Romance: The Billionaire Alpha Collection (23 page)

Chapter 12

“Rose, I think you are putting too much makeup on my face,” I say as I wiggle around in the chair.

“No, I’m not. It’s going to look like you don’t even have any on. I’m just highlighting your cheekbones a little,” she says as she applies more makeup.

“I’m just saying I don’t want to go on a date looking like someone else.”

“You won’t. I’m telling you, you look gorgeous. And pinning your hair up was a good idea as well.”

“You think so?”

“Yes, how many times do I have to tell you that you’re a knockout? I would kill for cheekbones like yours. Or a butt like yours.”

I laugh. “My butt isn’t hot.”

She laughs. “It’s hot enough. Okay, I’m done.”

I turn around and look in the mirror and can’t believe what I see.

I look great!

You couldn’t tell I had makeup on at all. She really did a good job.

“Wow, Rose, you really did a great job.”

“Yes, now stand up so I can inspect your outfit one more time.”

I stand up and turn around for her. I decided to wear a pair of black leggings that showed off my figure, a white sheer shirt with a black halter top underneath, and some black strappy sandals.

“Yes, total knockout,” she says as the doorbell rings.

“It’s him! Are you sure I look okay?” I ask as I look in the mirror one last time.

“I’m sure, now go open the door.”

I take a deep breath and walk slowly to the door. I take one last glance at Rose and then I open it.

Grayson is standing there with a big smile on his face and four roses wrapped in newspaper in his hands.

I start laughing. “So you were serious?”

“Indeed I was,” he says as he hands the roses to me.

I take them from him and hand them to Rose so she can put them in a vase. “So where are we going?”

He smiles. “I was going to let you decide that.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, really. Now are you ready to go? You look beautiful, by the way.”

“Yes, I’m ready and thanks, you don’t look so bad yourself,” I say as I look him over.

He has on a pair of black jeans that fit him nicely with a white t-shirt.

I can tell being relaxed and under the radar is new to him but I really appreciate his efforts.

I wave goodbye to Rose and walk outside behind Grayson. I see him walk up to a black standard car, which must be at least ten years old.

“Where’d you get this car from? This doesn’t look like something you’d usually drive,” I say in shock.

“Because you said you wanted a regular guy, and none of my cars said regular guy, I bought one that did,” he says as he opens the door for me.

I get in and wait for him to get into the car himself. “So you’re telling me you went and bought a regular car just to impress me?”

He nods his head. “Yes, I did. It’s strange – who would have thought that my sports cars aren’t as much of a chick magnet as a standard family car? I’ve been playing this game wrong all along.”

We laugh out loud together.

“You’re something else, do you know that?”

“I’ve been told that a time or two. So where do you want to go?”

“Cook Up.”

A confused expression crosses his face. “You want to go to a cook up? I don’t even know what that is.”

I look at him and start laughing. “Are you serious? No, it’s a burger place. It’s nothing fancy but I love their food. It’s famous around here.”

“Now that you mention it, I have seen a sign for that place.”

“I love their food. Plus it’s not expensive like all of the other places. We can even split the bill.”

He nods his head and drives in the direction of the restaurant.

We ride in silence, enjoying each other’s company until he pulls up at the restaurant.

The restaurant is packed as usual but I don’t mind it at all and Grayson doesn’t seem to mind either.

“Welcome to Cook Up, may I take your order?” a teenager asks when we get to the front of the line.

Grayson studies the menu but I already know what I want.

“I’ll have a chili cheese hot dog with fries, a sweet tea, and a strawberry fancy milkshake.”

She types it in and looks at Grayson. “What will it be for you, sir?”

“I’ll have the same thing,” Grayson states, unsure of what to get.

“Okay, and your total tonight will be $15.25.”

I happily split the bill with him.

We step to the side to wait for our order to be called and after we collect our food, we take a seat at one of the tables in the middle. I take a bite of my hot dog and my eyes roll into the back of my head. Yum.

“I take it you’re enjoying your food,” he says with a smirk.

I nod my head. “Yes, aren’t you?”

“Actually… yes. It’s better than I thought it would be,” he says as he takes another bite.

“What were you thinking?”

“I don’t know, just regular fast food, I guess, but they make their stuff fresh and with the real stuff.”

I laugh. “You’re crazy.”

“So why do they call they’re milkshakes fancy?”

“Not sure but they are really good. You almost always have to eat them with a spoon. It’s why I always drink mine after I eat my food. Give it a chance to melt down a little.”

He takes a sip of the milkshake and a slow smile spreads across his face. “It is good.”

I take a sip of mine and nod my head. “Best milkshakes in the area.”

“So how’d you stumble upon this place?”

“I know all of the places to eat when on a budget. Doesn’t just have to be Mickey D’s dollar menu.”

He laughs. “With all the money your Mom married into, I’m surprised you just didn’t ask her to help you out.”

“I have a hard time asking for help. I like to do things on my own.”

“Is that why you were working at the strip club?”

I nod my head.

“I wanted to make my own money. I know stripping is looked down upon and some strippers really give the rest of us bad reps, but it paid the bills and I have plenty of those.”

“I like that about you.”

“Like what?”

“That you can handle yourself. That you want to be independent. Most women I know are looking for someone to take care of them or don’t have a single original thought in their minds.”

“I don’t know what kind of women you’ve been talking to, but remind me not to hang out with them.”

He laughs. “You won’t have to worry about that. So what do you want to do now?”

I take another sip of my milkshake. “How about we walk along the pier?”

He smiles, “I haven’t done that since I was a little kid.”

“Well, let’s get out of here and live a little.”

He laughs again and grabs his milkshake off the table.

I grab mine, too, and place our trash in the trashcan as we walk out of the door. He drives the short distance to the pier and we get out of the car. The air is so much fresher here. Grayson holds my hand and we walk slowly along the water’s edge.

“This is nice,” he says as his he looks out to the water.

The moon is sitting high, reflecting beautifully off the still water. It was a sight to behold.

“Yeah, it is beautiful,” I say.

“I never really done anything like this on a date before. Then again, I never really dated.”

In the quiet moments between us, my thoughts race a thousand miles an hour.

“You seem like a different person tonight,” I blurt out.

He sighs, “I’m still the same person.”

“But you seemed like such a pig when we first met?”

“I guess that’s my defense. That’s my way of dealing with people because all the people around me just want money. Most people at family functions are leeches trying to suck every cent out of the family. I just expected that you were another one of those.”

I nod, “That’s deep.”

“I spend a lot of time by myself so I have a lot of time to think.”

“You spend a lot of time by yourself?” I question.

“It can be quite lonely having a lot of money,” he sighs.

“I just thought you were born arrogant,” I giggle.

“Arrogance is the shield I hide behind. I long for someone to want me for me but it seemed to never happen until I met you. I guess that’s why I came off as being a jerk.”

“That’s understandable. With all that you’re worth, I’m sure people are fake around you all the time.”

“You have no idea. So tell me something about you.”

“I’m very self-conscious and I don’t think I’m as beautiful as all of the women who are around me.”

I’m talking without thinking again.

I should have said something confident and impressive… but no – I have to blurt out all my insecurities on the first date.

“Really? I would never guess with the job you held.”

“Got to hide behind the makeup. No one could see the real me.”

He nods his head and pulls me closer. I inhale his scent and get lost in it. He was showing me everything I wanted in a guy and I hope that he wouldn’t ever hurt me.

“You know, I could hold you like this forever.”

“I could let you hold me like this forever.”

He looks at me in my eyes and starts to passionately kiss me.

Oh…

I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer to me. My heart starts racing and my hold body starts tingling with passion.

Every time he touches me, I feel myself losing a little more piece of me to him but right now, I don’t even care.

I am going to live in the moment and enjoy this.

Grayson breaks off the kiss and my body starts to feel cold.

“Now I definitely could get used to that,” he says with a wink.

“I know, but we’re taking this slow. I don’t want to get hurt,” I say as I look him in his eyes.

“We’ll take it as slow as you want to go. We have the rest of our lives.”

“Now I definitely like the sound of that,” I say as I kiss him, looking forward to what our future holds together.

Epilogue

One year later…

“Rose! Can you help me move my boxes?” I yell down the hallway.

She walks into the room with a small pout on her face. “I can’t believe you’re moving out. I’m going to miss you.”

“I know, but it’s time for me to take things to the next level with Grayson plus… we’re about to be expecting something and it will work best if we’re together.”

A confused expression crosses her face. “What are you expecting?”

“You’ll find out soon but I haven’t even told him yet.”

“I don’t like you being so secretive.”

“I know, but it will all be worth it.”

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Rose pouts again.

“But you’ll be so busy with this new club, that you won’t have time for me anyway.”

“Thank you,” Rose smiles.

“I’ve told you that you don’t have to thank me,” I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes again.

“But I want to. Thank you for lending me the money to start my own club. It means the world to me to do this. That has always been my dream.”

“It’s my pleasure to help my best friend.”

We embrace in another tight hug. We have hugged so much lately.

The doorbell rings and I rush to go answer it.

Grayson is standing there with a big smile on his face. “I can’t believe we’re actually moving in together.”

I kiss him on the cheek. “I know, right? I’m really excited. Plus… I have some news for you.”

“What is it?”

“Hold on. Rose! Come in here! I’m about to spill the news.”

Rose comes into the living room. “Okay, so spill it already. I don’t like to be kept out of the loop.”

I laugh. “Well, you two will be pleased to know that I am pregnant!”

“Wow, really?” exclaims Rose.

“Are you sure?” asks Grayson as he swoops me up into a hug.

“Yes, I’m sure. I took the test last week and then the doctor confirmed it for me. We’re having a baby!”

“Oh, my gosh! I’m so happy for you two.”

“Wow, baby! I don’t even know what to say. I love you.” Grayson’s mouth almost drops to the floor.

“I love you, too, baby,” I say as I kiss him passionately.

“Oh, gosh, get a room!” exclaims Rose.

“Oh yes, we will,” I smile.