The Billionaire's Burden (Key to My Heart #2) (8 page)

Chapter Two

"Eli." I gasped, lips parting and gaping like a struggling goldfish.

He paused, brow creasing just a bit as he cleared his throat, placing a bio textbook in front of me.

"Ah, yep." The blond Adonis murmured, casting a glance at my nametag, "Nice to meet you...Thomas."

I blinked, glancing down at the tag before back at him with a nervous and too shrill giggle, "Not Thomas, Jade." I murmured shyly.

After a moment’s pause, I quickly added, "it's always been Jade, never Thomas."

He arched an eyebrow, shifting his feet as he pushed the book a bit closer to me.

"We're neighbors." I said quickly, "I've heard your name around."

I was just digging my hole deeper and deeper and deeper, soon I would never even see the sky. I grasped at his book, trying to look as casual as possible as I accidentally flicked it off the counter.

Quickly, I bent down to grab it, clearing my throat as I ran it clumsily under the scanner.

"Sixty five." I mumbled timidly, gesturing towards the credit card scanner as he ran his debit card.

After a few more moments of uncomfortable silence and the beep of our slow machine as it processed the transaction, I found myself spilling words again.

"Lucy and I heard your party last night." I said lightly, hoping to score us an invite for the next one, "Lucy, my roommate."

Eli's yellow tinted eyes narrowed on my for a moment, "You heard it?"

I shrugged, nodding, "You have an interesting taste in music." I teased playfully, smiling at him, desperately hoping to ease the strange tension that was suddenly between us. I’d really freaked him out now.

The blond man shrugged, lips pursing into a tense line. He snatched his book from me as he crammed his card back in his wallet, turning to walk away from me just like that.

"Uh..." I watched his sexy back retreat away, just as the card machine finished processing once more, "Eli!" I called after him in confusion, "You forgot your receipt!"

With a frown, I tugged the receipt free of the machine, listening as the front door of the bookstore slammed shut after him.

Was he that pissed that I'd heard his lame music? Or maybe he was upset that I'd insulted it.

"Jade..." I sighed to myself, "You have got to learn some manners."

I flopped down onto the stool, cramming Eli’s receipt into my pocket as I began flipping through my novel once more.

The rest of my shift was boring and easy.

Though I tried my best not to, my mind frequently wandered back to the conversation with Eli Hunter, going over each word one more time, trying to figure out how I could have played it a little cooler.

Why couldn't I be cute and coy just once in my life? Twirled my hair a little or batted my eyelashes, instead I'd looked like a total stalker.

There was no help for me. Eli would probably avoid me for the rest of his time as our neighbor. He'd already gone a year without speaking to us, he would probably go the next few months no problem.

After my replacement clocked in at the bookstore, I was off.

Thankfully, now, my grumbling stomach distracted me from the plight of my humiliation. With a glance at my wristwatch, I headed quickly towards the cafeteria, where Lucy would be waiting for me.

As I walked in, inhaling the scent of day old rice and stew surprise, I caught sight of Lucy's dark brown head among the sea of people happily noshing down on whatever "meat" they loaded into the soup of the day.

Lucy sat quietly, flipping raw broccoli around on the plate in front of her. She'd recently gone total vegan, even going so far as to not eat anything cooked.

“It’s raw or nothing, baby.” She’d told me proudly.

I thought she was crazy, but she seemed to enjoy it. Different strokes.

Loading up a salad, I slid into the cramped table with my roommate.

"Salad?" Lucy said skeptically, arching an eyebrow as she glanced over my greens drowning in pure, blissful ranch. I was more of a French fry and less of a fresh vegetable type of girl.

"Have you looked at the menu?" I shot back, jerking a thumb towards the huge pot of ugly brown stew.

My roommate smirked, shaking her as she viciously bit the head off of a piece of broccoli.

"Ranch?" I said, pushing my salad towards her.

Lucy recoiled as though I'd offer her a huge meaty steak.

With a shrug, I pulled my bowl back towards me.

"How was your test?" I asked, shoveling lettuce and carrots into my hungry mouth.

Lucy had been up all night studying for some class I couldn't remember. I could barely keep my own schedule straight.

The girl leaned forward, dark eyes suddenly blazing, "You would not believe what a jerk the professor was!" She began, "He said the material was only half way through chapter five, but he definitely went up to three quarters!"

Her voice began to fade between my ears as my eyes wandered the cafeteria.

I was making tons of mistakes today, including getting Lucy riled up about her schoolwork. Tomorrow, I was determined to keep my mouth shut. I would go the entire day without speaking.

Mostly, the entire day. Or maybe just the first few hours.

As the crowd of students swarmed around, a familiar, handsome, fair-haired head appeared through the people. I leaned slightly to the side, peering intently.

Like the red sea parting, the students all seemed to drift apart, leaving me with a free path to stare at the glorious face of Eli Hunter.

He sat alone at a table in the corner of the cafeteria, shoveling the stew surprise into his mouth with the veracity of a starving peasant. I'd never seen anyone eat so much so quickly. The guy was going to have a mad case of the hiccups later, though he'd be lucky if he wasn't struck with Montezuma's Revenge too.

Looking over the food offered here, it was pretty clear why Lucy was going vegan. The only thing you could trust to be edible were the things the workers hadn't been trusted to cook, though that was what the school got for hiring students to work in the cafeteria.

"Can you believe that?" Lucy said angrily, slapping her hands on the table and briefly recalling my attention, "That was like an extra ten pages that none of us read!"

"Ridiculous." I murmured offhandedly, nodding my head with the vigor of someone as roused as my roommate.

Fortunately, she was too busy spewing hatred to notice the fact that I was just barely paying attention to her.

Eli, meanwhile, stood up, loading bowl after empty bowl onto a tray as he took it to the dirty dish loader in the corner.

Just as he began to turn, I forced myself to look back at my roommate, nodding vigorously again as though I’d been wrapped in her tale the entire time she’d been speaking. Though words were still spilling from her lips, I had zero idea what she was saying. All of my peripheral senses were locked on my sexy neighbor as he moved elegantly towards the cafeteria exit.

There was absolutely no way I could let Eli know that I was staring at him again. I didn't want to get a restraining order served to me.

"I emailed the dean about it." Lucy concluded smugly, waving a broccoli head at me before crossing her scrawny arms over her chest, "I'm sure he'll understand, at least."

Eli suddenly breezed past us, sweet scent of his masculine musk floating over the table as I inhaled sharply. He’d been so close, I could almost feel the soft cotton of his shirt brush against my elbow.

Lucy didn't even appear to notice, ripping at another piece of broccoli as she began another tirade. This time, the source of her wrath was the smoothie shop, and how she was positive their 16 ounce smoothies were closer to 14.

This girl had to work in the government someday.

"Alright." Lucy sighed once she wore herself out, "I've got to get back to class."

She got to her feet, collecting her things and delicately tucking her ebony hair behind her ears before waving to me.

Soon, I was alone at the table, with nothing left to do but stare forward towards the table Eli had occupied some minutes ago. Under his chair, a textbook rested, seemingly forgotten. I gathered my own things, rushing over to his table as I bent down, picking up the book.

I looked around, frowning, searching the room for a familiar blond head, though I could not see him. I looked down at the text again. It was the very same book he'd purchased from me earlier that morning.

After a moment’s brief hesitation, I tucked it under my arm as I headed after Lucy out of the dining hall. I’d have to return it to him.

I walked towards the parking lot, brushing flyaway strands of hair out of my eyes. Eli's book weighed heavy on my arms.

Staring down at the cover, I ran my fingers over the face of a frog on the cover, basking under sunlight in green grass.

Biology, hm.

I'd never have guessed that was what Eli was into. I would have figured something more like automotive studies, the way he obsessed over his motorbike. He was constantly out there cleaning it, fine tuning it, getting oil splattered all over himself.

Or perhaps he just did it because he knew all the ladies in the neighborhood swooned over watching him toil away in the evening light.

By the time I'd driven all the way home, Eli's jeep was nowhere to be seen. I leaned his textbook up against his door and started to walk away before pausing. Our neighbors could be a little shady though, and probably would have taken it to try to sell or something.

In the end, I picked it up once more, taking it safely into my apartment and setting it on the coffee table. I would return it next time I noticed Eli was home. He'd probably be super creeped out that I’d managed to get my paws on something of his, but at least he would be able to do his homework.

It’d probably be the last time I was allowed within five hundred feet of the man, so I would have to savor the transaction.

I settled down on the couch, opening my laptop as I flicked through the school website. I'd only just begun to start my own homework when I heard the familiar rumble of a red jeep pull into the parking lot in front of our apartment.

Chapter Three

Fumbling to my feet, I smoothed my hands over my shirt, knocking off any stray crumbs that may have been clinging to me.

After grabbing the biology textbook, I carefully peeked through the peephole in search of my gorgeous, blond neighbor. Only seconds later, he bustled past, digging his keys from his pockets.

Taking a breath, I opened the door, poking my head out to look at him.

"Err, Eli?" I said cautiously.

He paused, slowly turning to look at me, his keys still extended towards his door as though he were trying to escape from me. I didn't blame him, he'd seen me way too much in one day.

"...yes?" He said slowly, caramel flaked eyes glancing up and down the hall as though he were hoping someone would walk by and insure his safety.

"I noticed you left this in the cafeteria this afternoon." I shrugged, stepping just far out enough from the door to outstretch the huge book to him.

Eli stared at it for a moment, blinking in surprise before taking it from me.

"Oh." He said simply.

"You're welcome." I added hastily before realizing he hadn't thanked me yet.

Inwardly, I cringed, trying not to groan too loudly.

"Ah, thanks." He said, uncomfortably shifting his feet. His eyes darted back towards his apartment.

"You live by yourself?" I asked, tilting my head. I’d already forgotten that I’d made myself promise not to bother the poor guy any longer than I needed to.

Curiosity however, got the best of me. I'd never noticed anyone else coming or going from his apartment, not even girls, of which there could be plenty.

Eli nodded, slinging the book over his shoulder, "I like my privacy." He said pointedly, eyes narrowing just for a second.

With a clear of my throat, I nodded sheepishly, "Okay, then." I murmured, "See ya."

I ducked back inside my apartment, slamming the door and leaning hard against it.

That conversation could not have been more awkward.

I was a failure at casual conversation, it had never been more apparent. I'd forced that poor, poor man to stand in my company over and over again today as I fumbled over words and appeared to stalk him all over campus. I was sure I'd start seeing posters of my face everywhere, 'Avoid this girl! Considered to be awkward and dangerous!'

Burying my face in my hands, I walked into the kitchen, digging through the counter in search of a bottle of red wine. If there was a day when I needed a glass of the bubbly to pick me up, it was today.

Seconds later, just as I finally dug out a green bottle from the depths of our kitchen, a knock lightly resounded on my door.

A glance at the clock on the wall informed me it was almost time for Lucy to be home, had she forgotten her keys again? She was constantly leaving them on the coffee table, since I left after her and locked the door then.

I walked quickly to the door, pulling it open.

"Luce, I'm going to glue your keys to your fore...head..." I trailed off, lost in the dizzying golden depths of Eli's eyes.

Had he come over to personally inform me of the restraining order?

Eli cleared his throat, visibly uncomfortable as he ran his hand through his shaggy gold locks.

"Jade, right?" He began, nervously shifting his feet.

Wait. Eli Hunter, gorgeous, fit, beautiful Eli Hunter, was nervous in my presence? Or perhaps he was just nervous that I was going to hogtie him and carry him into my bedroom like a caveman.

I could only nod, staring up at him in confusion.

"Jade, I wanted to thank you for getting that book." He said, eyes meeting mine before dropping to his feet, "I'd be dead without it. Big test Friday."

"Of course." I said quietly, afraid if I spoke too loudly it would make Eli go scurrying away.

He was like a frightened little baby deer or something. I had this strange urge to pet his head like at a petting zoo.

"...Can I take you for coffee or something?" He finally sighed, "To say thanks?"

Coffee. Real coffee, not Lucy's coffee, not cheap college cafe coffee. Coffee, coffee. The stuff dreams and miracles are made of.

"Yes!" I said, practically leaping up onto the balls of my feet in excitement.

Eli jerked back slightly, startled by my sudden movement as I planted my feet back solidly on the ground, forcing my face into seriousness.

"Yes." I repeated calmly, "Let me just grab my purse."

With a resolute nod, I slung my bag over my shoulder, prancing after him towards his red jeep, glowing warm under the rays of the sun.

I hopped in the passenger side, gleefully taking in the sights. My car was tiny and super low to the ground, I kind of felt like the king of the jungle way up in the Jeep.

"This is a cool car." I said, still doing my best to keep utterly casual.

Jeep was one of the only makes of cars that I could recognize with ease.

Eli nodded silently, putting in his key as he revved the engine.

"You alright?" I asked, as we pulled down the road. The silence was heavy, almost unbearable.

The wind gusted through the open windows of the jeep, blowing my hair all over my face. I felt like I was flying. Eli remained stiff and uncomfortable beside me, as though he would never relax.

"To be honest," The sexy blond murmured, voice barely audible over the blowing of the wind, "I'm not too much of a people person."

"Oh." I said quietly, frowning at him, "We can just get the coffee to go." I suggested slowly.

I didn’t want him to be uncomfortable. Maybe he had some severe social anxiety or something. I was going to be a psychologist one day, I should be practicing my empathy.

He shook his head, casting half a grin over his shoulder at me, "Nah," He smirked, "I figure with all the staring you've done today, I owe you a good conversation."

A blush bit my cheeks viciously as I stared intently out the window, frowning.

"Hey, now." Eli teased, playfully jabbing at my ribs with his elbow as I pouted petulantly, "I'm buying you coffee, you have to be nice to me."

I laughed, rolling my eyes as I looked back at him.

The sun shone in through the dashboard, illuminating the golden flecks of his eyes and the long, dark eyelashes that framed them. His nose was strong, jaw square, shoulders broad and firm. His tan skin melted into the leather of his seat. His fingers gripped the black steering wheel so tight that they blanched white.

He was still nervous. It was so crazy to perceive that I made him so uncomfortable. Me, little miss plain Jane, made such a gorgeous hunk of man nervous.

Wait.

Was this a date?

Violently, I shook my head, only to receive another frown from the man beside me.

"Are you okay?" It was his turn to ask in concern.

"Wonderful." I replied, smiling at him as though I were the most un-awkward person in the entire world.

The blond man nodded, returning my smile though his eyes crinkled in confusion. He was probably beginning to regret inviting me out about now.

"We're here." He said lightly as we pulled into the parking lot of a tiny little coffeehouse, its pink pastel walls hidden beneath the shade of a lime green ceiling. While the colors were strange, the scent of the brewing coffee practically made me salivate like a hungry animal.

Despite living in this small city for the past two years of college, I'd never even noticed this place before. How one could drive by it and not be blinded, I wasn’t sure.

"How'd you find this coffeehouse?" I asked as he opened my door.

I hadn't even noticed him walking over to my side of the car, I'd been so enthralled in checking out the building.

His burning fingers brushed over the soft fabric of the shirt on my back as I stepped down from the jeep, "A friend owns it." He said with a shrug.

"Wow." I hummed, following him as we began towards the building.

Inside, the colors continued on cheerfully. The walls were painted a shocking yellow, the ceiling golden orange. The tables were a collection of assorted rainbow colors in jewel like tones. I blinked once and then twice, almost wishing I’d brought my sunglasses with me.

People bustled everywhere, most of the tables already taken. I'd never seen a coffee place so crowded before, though judging by the glorious scents surrounding me, I was about to have the best damn coffee I'd ever had in my life.

We settled into a small table in the corner, plastic lined menus already in front of us.

I inhaled sharply, eyes glazing over as I went over the list of different types of coffees and flavors that were available. I'd never seen so many in my life before. I'd always been bad at decisions, this was my worst nightmare. I had to pick something, anything.

"What are you getting?" I whispered furiously, turning my gaze intently back to Eli.

"Eli!" A shrill voice called as a woman all but sprinted over, wrapping her arms around my handsome neighbor, "How are you?" She asked, beaming at him.

The woman was tall and slender, with a fresh from the beach tan and sun streaked strawberry colored hair. She was gorgeous, not too much older than us. When she turned back to me, the shocking blue of her eye shadow matched our table.

"And who might this sweet little dumplin' be?" She cooed, like I was a baby out on my first trip in the world, "Eli never brings his little friends around." She added with a whisper and a wink.

She stuck out her hand, rainbow manicured fingers glinting in the light, "Aubrey." She said, "Nice to meet you."

"Jade." I responded, smiling. This woman's personality was bigger than anyone's I'd ever met, no wonder this place was so bright and cheerful, it had to compete with its owner somehow.

"What can I get you, Jade?" She said, tugging out a small little pad of paper.

Fumbling with the menu, I stared down at the words that seemed to be swirling all over the place, blending together into confusing mess of phrases. There were so many choices!

"Err, vanilla bean cappuccino." I finally sputtered. It sounded good enough. Anything would be better than the coffee I was used to.

"I'm gonna throw in a shot of pumpkin too." Aubrey said as she jotted it down, nodding firmly, "You'll thank me."

I smiled, nodding happily. Sounded delicious to me.

"And an Americano for the stud?" She continued, glancing at Eli.

"Always." He said, crossing his arms over the table.

Aubrey skipped away, heading behind the counter.

"So," I said playfully, hiding a smile behind my hands, "When were you going to tell me that you have no friends?"