His Millionaire Maid (15 page)

“What do you think?” Joe asked her.

She couldn’t answer for a moment. She was too busy thinking about her trust fund and how she would love to invest some of that money in Joe’s venture. But of course she couldn’t do that, not without revealing who she really was.

“I think it’s worth considering,” she said slowly.

He didn’t speak, and the atmosphere became heavy and uncomfortable. His face was drawn, as if he hadn’t slept well, and his dark eyes were enigmatic. But he was still Joe, and the hold he had over her was stronger than before. She longed to put her arms around him and comfort him. Wished she could bury her face in his chest and inhale his scent deep into her lungs. And when she caught the glimmer in his eyes, she knew he felt the same needs, the same regrets, and the same pain of denial.

“It’ll be okay,” Joe said.

She wasn’t sure what he was referring to—the problems of his B&B or their broken affair—but she nodded anyway. Maybe Joe was right. Maybe everything would work out okay, though she couldn’t see how.

Chapter Twelve

In the next few days, Nina had little time to brood as preparations for the Food and Wine Festival ramped up. Joe was busy with the organizing committee, while Sarah ruled the kitchen like a stressed kaiser, bawling out commands to her staff. The pressures on Joe must have been enormous, but he appeared to handle every minor and major crisis with aplomb, and she never once saw him lose his cool, though he must have wanted to at times.

She didn’t see much of him, which was both good and bad. She missed his company. Missed his drop-dead handsomeness, and the flutter he gave her whenever she glimpsed him. But she also couldn’t stop worrying about how her father threatened Joe’s dreams and how Joe would react if he ever found out her true identity.

In an effort to distract her thoughts from Joe, she threw herself into her duties. The rooms at the Comet were immaculate as she polished every surface in sight and swept up every fleck of dirt. In the kitchen she volunteered for anything that needed doing and didn’t mind Sarah’s regular outbursts. She also found time to help Mrs. Stewart organize her stock for the charity stall. Her days passed in a blur of activity, and at night she fell into bed, exhausted. She didn’t mind. She liked being part of the team, knowing she was making a contribution, however small, toward the success of the festival.

The festival began on Friday, and the crowds steadily built up over the weekend. Sarah’s special menu was a hit, and the bar and restaurant did a roaring trade.

Saturday midmorning, Nina had just finished her cleaning duties and was heading out of the inn when Joe stopped her.

“Where’re you hurrying off to?”

“It’s my first shift at the charity stall. I don’t want to be late.”

“But you haven’t had your break yet.”

His brows drew together as he studied her in a way that made her self-conscious. She knew she didn’t look her best. She hadn’t been eating or sleeping well as each day ticked over and her departure drew closer and closer. She had asked Joe not to tell anyone she was leaving until the Monday after the festival. In fact, she planned to catch the early morning bus on Monday and be gone before anyone realized it. She hated good-byes, and the thought of having to say good-bye to Joe especially made her sick to the stomach.

“Did you have breakfast this morning?” Joe asked, still frowning.

She shook her head.

“Wait here,” he said in a gentle yet commanding tone.

She waited, and a minute later he returned with something wrapped in a paper napkin.

“Here, eat this.”

The savory tart in the napkin warmed her hands, and she found she had to blink back sudden tears. Tears because Joe had given her a tart?

“Thank you,” she managed to say. This was the first exchange they’d had all week that wasn’t about work. She had tried to avoid being alone with Joe, and she suspected he had done the same.

He shifted on his feet, pushing hands into pockets. “You gotta take care of yourself.”

She battled the tears again. “You, too.”

He was silent, and then someone came out, and the moment was over. Nina hurried off, slowly nibbling at the savory tart.

The beachside park where the main festival was set up was already buzzing with activity. There were stalls selling wine, cheese, sausages, and lavender. A jazz band played. A pancake-eating competition was about to start.

Mrs. Stewart greeted her warmly when she arrived at the stall. “Oh, am I glad to see you, dear. I’ve been run off my feet.”

“Why don’t you take a seat?” Nina suggested.

“You were right about those French dresses,” Mrs. Stewart said with a smile as she sat down. “They’ve been flying off the racks.”

Nina was delighted. “Oh, I’m so glad.”

“We might have to go back to the store and pick up the rest.” She waved to the throngs of people strolling around the park. “Can’t disappoint our crowd.”

“I didn’t realize the festival would be so popular.”

“It’s all thanks to the organizing committee and especially Joe. Hartley is a really nice little town. Not too big, not too small.” Mrs. Stewart beamed with pride. “I’ve lived in plenty of other towns, but this is the only place where I’ve wanted to put down roots. What about you? You seem very settled here.”

“Well, I don’t know,” Nina said, caught unawares by Mrs. Stewart’s question.

A few weeks ago she would have definitely thought she wasn’t cut out for small-town living, but now she wasn’t so sure. She liked the people here, and people seemed to like her. The regulars at the Comet Inn, Mrs. Stewart and her charity workers, Vince, Joe’s friends. They had all welcomed her. And none of them knew who she really was, so their friendliness had to be genuine. It would be nice to live here, to become a part of this community.

But that was never going to happen. Come Monday morning, she was leaving as suddenly as she’d arrived, and a month from now Hartley and all its residents, including Joe, would seem like a mirage to her.

And what would she be doing instead? She didn’t know, but she did know that she wouldn’t be working for her dad. How could she, knowing that he used attack dogs like Perry Stevens to bully people into submission? She didn’t have much influence over her dad, but she’d use every ounce of it to make sure he backed off from Joe.

Sunday morning she dragged herself out of bed, her calf muscles already aching, and shuffled into the kitchen. She found Sarah preparing what seemed to be a mountain of spatchcocks.

“Hey,” Sarah greeted Nina wearily. Her usually upright figure drooped, and there were deep shadows beneath her red-rimmed eyes.

Nina gaped at her. “Have you been here all night?”

The head chef shrugged. “I had a few hours’ rest in my car.”

“But that’s insane. Does Joe know about this?”

Sarah instantly jerked her head up. “No, and don’t you dare tell him.” She glared at Nina with her usual pepper. “The kitchen is my domain, no one else’s.”

“Still, you could have asked for help.” Nina filled a kettle and switched it on before hauling out a coffee press. “You want some coffee?”

“That’d be great.” A trace of appreciation flickered across Sarah’s face.

Nina made the coffee, filled two mugs, and passed one to Sarah. After a few reviving gulps, Nina set down the mug and dusted her hands. “Tell me what I can do to help.”

“Well, you could chop up walnuts and parsley. That way Chris can help me with the spatchcock when he comes in. But you need to pay attention to your work. The walnuts and parsley have to be evenly cut. No lumpy bits.”

Nina spent several hours helping Sarah prep. She went upstairs to clean the rooms, then did another shift at the charity stall before returning to the inn. By then the lunch crowds were beginning to thicken, and the next couple of hours passed in hectic activity. The pace had slowed to a trickle when Sarah grabbed Nina by the elbow and almost frog-marched her out the back.

“I just wanted to say thanks for all your help this weekend.” Sarah crossed her arms, frowning and looking uncomfortable. “I appreciate your help.”

Nina waved her hand. “It was nothing.”

“No, it wasn’t nothing.” The furrows on Sarah’s brow deepened, and she pulled at her lower lip. “We, uh, we got off on the wrong foot initially. I was convinced you wouldn’t last. Also, to be honest, I thought you were bad news for Joe.”

“I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Joe.” Nina’s throat tightened, and she couldn’t help adding, “Joe’s a great guy.”

The other woman looked away as she shuffled her Doc Martens in the loose gravel. “Yeah, he is.” There was a long pause before she sighed. “I guess I’m defensive about Joe because I used to have a thing for him.”

Dumbfounded, Nina turned her gasp into a cough. “Oh, really?” she spluttered.

Sarah’s face had turned a deep red. “I’m over it now, but it took me a while.” She shook her head. “For years I held a candle for the guy and did nothing about it.
You
wouldn’t be so useless.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. You’re the type who wouldn’t hold back. You’d tell Joe exactly how you feel, then you’d probably drag him into bed, too.”

A hot tide engulfed Nina’s face. God, if Sarah knew what she and Joe had been up to… But it was over now, she was leaving tomorrow, and she’d hate to damage Joe’s relationship with Sarah.

Wiping her hands on her apron, she backed away a few steps. “You’ve got the wrong idea about me, Sarah. When it comes to men, I’m as clueless as the next girl. And I’m glad you’re over Joe.”

“Like I said, it took a while.” Sarah’s lips pulled down. “But I’m fine now. Joe’s a great boss, and I love cooking here. I’m glad I didn’t screw that up or I’d be left with nothing.”

Nina’s stomach contracted.
She
had screwed up royally, and now
she
was left with nothing. Suddenly she couldn’t bear any further confessions from Sarah.

Nina slipped back into the inn and hurried to the bathroom near her room, where she splashed cold water over her face. After a few deep breaths to calm herself, she left. She was walking past Joe’s office when he called out to her, and every nerve ending in her body jumped in response.

He rose from his desk as she entered. “I wanted to say thanks for all your hard work this weekend, especially in the kitchen.” He rounded his desk to stand in front of her. “I know Sarah can be a hard-ass, so I’m glad you don’t hold it against her.”

“Uh, thanks.”

“I mean it, Nina. And it’s not just me. Everyone here appreciates the effort you put into it.”

She couldn’t help flushing at his praise. “Yeah, well, guess I don’t break as many plates now.”

“This is a tough mob to impress. I’m tough to impress. You’ve earned our respect.”

She could tell he meant every word. She
had
earned their respect, and she’d done it without her name or wealth to confuse the situation. This respect was all hers. She’d achieved the goal she’d set for herself when she’d first wandered into Hartley, and nothing could take that away from her.

“Thanks.” It was something to remember when she was far away from Joe.

He rubbed his hands against his jeans. “I’ll miss you when you’re gone.”

She gaped at him. Her eyelids began to twitch, and she couldn’t help sniffing.

“Nina? Are you okay?”

No
, she wanted to shout.
I am not okay!
This time tomorrow she would be miles away from him, and she’d never see him again. In what universe could that be okay? Her chest heaved, and to her horror her lower lip started to tremble.

“Nina…” He touched her shoulder, and even through her turmoil she registered that his hand shook. “Maybe…you don’t want to go?”

But she had to. She
had
to. Her heart twisted and turned like a captive bird desperate to find an escape.

She could only stay if she told Joe the truth. But if she did that, he wouldn’t want her to stay… Or would he? It was a high-risk gamble with awful odds. Even if she told Joe who she was and, by some miracle, he forgave her the deception, he wasn’t offering her a relationship. He’d never wanted a relationship.

Joe’s fingers tightened on her shoulder, and she saw the strain in his eyes. Maybe Joe was slowly realizing that he didn’t want to be a bachelor all his life. Maybe he could envision some sort of future…with her?

She licked her lips, dizzy with fear and hope and tiredness. The choices before her were so scary she could hardly think straight.

“Nina?” A male voice spoke from the door behind her. “Is that you?”

The confusion in her head shattered and reformed into black dread.

No, it can’t be…
She spun round to find her worst fears confirmed—her father stood in the open doorway.

Whether she wanted him to or not, Joe was about to find out who she really was.

Chapter Thirteen

“Dad!” Her voice was a high-pitched squeak. “What on earth are you doing here? How—how did you find me?”

Carson Beaumont stepped into the room, his face craggy with disapproval. “I got it out of Lindsey.”

Lindsey!
How could her best friend have given her up? But Nina knew what a bulldozer her father could be when he wanted something. Lindsey had probably tried calling to warn her, but Nina’s cell phone lay forgotten in her room.

“Dad, I don’t—”

“Are you the owner of this place?” Her father’s suspicious gaze had moved past her and fixed on Joe.

“That’s right,” Joe said stiffly, holding out his hand. “Joe Farina.”

Her father ignored Joe’s outstretched hand and turned back to Nina. “What the hell are you doing in a place like this? I thought you were taking a vacation, but—” He pulled a face as he waved at her grubby jeans and work-soiled T-shirt. “It sure doesn’t look like it, from the way you’re dressed.”

She flushed with anger at his rudeness toward Joe, toward herself. But before she could speak, Joe interrupted.

“Nina’s not a guest here,” Joe snapped, his face tight with anger. “She’s my maid and busgirl.”

Carson’s jaw sagged open. “You mean to say she’s…”

“Yup. Your daughter is scrubbing toilets, clearing tables, washing dishes. She even peels vegetables on occasion.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Her father gaped at Nina, completely bewildered. “
Why?
”

A hot lump in her throat prevented her from breathing. The sound of impending doom crashed in her brain.

“Dad, we need to talk.”

“Damn straight we do. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, young lady.”

Finally anger spurted out, a welcome relief. “Don’t treat me like a child. We’re going to talk as adults and equals, or not at all.”

Her father blinked at her in surprise. “Fine. But you’re going to tell me everything.”

Joe moved between them, his eyes flinty. “Maybe you’d like to talk here in my study, Mr. Summers,” Joe said, his voice like steel.

“Summers? My name’s not Summers.” He appeared offended that he wasn’t instantly recognizable. “I’m Carson Beaumont,” he announced in that booming, self-important tone of his that made Nina wince.

She couldn’t breathe again. She could only watch as sheer disbelief blanked out Joe’s expression.

“Carson Beaumont?” he echoed, incredulous. “The guy who’s been trying to get his grubby hands on my property so he can bulldoze it and dump a fucking megaresort here? The guy who sends his numbskull goons to do his dirty work for him?
That
Carson Beaumont?” His face puckered with disgust.

Nina’s father puffed up with rage. “Who the hell are— Wait a minute! I thought this town rang a bell, and now I remember who you are—”

“That’s right, I’m the owner of that property you’re so desperate to buy,” Joe snarled. “And I’m
never
going to sell to you.”

“Now don’t be so hasty.” Carson adjusted the collar of his jacket, looking highly annoyed. “Damn that Perry. Can’t rely on him to do a simple job.”

Joe turned on Nina, his eyes blazing with fury. “You’re Carson Beaumont’s daughter? I can’t believe it.” His contempt made her skin peel.

“Please, I can explain.” She reached for him, but he jerked away like she was contaminated.

“I don’t want to hear it.”

Without another word, he exited the room, leaving behind an emotional vacuum that threatened to burst Nina’s chest.

“That fella needs a lesson in manners,” her father grouched.

Helpless fury filled her. “Look who’s talking! You refused to shake hands with him!” Her entire body was shaking with shock.

Carson screwed up his forehead. “What’s got into you?”

She couldn’t do this in Joe’s office. “Let’s go somewhere else,” she said and led the way next door to her room.

“What’s this?” Her father looked about the bare room, his nose wrinkling. “Don’t tell me this is where you’ve been sleeping?”

She huffed impatiently. “It’s fine, Dad.”

He clasped her arm. “Tell me the truth. Are you okay? Did Farina do anything to you, because if he’s hurt you, I swear I’ll make him pay.”

“Never mind that,” she snapped. “Why the hell are you trying to squeeze Joe into selling his property to you? Why can’t you leave him alone?” Her cheeks were hot with anger, and she was having trouble controlling her temper.

He waved a hand dismissively. “It’s just business—”

“Business? I knew you were a hard-ass, but I never thought you could be so ruthless. I’m ashamed of you.”

His eyes hardened. “Where do you think the money comes from to buy you BMWs?”

“Oh, no. Don’t try to put the blame on me. You do this all for yourself. You enjoy stomping over other people. Well, not this time. You’re not going to stomp over Joe and this town.”

Her father blinked and stared at her as if seeing her for the first time.

“Does this Farina guy have something over you? Is he forcing you to work here without telling anyone?”

She sighed in exasperation. Her father wasn’t going to give ground on his business dealings with Joe, and neither was she, but that battle would have to wait until later.

“He didn’t force me to do anything. This job was all my idea.”

“But why? I don’t understand? You
want
a crap job in the boondocks?” Her father looked almost comical in his amazement. “And why did you give him a false name?”

“I didn’t want anyone here to know who I was. I wanted to forget I was a Beaumont, at least for a while.”

“By cleaning toilets and busing tables? People like us don’t do that.”

“Don’t be such a snob. Someone has to do those jobs, so why not me?”

“Because you have several million reasons not to.”

“Oh, why don’t you see?” She whirled on him. “I’m sick of being a Beaumont. That name and that money ruin everything!”

Carson looked taken aback. “You’re still hurting over Oliver. I can understand that. I never took him for a fortune hunter either.”

Nina shook her head. “It’s more than Oliver; it’s my job, too. My manager gave me a promotion, but everyone I work with thinks I only got it because I’m a Beaumont, and when I talked to Harry about it, he sounded so weird I knew something was up. Did you order him to promote me?”

He lifted his hands. “Not ordered, encouraged. And I was only trying to help you.”

“Then why don’t you let me win or lose on my own merits?” She fumed at him, incredulous that her father could be so dense at times. “What on earth possessed you to do that?”

“Because I want you to stay at the company,” he blustered, looking irritated. “You pulled some crazy stunts when you were younger, and look! You’re still pulling crazy stunts. Who in their right mind runs away to be a maid? And without even telling anyone?” He thrust his hands upward. “No one but you, Nina. I was right to chase you down. I mean, how long were you planning on hanging around here anyway?”

“I was going to come home tomorrow.” She huffed. “I wasn’t running away for good. I knew I had to get back to my job.” The job she didn’t want anymore. But that argument, too, could wait for another day.

Carson grunted. “If that’s the case, I’m getting you out of this place right now. The helicopter is waiting at the airfield. We can be gone as soon as you’ve packed your things.” He made a face at her working gear. “Although, if that’s what you’re wearing these days, you might as well leave everything behind. You can restock your wardrobe back in San Francisco.”

Alarm heaved in her stomach. She wasn’t ready for this. She’d been gearing up to slink out tomorrow morning, but she wasn’t prepared to leave right this second. “Um, you flew here in the helicopter?” she asked, stalling for time.

“Yes. I don’t have all day.”

Of course he didn’t, and with the helicopter emblazoned with his company name, everyone in town would know by now he’d arrived. Nina’s heart sank at the thought of the whole town figuring who she really was.

Her dad moved toward the door. “You drove here, didn’t you? I’ll get someone to drive your Beemer down to San Francisco.”

“Actually, I’m going to need someone with a crane or something. I had a little accident. The car sank into the water in a disused quarry.”

“What!”

“I’m really sorry.”

He grumped something that sounded like “more crazy stunts,” and this time she couldn’t blame him.

“I’ll take care of the car,” she said, and when he went to protest, she added, “No, really. It’s my car and my responsibility. I’ll handle it.”

“Fine.” He flicked at his jacket sleeve. “Can we go now?”

Her mouth dried. “I want to talk to Joe first. Alone. Can you wait out in the bar or something?”

He heaved a sigh of resignation. “I’ll wait in the hired car. It’s a black Merc outside. Don’t take too long. Ellen and I have a party to attend this evening.”

He stomped out of the room, leaving Nina shaken and tense. Not because of what had just happened, but because of what was yet to happen. Between her and Joe. She needed to see him one last time, even knowing that he despised her. Despite whatever fury he threw at her, she owed him an explanation.

…

Joe stood in the hallway outside Nina’s room, his body raging with a strange, desperate anger. As soon as he’d seen Carson Beaumont leave the inn, he’d strode back here to wait. To wait for Nina and the showdown they had to have.

The door opened, and Nina stopped dead as their gazes clashed. His stomach snarled. He motioned with his head for her to follow him. Mistrust and fury pounded against his skull as he marched into his office, waited for her to enter, and shut the door.

“Did your father put you up to this?” he barked out. His tension had reached the breaking point.

“What? No.” She shook her head in bewilderment.

“Don’t act dumb. You lied your way into a job here so you could spy on me and tell your father everything I was doing.”

Her jaw sagged. “That’s not true! My dad didn’t know I was here.”

He barely heard her as nasty suspicions poisoned his mind. “Did he really expect you to sleep with me? Or was that just a little extra fun for you?”

Her face paled. “If what you say is true, why would my dad drop in like he did and blow my cover, huh?”

Maybe that part at least was true. He blinked and looked at her with fresh, cynical eyes. “Jesus Christ. I still can’t believe you’re his daughter. Annette Martha Beaumont. Yeah, I looked you up on the internet while you were powwowing with your dad. Your sister is marrying a senator’s son. That’s the wedding you were talking about.” He shook his head in disbelief. “You’ve been lying to me since the day we met.”

“Joe, I’m so sorry for lying.” She lowered her head as if ashamed. “You don’t know how sorry.”

“I’ll bet.” He couldn’t stop staring at her. She was Carson Beaumont’s daughter, for Christ’s sakes. He’d given her orders, reprimanded her, worked with her, ate with her, slept with her. Goddammit.

“I am sorry, truly, but I had my reasons. I lied about my name and my background because I wanted to get away from them. I was tired of the way my name or my money always ruined my life.”

Joe snorted. “Yeah, it’s so hard when your daddy’s a billionaire. I suppose you’ve got a nice little trust fund of your own just in case.”

She bit her lip. “Yes, I have a trust fund from my mother’s will.”

“How much?” he couldn’t help asking.

“Fifteen million.”

Sweet Jesus. Fifteen million dollars, and he had bought her sneakers, for crying out loud! Had she secretly laughed at him? Had she enjoyed duping him and everyone else? Maybe she wasn’t sorry about the lies, only about being caught.

Her big blue eyes were fixed on him, filled with what seemed to be trepidation, and despite everything he wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her. Hell, what was wrong with him? Why couldn’t he despise her the way he should?

“Oh, aren’t you the poor little rich girl,” he burst out, tormented by his angry confusion. “Can’t think what to do with your fifteen million? Or maybe you were worried I’d touch you for a loan? Is that why you didn’t tell me?”

Her cheeks flushed with indignation. “I didn’t tell you because I knew it would affect the way you treat me.”

“Damn right it does.”

“And that just proves my point. You’re no better than—than my ex-boyfriend! He was only with me because I’m rich, and now you’re letting my money affect the way you think of me.”

“You’re wrong. It’s not your money or your name I object to, but your lies.” He jabbed a finger at her. “You knew your father was trying to strong-arm me into selling my B&B, and yet you didn’t say a thing.”

She jabbed a finger back at him. “Oh, yes, I’m sure you’d have been so understanding if I’d said, ‘Oh, by the way, that billionaire you’re having trouble with? He’s my dad.’ Yeah, right.”

Resentment flared as he recalled how Nina’s father had harassed and tormented him all these months. “Well, you can tell your billionaire daddy that I would rather be eaten alive by ants than sell to him. He is never getting his hands on my property.”

She sucked in a breath as if he’d hit her, and for a moment he regretted his harsh words, but she quickly recovered and aimed a chilly glare at him. “I thought you were different, Joe, but you’re just like all the other phonies I’ve had to deal with in my life. I’ll give your message to my father. He’s waiting for me outside.”

Her dignity pierced him, but his anger was black and choking. Nina had deceived him and continued the deception after they became lovers and after she knew what her father was doing to him. How could he forgive her for that? And how could he forgive himself for still wanting her? That was the worst part, this humiliating hold she had over him, this desire to embrace her and kiss her until the outside world went away. It was infuriating, degrading, unbearable.

“I thought you were different, too.” The words ground out of his clamped lips. He stared at her a moment longer. Then he turned abruptly and left.

…

Nina waited a few seconds before her shoulders slumped and she had to clutch at the desk to stop herself from collapsing. Now she knew the truth. Joe cared more for his property than he did for her. Everything else was forgotten, not just the amazing sex, but the tender friendship that had sprung up between them. Her help at his B&B, her visiting his nonna with him, the conversations they’d had. None of that was worth remembering.