The Billionaire’s Christmas Contract by Laura Haley-McNeil

Chapter 11

Leah stared into Bryg’s brilliant blue eyes that never wavered from hers. She heard her mother gasp and felt her father stiffen, but didn’t look at them. Bryg’s question left no room for her to dance around the truth.

“Yes,” she said finally, “I’ve scheduled an appointment to talk to the local banker about qualifying for a mortgage for my parents’ ranch and the Johnson ranch.”

She should’ve expected Bryg’s calm demeanor at her admission. He was far too composed and experienced to show his emotions. In his dealings, he would’ve conducted business with all kinds of negotiators. Leah’s business acumen wouldn’t come close to his.

He remained quiet. Leah knew it was because she would feel obligated to fill the stillness with an explanation. If she were to have any inner peace, she’d have to tell him and her parents everything.

“Leah, why?” Her mother broke through the silence.

“I’m not ready for this valley to change.” She never stopped looking at Bryg.

He didn’t move. He just looked at her and waited.

“You’ve done so much good with the boys who come here every year.” Tension coiled in her stomach. She broke her gaze from Bryg and looked at her parents. “I realize that you’ve decided it’s time you step back. This is a job for a young person. I’ve always been proud of what you’ve done with these boys. I always appreciated what you did for David and me. There are other boys that will need the same guidance, and I’d like to provide that to them.”

“How? You have your teaching position back east.” Her mother’s face knitted with mounting confusion.

“I haven’t worked out all the details.” She wouldn’t share that the dean of the English department hadn’t agreed to her proposal that she teach online classes until the fall―if then. “But I’m hoping that by the time you’re ready to leave, I’ll have everything in place.”

“You’ll need a partner,” Bryg said. “A father figure is important for boys, especially boys who need precise guidance.”

“I’ve thought of that,” Leah said and tried to keep her voice steady.

Bryg had been one of those boys. He knew what they needed. Bryg had received the guidance he needed. That combined with his intelligence and drive helped create the empire he now ran.

Would Charlie have compassion for boys like Zeke and Frankie and Bryg? She wouldn’t change her mind about breaking her engagement to Charlie. She hadn’t returned his messages, though she knew she should. What he had done still made her heart ache, but she could forgive him. Forgiveness gave her freedom, and made her grateful, because she realized before they married, he wasn’t the man for her.

Charlie loved his reputation as topnotch lawyer at a prestigious law firm. He’d never sacrifice that to raise boys in need. During their engagement, he’d never discussed starting a family. She had, and he simply nodded and smiled as if he found her endearing and amusing.

“You have someone to partner with to help raise boys in need of a home?” Bryg’s business persona seemed to slip, as if he realized there was someone in her life that could step into that position.

“Not exactly,” she said slowly. “I’m working on some ideas. Can you give me a few days to see if I can make this work?” She looked at her parents.

“Honey, you can have as long as you want.” Her mother took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“We’re not going anywhere,” her father said. “We made a commitment to these boys, and we’re here as long as they’re here.” Her father gave a rough exhale. Whatever he thought of her buying their ranch and Holly’s ranch, he’d keep to himself.

Leah knew what settled deep in her father’s heart. When these boys left, her parents would no longer have boys to lead and guide.

“I’ve called the foster parent agency. They have a list of couples who would like to foster boys. They understand you’ll raise the boys here now, but when you leave, they’ll place a couple to take over the care of the next group of boys until I can take …” When would she take over? The agency worked with couples. She had no prospects of being a couple with anyone. “The couple would have experience working a ranch and would parent the boys until they graduated high school.”

“You’ve been busy,” Bryg said.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice thin. When she looked at him, the guilt rising in her throat made her choke.

Bryg had worked hard to make the development appealing to the community. Because her father was the town mayor, Bryg had made certain her father approved everything. Once plans were finalized, Bryg would present his proposal to the community at a town hall.

She looked at her parents. “And I owe you apologies, too. Everyone’s worked so hard to make the development work.” She swallowed. “If it weren’t for me, it would have.”

“Honey.” Her mother patted her hand. “We don’t blame you for anything.”

“This is a business deal,” Bryg said, his tone sincere. “I can’t deny I like a challenge. If there weren’t a chance the townsfolk wouldn’t agree to my ideas, I probably wouldn’t work as hard as I do.”

Leah felt hot with embarrassment. “So you’re not walking away from this development?” She looked at him wide-eyed, panic setting in.

“This time, I will walk away.” Amazing how calm he sounded. Leah had a feeling he’d never walked away before. “I see how much this means to you. You’ve seen the good your parents have accomplished with this home, and you want it to continue.” He waited a moment. “And I think it should.” He powered down his laptop.

“You’re leaving?” Leah’s pulse skyrocketed. She knew how much he wanted to develop Mardale. He reworked the plan three times. No one would do that if he didn’t want the place.

“I hope to be back, but maybe under different circumstances.” His eyes were so clear, she couldn’t misunderstand what he meant. He’d come back for her? Why? She was interfering with his plans.

And he didn’t seem to care that her parents were sitting right here. They said nothing and didn’t act as if what Bryg said was unusual.

Leah swallowed hard. Different circumstances meant something between him and Leah. Her heart felt as if it would crack. She was attracted to Bryg. Who wouldn’t be? This strongly built man had a compassion she’d never felt in another man, but it would be a long time, if ever, that she could trust her heart to someone else. Sorrow rose up from deep inside her. The scar of a broken engagement ran deep.

Bryg slipped his laptop into its sleeve and rose.

Talk to him. Her voice shouted inside her head. She was so dizzy she wanted to fall back into her chair. Instead, she grabbed the corner of the table.

What should she say? Stay for dinner? That would be awkward, especially after she’d destroyed the plan he’d worked so hard to design.

“I don’t suppose you want to stay for dinner.” Leah couldn’t believe she had the nerve to ask him. Her voice was so soft, she wasn’t sure he heard her.

He looked at her. His slight smile didn’t match the intensity in his eyes. “I would, except I have to meet one of my teams in Boise. If I fly there tonight, it will give us a chance to work through some things before our meeting with the city council tomorrow.”

“The boys …” She closed her eyes and shook her head. Her heart sank into the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t bring the boys into this. Yes, they’d miss Bryg, but they weren’t his responsibility.

“I’ll say goodbye to them,” he said, as if that had been his plan.

Doors opening and closing sounded from upstairs. Had the boys finished their schoolwork? Footsteps moved down the stairs.

“Christmas …” Leah said hoarsely. Why was she speaking monosyllabically? She was a professor! Speech was her life. She waved her hand, dismissing what she’d said. He had said he’d like to spend Christmas here, but now? Probably not so much.

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” Zeke stood on the bottom step, his wide-eyed stare at Bryg making Leah’s throat squeeze tight.

Frankie and the other boys stood behind him, their mouths slack.

“Unfortunately, but I’ll be back,” Bryg said. He stepped to the stairs and gripped each boy’s hand.

It looked like goodbye. From the look on the boys’ faces, they knew. How many people had walked out of their lives? Too many, but the number didn’t matter because they’d never get used to it.

Bryg was leaving, and it was Leah’s fault.

“When?” Zeke asked, challenge in his eyes.

“As soon as I can,” Bryg said. His mouth firmed as if he regretted being vague, but he didn’t say if he’d be back for Christmas.

That was Leah’s fault, too.

“Promise me, you’ll keep up with your schoolwork.” Bryg arched a brow at Zeke, then looked at the other boys.

“I will.” Frankie wiggled his shoulders. “I’m the smartest one here.”

“You are not.” Carl’s voice rose.

Harry said something Leah didn’t understand, which may have been a good thing.

Zeke remained silent and stared at Bryg, defiance on his face.

“You’re all smart, and I’ll check in with Mavis and Vern to see how smart you are,” Bryg said and tipped his head toward the door. “Walk me out to the car?”

Frankie and the other boys pushed past Zeke, almost knocking him over, and plastered themselves to Bryg while he shook hands with Leah’s father and hugged Mavis. Leah envied the boys their release of emotions but didn’t miss that Zeke remained on the stairs.

Bryg’s gaze settled on Leah in that warm and comforting way he had that made everyone he met feel like the most important person in the world. Except Leah didn’t feel important. She looked into Bryg’s brilliant blue eyes but knew the boys watched her. She felt awkward beneath their intense stares.

She remained still. She wanted to rush into Bryg’s arms and hold him close. The boys watched as if they expected her to do just that.

Bryg stepped to Zeke and held out his hand. Zeke stared at it, then flung his arms round Bryg’s neck. The emotion rising in the boy’s throat caught on Leah’s heart like a ragged corner. She was prying Bryg out of these boys’ lives. As quickly as Zeke hugged Bryg, he released him. He wiped at his eyes with the back of his roughened hand.

‘Bye,” Zeke said, his tone husky.

“It isn’t goodbye.” Bryg’s voice was soft and firm. “I’ll be back, and that’s a promise.”

As if afraid to speak, Zeke could only nod.

Everyone walked out with Bryg. Zeke waited a moment and followed. Leah followed him.

When Bryg drove away, he stuck an arm out the window and waved, the rear tires kicking up gravel and snow. The boys waved with Zeke waiting a moment before he waved. Leah’s parents waved.

Leah waved.

“Let’s check on the animals,” Leah’s father said. He tipped his head and walked toward the barn. The boys followed him.

Zeke stared after Bryg’s car, then turned and followed the others. He hesitated in front of Leah, the look in his eyes telling her Bryg would be back. She smiled at Zeke. She believed that, too.

Bryg was a man of his word. If only his leaving didn’t make her heart crack in two.