The Billionaire's Setup Read online

  “Daaang,” Thomas grumbled. “Have I closed my eyes? I can’t see anything.”

  Nolan snorted a laugh. “You really need to adjust the alcohol intake in your wines. You are sloshed, my friend.”

  “That’s exactly the way I want it.” Thomas nodded assuredly. “Now... where is my limo?”

  Nolan chuckled to himself as Thomas’ limo pulled up and the driver quickly hopped out to open the back door for them. As Nolan helped his friend inside, he was glad he wasn’t a drunk like Thomas. Tomorrow morning would be even more miserable for the man than today had been. Thankfully, Nolan had something to look forward to. It was time he put Elizabeth and his feelings behind him and concentrate on the future.

  NOLAN HUMMED TO THE song playing on his Bluetooth speaker as he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel of the rented Jeep. The flight had been relaxing, and now as he drove through the curvy roads in Colorado, heading toward his destination, excitement built inside him. It didn’t matter if he was by himself, his goal was to make friends and maybe even see a ghost or two.

  God had definitely touched the Colorado Mountains with gold, rust, yellow, and fading green leaves. The rainbow of fall colors enhanced the land, making it a spectacular view. Nolan had always loved nature, and he’d make sure this trip was the best he’d ever had.

  As he rounded one of the bends, he noticed a car up ahead that had stopped on the side of the road with its hood popped open. Two very lovely women stood in front, peering toward the engine with very confused expressions – as if what they were looking at belonged in a Sci-Fi movie.

  Chuckling, he knew he had to stop and help. What kind of Christian would he be if he left them to a broken-down vehicle that could have been a spaceship for all they knew?

  Maneuvering in front of them, he slowed his Jeep. When he jumped out of his vehicle, they both looked up at him with wide, frightened eyes. He hoped he didn’t look scary. Taking a quick glance at his clothes, he wasn’t as fancily dressed as they were. Wearing a black and red button-down flannel shirt with rolled up sleeves to his forearms, faded blue jeans, and white sneakers made him look very casual, or so he thought.

  Out of the two beauties, one stood out more. The slightly taller one had blonde hair with brown highlights, and it was pulled back into a ponytail. She wore a see-through button-up blouse with a pink tank-top underneath, blue jeans that fit her slender legs to perfection, and black cowgirl boots on her feet. Her facial features were remarkably attractive.

  The other lady with the cowgirl looked to be around the same age – mid-to-late-twenties. Her bleach-blonde hair hung to the middle of her back, and she flipped it over her shoulders quite often. The clothes she wore were in contrast to her friend’s. The flipping hair woman wore cream-colored Capri pants with a yellow short-sleeved blouse, and on her feet were yellow heels – at least four inches high.

  Neither of them looked like they were from Colorado. Because of the state’s cooler fall weather, the women should have been wearing warmer clothes.

  The flipping-hair woman was texting on her phone, scowling. He’d bet she wasn’t getting any service, just as he hadn’t been able to once he drove his Jeep through the mountains.

  “Hi,” he greeted nicely. “Are you having car trouble?”

  “No, we’re fine,” the woman with the four-inch heels snapped as her gaze moved over him. The judgmental disgust on her face said it all. “We’re waiting for a tow-truck.”

  The pretty blonde with brown highlight grimaced slightly before looking at her friend. “Actually,” she said, “we haven’t been able to get any phone service to call for a tow-truck.”

  “But I won’t give up.” The unfriendly woman punched a few numbers in before lifting the phone to her ear. Seconds later, she stomped her foot and moved away, checking the service in other places.

  Nodding, Nolan stopped near the prettier one. There was a small breeze blowing from the east, and he could smell a pleasant flowery fragrance. “I know a lot about cars. Do you mind if I take a look?”

  “You’re welcome to take a look.” She stepped away from the front of the car. “My cousin and I know nothin’ about how to fix cars.”

  He grinned, loving the thick southern accent she had. In fact, he was wishing he was wearing a hat just so he could tip it toward her. “I’ll be happy to take a look.”

  Nolan peered underneath the hood, studying each part of the engine. “What exactly happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “We were drivin’ just fine until we hit a rut in the road, then the dad-gum piece of tin lost power.” The pretty woman shrugged.

  Her accent was just too dang cute, but he couldn’t get caught up in her looks or the way he enjoyed listening to her. Instead, he needed to concentrate on fixing the car. “Once the car lost power, was the radio or clock still working?”

  The unfriendly woman snorted ignorantly. “Well, I can still see the time on my phone, and I’m sure I can still listen to my playlist.”

  The woman with the southern accent bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes as if irritated. Nolan tried not to laugh at the confused woman who continued to flip her hair.

  “Bailey,” the pretty woman said in a tight voice, “he was referrin’ to the car, honey.”

  The woman named Bailey huffed and folded her arms. “Then he should have been clearer.”

  The southern belle straightened her shoulders and looked directly at Nolan with a smile. “No, the clock wasn’t workin’ in the car and neither was the radio.”

  “That tells me it’s something to do with the battery.” As his gaze focused on the problem, he smiled widely, hoping the women would see him as their rescuer. Well, he at least wanted the pretty blonde woman to see him that way. It had been a while since he had rescued a damsel in distress and was able to become her knight in shining armor.

  This day was certainly getting better.

  TWO

  “See this cable right here?” Nolan spoke to the woman with the charming amber eyes. “It’s come loose on the battery. If it’s not securely connected, the car will lose power.”

  “So, you can fix it?” she asked in a lifted voice.

  He tightened the screws on the connector before checking the other cable. “It’s done.” He straightened, meeting her surprised gaze. “Climb in and start your car now.”

  She hurried around the car and slid in the driver’s seat. Seconds later, the car started. Her face beamed with appreciation. She was definitely one beautiful woman.

  “I don’t know how to thank you,” she said, getting out of the car and moving closer to him.

  “Think nothing of it. I was honored to help such lovely ladies.” Perhaps he should have at least glanced Bailey’s way, but the snobbish woman had quickly climbed in the passenger side.

  “Let’s go, Nicole,” Bailey grumbled.

  She glanced her friend’s way briefly. “I will in a minute.” When she met Nolan’s gaze again, she held out her right hand. “I’m Nicole.”

  He eagerly slid his palm against hers and gave her a gentle shake. “I’m Nolan.”

  Inside the car, Bailey grumbled louder. “And I’m impatient,” she whined. “Nikki, I’m hungry. Let’s go.”

  Nicole sighed and released his hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Nolan.”

  “Are you from around here?” His curiosity had gotten the best of him, and he just had to know.

  She shook her head. “My cousin and I are just visitin’. We’re from Texas.”

  “I’m visiting too, but I’m from Arizona. I hope we’ll see each other again soon.”

  “That would be lovely.”

  “Actually,” Bailey’s voice nearly bounced off the mountains, “food would be even lovelier.”

  Rolling her eyes, Nicole sighed heavily. “I’d better go. Thanks again for fixin’ the car.”

  “Drive safely.” Nolan gave her a small wave before heading back to his Jeep. He waited until Nicole had pulled her car back onto the roa
d and passed him before he put his Jeep into gear and continued driving to Woodland Park.

  The smile remained on his face just as the image of Nicole stayed in his mind. It made a great distraction from the forty-minute drive to the bed and breakfast. His mind played back the way she smiled, and the way her amber eyes twinkled when she looked at him. A few times, the color in her cheeks had brightened, but it was mainly when her cousin said something completely off-the-wall ridiculous.

  He’d followed their car until they turned toward the center of Colorado Springs. She waved out the window, and his heart skipped a beat. He was determined to find her after he checked into his room at the bed and breakfast, of course. He’d drive through all of Colorado Springs just to find Nicole. He really wanted to get to know her a little better. But Bailey... not so much.

  Finally, he drove up the road leading to his destination. The large sign in front had big, bold letters – Hanover House Bed & Breakfast, established in 1927. Nolan thought it was pretty awesome to be staying in a structure so old. According to the brochure about the B&B, the manor had been built in the early 1900’s, but then was remodeled into a B&B in 1927. By the late 1930’s, the place was rumored to have the ghost of the physician’s daughter, Victoria, who was staying there. Apparently, she had died tragically on the day of her wedding. Other ghosts were reported at the B&B as well, but none of them had been given a name.

  Nolan parked his Jeep, grabbed his luggage, and walked up the steps to the wrap-around porch of the two-story, red-brick ancient manor. Vines grew up the outside walls and into the cracked bricks. Large bay windows were along the lower floor, and regular windows along the top floor – all decorated with white laced curtains. The setting sun cast an orange glow on the slightly barren trees. The eeriness of the haunted place started before he even set foot inside.

  As he walked in, he felt as though he was stepping into the past. Growing up, he’d always been fascinated with ghosts. Many times, he’d searched for the town’s older structures in hopes of seeing a ghost. Sadly, it had never happened.

  The jingling bell on the door announced him before he even made it to the front counter. The lobby resembled a ritzy hunter’s lodge. A large fireplace sat in the middle of the outer wall with an old-fashioned sofa circling around the floor. Huge deer antlers hung on the wall, which certainly fit with the rustic life of a Colorado resident. A magnificent staircase stood off to the right of the elevator. A large wooden desk was in the corner with a check-in sign hanging above it. A heavy-set woman with curly grayish-brown hair sat behind the counter, smiling.

  He walked to the desk and nodded to the older woman. “Good evening. I’m Nolan Ricks. I have a reservation.”

  She turned in her swivel chair and faced a computer screen. Her fingers flew across the keyboard for a few seconds as her gaze scanned the contents on the screen. Confusion registered on her face, causing the lines around her mouth to deepen.

  “The reservation was made by Aaron Powers or Powers Enterprises.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh, yes. There you are, Mr. Ricks.” She reached across from her to a small wall of keys hanging on hooks and pulled off a key. “Your room is 201. It’s up the stairs to the right – or you can take the elevator to the second floor.”

  He took the key before pulling out his wallet and credit card. She shook her head, holding up her hand to stop him.

  “Powers Enterprises has taken care of everything. All you need to do is relax and enjoy your week’s stay.” Her grin widened. “Mr. Powers reserved you the best room we have, and he made sure there was a bottle of wine chilling in your room.”

  Nolan chuckled inwardly. Of course, the owner of a winery would think to have wine in his room. Nolan was willing to bet Aaron made sure the B&B had a bottle of the Powers’ wine in every room.

  “I was a big fan of Aaron Powers, the magician,” the woman continued. “It made me sad that he stopped doing his shows, but I’m happy to hear he is now married.”

  Nodding, Nolan slipped his credit card back inside the wallet and put it in his pants pocket. “Yes, Aaron was married a week ago.”

  “What a lucky woman she is to have found such a sweet man.”

  Just thinking about Elizabeth made his heart squeeze with jealousy again. “Yes. They are both lucky to have found each other.”

  “Yes, well... um, breakfast starts at six o’clock in the morning and goes until eleven.” She pointed to the left of him. “The dining area is over there.” She moved a large book registry on the desk. “If you’d just sign your name right here, you’re free to go to your room.”

  “Of course.” He picked up the pen and signed his name adding Powers Enterprises at the end.

  “Will you need a wake-up call?”

  “No, I’m good,” he told her before clutching the handle to his suitcase and heading toward the stairs, ignoring the elevator. Room 201 was easy to find since it was at one end of the hallway. Across from his room, looked to be another room as large as his, but the other rooms on this floor were smaller in size.

  Inside was a King-size bed nestled in a four-post frame with a checkered quilt on top. A small fireplace sat against the far wall, along with a loveseat and a television. In the other corner of the room was a jetted tub, a separate shower, and of course, the toilet in its own room. His suite had a small fridge and sink. On the counter was a bottle of Red Velvet, a specialty wine from none other than the Powers’ winery, which incidentally, happened to be one of Nolan’s favorites.

  He lugged the suitcase to the bed and placed it on the mattress. After he unpacked, he glanced out the window. Evening’s darkness covered the land, and he frowned. He wouldn’t be able to find Nicole tonight. He’d wake up early and drive around Colorado Springs searching for Nicole before the haunted tour started at eleven o’clock in front of Woodland Park’s old courthouse.

  Immediately, Nicole’s pretty smile crept into his thoughts. Her cute Texas slang brought a smile to his face. Finding her was most definitely on his to-do list.

  His plans for this week suddenly became brighter.

  “YOU’VE got to be kidding me,” Bailey complained as she leaned forward in her seat to peer out the vehicle’s windshield. “You want to stay in this dump?”

  Nicole Carrigan found a parking place and turned off the engine. She glanced out of her window and looked upon the manor that had been built in the Edwardian era. Although she’d been to better bed and breakfasts in her life, this was the place that called to her.

  “It’s not a dump,” Nicole told her cousin. “Hanover House B&B has received some great reviews. Not only that,” she tore her gaze away from the structure and looked at Bailey, “it’s one of the oldest manors still standin’ in Colorado. There’s a mystery surroundin’ the 1925 physician’s daughter who died the day of her weddin’.” She arched an eyebrow. “And you know how much I love a good mystery.”

  Bailey’s unpleasant expression remained on her face even after she pulled her attention away from the building and looked at Nicole.

  “This place gives me the creeps.”

  Nicole wanted to say something rude to her cousin but held her tongue as she dropped the rental car keys in her purse. “You could have stayed home. I would have been just fine by myself.”

  “I know, and believe me, I wanted to stay home, but Daddy insisted that I come with you. It’s not good for a pretty rich girl to be out here amongst the hired help.” She expelled a quick breath. “I mean look at what happened earlier. That strange man who accosted us could have been a serial killer for all we know, and yet you still let him look at the car.”

  Holding her irritation, Nicole clicked the button to make the trunk pop open before climbing out of the car. “If you remember correctly, he was the one who fixed the car for us. We wouldn’t have been able to get here otherwise.”

  Bailey opened her door and slid out. “I’m sure if you would have waited a few more minutes, we would have gotten phone service.”

 
Nicole counted to ten slowly as she held her breath. She reached inside the trunk and grabbed her luggage. “I’m assumin’ you don’t usually travel through the mountains.”

  “Well, duh! The air makes my skin so dry, and I absolutely hate getting my nails dirty.” She held out her acrylic nails. For their trip, she’d used an orange polish.

  “Then let me tell you.” Nicole waited for Bailey to pull her suitcases out – all five of them. “Gettin’ phone service in the mountains doesn’t happen very often.”

  “Ah, but it can happen.” Bailey gave her a sharp nod before glancing around the parking lot and back to the building. “Where are the bellboys? I need help with my luggage. They can’t expect me to carry up all of my suitcases by myself, can they?”

  “I’m not sure if this place has people who’ll do that for you.”

  Huffing, Bailey stomped her foot. “Well, unless they want a poor review from me, they’ll get their workers out here to help. That’s what they’ve been hired to do, right?”

  “Bailey, you need to get rid of your higher-than-thou attitude. We’re not at home any longer. People out here actually make livin’s for themselves and they are hard workers. Not everyone was born a billionaire.”

  “Well then, those so-called hard workers need to get their butts out here and help me.”

  “Let me remind you,” Nicole said tightly, “that on this trip I want people to think I’m a regular person... not a billionaire.”

  “Yeah, whatever.” Bailey flipped her hair. “But that’s your wish, not mine.”

  Nicole groaned. For years she’d tried to change her cousin, but it was obvious that the woman was too stuck on herself to think of others. “Stay right here. I’ll go into the B&B and see if they have someone who can help.”

  “Well, I would think so.” Bailey leaned back against the car, studying her nails again. “I think I might have chipped a nail trying to get my suitcase out. We should have brought that guy on your jet who packed the luggage into the rental. He would be very handy right now.”