The Billionaire's Secret Boxed Set (6 page)

Rebecca must have dozed off for a few minutes, because when she opened her eyes, Nathan was pulling up a chaise beside her, his own cup of coffee in his hand.  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” he said, nodding toward the lake.

“
Mmmm… yes.  This is heaven.  You’re so lucky to have this place, Nathan. I understand now why it must be such a refuge for you.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” he said, smiling at her.  “Anyway, I thought perhaps we could take the boat out on the lake in a little while. 
Perhaps a little swimming?  The water is wonderful this time of year.”

“Sounds fantastic – except I don’t have a swimsuit,” she reminded him.

“That’s not a problem – the wildlife won’t mind, and neither will I!” he replied, a twinkle in his eye.  When she opened her mouth to protest, he laughed: “Okay, okay, but you know, there’s nothing that says you can’t just swim in a bra and panties.  It’s basically the same thing, right?”

She wanted to argue, but had to admit, he had a point. “I’ll think about it,” she allowed.

They sat with their cups, enjoying the lake and chatting.  Eventually, Nathan finished his coffee and moved to get up.  “I’m going to go spend a little time chopping and stacking firewood.  When I get back, how about that boat ride and swim?”

“That sounds good.  I could use some time to check emails and make sure no one thinks I’ve disappeared into thin air.”  Rebecca yawned and stretched in her chaise.  “
Oooohhhh, it’s tough to get up – I’m so comfortable here!”

“Yes, this place will do that to you,” he grinned.  “Okay, I’ll see you in a little while.”  He bent toward her and kissed her gently, deeply.  When he raised his head, she was blushing furiously.  “See you soon,” she whispered breathlessly, smiling shyly.

Nathan disappeared into the house, and she heard the front door close behind him.  She got up and went inside, rinsed her coffee cup, and then mounted the stairs to her room.  Relaxing into the overstuffed couch in her sitting area, she scrolled through her emails, thankful that there was internet service in such a remote area.  There were a few emails, mostly junk, but one or two that needed answering, which she did. That taken care of, she sat back and stared out at the lake, contemplating the events of the past day.  Looking around her, she marveled again that a carpenter could afford such a beautiful second home in such an amazing location.  On an impulse, she called up Google and typed in “Nathan Steele”.  Instantly, she saw his likeness on the screen: Nathan in a board room; Nathan behind a podium in an expensive-looking suit; Nathan on the cover of
Business Insider
magazine; Nathan at a social function, with another man in an expensively tailored suit and two women who looked like fashion models.  How could this be the same man who told her he was a carpenter?  She scrolled down, clicked on a link that led to a profile article about him. In an instant, the article told her more than she wanted to know: Founder and CEO of Steele Enterprises?  Net worth… 
What in the hell?!

In shock, Rebecca put down the phone and looked out the window, noticing for the first time a large, expensive-looking catamaran that had to be over thirty feet long, sitting moored at a dock a few hundred feet away from the house.  So, Nathan was not a carpenter.  Not even close.  How could he have lied to her?  What possible reason would he have had?  She had trusted him, despite her better judgment, and now she realized that everything he had told her was a lie – everything except his name. 
He should have lied to me about that, too
, she thought with derision. 
Then I wouldn’t have known what a liar he was until we got back to the city.  So, I guess I was just going to be a distraction, a plaything for while he was out here, until we got back to the city and he could get back to his real life and the rich socialites he was no doubt used to dating.  Oh, my God: maybe he’s married!!
  Shocked at the thought, she quickly grabbed her phone, but at that moment heard the front door open and Nathan’s voice.  “Rebecca!  I’m back!”

A few seconds later, a sweaty and tousled Nathan stepped into her room.  “Hey, gorgeous, I just need to… What’s wrong?” Rebecca stared at him in stony silence.  Without saying a word, she handed him the phone.  Looking down, he saw himself on the cover of
Business Insider
.  “Oh,” he said, “I see.  Rebecca…”

“Don’t you dare!” she seethed.  “Why the hell would you lie to me about this? I trusted you as a total stranger to get in your car and take me to a place I had never been before, and now I find out that the very first thing you told me about yourself was a lie! How can I possibly feel safe around you now? How am I supposed to not wonder what else you’ve lied to me about?”

“Rebecca, I’m so sorry.  Please understand…”  Nathan began.  He came toward her, his hands raised in a plaintive gesture. 

“Stop!” she cried, tears filling her eyes.  “Stop right there! Don’t come any closer to me! Why is it that every single man I meet is some sort of lying fake?! Wasn’t I good enough for you to tell the truth to?  Why? Is it because I’m not pretty enough?  I’m not good enough for you to introduce to your rich friends – not thin enough to be your girlfriend at all your rich parties, am I?  Did you really just stop so that you could lure me here and get a piece of chubby girl tail before you went back to  your real life?!”  Standing quickly, she ran past him,
then bolted for the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind her.

Stricken, Nathan went to the door and listened. On the other side, he could hear her sobbing.  “Rebecca, oh, Rebecca… God, no, that’s not why I… Rebecca, please.  I’m so sorry.  I never meant to hurt you.  Please, darling, come out and let me explain…”

“GO AWAY!” she cried from the other side of the door.  “Please!”  She continued to sob. 

“Oh, Rebecca.
  Darling, I will leave you alone for now.  I’m going to leave for a little bit, so you can come out of there and not worry about seeing me. But I’ll be back soon, and please, let me explain to you when we’re both a little calmer.  Okay?”  He listened, but she didn’t respond.  “Okay, sweetheart, I’m going to leave now.  I’ll be back soon.  Please be here when I get back.” 

Shaken, he left the room. He ran his hands through his hair distractedly; my God, he was a mess.  He needed to run:
now
.  Bolting down the stairs, he ran out the door to the edge of the forest.  Stripping off his clothes, he sprang forward into the trees.  In mid-air, his body transformed: teeth elongated, muscles stretched and expanded, center of gravity shifted.   He came down on all four paws  -- an immense grey wolf with ice-blue eyes -- and immediately took off into the forest, a streak of muscle and fur. 

The wolf ran and ran, as though trying to escape himself.  He was one with the forest, picking up each scent, aware of each being.  He smelled prey all around, would normally have taken the first deer that he came across, but today his need was different: to forget, if only for a moment, that he might have already lost what until a day ago he thought he would never find.

*   *   *

Matt watched the man run from the house into the forest from his hiding place with a view of both the front and back doors. 
What the hell is that guy doing?
he wondered.  He didn’t stop long to contemplate where the man could have gone or how long her would be away from the house.  All he knew is that Rebecca was in there – she had to be.  Looking around quickly, he ran silently toward the front door and, finding it unlocked, slipped inside.

*   *   *

Rebecca, exhausted from crying, came out of the bathroom.  She felt drained, void of all emotion.  Numbly, she realized she couldn’t stand to stay here any longer.  She went to her open bag, sighing deeply, and began to throw her things into it indiscriminately.  She would walk toward the town Nathan – just thinking his name was like a knife in her heart – had mentioned, with the stores: Albertville?

Her mind distracted, she didn’t notice the figure in the doorway until she turned to get her toiletries from the bathroom.  “How’s your little vacation with the rich asshole going?” Matt said, and Rebecca started and stifled a scream. 

“What are you doing here?” she cried at him, hoping her voice would not betray fear.

“I came back to get you yesterday and you were gone,” Matt said in a tone that sounded almost hurt.  “Come to find out, this is the thanks I get for being worried about you.  You sure didn’t waste any time finding another sucker to play, did you?”

Rebecca ignored the attempt to get a reaction from her.  “You’re trespassing on private property.  He’ll have you arrested,” she warned.

“He
ain’t here, is he? I saw him run off into the trees a few minutes ago like some goddamned monkey.  I see you’re already packing up to come with me,” he sneered.  “Get your shit and let’s go.”

“I’m not leaving here,” she retorted.  “Now, get out!”

He laughed.  “Not a fuckin’ chance.  Fine, you won’t come without a fight, I can do that.” He was next to her in an instant, his hands around one of her wrists, the other in a menacing fist hovering over her face.  “How ugly does this have to get?” She flinched; he would do it, she knew: he would hit her.  He would even like it, and might not stop right away.

Wildly, Rebecca tried to think of a way to stall for time.  “Okay, fine,” she said, pulling her arm away from him.  She walked to her bathroom and gathered her toiletries in her arms.  Walking back to her bag, she dumped them in and zipped it up.  Slinging the strap over her shoulder, she walked past him and down the spiral staircase.

Matt followed her down to the first floor, pushing her toward the front door, but Rebecca stopped abruptly. “Wait! I forgot something in the living room!”

“Oh yeah?” he asked, instantly suspicious.  “What did you ‘forget’?”

“THIS!” She cried, heaving the bag toward his face.  The force of it knocked him down, but only momentarily.  She ran toward the open sliding glass door, planning to leap over the deck and into the forest, but he caught her in the living room, flinging her down on the rug.  He knelt on top of her, knees on either side of her waist, and slapped her once, hard across the face.  He grabbed her wrists and slammed them to the floor, pinning her.  “Fucking bitch!” he yelled. “You just don’t know what’s good for you, do you?”  Releasing one of her wrists, he raised his hand to strike her again, but suddenly he was off of her, a blur of fur and teeth knocking him to one side.

Rebecca scrambled up and watched in horror as a huge grey wolf tackled Matt, driving him into a corner of the cabin.  Everything was snarls and screams as Matt tried unsuccessfully to fight off the beast.  In a few short seconds, the wolf had him pinned against the wall.  Matt had stopped screaming now and could only look at the beast in sheer terror, his breath coming fast and shallow.  She saw blood on his neck where the wolf had scratched him, and his shirt was torn.  A dark spot had formed on the crotch of his jeans where he had wet himself in his fear.

The wolf took a final swipe with his claw, ripping the front of Matt’s shirt wide open.  Beads of blood formed instantly where the claw tracks were.  Then strangely, the wolf took two steps back, coming to a standstill halfway between Matt and Rebecca.  He snarled at Matt, and then continued emitting a low, menacing growl.  Matt scrambled to his feet and flew out the sliding glass door, vaulting over the railing of the deck onto the ground below.  Rebecca heard the rapid retreat of his footsteps as he ran for the woods.

Then, something happened that left Rebecca utterly speechless: the wolf, turning around to look at her, morphed before her eyes.  Suddenly, it was no longer the huge grey beast, but a very naked Nathan, standing before her.  Her eyes widened in shock, her mouth opening to scream, but no sound came out.  Nathan looked at her, an unreadable expression on his face.  “I thought I smelled something rotten in here,” he said with a tight smile. “Turns out I was right.”

*   *   *

Hours later, Rebecca sat across from Nathan on the boat, anchored out in the middle of the lake.  What Rebecca had seen in the cabin had so stunned her that, despite her profound gratitude toward Nathan for rescuing her from Matt, she was at a loss as to how to make sense of all that had happened.  Nathan had begged her to stay, and they had agreed that he would answer any questions Rebecca had, fully and honestly.  After he had answered all of her questions, if she wanted to leave, he would take her to someplace where she could rent a car to drive back to the city. 

“But how can it be possible for you to be… a wolf?!” she asked in amazement.  “I thought that was something that only happened in movies!”

“The human imagination is an amazing thing, but most of the things that humans imagine have at least some basis in reality,” he explained quietly.  “Werewolves and other shifters have
been around in scary stories and literature for a long time, but they started as ancient legends, sightings of the two-natured by people who had no other explanation than what they saw.  As science took hold in the Western world, educated people started to interpret these stories only as fairy tales.  This was very convenient for my kind, as you can imagine.  For some of us, it was easier to hide in plain sight, among the educated populace of the cities, who didn’t believe such things existed anyway.  Others stayed out in the rural areas, where people knew the truth about us but were thought of as crazy when they tried to tell their stories.”