in her, neither spiritually nor financially. Her heart was bursting with love and excitement, hope for her future. Their future.

She pulled back. “Yes! Let’s do it!”

“Great! I’ve already talked to some people and you’ll work hand-in-hand with them to create the perfect product line. Lemon Dreams, of course, but a non-vegan version. My advisors think we should start off with regular cookies. Hold off on the vegan and gluten-free stuff until the company is more established.”

“What?”

“I gave them some to try and they were blown away.”

“Then why do they think we should do a non-vegan version first?”

“It’s just better business. Start with normal cookies then expand into other styles. Establish the company first. Consumers are sometimes scared off by trendy foods.”

“
Trendy foods
? Veganism isn’t a trend for me, or for a lot of people. And being vegan doesn’t make us abnormal.”

“Don’t get upset. It’s just what’s best for business.” He said it so nonchalantly, huge grin across his face, as if it was no big deal. “You might know a lot about baking, but I know business better than you do.”

Was he seriously being that much of an arrogant dick? She stood from the bed, naked, and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ve managed to run a successful café without your business advice.”

“I think successful is a stretch.”

Her jaw fell open. How dare he? “Successful enough to grab your attention.”

“Jilly, come on. I’ve seen the café. You’re a talented chef and you have a superior product, but it’s not bringing in much money. I think there are ways to fix that. To make the world take notice of you. But there are steps you need to take in order to do that.”

She shook her head. “I can’t believe you.”

“Come back to bed.” Colin pulled the covers back, urging her in. “We’ll talk it out and then you’ll understand where I’m coming from.”

“Oh, I understand all right. You and your little
analyst
buddies want to do things your way. You want me to change everything I’ve created. To conform and settle. You refuse to settle in your life, your career, but you expect me to? What the hell kind of double standard is that?”

“It’s not a double standard. But you need to accept that I know the business world better than you do. And I want to help. I want to help you grow into the success I know you can be.”

“But only if I do things your way.”

He sucked in a breath. “It’s not my way. It’s the way of successful businesses.”

“I don’t care. I refuse to settle. And if that means I will never be a success, then so be it. I have to live with myself and the choices I make. Not you.” She bent to pick up the clothes she had tossed on the floor the night before, dressing as fast as she could.

“What are you doing?” he asked, exhaustion in his voice.

“Leaving.”

“Come on. Don’t be like this.”

She looked him dead in the eyes and all the admiration she’d felt was gone. “I knew this all had to be too good to be true. My initial instincts about you were true. You’re a typical rich boy who wants to control people.”

She stomped out of the room before he had a chance to say anything. She expected him to call after her, catch her before she turned the doorknob, like in the sappy chick flicks Charlene loved. Maybe Jilly hoped he would. That he’d grab her and tell her she was wrong about him and apologize. Beg for forgiveness. Reassure her that the last few weeks of her life hadn’t been an impossible dream.

But he didn’t.

Jilly held it together until she reached her car. Once inside, she let her tears fall. Man, she had been so stupid. This whole mess was her fault. She never should have let him in. Never should have believed he was different.

*   *   *

Jilly opened the door to the café, freshly showered, hoping she looked only half as miserable as she felt.

“What are you doing here? I wasn’t expecting you for at least an hour.” Charlene then noticed her red, puffy eyes. “Uh oh. What happened?”

“Everything’s a mess.” Jilly erupted in tears, unable to keep them in. Good thing the café was empty. For once that was a blessing.

Charlene pulled her into her arms then ushered her to a table. “Is he cheating on you? I’ll kick his fucking ass.”

Jilly shook her head. “No. It’s nothing like that.”

“Then what?” Charlene smoothed Jilly’s hair and wiped away her tears.

She tried to explain, but much of it came out mixed with sobs. Charlene held her tight, usually the one in need of consoling after an asshole boyfriend had done something horrific. Now it was Jilly’s turn for misery.

“I thought he was different,” Charlene said, once Jilly had calmed down and relayed more of the story.

“I did, too. That’s what happens when you ignore what the past has taught you.” She shook her head as another tear rolled down her cheek. “So so stupid.”

“You’re not stupid. You just got lost in the love and magic.”

“I did. And I’m smarter than that. I completely disrespected my mother’s memory by getting caught up with such a selfish jackass.”

“Jilly…” Charlene pulled her in close again. “Don’t do that to yourself.”

“It’s true. She must be so disappointed in me.”

“You listen to me,” Charlene said and held Jilly at arm’s length. “I never met your mom, but you are not a disappointment. You are awesome. Look at the way you stood up to him! It was something she was never able to do and I bet she’s so damn proud.”

Jilly met her eyes and thought of her mom, how she’d obeyed her husband’s every wish, cowered to him, but when they were alone, she’d encouraged Jilly to be strong and independent. To be the woman she was unable to be. And she would be that woman now.

Her mom had been broken and weak, taking the only way out she knew, but Jilly was not weak. Her mother had raised her to be strong. She’d gotten out before it was too late, before she’d been sucked into Colin’s world. She’d stood up to him and refused to play by his rules. She’d be successful. She’d prove him wrong. She’d prove she didn’t need him for a damn thing.

*   *   *

Colin lay in bed, still frozen with shock. What the hell had happened? Somehow Jilly had viewed his offer to invest in the café as an all-out attack on her lifestyle. That’s not what he’d done. And who the hell had given her the right to insult him like that?

The last few weeks with Jilly had been wonderful. They’d started to build something real. She admitted she had misjudged him in the beginning, and knew how much it hurt him to have been judged at all. How much he hated being compared to someone like his father. So how could she say the things she had before she stormed off?

So much for the normal, healthy relationship he’d thought they had.

He got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Once there he found one of her tank tops. He picked it up and brought it to his face, inhaling her sweet scent. He missed her already. He longed for her. In his arms, in his bed…in his life. In that moment he knew he loved her.

Somehow he had screwed up, but this was fixable, right? He loved her, and knew she loved him. He could figure out what he did wrong and make it right. It sounded sappy, but love could conquer all. He just needed the opportunity.

Colin dressed and trotted out the door. He needed to see her, find out what he did that was so horrible, and beg her forgiveness. He’d get down on his knees if he had to.

He pulled into a parking spot in front of the café. Once inside, he called for her.

“What do you want?” Charlene stepped out from the kitchen, a look of disgust across her face.

“I need to talk to her.”

“No you don’t.”

“Where is she? This doesn’t concern you.”

“Oh, yes it does. As the only person on this planet who gives a shit about her, it sure as hell concerns me.”

“I do care about her. I love her.”

“You
love
her? Does your definition of love include making people do things they don’t want to do? Asking them to change who they are in the name of money?”

“Of course not.”

“That’s exactly what you did.”

“No I didn’t.”

“See, that’s your problem. You are such an egotistical asshole that you can’t even recognize when you’ve hurt someone.”

“Call me what you want, but I know how to run a successful business. That’s what I was trying to help her do.”

“By insisting she change it? I know you have this legacy you’re building for yourself with the car thing, but has it ever occurred to you that she wants to leave a legacy of her own? And do it her own way, just like you are? How dare you ask her to give up on her dream? If you really love someone, you support them. You don’t try to change them.”

Is that what he had done? Is that how Jilly saw it? “That’s not what I meant to do.”

“Well, you did it. So either buy something or get out.”

Colin didn’t know what to do, what to say. It was probably best if he just left. It was probably best if he left Jilly alone forever. He’d hurt her and he hadn’t even known it. He couldn’t bear the thought of doing that again. She was better off without him.