Forgetting the Billionaire (A Clean Billionaire Romance Book 1) Page 15

  Charlie plopped down on the chair next to the table. “I dumped him.”

  Penny snorted. “Again?”

  “Yep,” Charlie said, emphasizing the “p”.

  Penny placed some food down in front of her. “Good. I never liked that boy.”

  “You what? Why didn’t you tell me?” Charlie traced her finger around the edge of the plate.

  “Would you have listened to me if I’d told you that he wasn’t good enough for you?” Penny set two more place settings.

  Charlie snorted. Probably not. Nodding to the extra plate she asked, “Who’s eating with us?”

  “Isn’t Mitchell?”

  Charlie’s stomach flipped at the mention of his name. She pinched her lips together and shook her head.

  Penny laughed. “You got rid of two guys in one day? What happened?”

  Scoffing, Charlie leaned back. “He’s boat rental shopping with his fiancée.”

  “Oh,” Penny said as she picked up the plate and placed it into the cupboard.

  Silence filled the air.

  “Have you decided when you’re going to tell the residents? About the foreclosure?” Penny’s question drove daggers into Charlie’s heart.

  She’d forgotten about that. What was she going to do? Not knowing what to say, she fiddled with her fork. “I’m not sure. I can’t lose this place, Pen. Granny would be so mad.” Tears brimmed her eyes.

  A soft hand rested on her shoulder. “Charlie, it’s okay. If you have to give this place up— it’s okay. It should have never been your job to take care of it. Your granny would want you to be happy and not stressed.”

  All Charlie could do was nod. She understood the words, but deep down, she felt like a failure.

  “Rose, what are you doing out of bed?” Penny asked, stopping to stare above Charlie’s head.

  Whipping around, Charlie saw Rose standing in the door frame with a scared look on her face. Charlie was out of her chair in an instant. “Rose, what’s wrong?”

  Rose’s pale face peered up into Charlie’s. “Tyler. Where is he? Why isn’t he here?”

  Charlie reached out and grabbed her hand. Anything to help her feel better. “He went out, but he’s coming back.”

  Rose pinched her lips and shook her head. “No. No he isn’t. He hates me. I knew he’d leave. He never wanted me at the wedding.”

  Wrapping her hand around Rose’s elbow, Charlie led her into the kitchen. “You remembered? The wedding?” How was that possible? It’d been so long since they’d talked to her about it. For a moment Charlie allowed herself to hope that Rose was returning.

  “How could a mother forget her only son’s wedding?” Rose sat on the chair that Charlie had pulled out. “But he’s gone now, and I’m alone.”

  Taking both of Rose’s hands in hers, Charlie sat and leaned close to her. “I promise you that he’s not gone. He’s out with his fiancée picking a boat for the reception. He’ll be home soon.”

  Rose’s worried gaze met hers. “You promise? He’ll come back, and I’ll go to his wedding?”

  Charlie pinched her lips together. “Yes. I promise. I will do everything I can so you can see your son get married.”

  A smiled spread across Rose’s lips. “Thank you.” Then her brow furrowed. “What’s your name?”

  Charlie swallowed and leaned back. “Charlie.”

  Her stomach knotted as she thought back to her earlier revelation. It didn’t matter if she had feelings for Mitchell or not. What mattered was making Rose happy. She was already failing her grandma, and she couldn’t fail Rose as well.

  20

  Mitchell

  “Good evening, sir,” the uniformed man said as Victoria and Mitchell stepped onto the deck of the boat.

  Mitchell reached out and shook his hand. “Thanks for accommodating us,” he said.

  “Absolutely. No problem. We’re happy to have you. My name is Terrence, and I’m the reservation specialist for this boat.” Terrence nodded his head as he clutched a clipboard in his hand.

  A different man stepped up and gated the entrance that they had just passed through. Once it was secure, he waved toward the upper deck and then disappeared.

  “It says here that you are looking to get married on Tuesday?” He pulled the board from his chest and peered down at it.

  The boat left the dock, and Mitchell’s throat went dry. It wasn’t what he wanted. He had feelings for Charlie. Deep feelings. But she’d pretty much made it clear that she wasn’t interested in him. Instead of speaking, Mitchell just nodded.

  Victoria started in, asking questions about champagne and boat capacity. Losing interest fast, Mitchell made his way over to the railing and stared out at the water. It churned as the boat sliced through it.

  Allowing his gaze to move farther across the ocean, his heart caught in his throat. He spotted a blow about fifteen feet from the boat. Only moments later, a second, smaller blow shot up from the water. It must be a mom and her baby.

  Smiling, he rested his arms on the railing and watched. They kept up with the boat as they methodically rose out of the water to breathe. Mitchell couldn’t help it as his thoughts turned to Charlie. How excited she’d been to show him the whales earlier.

  Everything about her intoxicated him and drew him in. He swallowed. He knew the answer to Terrence’s question earlier. He didn’t want the wedding on Tuesday. He didn’t want the wedding at all.

  A figure drew his attention to his left. Victoria stood next to him with a disgruntled look on her face.

  Mitchell furrowed his brow. “Everything okay?”

  She sighed and folded her arms. “I’m not sure. This isn’t what I’ve dreamed of my whole life.”

  He studied her. “Do you love me?”

  She stared at him with her eyebrows raised. “What?”

  “Love me. Do you love me?” he repeated.

  She giggled and rested against the railing. “Of course.”

  Mitchell leaned in. “Really? This isn’t you.” He waved his arms around the boat. “My grandmother certainly isn’t you.”

  Her nose crinkled as she nodded.

  “Rose is only going to get worse, and I’m going to need to spend more and more time here. Is that something you can do?”

  Her face paled. “Here? Come back?”

  He nodded.

  She sighed and the silence surrounded them. Finally, she pushed back, shaking her head. “No. I don’t want this.”

  Relief filled his chest. “Really?”

  She bit her lip and nodded. “Yes. I’m Coach purses and Gucci shoes. I’m not old people and dilapidated houses.”

  Mitchell patted her arm. “I know.”

  She began wiggling the ring off her finger. Once it was off, she pushed it onto the finger of her other hand. “Thanks for understanding.”

  Mitchell nodded.

  They rode the rest of the way back to Sitka in silence. As they neared the dock, Mitchell’s heart began to pound. He was no longer tied down. Seeing Charlie meant so much more now. What would she say?

  “I’m just going to head to the airport and go home,” Victoria said after they stepped onto the dock.

  Mitchell nodded. “Have a safe flight.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

  She smiled. “Have a nice life.” Then headed down the dock with her phone out.

  Mitchell started the path back to Dottie’s Retirement Home. Thoughts flooded his mind. What a strange couple of days. He’d gone from dating to engaged to single. And all for what?

  Charlie.

  That thought caused his gait to quicken. He couldn’t wait to see her and tell her that the wedding was off. Would she be happy?

  He couldn’t have been the only one who felt the sparks between them. Even when she was mad at him, she was still the most caring woman he’d ever known.

  And he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

  It felt achingly slow, but finally the retirement home came into view. He neared the back
porch to find Charlie sitting in a rocker with her arms wrapped around her chest. His head felt dizzy as he climbed the steps.

  “Hey,” he said, praying it would come out normal.

  His stomach fell when she raised her head and he saw her tear stained face. He leaned over and inched closer. “What’s wrong?”

  She pinched her lips and shook her head as she turned her gaze toward the parking lot. “Nothing,” she whispered.

  He grabbed a rocker and pulled it up next to her. “This doesn’t look like nothing. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  She turned her gaze back for a moment then glanced around. “Where’s Victoria?”

  Mitchell leaned back in the chair. “She’s on a plane home right now.”

  “More shopping?”

  He turned to look at her. “She’s not coming back.”

  Charlie’s face paled. “What? Why?”

  He studied his hands. “Because we’re not getting married.”

  Silence.

  Curiosity got the better of him, so he glanced over at her. Her lips were pinched as she stared at him.

  “What?” she asked.

  “There’s not going to be a wedding. We’re not getting married.” There was no reaction on her face. His confession wasn’t going as he’d planned.

  Charlie stood and walked over to the railing of the porch. “Why? Why would you do that?”

  Mitchell stared at her. She couldn’t be serious. She had to know. He stood and made his way over to her. “Because I don’t love her.”

  A tear slid down her face. “No. You can’t do that. It will break Rose’s heart.”

  “She’ll understand.” He reached out to touch her arm.

  She hugged her chest and turned. “No. She won’t. She’ll be crushed. This was the last thing that I was going to be able to do for her, and you ruined it.”

  He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “I think I know Rose more than you do. She wouldn’t want me to get married if I don’t love the woman.”

  Charlie whipped around with rage in her gaze. “Know her more than me? Are you serious? She’s been here most of my life, and I was there with her through everything. I was the one who watched as she got sicker and sicker.” A sob escaped her lips as the tears flowed.

  Mitchell’s heart hurt. He wanted to wrap her up and take away all her pain. He stepped forward.

  “No. Go,” she whispered.

  “What?”

  “Go!” She pointed toward the parking lot.

  “You want me to go?” Was he hearing her right?

  “Yes. Go before you hurt her more. She was looking forward to the wedding. She was so worried you’d cancel it or have it without her. Go, before you give her more false hope.” She dropped her gaze and turned so her back was to him.

  Mitchell’s stomach plummeted to the ground. He couldn’t process the words she was saying. How had things gone so badly so fast? He loved Charlie. She needed to know that.

  “But, I—”

  “Go.” Her shoulders slumped as she kept her back to him. “Please.”

  His head pounded. He opened his mouth to say something, but as he took in her frail posture, he stopped. She was hurting, and he didn’t want to cause her anymore pain.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered and headed into the house. The only thing he could think of right now was getting out of this place.

  Up in his room, he threw all his clothes into his suitcase. Once he zipped it, he glanced around. Sitting on the chair next to his dresser was the polar bear he’d won for Charlie. He couldn’t take it with him. It would be a constant reminder of the woman he couldn’t have.

  He placed it on the bed and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen. On it he sprawled:

  To Charlie. I hope you can forgive me one day.

  He tucked the note under the bear, opened his door, and headed to Rose’s room. She was asleep on her bed, so he just leaned over and gave her a kiss.

  “Bye, Rose,” he whispered. “I’ll be back soon.”

  She stirred, but didn’t wake.

  By the time he got outside, Charlie was gone. He kept his gaze focused on the bubble gum colored car and threw his luggage onto the backseat. Grabbing his phone, he called Pedro.

  “I’m coming. Be ready for me,” he said as he started up his car.

  “You got it, boss,” Pedro said.

  Mitchell gunned the gas and peeled out of the parking lot. His mind swam from all the emotions that raced through him. As he pulled up to a red light, he peered out the window.

  A flower shop greeted him. Suddenly, he flipped on his blinker and pulled into the lot. An elderly woman stood outside, watering plants.

  Her lips parted as Mitchell barreled past her and into the store. “S-Sir, can I help you?”

  He glanced around at glass enclosures that held a variety of flower arrangements. “I need some daisies.”

  “Bouquet or plants?”

  “Plants.”

  She nodded as she waved him back outside. “I have some out here.” She motioned toward the plants she had been watering.

  “And a shovel. Do you sell those?”

  “Well, actually, I don’t sell those.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked him over. “I guess you can just take mine.”

  “Really?”

  She nodded. “You look like a man on a mission. I’d hate to be the person who got in your way.”

  Mitchell reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. “Thank you.” He grabbed out a hundred-dollar bill. The left-over one that Alex didn’t get to.

  The woman shook her head. “That’s okay.”

  Mitchell leaned in. “You sure?”

  “I’m sure.” She smiled in a way that reminded him of Rose.

  “Thank you.” Grabbing the flowers and shovel she held out, Mitchell placed them in the front seat and climbed in. Once the car was started, he pulled out, and headed back down the street.

  There was one thing he was going to do before he left, and there was no way Charlie could stop him.

  Thankfully, it was easy for him to find his way back to the cemetery, and he was there in under ten minutes. Grabbing the flowers and shovel, he made his way over to the headstone that Francis had stood in front of the day before. The pots next to the stone were still empty.

  He pushed the shovel in and removed the dirt until he’d made a big enough hole. He removed the flowers from the container and gave them a good shake. This was the first time he’d ever planted. He hoped he was doing it right.

  Once the roots were covered, he took a step back. He hadn’t noticed the dark clouds roll in until a drop of rain fell on his face. Glancing up, he welcomed it. The color of the clouds matched his mood.

  When the other planter was filled, Mitchell rested his hand on the stone.

  “Good to meet you,” he muttered before he grabbed the shovel and containers and made his way back to his car. Once inside, he headed to the airport.

  Pedro was sitting in the cockpit when Mitchell boarded. He raised his eyebrows as he glanced down at Mitchell’s dirty hands.

  “Everything okay, boss?”

  Mitchell swallowed down his emotions. “Just get me home.”

  Pedro nodded. “Cops aren’t going to be speeding up on me, are they?”

  Mitchell shook his head.

  A look of understanding fell over Pedro’s face. “Woman troubles? You’ve got that look. Same one my cousin had when his lady left him.” He let out a low whistle. “Got his heart broken.”

  Mitchell washed up in the bathroom then headed to his recliner. “Pedro, just take me home.”

  Pedro raised his hands and nodded. “No problem. We’ll be back home with Alaska behind us in about eight hours.”

  Mitchell nodded and closed his eyes. Right now, distance was all he wanted.

  21

  Charlie

  Charlie went to bed with a stomachache. She told herself it was because she’d forgone dinner, but the nagging voice in her head t
old her that that was a lie. When she woke up the next morning, she found it impossible to get out of bed.

  Flipping to her side, she pulled out her phone. She’d missed a call and there was a voicemail. Her heart soared. Was it Mitchell? She couldn’t believe what she’d said to him yesterday, but seeing Rose upset had set her on edge.

  Unlocking her phone, she sucked in her breath, but the call had been from Jorge. She clicked on the voicemail and turned the speaker on.

  Laying back on her pillow, she listened to his familiar, deep accent.

  “Listen, Charlie, I know we talked about you coming back, and I’m more than happy to do that. It’s just, right now, with my new investor, I’m going to be gutting the diner. So, it’ll be closed for the next month. See you once it’s over!”

  Charlie groaned and shut off her phone. One whole month with nothing to do. She buried her face in the pillow. Well, not nothing. She still needed to tell all the residents that the doors were closing, and they needed to find another place to live.

  Too heartbroken to get up, Charlie pulled the blankets back over her head and fell asleep.

  “Charlie?” a soft voice called.

  She moaned.

  “Charlie,” it called again. More forcefully this time.

  Sitting up, Charlie glanced around. The sun was no longer high in the sky, and it was now casting a bright glow into her room. That voice— she’d know it anywhere. “Rose?”

  The familiar smile greeted her. Rose was sitting on her bed with her hands in her lap.

  Charlie threw her arms around her. “You’re back.”

  Rose nodded.

  Tears ran down her cheeks as Charlie pulled back just to make sure what she saw was true. Rose remembered. “It’s been so long,” Charlie said through sobs.

  Rose nodded and grabbed Charlie’s hands in hers. “I know. I’m so sorry.”

  Charlie shook her head. “No. It’s not your fault.” Then she waved her hand. “Let’s not waste time talking about the past.”

  Rose stood. “Get dressed. We’re having cookies in the kitchen.”

  Flinging the covers off her body, Charlie nodded. She was in the kitchen in under two minutes. She was pretty sure her shirt was on backwards, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t going to waste any time.