Taken by the Pirate Billionaire(18)

When she was out of the shower, dressed and staring in the mirror,  another wave of shame rolled over her. Regret. So hard. Poignant.

The picture of them had caused a stir for a day or so, but shockingly  she'd never been identified. Devon said he would take care of it and it  started to look like he had the power and money to do so.

She was an idiot. A complete idiot. She had to try and make things right, how wrong she'd been, but was it too late?

Her phone rang, and for a moment her heart soared with hope that it was  him. But a quick glance at the caller ID showed it was her grandparents.

A lump rose in her throat, even as she acknowledged she could give them  the good news about being able to pay of their mortgage. She'd done some  online research, even talked to a jeweler, and once she finally sold it  the brooch would easily pay off their house.

She answered the phone, forcing herself to be upbeat and focus on the positive.

"I was just about to call you later," she said brightly. "I have some great news."

"Oh, darling, we already figured it out." Her grandma's voice shook with  emotion. "I don't know how you did it, but you really shouldn't have."

"Shouldn't have what?" She sank down on the edge of her bed, confusion sliding through her.

"Paid off our house!" Her grandma gave what sounded like a laughing sob.  "I didn't realize your pet business was doing that well. Or did you  come into money? How on earth did you do it, Renee?"





Chapter Eighteen



Their house was paid off. How? Renee's head spun. She glanced to make  sure the brooch was still lying on the bed next to her laptop. Because  unless she'd had an emotional blackout, sold it, then paid off the  house, then it just didn't makes sense.

But the brooch was still sitting on a pillow next to her laptop where she'd been doing her research.

"Renee? Are you there?"

Devon.

Realization hit with the subtly of a punch to the stomach. He was the only one who could've done this.

"I'm here," she whispered numbly. "When, umm, when exactly was it paid off?"

"The letter is dated a couple days ago."

Oh God, and these things took time, which means he'd done it before  she'd ended things with him. Before they'd even found the brooch.

"You knew about this, right?" The first note of uncertainty crept into her grandma's voice.

She hated lying, but how the hell did she explain what she couldn't understand herself. She couldn't. Not yet.

"Yes," she managed. "Yes I knew."

"I don't know how you did it, sweet girl, but you've saved our home. All our memories."

Her grandma was crying now and the lump in Renee's throat grew.

"Will we see you for dinner tomorrow?"

"I'll be there." She nodded, closing her eyes. "I need to go, gran. Let me call you later, all right?"

"All right. We love you, Renee."

"Love you guys too."

The click a moment later signaled her grandma had hung up.

Was this really happening? Had Devon truly paid of her grandparents' mortgage? He couldn't have.

But he did.

The sick feeling in her stomach turned downright acidic. She put a hand  over her mouth. She had to thank Devon. Call him and explain she'd sell  the brooch and give him all the money. And maybe hope there was a chance  in hell he'd take her back.

After that message...she couldn't blame him if he never spoke to her again.

But she still had to try. Renee scrambled over to her desk and grabbed her keys.         

     



 

As she climbed into her car and drove to his house, she thought again  about everything that had happened in the short time she'd known Devon.

She'd almost let society make up her mind for her. Ignoring everything  in her heart. All because Devon didn't walk the society line, and maybe  had a bit of a kinky and was deemed unacceptable.

She'd been right when she'd thought history was repeating itself. Two  centuries ago Anne and Darren's love had been controlled by other  people. And the same damn thing was happening again.

And she'd come so close to allowing it.

Damn! She pressed down harder on the accelerator.



Devon glanced again at the message icon on his phone. It was the days old message from Renee, and he still had yet to delete it.

It was a good reminder when there seemed to be a strange emptiness  inside him. Where parts of his life just felt off and lacking. When his  heart felt a bit shaken after being gently stirred.

He looked at the message any time he was ready to summon his driver to  take him to Renee's apartment. It kicked him back to reality in a moment  of weakness.

Renee had made it clear she wanted no part of his infamy. That his money  and intrigue did little to attract her-funny, because that was the draw  for other women. He might as well have been a pirate as his ancestor  had been for all his notoriety.

He thought of the email in his inbox. A last minute invitation to fly  out to Seattle to speak at the University of Washington. He'd initially  turned the offer down as usual, seeking to keep his privacy. Stay in the  shadows. But now his face was out there, and getting out of town seemed  like a good idea. It was time to put some space between them.  Physically as well as emotionally.

Picking up the phone, Devon called Kurt.

"Please send all calls to voicemail and turn away any visitors. I'm leaving for Seattle in one hour."

He hung up the phone and sat for a moment, willing his thoughts away  from Renee and instead trying to focus on what needed to be done. First  and foremost, packing.



It was pouring down rain. Renee swept wet strands of hair out of her  eyes, shivering as she glared at Kurt, who'd answered the door.

"He's not here, ma'am."

"I know you're lying." She lifted her chin and met his blank stare. "Please tell him I'm here. I have to see him."

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm going to ask you to leave one last time before I force you to."

Renee had a moment of déjà vu from the night of the party. Only this  time the only fear inside her was from not getting a chance to see  Devon. Not getting the chance to try and make things right.

"Look," she pleaded. "We've been here before. Only you know Devon would want to see me this time. Please."

Kurt hesitated and hope flared inside her.

"Please, Kurt," she said with as much dignity as she could muster-which  wasn't much. "I've done something terrible and I need to make it right.  Please." Her voice cracked on the last please.

"Renee." Kurt shook his head, and finally emotion flickered on his face.  Even if it was resignation. "I'm sorry, but he gave strict  instructions-"

Renee ducked around him and ran into the house.

"Devon!"



Kurt caught her before she even reached the stairs, stopping any further advancement.



"Devon," she screamed again, more frantic, fighting against Kurt's firm grasp. "Please, Devon, I need to see you!"



Kurt swung her toward the door, and she kicked her feet, trying everything to keep from being forced out the house.

But it was going to happen. She knew it with a sickening despondency  that brought tears to her eyes. Devon wouldn't even see her.

"Please," she whispered.

"Let her go."





Chapter Nineteen



The deep voice rang out from the second floor.

Renee went weak with relief as Kurt immediately released her. She drew  in a ragged breath, before turning around. When she raised her gaze, she  found Devon at the top of the stairs.

Kurt shut the front door and then disappeared into another room, leaving them very much alone.

Renee swallowed hard. He hadn't sent her away. And yet now she was  struck with the sick feeling in her stomach that there was nothing she  could she possibly say to make things right.         

     



 

Devon continued to watch her without making any move to walk down the  stairs. It was clearly an intimidation tactic, and her knees began to  tremble accordingly.

Okay. He could stand there looking all foreboding and condemning. She  deserved it. And she'd face up to it. She'd just go to him. Easy enough.

She took a few steps, hesitated, and then took the rest of them until  she was on the landing. When she was just a few steps away from him, she  stopped.

He arched a brow, clearly waiting for her to say something.

"Thank you for not having me thrown me out." It was hard to get the  words around the thickness in her throat. Not to mention pride. She  lifted her chin. "I'm here to say I'm sorry...and to say I was wrong."



"About what?" He lifted one shoulder. The expression on his face seemed  utterly bored. "You were absolutely right, Renee. It was good sex."

She couldn't help but flinch. "That's not exactly what I meant. I, um, well I misjudged you-"



"Ah. I see." He smiled, but there was very little warmth in the gesture.  "You just discovered that I paid off your grandparents' mortgage. Of  course. Why else would you show up so long after that message you left  me?"

She flushed and dropped her gaze. "Look, I know how it must seem, and  that has nothing to do with it. Though it was an incredibly generous and  amazing thing for you to do. I plan on paying you back once I sell the  brooch."