The Billionaire Princess (11 page)

"Once the new scripts are ready I can either have them emailed over or I could give them to you over dinner."

It took every ounce of her control but she kept herself from cringing at the suggestion. At least she thought she did. She felt Christopher's hand grip hers.

"We have plans for this evening, Bruce. So email them to Sara when they're done," Christopher said, his voice polite but insistent.

How had he guessed she didn't want dinner with the ad executive? Maybe her expression gave her away after all. Whatever the reason for his interference, she'd have to thank him later.  It had gotten her out of what could have been an uncomfortable situation.

By the way she kept moving closer to him during the meeting, he'd known she didn't like Bruce Gordon. Not that he blamed her. In many ways he reminded him of the stereotypical used-car salesman seen in the movies. The man's dinner invitation hadn't come as any surprise to him either. Bruce's eyes hadn't moved off Sara since they walked in. When he'd heard the invitation and Sara's sharp intake of
breath, he'd reacted without any hesitation just like the night he'd walked into the ballroom and saw her ex-boyfriend giving her a hard time. That night he'd reacted more out of a need to protect. Today, jealousy fueled his actions. Just the idea of Sara out with Bruce tied his stomach in knots. Rationally, he knew it shouldn't. She hadn't hinted about her feelings toward him. Still the emotions had him moving in to protect what he perceived as his.

Now with Bruce and his office behind them, he felt more like himself again. "I hope I didn't overstep back there. You didn't look like you wanted to have dinner with Gordon." Before she could open the car door, he pulled it open.

“No, thank you.” Sara placed a hand on his upper arm. The heat from her palm seeped through his suit jacket branding his bicep. "And if you don't already have plans why don't we get together."

Her words sent a shot of adrenaline through his system. "You name it."

Sara beamed up at him from the passenger seat, her large gray eyes bright and a full smile on her face. "I hoped you'd say that," Sara answered before closing the car door and preventing him from responding.

A thousand different potential outings went through his head as he walked to the driver’s side of the car. None of them had included dinner at the Charter House, an upscale seafood restaurant near the ocean and then listening to a local band play on the beach before a fireworks show. Yet that was exactly what Sara wanted to do that evening. She told him she'd read in the hotel magazine that the band REAL played every Tuesday at Venice. He vaguely recognized the band’s name from the popular reality show Do You Have What It Takes. He knew they hadn't won but couldn't remember how they'd done overall.

Since neither had been dressed for that type of outing he dropped her off at her hotel before returning to his apartment where the first thing he did was grab a quick snack. The meeting with Bruce and his associates had included lunch, yet his stomach already wanted more food and dinner was a few hours away. In fact he figured he'd have enough time to eat and get in a quick swim before he went back to the hotel for Sara.

The refrigerator contained a wide variety of items. Before arriving he'd had the kitchen stocked, however nothing appealed to him. He wanted something simple and quick, nothing that required much preparation. As a kid his favorite after school snack had been a marshmallow fluff and banana sandwich. Even to this day he enjoyed the combination. He knew all three items were in the kitchen. Grabbing a bottle of iced coffee from the refrigerator he closed the door and pulled the jar of fluff from the cupboard.

A few minutes later he sat down at the table with two sandwiches, his iced coffee, and his laptop. Email didn't stop just because he wasn't in the office.  With the first bite of the sandwich memories of coming home from school and spreading his homework out on the kitchen table flooded his mind. It had been almost a ritual for him every day throughout elementary and middle school. By  high school, he'd often go straight to his part-time job or the library after school. With four younger sisters, home wasn't always the quietest place to study.

Halfway through the second sandwich, his phone rang. Christopher's shoulders slumped when he heard the ring tone. Jake. He'd avoided his friend's calls and texts for weeks. He couldn't do it any longer.

"How's it going?" Christopher asked after answering the phone.

“No complaints.
You? I heard you're working on an ad campaign with Sara."

He instantly envisioned them kissing in her hotel room after the movie. What his friend didn't know wouldn't hurt him. "We should start shooting later this week."

"Good luck with that. Listen I wanted to thank you for keeping Sara company after the wedding. We all bailed on you two that night, it was poorly done on our part."

Christopher bit back a curse. He didn't need anyone reminding him of that night especially not Jake. "We both understood. No big deal." He leaned back in his chair and raked his fingers through his hair.

"I still wanted to thank you. By the time I rolled out of bed the next morning you were gone."

That morning in Hawaii he had packed his bag and left the hotel less than half an hour after Sara left his room. He hadn't seen anyone except Charlie's mom. Even now he felt a bit like a robber sneaking away while everyone still slept.

"Don't worry, we enjoyed ourselves."
More than you want to know.

“
Good glad to hear it. Make sure she has some fun while she's out there. She doesn't have much time for fun anymore."

Christopher shook his head. If his friend only knew what they'd done that night in Hawaii he'd probably be saying something much different now. "I'll try." And he planned to, despite all the complications.

"I need to go. Next time you're in the area stop by and join Charlie and me for dinner."

After ending the call, Christopher finished the sandwich on his plate.  His conversation with Jake only reinforced his guilt over his feelings toward Sara.  On the one hand his rational
self told him to keep as far away from her as possible.  They'd already crossed a line once and managed to avoid any negative consequences.  Perhaps they should leave it at that.  If they went back to their infrequent run-ins, his friendship with Jake would be safe.

His gut kept telling him something much different. In a way he'd never experienced before, he wanted to learn everything about Sara and be on the receiving end of her real smiles, not just the polite society smile she shared with most people.  He wanted to hold her close while they watched movies and make love to her until the early morning hours.

Backing off last night had been torture, but it'd been the right thing to do.  Under no circumstance did he want to push her into anything.
Has she thought about it today?
  Christopher pushed back from the table.  He had more than two hours to kill before he went to pick her up.  Would she have an answer for him tonight?  Or would she pretend their conversation never happened?  Only time would tell.

***

Multicolored lights from the stage flashed over the crowd as the sound of an electric guitar riff filled the night air. Prepared for the show, Christopher turned so his back rested against the stone wall. The popular LA based band played everything from classic Elvis songs to top-forty hits as well as their own songs. People gathered on the park grass and sidewalk to listen and dance as the group moved from one song to the next. Christopher could see why they'd done so well on the reality show. Not only were the members of the band musically talented, but they also had great charisma with the crowd.

Next to him Sara swayed to the music. Every once in a while her arm brushed against his. Since the music began they hadn't spoken, but he never forgot that she was there. And he wasn't the only male present who knew Sara was at the show. So far he'd seen countless men look over in her direction. Some just passed an approving glance over her.  Others outright ogled her. Whether they did it because they recognized her or because she was a beautiful woman he didn't know. Their attention accomplished one thing though. It had him looking in her direction repeatedly. From her outward appearance, Sara seemed oblivious to the attention she got from the men in the crowd.

Perhaps she was used to it. It'd probably been happening to her all her life. Maybe she'd learned to ignore it.

On the stage the group launched into what sounded like a remake of a classic rock ballad, the first slow song they played all night.

"I love this song. They performed it on Do You Have What It Takes.” Sara turned toward him.

"Interested in a dance then?" He didn't love to dance but he wasn't above using the opportunity as an excuse to get her in his arms again. He still could remember exactly how it felt when they danced in Hawaii.

Sara stepped toward him and took his hand. "Love to."

He led them into the crowd where other couples danced. Wrapping his arms around her waist he pulled her toward him as they began to move to the music. "This sounds a lot like a Foreigner song," he said as they moved to the music.

"Foreigner?"

"You've never heard of them?" He pulled back to look at her.

Sara shook her head and Christopher decided that at some point he needed to instruct her on classic rock bands. But now wasn't the time. As the lead singer's words filled the air, he felt her body come in contact with his. He was uncertain whether she'd moved closer or he had. Honestly he didn't care. He liked the way she felt pressed against him. Having her in his arms felt natural. Gradually, one slow song flowed into another, and neither made any effort to move.  Even when the band switched and played their last song, one with a faster beat, neither immediately moved.  As the lead singer's vocals blasted over the crowd, Christopher dropped his hands and took a step back. 

“Let’s move out of the way.” The need to fill the silence between them drew out his words.

Sara reached for his hand and moved toward where they'd been standing earlier.

The crowd around them remained even though the band had stopped playing and started to pack up their gear. Christopher didn't blame the people for hanging around. The ocean breezes kept the temperatures hovering around seventy degrees and a large full moon hung over the ocean. With no clouds in the sky it was a perfect night for fireworks.

“Let's go for a walk. I know a great place where we can watch the fireworks." He reached for her hand again and led her through the crowd toward the beach.

"Almost forgot about them," she said softly, falling into step next to him.

Even though they had broken away from the crowd he continued to hold her hand, not wanting to lose the physical contact with her. He already missed the feel of her body pressed up against his while they danced.

When they reached the spot he wanted, Christopher sank down onto the sand and pulled Sara down next to him. At first he felt her reluctance and guessed she didn't want sand on her outfit, however, she eventually sank down onto the sand next to him.

"What did you think of the show?" Sara tucked her legs under her.

"Not bad. Several of the songs were remakes of classics from bands popular in the seventies and eighties." While they did a good job with the songs, he preferred bands that played their own original songs.

"Really?
I didn't recognize any of them."

He couldn't stop himself from leaning closer. "Then you don't listen to the right music. I'll have to introduce you to some good music."

The moon provided just enough light for him to see her eyes searching his face for something. "I might hold you to that," she said teasingly.

His eyes dropped to her lips, and he watched as her tongue darted out to moisten them. Overhead the first volley of fireworks exploded, but the sound barely registered through the haze surrounding him. Christopher leaned toward her as if pulled by an invisible magnet.

"Anytime." He tried to remember all the reasons he shouldn't kiss her again, but his brain refused to concentrate on anything except her lips. Lips he had every intention of tasting again unless she stopped him. It hadn't been his plan for this evening. He wanted her to have time and space to consider things. Yet he knew it was now inevitable.  Only two things would prevent it, Sara herself or the end of the world.

Another firework exploded overhead but neither turned to look. Both focused only on each other. Reaching out he placed a hand on her shoulder, her skin warm and smooth like velvet beneath his palm. Slowly he pulled her toward him. "If you want me to stop, tell me now." He managed to get out as he lowered his head toward Sara.

She answered with a simple shake of her head.

"Good," he spoke the single word before settling his lips on hers.

Her mouth tasted like the strawberries she'd had for dessert. Wrapping his arms around her waist he pulled her closer. The scent of her perfume teased his senses as she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against him. In the night sky fireworks exploded, bathing the sky in color. Each explosion mimicked the ones going off in his head. Needing to deepen the connection, he teased the seam of her lips with his tongue until she opened them and then plunged in. Slowly, their tongues explored and mated while at the same time he dug his fingers into her thick silky hair.