The Billionaire of Dragon Hill by Justine Davis

Author:Justine Davis [Davis, Justine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: SxNW Publishing

Chapter Seventeen

"He's not going to make it, is he?"

Shan's words as he handed back the signed forms authorizing the use of his small jet to get seven-year-old Jay Gilliam and his family to the one place he'd always wanted to see, Yellowstone National Park, weren't really a question. Rachel Stone looked back at him with the answer in her sad blue eyes.

"We keep hoping for another Jimmy McLane miracle, but they're rare."

Shan stared at her for a moment. "I don't know how you do this. Not after losing Stacy."

"It will never be easy, but it has gotten easier, recently." She smiled.

"Cammie."

Rachel nodded. Her precious baby girl was the light of her life, and her husband was absolutely besotted with his daughter.

Suddenly the loudest voice he could manage was a whisper. "I don't know how you did that, either."

"I met Jake," she said simply.

He cleared his throat. Changed the subject because he had to. "Speaking of Jake, he has a new fan."

"Oh?"

"Started with the horses, then she saw the pieces in the art gallery."

Rachel gave him a rather intent look. "Would that she be the lady from the coffee shop?"

He blinked. Grimaced. "Geeze, you guys are faster than Twitter. Let me guess, John to Jen to Jake to you?"

"Actually the last two were simultaneous. They came by to see Cammie and we…chatted."

"Oh."

"You'd better show up at the barbeque this weekend or we'll talk about you again."

"Thanks," he muttered, but it was hard to take offense when she was grinning at him. And he hadn't missed one of the weekend barbeques out at Jake and Rachel's since the first time John had talked him into going. "I'll be there."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Bring her along."

He froze. "What?"

"Did I stutter?" For a sweet-natured, incredibly generous soul, Rachel could be as tough as she had to be.

"Look, it's not like that. She's just a visitor I was showing around."

"So you don't like her?"

"I didn't say that," he protested. And it would have been a lie if he had. He did like Juliette Rand. A lot. And that in itself was a little nerve-wracking; it had been so long since he felt anything of the sort.

"So you do like her."

"I just met her two days ago."

"And you've already taken her to the coffee shop in your building, dinner at the Oak Tree, and now to the art gallery? Sounds like you more than like her." He didn't realize he'd backed up until Rachel hastened over and grabbed his hand. "I'm sorry, Shan. I shouldn't tease you. It's just…we'd all give anything to see you happy."

"As happy as you all are, you mean? I can pretty much guarantee that's not going to happen." The capacity for that kind of happy had been burned out of him seven years ago.

"I won't argue, because I know exactly how you feel. Which," she added with a knowing look, "I suspect is the only reason you listen to me at all. But give it a chance, Shan. Maybe it won't be the one in a million shot, but if it gives you even a little happiness, you'll be in a better place.

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