Romance: What The Billionaire Wants (6 page)

Chapter 14

“I can’t do this,” I say as I stare at my reflection.

What am I going to say?

I’ve been disappointed by the men in my life so many times but I’ve never been the one doing the disappointing.

How do I apologize for treating him like a jerk when he’d been nothing but understanding towards me?

“Girl, you got us thrown out of a hotel for this guy,” she says, unrolling the last curl with a proud grin. “You’re going. My father has pulled some serious strings to get these invitations at such short notice.”

Gemma did my make-up and is using her new curling wand on my hair and I don’t recognize the woman staring back at me.

“Your father is awesome. Did I say that yet?”

“Many times.” Gemma stoops down so her face is next to mine. “You look beautiful. Hannah, you’re going to blow his mind.”

“You really think so?” I ask, not daring to believe it yet.

“Oh yes,” she says and kisses my cheek. “Come on, the cab will be here soon.

An hour later, we step out of the cab and make our way into the charity function.

We make our way through the chatting, laughing crowd and somewhere along the way a flute of sparkling wine is pressed into my hand. Lots of people approach to greet Gemma but I don’t recognize anyone so I smile politely and take in the beautiful decorations and the delicious smells wafting from another room.

All the while, my gaze shoots around the room looking for the guest of honor.

I spy a number of famous faces.

Angelina and Brad stand sipping wine just a few feet away and I swear I spotted Johnny Depp spitting out something into a napkin and dropping it on a passing waiter’s empty tray.

But no Ted.

“What if he’s not here?” I hiss into Gemma’s ear as we head for the dining room. “What if he just does one of those giant projector speeches from his private island in Hawaii?”

“Then you’d be right about everything. That projector speech bullshit is a dick move.”

Dinner is magnificent.

Grilled fish with shaved zucchini, pumpkin, and some kind of spicy potato.

We share a table with a friendly couple Harrison and Lucinda, who know Gemma’s family and the conversation is distracting enough that I’m not constantly searching the room for Ted.

“So what’s his name?” Lucinda leans over to whisper in my ear.

At my surprised expression she just laughs.

“Oh please, Hannah, your gaze has been flicking around the room all night. Is he here?”

After a moment I nod. “He’s the guest of honor, Ted Donavan.”

Her mouth falls open. “Oh my gosh. He’s one of the most eligible bachelors in L.A.” She lowers her voice conspiratorially. “Did you hit that?”

Just then, there’s a round of applause and I look up to see Ted striding up onto the stage.

My chest gives a little flutter at the sight of him.

He looks amazing in the black tailored suit and black tie and his smile seems to bring life to the whole dining room.

“Thank you so much for allowing me to speak tonight and share my passion. Health care isn’t something we like to think about until we or someone we love falls ill, but it doesn’t make it any less an issue that needs your consideration…”

His deep, yet still gentle voice reverberates around the room and as I glance about, I notice that everyone is held captive by his words.

He speaks about the importance of health care to the community and to the economy then goes on to stress the importance of support for the families of children spending large amounts of time in hospitals.

His words are so passionate and his voice cracks slightly when he goes on to share his own experience when his brother, Liam, was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of five.

I feel tears stinging my eyes and when Lucinda places a hand on my shoulder I see that her eyes are shimmering with her own unshed tears.

No wonder he’s so passionate about this issue.

I feel even guiltier for accusing him of being anything less than a good man.

A good man who worked hard to make himself the successful person he is today and is now donating millions of dollars and nearly all his spare time to fund research and help families cope while supporting a sick child.

I must be a bitch.

I know so little about him but I want to know more.

How is it possible that I managed to attract the attention of possibly the best man in L.A.?

And then screwed it up by accusing him of being just as flaky and dishonest as the other men in my life?

Do I even deserve a second chance?

After everything he’s suffered and everything he does for others, he at least deserved my respect.

After all, it’s not his fault I can’t trust anyone.

But maybe it’s time I started trusting again.

Maybe I’ve missed my chance with Ted, but if I have then it’s my own doing.

If I want to be worthy of a man like him, I need to be a better person myself.

All too soon, his speech is done and after several bows and blown kisses, he disappears into the applauding crowd.

I have to find him.

I need to at least apologize for running out on him and if he’ll let me, I need to tell him, show him that I want what he wants.

I want to try.

Again, it’s impossible to spot him with so many people standing and others moving to the dance floor. I barely hear the live orchestra or the people talking and laughing around me as I move through the crowd.

Then I see him.

It’s as if the crowd parts to show me the way and he’s right there.

My heart thudding in my chest, I make my way towards him. Every step closer makes my stomach flip-flop and my chest pitter-patter.

Should I be casual?

Hey, imagine seeing you here.

Stupid!

Of course he’s here, this is his charity function.

But then…

Our gazes meet and everything goes quiet.

It’s like everyone disappears, leaving just me and Ted facing one another.

I want to look away, to run and hide.

But that’s not why I’m here.

I’m here to be honest with him.

I’m here to tell him how I feel and this might be my only chance.

It’s now or never.

His expression softens, his eyes get darker and his mouth curves into a smile that makes everything inside me vibrate.

I smile back, feeling heat rush up my throat and into my cheeks.

But I don’t hide it.

I let everything show, in my eyes and in my smile I let it all show.

“Teddy, I’m getting tired. Can we go home soon?” The simpering voice comes from nowhere then suddenly there’s a petite, immaculately dressed blonde woman hanging off his arm.

No.

Please no.

And just like that, the crowd rushes back in.

Talking, laughing so loud too loud.

It’s like watching a car crash as she smiles up at him, stroking his arm, and speaking in that annoying baby-doll voice.

Why do men like that so much?

Ted looks down at her then back at me, his expression unreadable.

Of course he’s with someone.

Did I really expect him to wait for me to get my shit together?

Do you really think he just met her?

A nasty voice sneers in my head.

Maybe I’m the other woman…

The thought makes me sick.

I’m the one who broke of any chance for a relationship so I’m the only one to blame.

This is Ted’s night and he deserves to be happy.

I won’t be the one to ruin it.

“Stupid,” I mutter to myself before spinning on my heel and walking away.

I push and squeeze through the crowd, needing to be anywhere but here.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I hear him call my name but I don’t stop.

Outside the cold air is like a slap in the face but I need it.

How many times do I need to make this same mistake before I learn?

I feel my eyes stinging but I blink back the tears.

I’m so sick of crying over men who don’t give a shit about me!

The tears flow all the same and I fall against the wall, staring up at the night sky.

I should text Gemma to tell her I’m leaving but my fingers are trembling so hard I don’t think I can manage to type even the most basic message.

Damn.

Just when I was ready to give my heart away, it is shattered again…

Chapter 15

SLAM!

The doors swing open behind me and I gasp in shock.

“Hannah?” Ted is looking at me like he might gaze at an alien species. “What in the hell are you doing here?”

Shaking my head I back away. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Oh no you don’t,” he barks striding closer, backing me against a wide beam. “You are not going to run away this time.”

I expect him to trap me against the hard stone at my back but he keeps his distance, chest rising and falling hard and fast.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

I promised I would at least say that and I will.

“I’m sorry that I ran out on you, and I’m sorry I was such a bitch that last night. I just came to say – that.”

“That’s all?”

I look down at my feet and nod. “Yeah, that’s all.” After a few deep breaths I meet his gaze again. “Shouldn’t you get back inside? I’m sure your date’s waiting for you.”

He steps closer, closer, till he’s invading my space and assaulting my senses with his spicy aftershave, soap, and a masculine musk that’s just his.

One hand plants against the stone pillar and the other cups my jaw, tipping my face so I have to meet his gaze.

“She’s my mother’s friend’s daughter and she’s my date because I needed to bring one. I wanted to bring someone else, but they kept walking out on me.”

He looks into my eyes then his gaze drops to my lips.

“Me?” I ask in hope.

“You’re going to drive me crazy,” he mutters, then lowers his mouth to mine.

I feel like we have so much to talk about, so much we need to say but when his lips touch mine it all flutters away like so much burnt paper in the wind.

Wrapping my arms around his back I tip my face slightly, raise up on tiptoes and deepen the kiss, earning a deep, vibrating groan from his larger body.

“Yes. You. I want to get to know you, Hannah.”

“I just…”

“No excuses this time,” he moans.

“But I just…”

Ted pulls away then bends, grabs me around the waist and picks me up so I’m hanging over his shoulder.

I let out a shriek and smack at his hard back. “You put me down, right now!”

“We need to talk and I’m making sure that you don’t run away this time.”

“What’s there to talk about? Do you honestly thing we can have a frank conversation while I’m hanging over your shoulder?”

His grip tightens around me and he starts striding towards the Valet.

“Trust me,” he murmurs, one hand settling on my butt. “I won’t let you fall.”

I pout and make an angry sound in my throat but finally relent, relaxing in my position.

As I let the tension ease away, I realize that I do trust him.

I trust him.

I trust a man.

The Valet looks awkwardly between Ted’s face and me, slung over his shoulder like a potato sack.

Clearing his throat the valet says, “Is everything okay, sir?”

“Peachy,” Ted says firmly. “The lady and I need my town car brought around.”

“Yes, sir,” he says and turns away speaking in his earpiece in a hushed voice before turning back with a smile. “It’s coming now, should be here in a few minutes.”

As promised the car slows at the curb near us but it’s only once the car is waiting and Ted has the keys in his hand that he finally lets me down off his shoulder.

His grip on my arm is first to steady me on my feet but when it remains as he unlocks and opens my door, I realize that he’s making sure I don’t run.

“I promise I won’t run away,” I say impatiently and he gently nudges me into the car.

“If you do, I’ll chase you,” he replies and then gives me a look that tells me he fully intends to make good on that threat.

But instead of being annoyed, I smile. “I know.”

In the car he turns the heat on, then the radio, setting it to a soft rock channel and turning it down so we can still talk.

“Do you believe me about Clarissa? I mean, she’s actually a nice person when you get to know her, but she’s just looking for a husband to support her shopping addiction.” He shrugs. “I deserve better than that.”

“You do,” I agree. “And I believe you. I didn’t think I could ever trust anyone again but I want to. I want to trust you and I think you’ve earned it.”

He smiles and leans closer, brushing his lips over mine. “I want to be with you. I know we don’t know each other very well but…” He shrugs. “You’re all I’ve been able to think about since that first night. At first I thought it was just sex – I’ve never done the one-night stand thing before, but then all I could think about was being with you again, seeing you, touching you.”

“I’ve never had a one-night stand either,” I say, so surprised and giddy that I wasn’t just another notch, not even at first. “I think I freaked out because I didn’t know the rules and I was afraid of it turning into more. But then it did and you were all I could think about too.”

“My life is chaos. I haven’t really had time for a relationship but if you want to try, I can make time. You’re worth my time, I’ll accept a whole other level of chaos if it means I can be with you.”

His words bring tears to my eyes.

No-one’s ever said anything so honest or made me feel so important.

That was the problem in my other relationships.

The cheating and mean nature aside, I never felt like I mattered to any of them.

But I feel like I matter to Ted.

“Between the bar and college, my life is crazy too. But the nights we were together were so perfect. It was like I stepped out of time and I didn’t ever want to leave. I think that scared me most of all. The fact that part of me was willing to give it all up for the chance to lay beside you, listen to you breathing, fell your warmth for just a few more minutes.”

He stares at me and I bite my lip under the intensity of his gaze. “Let’s get out of here. I have a semi private island off the coast. You and I are going to spend the weekend together. I want to know everything about you right down to your most embarrassing moments.”

“Yeah, I’m never telling you that.”

“Oh, baby,” he croons leaning closer and flicking his tongue sensually against my parted lips. “I’m going to make you scream it.”

A rush of arousal combines with my giddy laugh. “You’re welcome to try.”

I close the distance and press my lips to his. I know it won’t be easy but I do know that this man is worth the risk.

“Come on,” he murmurs against my mouth. “Let’s run away together.”

I’m smiling as I kiss him back. “Yes.”