Next Door to the Billionaire (Bluebonnets & Billionaires, #1) Read online

  Copyright ©2019 Pamela Humphrey

  All Rights Reserved

  Phrey Press

  www.phreypress.com

  www.remicarrington.com

  First Edition

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  .

  Photo credit: Y-Boychenko, DepositPhotos.com

  ISBN-13: 978-1-947685-07-9

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  What to Read Next

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Tanner closed his office door and opened a browser. He hoped that searching How to break off an engagement would result in some sort of helpful advice.

  Tomorrow night, he would meet Angela for dinner and deliver the news in a diplomatic way. He tried to think of a nice way to say it, but there wasn’t one. Tanner didn’t love her, and marrying her wouldn’t change that.

  Watching his sister, Nellie, and her fiancé, Coop, Tanner realized the vast difference between a match made for business and a relationship grounded in love.

  His search yielded no great ideas, so he shut off his computer and left the office. When he spotted the diner on his way home, he pulled in.

  A slice of pie was what he needed to help him think.

  Just inside the door, he spotted the Please Seat Yourself sign, so he wandered toward the booth in the back corner. He noticed the cute blonde in jeans and a white t-shirt emblazoned with the diner’s logo taking orders at another table.

  While he waited for her to make her way over, he picked up a menu tucked next to the napkin holder and flipped to the desserts.

  She approached a minute later. “Evening. Can I get you someth—” Her eyes expanded to the size of saucers, and her ordering pad hit the floor. When she bent down to pick it up, her head connected with the edge of the table.

  “You okay?”

  “Sorry, yeah.” She rubbed the top of her head. “What can I get you?”

  “Sure you’re all right?”

  “Uh huh.” She tapped her pen on the paper. “I’m good.”

  “I’ll have a cup of coffee and a slice of pecan pie.”

  “It’ll be right out.” She hurried off to the kitchen.

  Tanner leaned back and crossed his arms, enjoying the quiet.

  When the waitress returned carrying the pie and coffee, he made a point to read her nametag. “Thanks, Olivia.”

  She wrinkled her brow. “How ...”

  “Your nametag.”

  “Oh. Ha! Thought for a second you . . . were . . . maybe psychic or something.” She laid the check on the table. “No hurry. Just let me know if you need anything else.”

  After gobbling up the pie and sipping the coffee, Tanner caught her attention. “Do I pay here or at the register?”

  “I’ll check you out in front. I mean, I’ll ring you up.”

  He dropped a tip on the table and made his way to the register.

  TANNER GLANCED UP AS his office door opened. Only one person didn’t bother knocking when the door was closed.

  “Hello, Grandfather.”

  “Your relationship with Angela is proving beneficial. Lance called this morning to say he was on board for the project. It’s only a trial partnership, but it’s a great start.”

  “I’m sure it has nothing to do with the engagement.” The words sounded false even as Tanner said them, but he hoped it was true, given what he was about to do.

  “It has everything to do with it.” Grandfather laughed and dropped into one of the wingback chairs. “I set it up nicely for you, didn’t I? With my hint, I mean.”

  “Saying that you spotted a ring in my pocket and expected a big announcement soon wasn’t really a hint. I’d have preferred that you not said anything.”

  “But it got me what I want.” He pushed up out of the chair and left the office.

  Tanner struggled between his dislike of his grandfather and an allegiance to the family business. Grandmother, who died long before Tanner was born, had willed the company to his mom or her children once Grandfather passed away.

  Mom didn’t want anything to do with the business, and Nellie chose her fiancé over the corner office. That left Tanner to fill the role, and he wanted to make it work. For him, it was more about continuing the family business than inheriting loads of money and occupying the corner office.

  AT FIVE, TANNER GLANCED at the clock, he’d been so busy, he hadn’t called his fiancée to arrange dinner. Breaking up would have to wait until another night. Tired, he headed home. He still wasn’t sure what he wanted to say, anyway.

  When he got to the house, he noticed Coop’s truck in the driveway next door. While Tanner would’ve enjoyed the company, he felt like the third wheel showing up at his sister’s house when Coop was there.

  They never acted as if it was a bother. And it wasn’t as if they never got time together. They worked together all day long. Even so, Tanner trudged into his own house and changed clothes before deciding on dinner.

  He’d barely made it into the kitchen when someone knocked at the door. Very few were on the list to get through at the gate, so Tanner swung the door open without peeking through the window. It was probably Coop or Nellie.

  “Hello, Tanner baby.” Angela flashed a grin and held up two grocery bags. “I was thinking about how wonderful you were and decided to make you dinner.”

  “Oh.” Tanner hadn’t expected his fiancée, and it took him a minute to realize he was still blocking the door. “Sorry. Come on in.”

  “I’ll have to kiss you after I put these down.”

  “Let me get those.” He reached for the bags.

  She handed them over then gave him a peck, without actually touching his lips. “Such a gentleman.”

  He couldn’t remember a real kiss since the engagement. She reserved real kisses for when they were in public. In private, she blew air kisses and patted his cheek. All the more reason to follow through with the break-up.

  She turned on the oven, and while it preheated, she chopped vegetables. “Go have a beer or whatever you like to do, this will take a few minutes.”

  Tanner grabbed a pale ale and wandered out to the living room. He flopped o
nto the sofa and turned on the television, hoping the noise would be loud enough to drown out his thoughts. Did she know he was about to end the engagement? She’d never shown up unannounced before.

  Five minutes turned into ten, and Tanner had his speech prepared. Once they finished dinner, he’d speak his mind. Was it rude to wait until after she cooked? He couldn’t interrupt her now. She was holding a knife.

  If he told her before they ate, she might not stay for food, and then he’d feel bad since she cooked. There was no good alternative. Lost in thought, he jumped when she dropped into his lap.

  She cradled his face. “I’m so lucky to have you.”

  Softly she pressed her lips to his, and Tanner’s heart sank. What if all his assumptions were wrong? What if this was normal? People always talked about cold feet. Was that what he was feeling?

  Relaxing, he returned the kiss, but as he tangled his fingers in her hair, she pulled away.

  “Dinner is probably ready.” She patted his cheek and hopped up. “Go wash your hands.”

  Tanner sighed as he walked into the kitchen, more confused than before she’d arrived. While they ate, she talked about the weekend getaway she’d planned with her best friend, the new car she was eyeing, and the new dress she’d bought for Nellie’s wedding.

  He let her talk, ready to be done with dinner. More soul-searching was required before he broke her heart. But he still wasn’t sure ending it would be more than a bump in the road for her.

  She checked her phone. “Oh. I hate to eat and run, but you don’t mind, do you?” Halfway out of the kitchen, she stopped. “Tanner? Aren’t you going to see me to the door?”

  “Sorry.” He left his unfinished plate and followed her out. “Goodnight.”

  She didn’t even bother with air kisses. “Night.”

  He bolted the door, tossed the rest of his dinner in the trash, and grabbed his car keys. Pie sounded good.

  His phone rang as he backed out of the garage.

  “Hey.” Tanner hit the button to answer. “What’s up, Coop?”

  “Nellie made some sort of cobbler or something. You should come over.”

  “Thanks for the offer, but I’m headed out.”

  “You have a Friday night date?” Coop laughed.

  Tanner thought of the waitress, and a pang of guilt stabbed at him. “No. Just headed to get a slice of pie.”

  “Nellie made dessert. It’s good. I tasted it before I called—just in case.”

  “Maybe another night.”

  “What about next Friday?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Or do you have pie every Friday?”

  “I’ll talk to you later. Bye.” Tanner ended the call.

  It only took a few minutes to get to the diner, and as he walked up, he glanced inside, happy to see the blonde working. It wasn’t as if he was going to ask for her number, but she was good company.

  He slid into the same booth and smiled as the waitress walked up to the table. “Hi, Olivia.”

  “Two nights in a row?” Her lips curled into a grin, and it lit up her whole face. “Same as before?”

  “Tonight, I’ll try a slice of apple.”

  “Coffee?”

  “Yep.” He tucked the menu back in its place.

  She started to walk away but stopped. “My friends call me Livvy.” Without waiting for a response, she hurried off to turn in the order.

  Tanner pondered the name. Somewhere in his brain’s archives, a little bell rang, but he couldn’t figure out why.

  “Here ya go.” Livvy slid the apple pie onto the table and filled a mug with coffee. “Can I get you anything else?”

  “I think this is good. Thanks.” Tanner found that he appreciated the friendly face more than he anticipated.

  The only downfall of the quiet was that it gave him time to think. Ruminate might be a better word.

  Was it normal for engaged people not to discuss a wedding date? His fiancée seemed so excited about the ring and proposal but hadn’t even asked about when. She talked more about her getaway with her friend than any plans for a ceremony. And the fact that he didn’t mind only heaped reasons on the break-it-off pile. But the idea of hurting her soured his stomach. He liked her and hoped that in time it would grow into more.

  He finished his pie much too quickly.

  “Need another?” Livvy picked up his empty plate.

  He wanted more but knew he shouldn’t. “Need? Definitely not. Tempting though.”

  Smiling, she laid down the check. “Anytime you’re ready.”

  Tanner lingered, finishing his coffee.

  “Need a refill?”

  Coffee so late would keep his brain spinning long after he’d want to sleep. “Yes, please.”

  She hurried back with the pot. “Oh! Thank you for that tip last night. It was . . . I wasn’t expecting it. Thanks.”

  Friday night pie became a regular part of his schedule.

  Chapter 2

  As soon as Livvy heard the car door close and the engine start, she peeked out the window and watched the truck leave before grabbing a duffle bag. Almost twenty-one, she should’ve moved out years ago. But her mom had been so weird about it anytime Livvy brought it up, she’d relented and stayed at home. Not anymore. She couldn’t stand being under the same roof with Mom’s current boyfriend.

  She’d miss her mom, but little else would be remembered fondly. Happy memories died years ago and were buried with Dad.

  After pulling on a t-shirt and jeans, Livvy stuffed more clothes into a duffle bag. She wrapped a blanket around her pillow and stacked it near the door.

  Before leaving, she ran back to the bed and scooped up her old, tattered stuffed elephant.

  “I can’t leave you, Snuffy.” She buried her face in the fur before shoving him in the bag.

  The smell of Dad’s cologne had long since faded. She’d used the rest of the bottle, spraying Snuffy every few months, but once it ran out she never bought more. That fuzzy, grey animal carried too many memories to be left behind.

  Hopefully her mom wouldn’t notice it missing right away—or the picture of Livvy with her dad that sat on the desk.

  It wasn’t like she was running away, but she had nowhere to go. Livvy hated the idea of telling her mom. With her, everything was personal, which would make it hard. Livvy had tried before and changed her mind, more than once. If she found a place to live first, it would make the process easier . . . at least that was what she hoped.

  She grabbed the bedding, hoisted the bag onto her shoulder, and hurried into the kitchen, where she tossed a couple bottles of water, a package of nuts, and a few granola bars into her duffle bag.

  Not wanting to linger, afraid she’d change her mind again or that the boyfriend would come back unexpectedly, she pushed open the back door.

  Blinking, she fought tears as she locked the house and climbed into her car. She wasn’t sure how she’d even concentrate in class while the professor droned on about chemistry. Worrying about where she’d spend the night would impede learning, but she still had to show up for class.

  Thanks to San Antonio traffic, Livvy slipped into class with only minutes to spare.

  Tessa rolled her eyes. “Good thing I saved you a seat.”

  “Thanks.” Livvy smiled in spite of how she felt. “Is it really Tuesday? Feels like a Monday.”

  “Some weeks every single day feels like a Monday.” Tessa pushed a newspaper toward Livvy, pointing at an engagement announcement. “Look at my cousin. Isn’t that a great photo?”

  “It is.”

  “I took it. Maybe my photography business will pick up after people see this.” Tessa tapped the photo, talking about lighting and aperture.

  Livvy hardly heard a word. In a photo farther down the page was a face she hadn’t seen in years—up until a few weeks ago—a face that appeared in her dreams nearly every night.

  Tessa waved her hand. “Are you listening to me?”

  “What?” Livvy couldn’t
pull her focus away from the image.

  “What are you looking at?” Tessa followed her gaze. “You’re looking at the wrong photo. This one is my cousin.”

  “Oh.”

  “Do you know those people?” Tessa squinted at the names below the photo. “Tanner Davis? Or Angela Withers?”

  Tanner Davis. Livvy stared at the man with the soft brown eyes, short dark hair, and a beard that she found most attractive. Learning he was engaged sent a shiver of disappointment through her.

  After not seeing him for years, he’d come into the diner the last five weeks. He’d been in her thoughts on and off during the last decade because some good deeds have a lasting effect. But she didn’t want to explain any of that to Tessa.

  “Neither. Thought it was someone else.” Livvy wasn’t a good liar and avoided Tessa’s curious look, knowing she wouldn’t be able to conceal her deceit.

  Tessa pointed at the photo she’d taken. “Well, everyone says it’s a great picture.”

  Livvy stole another glance at Tanner’s photo before opening her notes. A blonde with bright blue eyes and a little too much makeup stood next to Tanner. Livvy recognized that sour taste in her mouth for what it was. How could she be jealous about a guy that came in once a week to eat pie?

  “You did a great job. I bet that photo of your cousin will generate lots of new business.” Grabbing a pen out of her backpack, Livvy prepared to take notes as the instructor stepped to the front. “Hey Tessa, the library is open twenty-four hours, right?”

  “Yep. Why? You gonna sleep there?” Tessa snickered.

  Livvy laughed, hoping the truth wasn’t etched on her face. “I’ll need to study.” And a place to sleep.

  That night, she found a secluded spot, not far from where a couple of other students were camping out, and tried to sleep. It took hours before exhaustion outweighed her fear, before she let herself close her eyes.

  LIVVY TIED ON HER APRON and yawned. After three nights sleeping in the library, she was beyond tired. The last few days had pulled her to a new low. At least she had something to think about during those long hours awake.

  What was Tanner’s fiancée like? Was she sweet with a talent for baking pies? Was she a high-powered attorney with impeccable taste? Whoever she was, Livvy envied the woman.