Kissing Keith: A Billionaire Younger Man Romance (Rose City Romance Book 1)

by Lucy Robin

  “That means he’s interested in you and would like his children to interview you,” Bella says, with a bit of sarcasm.

  “Exactly,” I say as I roll my eyes. “I haven’t agreed to it yet. Not sure I’m ready to be the mom of a seven-year-old.”

  Audrey laughs. “It isn’t easier than negotiating with your clients, and it does require wits and patience. And it’s no less rewarding.”

  “Does he approve your job?” Bella asks. “To my understanding, he wants a stay-home mom for his kids.”

  “I don’t know. He didn’t say much about it. We mostly talked about high school and his family and his business.”

  “That’s a sign he’d want you to quit your job,” Bella warns.

  “It isn’t necessarily bad,” Audrey counters. “Elena was just thinking about quitting anyway.”

  Bella quirks an eyebrow. “You were? What happened?”

  I don’t want to speak of last night again, so I say to Audrey, “What don’t you tell her?”

  Chapter 18

  Keith

  The moment I step into my office, I see the white envelope on the floor. I recognize the handwriting right away—it’s from Elena.

  Shit. I know what it is. She’s resigning again. I tear the envelope open and pull out the sheet of paper. A quick glance confirms my suspicion. Instead of waiting until the end of the month, she tells me she isn’t coming back. I rush out of my office and goes to her desk. Nothing is on it. The drawers are all empty. I stride across the hallway into Diana’s office. “Have you seen Elena?”

  She gives me a strange look. “She quit.”

  “Shit. Why did you let her go?”

  She glares at me. “Do you think I want her to go? I should be asking you the question. Why do you push her away?”

  “What’re you talking about?” I feel sheepish. Does she know what happened between Elena and me? I hope not. I’m positive there isn’t any security camera around in the office.

  “She says she can’t work for you.”

  “What else did she say?”

  “You’re too demanding.”

  “What the hell does it mean?”

  “I don’t know. That’s all she says. I guess she prefers the old way of doing things, like most of us.”

  Now she’s using Elena to attack me on my “unreasonable” requirement of building websites. I huff, knowing it isn’t the reason Elena quit. She was willing to comply with my request. I know the real reason, but I can’t tell Diana.

  I return to my office and plunk into my chair, thinking about how I will get her back. I can’t afford to lose her now, not after Ricky’s phone call Friday night, the night I… nearly fucked Elena again. Holy hell. I remember how good her mouth felt on my dick. I was mad when I found out she was gone despite the good news Ricky told me. I called her, but she didn’t answer.

  I take a deep breath to direct my attention back to business. Over the phone, Ricky mentioned Elena, saying he wanted her to be his chief sales officer.

  When I asked him why he said someone recommended her to him. He had also done some research and found out she had an impressive sales record last year.

  I was thrilled to hear that, especially I already had the plan to let Elena be in charge if I got the deal. Ricky was glad to hear that, and just like that, I got the deal.

  I was looking forward to sharing the news with Elena. I texted her at least five times that night, and again over the weekend, but she didn’t respond. I thought I would speak to her the first thing in the morning today, but only found out she wasn’t even here. She’s gone, out of my life, again.

  Perhaps our first brief encounter didn’t count as being together, but even so, it took me many years to forget her or to temporarily forget her. Why does she have such a profound power over me? She’s just a woman. Not that different from any other woman I know—except that she has a talented mind and a gorgeous body. Once again, I recall her brilliant hazel eyes that would draw me to dreamland if I gaze into them too long; her lips that seem to have remote control over my dick; her scent that provokes my dirty thoughts; and voice that turns on my hormones. Fuck, Keith, get a grip. What to do? If only I hadn’t let my dick direct my action, Elena would still be here. Shit. I screwed it again.

  The phone in the common office area rings. I hear someone answering it. “Just a minute. Let me ask.”

  A moment later, a young woman speaks outside Diana’s office. “Excuse me, Diana. Someone’s asking about Elena Conte’s seminar this afternoon. Is it going to be held at all? I know she quit.”

  “Yes,” Diana answers. “She’ll be there. And it’ll start at two.”

  I spring to my feet and dash out of my office, nearly colliding with the woman. I apologize as I make my way into Diana’s office. “Where is the seminar gonna be?”

  She rolls her eyes and doesn’t speak.

  “Please, Diana. This is important. I have to speak to her and convince her to come back.”

  “Lacy Park Golf Club,” she says, glaring at me.

  I grin. “Thanks! I owe you one.”

  Chapter 19

  Elena

  I’m in the community park, getting ready for my seminar on downsizing homes. I’ve been preparing for this event for two months, ever since Nonna’s friends asked me for advice.

  The club’s recreation room is full of seniors, most of them are couples. Nonna is speaking loudly to Stella. They aren’t planning to sell their houses but are here to provide me moral support. I’ve given many seminars before, but mostly to young, potential first-time buyers, and I don’t really know what to expect with seniors who are about to leave their dear houses. I assume there isn’t as much excitement but a lot of emotions because it’s a sensitive topic. There are fear, anxiety, and the unknown future awaiting them in senior housing. On top of that, they worry about how to remodel their probably old-fashioned houses to appeal to the taste of the younger generation.

  To make the experience more comfortable, I’ve ordered bagels and coffee. I’ve also invited representatives from local retirement communities and senior move managers. I hand out everyone a name tag sticker as well. I also abandoned my original plan of a PowerPoint presentation. Instead, I speak to them in a casual conversational manner.

  I briefly guide my audience over the steps, including how to choose the next residence, plan and prepare the move, and what to do with items they value so much and yet take too much space to keep. Finally, I hand out flyers and my business cards to them in case they want to sell their houses.

  After that, I go around each table to ask for specific questions and answer them aloud so everyone can hear me.

  “My biggest concern is being my age, how am I going to handle the moving? As far as I know, the moving companies only move your furniture or boxes to your new place, and I still have tons to do.”

  I nod and glance at her name tag. “Ruth. I totally understand your concern. Even to a younger person, moving is daunting. That’s what senior move managers are for. They are professional movers who are trained to move seniors, and they do everything from helping you to plan your downsizing to putting everything in place after moving you to your new residence, including hanging your towel onto the towel rack.”

  As Ruth lifts her eyebrows, I point to Jack, a senior move manager that I invited to the seminar, and let him take over the talk.

  I lean against the wall and relax a bit. Everything seems to be going well.

  And then I meet a pair of blue eyes in the back. My heart does a flip-flop instantly. Keith. Damn. When did he come in? I was absorbed in my talk I didn’t even notice him. Shit. Of course I didn’t. He’s wearing a baseball cap, clearly disguising himself by pretending to be a senior. Otherwise, I would’ve spotted him and asked him to leave.

  I take a deep breath to keep myself from falling apart. What happened Friday night flashes back immediately. I feel hot and involuntarily start to fan myself with a flyer I’m holding.

  I look around
to find distractions. When I see a guy waving his hand and beckoning me, I quickly go to him as if he’s my lifesaver.

  “Hi, my name is Dan, and I’m a broker at Century 21 on Lake Avenue. I normally specialize in commercial properties, but I’m here with my dad.” He stands up and shakes hands with me.

  “Nice to meet you.” I shake hands with him and the elderly gentlemen sitting next to him.

  “It’s a great seminar. I actually learned a lot from you. So you’re working for Prestige?”

  “Well, actually…” I stammer as I realize Keith is standing right next to Dan, and staring at him with hostility. “I used to work for them. I just haven’t had the time to print new business cards yet.”

  “Oh, so are you saying you’re independent now?”

  “I wish,” I say, blushing a bit. “I haven’t taken my broker exam yet, and it’s been years since I finished my courses. I’m looking for a new broker.”

  “Perfect!” Dan grins. “I would love to have you join my team. Like I said, I do mostly commercial properties, but I want to expand my service to residential as well, and I need a strong leader to...”

  He hasn’t had the chance to finish his sentence when Keith interrupts him. “Elena hasn’t quit yet. She’s mine, and I won’t let her go.”

  I gasp when I hear that. Did he just say I was his? How dare he!

  Dan gapes at Keith for a moment, clearly startled by his audacity as well. But he quickly composes himself. “Excuse me. I don’t believe we’ve met.”

  “I’m Keith Kelly, owner of Kelly Group.”

  Dan’s frown turns into a smile right away and holds out a hand. “I’m Dan Smith. It’s a pleasure to meet you! I’ve heard about you a lot. You’ve built yourself a company from scratch and expanded it into an empire in just five years.”

  Keith gives a tight smile and shakes Dan’s hand. “Well. Your performance is impressive, too.”

  As they start chatting, I’m sizzling with anger. The jerk has just turned down a job offer for me! What gave him the right to do it? Not that I’m desperate for a place to hire me, but still. I want to tell Dan that I’m interested in working with him, but I see another hand waving and have to walk away. I will contact him when I get a chance.

  I’m walking towards my car with Nonna when Keith once again materializes.

  “Elena, wait, please. Come back to me!”

  Nonna stares at him for a few seconds, and then she looks at me with her mouth hanging open, waiting for me to explain.

  I ignore them and keep walking

  “Elena. Honey,” Nonna stays where she is. “There is a hot, young man begging you to go back to him, and you’re just going to walk away?”

  I roll my eyes. “It’s not what you think, Nonna. He’s, he was my boss.”

  “Even better. Hot boss!” She winks at me.

  “Get in the car, Nonna!” I shout as I open the passenger door for her.

  She ignores me but turns to look at Keith. “Hi, I’m Mia, Elena’s grandma.”

  Keith blushes. “Nice to meet you, Mia. I…uh, don’t mean to be rude. But I really need Elena to work for me.”

  “What’s the reason?”

  I can’t believe it. Are they having a conversation? “Nonna! I’m going to go home without you if you don’t get in the car.”

  “Go ahead,” she says to me. “Keith will give me a ride, right?”

  What? What’s just happened?

  “I’ll be glad to, Mia. But I’ll have to speak to Elena for a second.”

  His blue eyes bore into mine. I sigh. “Okay. Spill. You have thirty seconds.” I stare at my watch, only because I don’t want to be bewitched by his eyes.

  “Listen, the developer of Roseville, Ricky Rizzo, called the other day, and he offered me the deal, but he requested you to be the sales agent.”

  My eyes widen, and I forget to count the time. I blink as my brain processes the information. “Why?”

  He blinks as well as if my question is absurd. “Because you’re a great agent.”

  I’m flattered despite my annoyance, but I stifle a smile. I’m thrilled by the news although also a tad disappointed because the reason Keith is after me isn’t me, but the deal.

  “So what do you say?” he asks, unaware of what’s happening in my head.

  I glance at his intense eyes for just a second, shiver, and look away quickly. “I…err, don’t know. I have to think about it.”

  Nonna huffs. “Muffin, this is not the time to think. It’s time to act. Even I know this is a rare opportunity. You’ll make a pot of money. You can still quit after this.”

  Keith opens his mouth to speak, but probably thinks the better of it and remains silent instead.

  “I’ll call you later,” I say.

  “Okay.” He smiles and reaches to touch my shoulder. “I’ll be waiting.”

  It isn’t after I pull out of the golf club’s parking lot I’m able to get those annoying blue eyes out of my mind. “Why does Mr. Rizzo want me?” I mumble as I drive. “Wait a minute. Nonna. What’s Paola’s last name?”

  Her mouth falls open.

  “No way!” we say simultaneously.

  Now I don’t really have a choice. If I turned Keith down, Paola might be pissed.

  Chapter 20

  Elena

  After dinner, I linger in the living room and watch Seinfeld on Netflix with Nonna. I still haven’t called Keith yet, although I’m pretty sure I want to go back to Prestige. My stomach churns as soon as I remember the ordeal. I’ll probably just send him a text.

  Nonna yawns as she turns off the TV.

  “Hey, I’m still watching,” I complain.

  “It’s time to go to bed,” she says.

  “Why? I don’t have anything to do tomorrow.”

  “Aren’t you going to go back to work? You still haven’t called your boss yet?”

  I grunt.

  “Elena, what’s the matter with you? Why did you quit in the first place?”

  Oh no. I haven’t told Nonna about Keith being the person who destroyed me twelve years ago.

  But now, I feel that I have to pour it out, so she wouldn’t think I’m a bum avoiding work.

  “He’s the person who talked me into kissing him at that party twelve years ago,” I say.

  Her jaw drops. “And then boom boomed you and accused you of taco tackling him?”

  Jeez. My Nonna’s language makes me blush. I nod. “Now, you know why.”

  “Well, muffin,” she sits back down, wrapping me in her arms. “Why were you keeping it all to yourself? Why didn’t you quit sooner?”

  I go on and tell my Nonna everything, including the picnic at the park, the restaurant encounter and the office make out.

  “Wow,” she says, she lets go of me and fans herself with her hand. “It’s so hot. Hotter than any anything I’ve seen on TV lately.”

  “Nonna!” I protest. “You’re not helping!”

  “Okay. Okay.” She thinks for a second. “Actually. This Keith guy doesn’t seem that bad. The fact that he had the ability to make a woman come with just a kiss says a lot about him. He’s got to have a rare talent. He’s also determined to have you back.”

  What? Is she serious? I recall the way Nonna looked at Keith at the parking lot this afternoon. She was smitten by him! “You’re a traitor, Nonna!”

  She laughs. “Relax, Elena. Listen. When it comes to men, I have a good sense. I knew your grandpa was a keeper, and I knew your dad wasn’t. This Keith, he’s got it bad for you even after what happened between you and after so many years. We can trust him.”

  “What’re you talking about?” I’m so flushed that I speak in a loud volume I seldom use in front of my grandma. “He’s just a player, Nonna!”

  “No, he isn’t. He doesn’t have the look of a player.”

  “The look? What is it?”

  “Well. I can’t describe it. But I know it when I see it. Keith doesn’t have it. The way he looked at you—oh God. My pa
nties almost melted.”

  I roll my eyes. “Okay. That’s it. We’re talking about whether I should go back to work for him. Not whether he’s a player or a keeper or how hot he is.”

  “You keep denying it, muffin, and you end up with Gianni.”

  “Wait. I thought you liked Gianni.”

  She shrugs. “That’s before I met Keith.”

  God help me.

  I’m still rolling my eyes when my phone rings. I glance at it. It’s Keith. My heart nearly leaps out of my chest, but I don’t reach for the phone.

  Nonna sighs. “Answer it, for God’s sake! You’ve made the poor guy wait long enough.”

  I glare at her and don’t move.

  She grabs the phone from the coffee table and presses a button. Before I can stop her, she answers it in a coquettish voice. “Hi, Keith! Elena’s busy. But don’t go away. She’ll be with you in a minute.”

  She then hands the phone to me, mouthing the word, “Talk to him!”

  I snatch the phone from her hand and stomp into my bedroom.

  I close the door. “Hi, Keith,” I mutter, and then I pause to think about what to say.

  “Hi Elena,” he says, clearing his throat. “I’m sorry to call you so late, but I’m just wondering whether you’ve made your decision.”

  In the silence of the night, his voice is calm and husky, making me tingle all over my body.

  “Yes,” I say without hesitation. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He pauses for a moment, and then I hear him exhale. “Thank you,” he says.

  “You’re welcome,” I mumble, feeling flattered that my decision means so much to him. “I’m sorry to make you wait.”

  “Not at all,” he says. “I’m, uh, sorry about the other night. I don’t know what came over me. I promise I won’t do anything like that again…”

  “That’s okay,” I say. “I could’ve stopped you.” Shit. Why did I say that? Now he thinks I wanted it. Did I want it?