Billionaire Romance Boxed Set (9 Book Bundle) (55 page)

Chapter Seven

Will

“Stewart,
I am going on a date. Do you realize how ridiculous I’ll look showing up with
you?”

In
my large, sparsely furnished bedroom, I paced the dark marble floor annoyed to
have this conversation about my date.

“Will,
sir
,” he said sarcastically. Stewart
never liked when I disagreed with him. “No woman is going to turn down a
limo ride. If she knows who you are then I’m sure she’s expecting it.”

“This
girl is different. But no, she doesn’t know who I am. Not exactly at
least.”

“Don’t
you think she should know?”

“It’s
not important. I’ll tell her when I’m ready.”

“But
sir—”

“Mind
your place, Stewart!” I growled at him.

“My
place in this matter isn’t as your driver and head of security, but as your
friend.”

I
didn’t say anything. What could I say? Stewart was my confidant and had been
there for me my entire life.

“Fine,
you’re right. Maybe she needs to know, but not just yet. Please, let me just
enjoy this date.”

“Did
you do what I asked?”

“I
know you’re trying to protect me, Stewart. Eventually you need to realize I
need to have a life. I’m tired of being alone and I haven’t been able to get
her out of my mind since I met her. If someone is going to kidnap or attack me
while I’m out then maybe its just meant to be. You can’t protect me from
everything.”

“You
don’t know what you’re saying. I’ve dedicated my life to protecting you from
harm. There are people out there you could never begin to understand.”

“I’m
done discussing this. I am taking Deborah out on a date. This is the first
woman I’ve ever wanted to know more than just physically. Will you back
off?”

“Answer
my question. As head of your security, did you do as I asked?”

“Yes,
but not because you asked. It was the only way I could get the table I wanted
on such short notice.”

“And
driving?”

“If
it will get you off my back, then drive. It’ll give Deborah and I a chance to
get to know each other better anyway.”

Chapter Eight

Deborah

At
6:00 on the dot I made my way to the time clocks to check out of work. The
employee only area was on the second floor, in the back of the store. After
being in the bright lights and glistening floors of the sales floor, the
employee area looked drab and dirty by comparison.

A
dark rust colored rug lined the long corridor to the twin time clocks. As I
approached them I saw an envelope taped to one and guessed it was out of order.
I was wrong.

With
neatly printed letters, the cover of the envelope had my name on it. I quickly
looked around, but as usual there was nobody near the time clocks but me.
Pulling out the off-white card inside, my heart raced in anticipation.

Deborah,

Please
meet me at the main entrance.

Will

How
did he get back here? I slowly realized he didn’t need to come back here at
all. Just because the card was from him, didn’t mean he even wrote it. I knew
how rich people worked, they always hired someone else to do their dirty work.

Geez, get a grip on
yourself.
I
had to admit I was a little more than offended that he offered me money. Who
did he think he was? Did he have to get his own way that much that he was
willing to pay for it?

I
sighed as I headed towards the main entrance. As usual I was overreacting. He
was only trying to be nice. I just wish he chose a different way of going about
it.

Easily
spotting him standing in the crowd of people moving in and out of the store,
all my annoyance melted away. Dressed in that chocolate brown three-piece-suit,
with the buttoned vest peeking out from the jacket, he looked good enough to
eat. Something about the suit made me think of couples going out to a speakeasy
and sneaking some alcohol, but it suited him perfectly.

Will
had the same cold expression on his face as he did when Sara tried to helped
him. I began wondering if it was his normal expression and if the smiling,
flirting man I was getting to know was something only I saw.

“Hi,
I hope you weren’t waiting long.”

“Let’s
go,” he grumbled as he took me by my elbow and guided me towards the door.
“I hate crowds.”

“Sorry,
its the time. There’s always an afterwork rush.”

He
steered me through the double glass doors of Hargrove’s and outside where a
long black limo waited at the curb. An athletic man in a black suit and
driver’s cap opened the back door and waited.

“Is
that for us?”

Will
grunted. The driver nodded at him as Will took my hand and helped me get into
the car. I slid over as far as I could on the long black leather seat that made
up the rear of the limo. Along one side of the limo was another long couch,
while across from that was a small bar. I had never been in a limo before in my
life. I wasn’t sure if I should be impressed or not.

“Is
this how you always travel?”

“Unfortunately,
yes.”

“Why
do it if you don’t like it?”

Looking
at me, he sighed as he thought about the question. His face softened slightly
before returning to stone cold.

“Its
complicated and not something I care to discuss.”

As
the car began driving, Mr. Sexy grew quieter. I didn’t know what to say, but I
had to say something. The silence was unbearable and I’d be damned if my date
with him was a bust.

Gazing
out the window, I looked for something to talk about. I recognized the canyon
road leading out of the city to the beach. The colors of the canyon and the sky
inspired my collection and I couldn’t stop thinking about the samples I needed
to create. As we entered the quaint beach area of Canyon Cove, I recognized a
street name.

“Oh
there’s Laguna Way. I should’ve known it would be down here,” I
accidentally said out loud.

“What’s
on Laguna?”

“A
fabric shop I’ve heard about called Make It Work. They have a lot of fabrics
and trim you can’t find anywhere else in the United States. I’ve always wanted
to go there.”

He
leaned forward and hit a switch in the ceiling and the divider between us and
the driver, lowered.

“Stewart,
can you turn around? There’s a fabric shop back there Deborah would like to go
to.”

“Oh
no, really. We don’t have to go,” I said. “I don’t have the money to
buy anything anyway.”

“We’re
on a date, Deborah. Call me old fashioned but a woman doesn’t pay when she’s
asked on a date. Let’s go look at the fabrics. I should’ve bought flowers for
our date, let this be how you let me make that up to you.”

I
stared at him in shock. This wasn’t much different than him offering me money
earlier for the fabrics, but at the same time it was. I didn’t know if it was
the leather of the seats that did it, or the simple fact that I knew we all
needed help sometimes, but I nodded and gave the driver the address.

“You
have no idea what this means to me. You know I need fabric to make my samples.
I honestly don’t have the money though. This is really just the most amazing
thing anyone has offered to do. I promise when I can I will pay you back.”

“Nonsense,
you don’t pay back gifts.”

“Sir,”
Stewart said as he pulled up in front of the simple white clapboard building
that housed the store, “you’ll be safe in the car. I’m running in to do a
quick sweep of the building.”

Will
sighed and looked out the window as his driver’s words hung in the air. I
didn’t know why there was such a huge concern over security. Canyon Cove had
very affluent sections with plenty of wealthy people, even billionaires, but I
never heard of any crimes against them.

“I
can go in alone. I don’t mind. And—” I said until I got interrupted.

“No!”
Will interrupted me with a growl. “Stewart, Miss Hansen and I are going
into the store.”

He
opened the door and got out in a huff. I expected Stewart to argue but instead
he looked forward and raised the divider. Will held his hand out and helped me
out of the car, not letting go of it as we started walking into the store.

As
with most shops on Canyon Cove’s coast, the building exteriors were older and
plain. Above the door was a blue sign with the shop’s name in a stylized
handwritten lettering. A chime played as we entered the door.

“Welcome
to Make It Work,” said a heavy set man with a shaved head and several
piercings. He in the center of a large combination check out and fabric cutting
area. He was flipping through the latest issue of Vogue and didn’t bother to
look up from the magazine.

Behind
him aisles of fabrics dominated the store from floor to ceiling. Broken down by
type of fabric, it would’ve been easy for me to find what I needed for the
samples, but I wanted to look at everything. With my unreliable car, the coast
was too far for me to drive. I didn’t know if I’d ever get back there.

“You’re
sure you’re ok with this? I know what I’m looking for but I really wanted to
look around too.”

Will
nodded. “The restaurant can wait,” he said. “I know how
important this is to you.”

I
could have stayed in that store forever, but I wasn’t about to waste my first
date with Mr. Sexy shopping for fabric. Like Dianna said, tonight was about my
date, real life could wait for tomorrow.

I
managed to get the fabrics I needed for my samples. My favorite was an ocean
blue delicate chiffon with a faded white print that resembled wave crests for
the gown. The chiffon was so light and soft I knew it would flow beautifully.

Other
fabrics I got were a black-brown textured brocade that was perfect for a
jacket, a silk-wool with abstract purple watercolor flowers with pale green
stems that would make a breathtaking skirt, and silk jersey in several colors
because I loved how easy it was to drape.

The
limo was still parked at the curb when Will and I left Make It Work. Stewart
didn’t open the door for us or say a word the rest of the night.

“It
shouldn’t be a far drive to The Breezes from here,” Will said.

“The
Breezes? Is that where we’re going?”

“Yes,
it’s the best place to watch the sunset into the ocean. Plus their food is
pretty good. Have you ever been?”

“No.
I don’t think I even know anyone who has. Am I dressed ok? I would’ve changed
clothes if I knew we were going to such a fancy place.”

“You
look stunning. Trust me, you’re perfect just the way you are.”

“Won’t
I stand out? I’m sure the other women there will be really dressed up, or maybe
more conservative.”

“There
won’t be other women there. There won’t be anyone else there. I value my
privacy above all other things. I bought the restaurant for the night.”

“Serious?”

Instead
of answering, Will motioned for me to look out the window. We were pulling up
the steep circular driveway of The Breezes and there were no other cars around.
Known almost more for the line of cars that extended around the block, than for
it being the most prestigious restaurant in all of Canyon Cove, The Breezes had
a waiting list that some said was close to a year long.

The
restaurant sat on the top of a cliff, along the shoreline. It was a Spanish
style white stone, one story building with gardens of lush tropical flowers and
trees surrounding it. When our car stopped at the main entrance, an attendant
stepped forward and opened the door to the limo.

“Good
evening, Mr. King,” he said as we stepped onto the walkway in front of the
building.

“One
day we’ll get here earlier and I’ll show you the gardens,” Will said.

“So
you’ve been here before?” I asked as we entered the restaurant, our voices
echoing against the Spanish ceramic tile floor.

“Yes,
but never like this.”

“I
bet you say that to all the girls,” I teased.

“No,
I don’t,” he said, his face serious. “I know we don’t know each other
well, but you’re different than the others.”

“Why?
Because I’m fat?”

Anger
covered his face and I immediately regretted saying those words. He didn’t need
to hear about my insecurities. Under the stress from the contest and being so
broke, my mouth proved it had a mind of its own.

“What
do you think this is? Charity?” His voiced boomed throughout the empty
restaurant. “I bought the restaurant for the night because the table I
wanted was booked and because I’d rather be alone with you than surrounded by a
bunch of strangers.”

Grabbing
my arm a little roughly he led me into a small dining room with blue mosaic
tile surrounding a fireplace. Directly in front of me was a large glass window
framed by palm trees with a table set for two. I stepped up to the window and
looked out at the amber sun slowly sinking into the ocean, with the sandy white
beach below. At this height I could see the shoreline for miles.

Standing
there quietly I watched the waves crash on the beach, their white crests
reminding me of the fabric Will just bought me for my samples.

“I’m
sorry,” I whispered. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“I’ll
show you what’s wrong with you,” he said.

He
walked into the next room and I followed without thinking.

“Why
is it so dark in here?”

In
front of me was a similar window to the one in the room with the view except
this one was dark.

“This
window faces the other side, with the gardens,” he said and flicked the
light switch.

With
the lights turned on, the window became a mirror. And I was facing it. I
quickly turned away.

“No.
Look at yourself,” he said as he stepped closer to me, moving behind me.
“Really look at yourself. See what I see.”

With
a habit of avoiding full length mirrors like the plague, I hadn’t really looked
at myself in years. My black bob had grown out a bit and was just past my chin.
I had opened the peek-a-boo keyhole more to show off more of my assets before
meeting Will.