The Billionaire's Beloved (Key to My Heart Book 4) (12 page)

Chapter Ten

"Miranda?"

Jerking forward, I almost tumbled off the park bench as my coffee spilled all over the dark blue denim of my knees. I was so damn tired of people sneaking up on me!

With a groan I shot to my feet, wincing as the hot liquid burned my legs. I was lucky that it'd had so much time to cool, or I would have been in some serious discomfort. I would have rather walked around with third degree burns than be hauled back to the hospital.

"Oh god, I'm sorry." Paul knelt in front of me, patting at my legs with napkins he held in one hand. In the other, strangely enough, he held a gigantic chocolate ice cream cone.

He looked so odd in his expensive, tailored suit with dark russet ice cream dripping down his hands, I had to laugh. It started as a low chuckle but exploded into a deep hearted belly of a laugh, shaking through my entire frame.

Sure, it wasn't that funny, but I needed a good laugh and I needed it now. He stared at me quizzically, taking a lick of the ice cream cone.

"Want some?" Paul asked as we sank down together onto the bench. I nodded as the laughter slowly faded, wiping some stray tears from my eyes.

I loved ice cream, especially when it was chocolate. I loved everything chocolate.

Carefully, trying not to spill it on either of us, I delicately tasted the ice cream. I figured it would be bad form to just shove my whole face in it, though that was partially what I really wanted to do.

"How are you feeling?" The blond billionaire asked as we passed the soggy cone back and forth, "You're taking the day off of work?"

With a nod, I wrapped more thin napkins around the base of the cone in an attempt to stay the melting cream, "Doctor's orders." I shrugged.

Paul watched me quietly, eyes churning. I could see his desire to press me for an answer to The Question, I could see how badly he wanted to wrap me in his arms and kiss away my pain.

I just wasn't up to that right now. Not when I had so much thinking to do.

"How's the magazine going to be finished this week without you?" He finally chose as his question, ignoring the topic burning his tongue as best as possible.

I frowned, glancing down the road. In the distance, I could see our office. It sat quietly, though inside it must be bustling. How were they doing?

"Carlos probably has it under control." I shrugged, "He knows what he's doing."

"You're letting him take over for you?" Paul asked slowly, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" I asked in confusion, "He's been an editor, he's worked for the magazine for almost a whole quarter now, I trust him."

"Well, if you trust him." Paul said quietly, crunching off a piece of waffle cone between his pearly teeth, lips smudged brown from the chocolate, "But I sure don't."

I rolled my eyes with a laugh, "Of course you don't, Paul."

Inside, though, my nerves were a little rattled. Paul was never wrong, his instincts had gotten him where he was today, rich and healthy and wise. I would have to go and check in at the office later.

"So do you need company, are you bored?" Paul asked with a grin, "Let me take you out for dinner tonight. Or we can stay in and watch movies?"

In college, that had been my favorite thing to do. I loved the corny scary movies that played late at night. We'd make popcorn and wrap ourselves in blankets and cuddle and giggle. It'd been so fun. It warmed my heart that he remembered that. I wondered if he thought about it as fondly as I did.

"I guess I could do dinner." I said slowly, "What were you thinking?"

Paul held up his hand, silencing me, "Don't you worry about it. I'll pick you up at seven."

He leaned in suddenly, before I could even blink, his warm lips pressing against my own.

Butterflies exploded inside of me, fireworks lighting red behind my eyes. His smell, his taste, the feel of his hand, though a little sticky at the moment, it was all so overwhelmingly wonderful and familiar. His ice cream, forgotten in his hand, dropped to the ground behind us as his arms swooped around my body, squeezing me against his muscled frame as our lips danced.

Finally, he parted, leaving me gasping for breath.

He stood, grinning widely with a wink, "Tonight, Miranda. Seven o'clock, don't forget."

I watched as he walked away, whistling some jaunty tune, his hands stuffed in his pockets. The sun glittered down on the top of his head, illuminating his blond hair like a crown.

With a sigh, I leaned back against the bench, staring at the ice cream as it melted over the green grass. Somewhere, deep inside of me, I still loved that man. But we were different people now, was that love still enough to bind us together?

I suppose I had a date to get ready for.

Before that, though, I had to stop by my office. I needed to know exactly what was going on there. Paul's words had set me a little on edge, but I was still positive that it would be fine. Carlos was efficient and knowledgeable, he could handle everything.

After stopping in the office lobby to wash my hands and make sure I didn't have any chocolate trapped in the corners of my mouth, I rode the elevator up to our office.

"Oh hello, Miranda." Lucinda smiled from her desk, "We weren't expecting you until next week."

"I just wanted to stop by." I said, forcing a bit of cheer into my voice. I wasn't used to being on this side of her reception. I didn't like it.

Moving closer, I leaned against the old wood as her fingers tapped the keyboard keys, "So, how are things moving along?" I asked casually, as though I didn't particularly mind the changes.

"Why don't you go on in and see?" Lucinda said with a jerk of her head towards Carlos' office, "They're about to finish up the afternoon meeting."

Nodding quickly, I walked towards his door, slowing down so I could listen carefully to what was going on inside.

Carlos' deep voice echoed, handing out the weekly assignments. He'd changed up the order a bit, giving people topics they weren't accustomed to, but no one complained and I could only assume that he was doing what he thought was best, or perhaps he’d never taken note of the specificities of how I operated. He couldn’t really be faulted for that, that wasn’t part of his job description.

Other than that, the meeting seemed very typical, aside from the fact that I was not the one in charge.

Moments later, the staff began filing out, welcoming me with smiles and greetings.

"Miranda." Carlos purred, "Won't you step into my office?"

The words hit me with a slight pang, it was I who typically asked that question. I wasn't sure how I felt about this change. Either way, I managed to agree, sliding into his office as he closed the door.

As soon as the wooden frame banged shut, Carlos lifted me into his arms, trapping me against the heavy wood as his mouth moved expertly along my neck, dizzying me with his kiss. I gasped, eyes rolling back, legs wrapping around him instantly. He didn't look like he was as strong as he was.

"Miranda." He moaned against my neck, "I've been thinking about you all day."

He lowered me down so his mouth peppered my face with kisses, lips finally resting against mine, "I couldn't stop. Leaving you this morning was the hardest thing I ever had to do, mi amor."

His hands were everywhere, my mind going blank, hazed over by the lingering taste of his mouth on mine.

"You taste so good." He murmured, kissing me again, "Like...chocolate?"

I laughed, my arms resting gently around his neck.

"How's it going here, is the issue going to be released on time, Carlos?" I asked, gasping as his teeth grazed my collarbone.

Carlos tugged at my shirt, trying to slide his hands against every inch of my flesh, "I don't want to talk about that right now, mi amor," he pouted, "I have missed you so, it will be fine, you know it will be fine."

I nodded uncomprehendingly, distracted by his wandering hands.

Behind us, George knocked timidly on the door, "Um...Carlos...?" he asked, voice muffled by the wood, "I need help again..."

The Latino billionaire groaned, reluctantly untangling, "I'm sorry, mi amor..." he sighed, "I have to be off, you know how this job goes."

Once, twice more his lips melted on mine as he helped me smooth out my now crinkled shirt, "I'll call you later."

As I left the office, I caught sight of myself in the mirror of the lobby, lips just barely swollen red from our kissing. My fingers traced my lips as I walked back out onto the street towards my apartment.

Strangely enough, I was feeling distinctly less satisfied than I was before. Carlos had evaded all my questions, silencing me with his lips. He was cunning, but was it on purpose? Or had he really just missed me that much?

I couldn't keep going between billionaires, stealing their affections and their time. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was doing something wrong, leading them on when only one could win. I’d never been the type to be making out with two men in a day, it wasn’t me, it wasn’t something I could carry on any longer. My choice was fast approaching.

Either way, I had a date to prepare for.

Chapter Eleven

It was promptly seven on the dot when the doorman knocked at my door.

"One second, Jordan!" I called, staring at myself one more time in the mirror for good measure. It'd been a long time since I went on a date with Paul Harris, my college sweetheart, first love of my life, and I was anxious.

So much was riding on this one single date.

If it went poorly, my decision was very well cemented. I'd be marrying Carlos. If it went well, if there was chemistry, if my heart fluttered when he looked at me, then my decision was going to be a lot more complicated.

I swallowed, giving myself an internal pep talk as I walked back to my door, trying to act much more confidant then I was. As the door swung open, I was startled to see Paul there, instead of the doorman.

"I convinced Jordan to let me surprise you." Paul smiled, holding out a bouquet of flowers. Gardenias and daisies, a beautiful combination.

"It's gorgeous." I murmured, burying my nose in the heavenly fragrance, "Let me get these in water real quick. Do you want to come in?"

He nodded, following me into the small space, "It looks great in here." He said in surprise, "Way cleaner than I would have expected of you."

"Oh, well, things have changed." I said smugly, ignoring the fact that Jodie had made the place spotless for me. She may be scary, but she was also Wonder Woman or something, with all that she did in just a few hours. Everything was shiny and sparkly, it was basically a whole new place – especially because I couldn’t find anything anymore.

"So what's on the agenda for tonight?" I asked, smoothing the hem of my dress. I hadn't been sure what to wear, so I'd gone with a purple chiffon sundress and white sandals. Hopefully, that would fit the bill.

Paul stepped closer, hands lingering on my hips, "You look amazing." he said softly, "You always look so stunning."

A blush crept up my neck, tinting my cheeks. Paul's warm fingers ran down the length of my neck, over the burning red as he knelt slightly, pressing his lips tenderly to mine.

"Are you ready?" He asked, lacing his fingers in mine. I nodded, swallowing the thick lump in my throat as I let him lead me from the room.

Paul was a true gentleman, always opening doors and giving such sweet, candy-like kisses. He reminded me what it felt like to be young and in love, looking out of the world through rose colored glasses. Though, perhaps, that was just because of our history. Perhaps all of this was just a still burning reminder of what could have been, another fantasy that we were living in.

"Are you enjoying your vacation?" He asked lightly as he said goodbye to Jordan.

I nodded, listening as our in time footsteps clicked along the sidewalk together, "It's nice, I suppose, to have a break."

"You're dying to get back aren't you?" Chuckled the blond billionaire, wrapping his arm around my waist, "You always were a go-getter."

I smirked, looking down. Our shadows danced along in front of us, intertwined and bobbing, "Where are we going, Paul?" I asked, staring around us. I often went this way, though I'd never noticed any restaurants down this path.

The billionaire just looked straight ahead, coy smirk on his lips as his fingers tapped along my hip, holding me close against him.

Moments later, bright lights seemed to descend from the heavens, blinding me. Round and round the lights flashed, children’s' laughter bubbling everywhere, strong sent of candy and fried food flowing.

"A fair?" I breathed as Paul tugged me inside. I hadn't been to a fair since we were freshman. It’d been our first date, our first kiss was right on top of the Ferris wheel. I still sometimes dreamed about that night, the way his blue eyes gazed at me.

We dashed under a red cordoned section, where no one else dared step in. The attendants beamed at us, handing me a giant glob of cotton candy. Tonight, the fair was just for us.

"Oh, Paul..." I murmured, staring up at him. Warm, sweet feelings gushed over me, like I was made out of funnel cake.

"Come on, let's ride some of these things." he laughed, tugging me over to a strange looking ride that spun in circles.

For what seemed like forever, we rode the attractions, filled our tummies on terrible, greasy, delicious fried concoctions and giggled like the school children we once were. Our hands clung together, never parting for more than a few moments at a time. Each time we separated, my fingers felt the ache of his touch’s departure.

At the end of the night, Paul gently tugged me to the Ferris wheel, empty except for one waiting seat.

"Come on, Miranda." He said with a wide grin, "One more ride."

I nodded, allowing the blond billionaire to guide me into the seat. As we rose higher and higher into the sky, the outline of the city glowed beneath us. Lights flickered joyously, watching us. We went up and up and up, so close to the stars I was positive I could reach out and snag one.

Paul sat beside me, his warmth rolling onto me like waves. I snuggled into his side, my head resting on his shoulder, our fingers playing together as his arm wrapped warm around my shoulder.

"Miranda." he whispered, tipping my chin so I faced him. My name leaving his lips, dripped in such honeyed love and tenderness, made a slow shudder crawl down my spine. I could not deny how deeply I cared for this man, I could not deny how much I loved being wrapped in his arms or basking in his gaze. He adored me, I could tell. But was that enough? We hadn't spoken in years, while I'd spent every day with Carlos. Carlos knew me, knew how I liked my lunch and how deeply I enjoyed my work. What did Paul know about me? Would we be compatible?

My thoughts were quieted as our lips brushed warmly, goosebumps exploding over my flesh, arms wrapping tight around one another. My heart thundered, threatening to leap right off the edge of the seat as we came to a rest at the very tip top of the Ferris wheel.

"Miranda, come back to my place tonight." He said gently, "Let me show you where I'm staying, where I'm going to be living from now on."

"You're staying here?" I asked, pulling back just slightly from his lips, "You're done overseas?"

He nodded, one hand cupping my face, drawing me back in, "I can work from here, there's no where I want to be other than with you. I need nothing but your kiss, your love. I'll do anything to prove that to you."

His words echoed in my ears, sincerity dripping from each syllable that left his skillful tongue. I knew that the meant what he said, I knew that right now, he wanted to love me forever. But we hardly knew each other anymore, the thought of marrying him, of even marrying Carlos, still made my stomach twist in despair. I didn't want to tie myself down, but right now, I had no choice. I had to save the magazine and I would have to sacrifice my last name to do so. How would I choose who to dedicate myself to? Which man suited me more, which man would treat me better, which man would keep me happy? I wanted so badly to know the future, to know what kind of outcome was just around the corner.

Jerkily, the Ferris wheel began to drop down, lowering us out of the sky and back to earth, back to reality. I wasn't ready for the ride to be over quite yet.

"I'll come back with you tonight." I said quietly, my mind made up for the evening, but not for the rest of my life, "If we can go one more time around."

He waved to the attendant as we passed him, the stars welcoming us back into their embrace.

If this was a dream, if this was a fantasy, I wanted nothing more than for it to last just a few kisses longer.