Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire (Montana Billionaires #7)

Chapter 1

In all her thirty-two years, Meri Anderson had never been this nervous.

She fluffed her hair, swallowed hard, and then shaded her eyes with her hand as she looked up at the tall building.

The scorching July sun reflected off the glass sides, practically blinding her.

She figured since Chase Harper was as rich as Croesus from his gaming empire that he must do this security stuff for fun.

Meri knew little about him. But why talk to her about paintings, murals in particular?

She’d had to sit when she’d gotten the call asking her to come in today to discuss her paintings.

Girding herself for what might be a rejection, she stiffened her spine, entered the building and took the elevator to the nineteenth floor, where Chase Harper Security, Inc.

was located. She knew he lived on the twentieth floor.

Judging by the look of the elevator panel, she knew that reaching his home on the top floor would require a security card or something.

The elevator doors opened straight to the outer office. An attractive brunette woman sat at a wide, S-shaped maple desk in the plush office with pale green walls.

“May I help you?” asked the woman.

“Yes, I’m Meridith Anderson, and I have an appointment with Mr. Harper. Could you tell him I’m here, please?”

“Certainly, Miss Anderson. I believe he’s expecting you. Please have a seat.”

Four overstuffed lime green chairs sat on the dark green carpet. The chairs were positioned equidistant from a glass coffee table at the center. A piece of old driftwood made up the base of the table. Mr. Harper must like green, or he had a decorator who did.

She walked over to one chair and perched on the edge.

Getting up would be too difficult if she sat back, and that was not the impression she wanted to give to anyone.

Nerves made her hands shake. She was doing well with her company, but every time she interviewed for a new project, she got nervous.

The feeling was almost like stage fright.

As she sat, she set her bag on the floor. The size of the item made it impossible to be a purse. It held her computer and wallet, as well as photos of other murals she’d created. The accessory was almost like a small piece of luggage.

She’d worn a skirt for this appointment, wanting to appear as the professional artist she was.

Normally she wore jeans and a brightly colored top to these consultations, but she thought she should at least appear businesslike.

Mr. Harper was a billionaire, after all, and she really wanted this job.

Her business was doing great, but if she could add Chase Harper Security to her resume, it would be fabulous.

The only doors she could see off this room, other than the elevator, were Mr. Harper’s office, according to the plaque on the door. On the right side of the room was a hall, but she didn’t have a chance to look down it.

She couldn’t help but feel this office needed…changing, updating into something besides green. But she would see what vibe she got from Mr. Harper before she broached the subject. Was he open to new ideas or was he needing to be in total control? She’d find out soon enough.

Meri waited, thinking about how she would change this outer office given half the chance.

“Miss Anderson.” The administrative assistant stood. “Mr. Harper will see you now.” She walked over to the double doors.

As soon as Meri approached, the assistant pushed open one side of the doors and held it open with one arm.

Where the outer office was all plush, almost old-fashioned, this one was the total opposite. All gleaming chrome, glass, wood, and leather. She detected a lingering scent of sandalwood. That scent was her preferred choice for a man.

She stepped toward the man with his gaze on the computer screen in front of him.

Without looking up, he pointed at the leather wing chairs in front of his desk. “Have a seat, Miss Anderson. I’ll be with you shortly.”

His deep baritone surged over her body like the clear waterfall she’d visited on Maui.

His dark-hair was a little long and curling at the collar and a stray lock fell forward onto his forehead.

His brow furrowed in concentration of whatever was on his screen.

He looked like he might be tall, but it was impossible to tell since he was sitting.

He attracted her. That was undeniable. Why, she didn’t know.

He was handsome, that was true. But she’d known handsome men before and they didn’t attract her like he did.

Meri knew better than to get involved with her prospective employer.

She’d made that mistake before, but never again.

When she’d abruptly ended that relationship, she’d suffered.

And her art suffered. It became dark and depressing.

As a result, it didn’t sell. Now, she was past that.

She painted bright turquoise ocean scenes, purple snow-capped mountains and meadows full of bright yellow, white, and orange flowers.

But that didn’t mean she didn’t remember the heartbreak she’d suffered.

Still… No! She wouldn’t even think it despite the fact he was the most attractive man she’d seen in a very long time.

After sitting and clasping her hands in her lap so they wouldn’t shake , she waited. She stared around her at the dark wood paneling. Again, she believed the wood to be maple, or maybe cherry, with a dark stain.

His desk was glass with a chrome base and legs. The top held only his laptop and his phone, a landline like most businesses used. Black. Nondescript.

One large picture dominated each of the dark paneled walls on either side of her.

Both photos were of a sprawling ranch with mountains in the background.

In one, the snow-capped mountains in the Bridger Range were deep purple below.

She knew the purple color came from the dense pine forest that covered the majestic peak.

And that distance made the trees look purple rather than green.

The second picture was of the same ranch but in summer and surrounded by bright green meadows with a riot of wildflowers dotting the green landscape.

Below that photo stretched a large brown leather sofa. Two accent pillows, one plain beige and one with beige and brown swirls, sat on either end of the couch. She longed to get closer and study the photograph.

The entire wall behind him was floor to ceiling windows.

This view of Denver with the foothills and then the high peaks on her left and the plains on her right made her believe she could see forever from here.

The view was crystal clear today, because of the wind they’d had last night, and if she looked north, she thought she might catch a glimpse of Fort Collins.

Mr. Harper quickly stood and came around the desk. “Miss Anderson? Meridith, I believe.”

His voice rumbled as if it came from the bottom of his lungs, and yet it washed over her like caramel on ice cream.

Sweet and rich. It held her, resonating with something deep within her.

Stop it. This man will be my employer with any luck.

She held out her right hand and smiled. “My friends call me Meri.”

He bent over, took her hand, and shook it. “Well, Meri it is, then. And you should call me Chase. Shall we talk some business?”

His touch left her feeling a wave of tingles as she withdrew her hand. He smiled and his pupils dilated. “Of course. Why don’t you tell me what services you need from me?”

He walked back around his desk and sat. “I want to do a little redecorating, starting with the outer office.”

She chuckled. “Tired of the green? I know it’s supposed to be soothing, but I’ve never found it so.”

He smiled, and the movement reached all the way to his eyes.

Nice eyes. They were such a deep blue as to almost be dark violet.

Eyes the color of the Colorado sky at midnight.

Just like when she had camped out with her little brother on the roof, staring at the stars and looking for constellations.

Eyes that right now seemed to see right into her soul.

She wouldn’t get involved with an employer, or even someone she hoped would be an employer.

Been there and done that. She dropped her gaze to her lap and struggled to bury her fanciful feelings. Then she looked up again.

“Yes, it’s time to get rid of the green.” Then his smile disappeared. “My fiancée chose the colors. Green was her favorite.”

“I see.” But she honestly didn’t. He’d said green was her favorite.

Had she changed her mind about the green?

Or was she no longer in the picture? Why did she find that possibility a good one?

She didn’t like to think this man was engaged.

She’d Googled him and found almost no personal information on him.

It seemed like someone had scrubbed the internet of anything not related to his businesses.

She was jealous and sad to think he might be married now.

She checked his hand for a ring but didn’t find one… to her relief and delight.

“I see. What is her favorite color now?”

“She doesn’t have one. She’s dead—murdered.”

His voice was flat when he said it. No emotion other than the dimming of his gaze.

She did her best to ignore her mixed feelings of happiness that he was not engaged but sadness that his fiancée had died. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

His expression was shuttered now. No smile, no twinkle in his eyes. “Thank you, but it happened a long time ago.”

Yet only now was he ready to move on, to change the color of the room. He must have loved her very much.

Meri took her laptop out of her bag, powered it up, and started making notes. “You had talked about a mural. What color are you thinking about for the outer office, and what kinds of things would you like in the mural? You know, mountains, streams, flowers, ocean, beach…what?”