by Krista Lakes
I hurried across the big, wooden back porch and down toward the water. Silver and black waves whispered to the shore as I approached, and I relished the squish of the warm sand beneath my bare feet. I took a deep breath in of delicious salty air and let it out slowly. This was a good place. Even if I was an idiot. At least he hadn't fired me.
The wet sand was cooler and more firm as I dipped my feet into the water. The ocean sighed and washed around my ankles, welcoming me to go deeper. In the distance, back on the island and away from the water, a frog croaked out a love song, filling the night with chirps that merged with the soft hush of the waves.
I glanced back at the giant house to see a light turn on in one of the upper windows, yellow and warm in the dark. I didn't recognize the position of the room from our tour and assumed it must be “The Study.” I giggled. I was even thinking of it in quotations, like it was incredibly important and secret.
I wondered what the billionaire was doing this late at night, other than throwing out broken surfboards. I didn't actually know much about him. Sure, I of course had Googled him, but even the internet knew remarkably little about the reclusive billionaire. His two partners had several pages of information, but not him.
I knew he and his two partners, Leo and Gabriel, had started an online dating service together. Kindling Romance- let us start the fires of love! I had seen their advertisements everywhere. If I hadn't been with Chad, or burned so badly by Chad, I would have considered using them myself. They were apparently the best dating website around.
I stepped out further into the water, stopping when the water hit my knees. I wiggled my shorts up a few more inches to keep them from getting wet. It was so peaceful and calm out here. For the first time in months, I felt my shoulders drop from my ears and the frown ease from my face. Even after the debacle of trying to tackle a billionaire, I finally felt like myself again. Like I didn't have to keep up a happy face just because it was expected.
Squishing my toes in the bottom of the ocean, I let out the tension I hadn't even realized was there. I hadn't worried about the business at all today. I hadn't looked over my shoulder for my ex-boyfriend all day. I didn't worry about him showing up and ruining my good mood. Things were good, he was far away, and I could finally relax.
Dammit. I was thinking about Chad again. I needed to stop that. He would have called me stupid for trying to help a billionaire save money anyway.
I shook my head. This wasn't the place for thinking of people who didn't want me. This was a place to relax and recover. Here, I was free. The ocean was washing me clean so I could start over. The money and prestige from this job would get Fairchild Auctions and Appraisals back on track. It might even give me enough to book my ticket to Paris.
The thought of Paris made me smile. This could be just the thing I needed. The thing that would get me going again. Finding out about Chad had nearly ruined me, but I was strong. This job could pay for my Paris trip and give me the best fresh start a girl could ask for.
With happy thoughts buoying me, I turned around to head for bed. The giant mansion welcomed me back from the water as I reluctantly left the ocean behind me. The sand felt warm after the cool of the water.
The curtains over the lit window shifted and I saw a silhouette move away from the edge of the window. I shook my head. He couldn't possibly have been watching me walking out in the waves and moonlight. If he did, he probably thought I was an idiot for being out there in the dark.
Mr. Belrose's intense blue-gray eyes flashed through my mind. After our spectacular encounter, it was hard to imagine him helping people fall in love. He must handle the business end, I thought. His partners must handle the romance. He probably wouldn't know love if it hit him over the head with a baseball bat.
I giggled a little at the thought of a world-traveled billionaire watching me from his window like a love-struck teenager. As if. I was a small-town girl with no stamps in my passport and the exact opposite of high society class. I appraised things for high society, I didn't join them. Not to mention, I had just tried to tackle him in my bare feet. I had to be the farthest thing from interesting to him.
I shrugged and climbed the wooden steps back up to the house, collecting my shoes at the door. A yawn the size of Texas cracked my jaws. For now, it was time for bed, not for musings on what a billionaire found or didn't find interesting. Tomorrow would be a new day.
At least I'll know who my boss is tomorrow, I thought.
Chapter 4
The room was made of fuzzy gray shapes and indistinguishable shadows. My breath came in short gasps. I sat up, confused and panicked for a moment before remembering where I was. As soon as I remembered I was sleeping in a billionaire's mansion alongside the Caribbean ocean, I sighed and laughed a little at myself. Leave it to me to freak out about sleeping somewhere too nice.
I tried to lay back down, but just settling back against the perfectly-stuffed pillows made me antsy. The bed was too soft and the blankets too fancy to be comfortable. I didn't deserve three-million thread count sheets or sleeping underneath what I suspected was a Picasso. I was not billionaire material. I wasn't even Chad material.
Besides, I was ready to get started. I needed to show Mr. Belrose that I wasn't just a wanna-be football player who tackled random billionaires taking out the trash. The day was going to be full of exciting work and I didn't want to wait. Not that I could get anything done until Dad woke up, as we had to go over our plan for dividing up the work, but I still couldn't just lay in bed. It was like asking me not to peek out at the tree on Christmas morning.
I padded over to the window, the wood floors cool on my bare feet. My messy reflection greeted me in the glass. Auburn hair all tangled and messy fell over my shoulders and green eyes peered back at me. I frowned and pulled my red hair back into a untidy pony-tail to deal with later. Dawn was on her way, with the gray skyline lightening and heralding her impending arrival. The clouds were tinged with pink and reflecting in the quiet ocean waves.
I remembered how good the water had felt around my legs last night and grinned. Sunrise with my feet in the ocean was the perfect way to start a day. If the water had been beautiful in the moonlight, I could only imagine how amazing it would be in the first golden rays of the day.
I hurried down the stairs and out onto the wooden deck, pausing for a moment before going outside. I was only wearing a thin, white, jersey-knit t-shirt and a pair of old blue boxers covered in pale pink hearts that were once part of a pajama set—not exactly appropriate attire for company. I peered out the window and didn't see anyone.
I shrugged and stepped out. If anyone saw me this early, they would most likely be in pajamas themselves. Besides, I didn't want to go back up and change and possibly miss the sunrise.
The sand was cool against my feet, but still just as soft. It was colder now that the night had the chance to cool the world, but it was still far warmer than the freezing temperatures of home. I considered getting a light jacket, but that would entail going back upstairs. Instead, I just wrapped my arms around myself and hurried to the water.
The sun wasn't up yet, so the water was dark and colder than last time, but I didn't care. It was still exhilarating. The sky was turning a vibrant shade of pink and every wave was tipped with the warming color. I was in for a magnificent sunrise.
A noise behind me made me turn. Coming down the beach, carrying a long surfboard looking thing and a paddle, was a billionaire. Wearing a skin-tight, full-body wetsuit that showed off just how in shape he was, he looked hotter than the sun that was supposed to come up any moment. His light brown hair was tussled with sleep, but his eyes were bright. And on me.
“Hi,” I stammered as he entered the water, eyes still on me. “Good morning...”
What exactly was one supposed to say when meeting a billionaire in one's pajamas while standing in the ocean at dawn? After trying to tackle him the night before? Not to mention that my very sheer shirt was highlighting just how cold I was. I ti
ghtened my arms around my chest, hoping that I had myself appropriately covered.
“I don't usually see anyone out here this early,” he replied, stopping a polite distance away. It was still closer than I felt comfortable with, especially with the wetsuit showing off his broad shoulders and toned ass. The wetsuit, if anything, accented his perfect build rather than hiding it. I almost would have preferred him to be wearing a normal swimsuit because it would have let my imagination stop putting him together. “Are you going to try and take my board again?
“No, not until later,” I replied, blushing straight down to my toes. I wasn't going to let him get to me today, though. I was a strong, independent woman. Or at least I was going to pretend to be one. “I only tackle billionaires at night. I'm actually more of a morning person. I like sunrises, and long walks on the beach.” I didn't mean to quote one of his commercials, but there it was. I really needed to learn to think before I spoke sometimes.
Mr. Belrose's brows raised and his eyes met mine. Butterflies started dancing in my stomach. There was no reason for me to feel this giddy nervousness, but I couldn't help it. For whatever reason, I wanted him to like me and standing out in my pj's quoting his company's commercials sounded incredibly lame. I was an idiot.
He half-grinned, thankfully finding me amusing.
He nodded toward the horizon. “This is a good place for sunrises.” His gaze went past me and up toward the horizon and his grin shifted into an all out smile.
I turned my head from him to see a golden ball of fire rising up over the dark blue water. The sky was awash in blues, pinks, golds, and oranges that stole my breath away. It was possibly the most stunning sunrise I had ever seen.
I glanced over at him again. The sunlight was bathing him in total glory, accenting the strength of his cheekbones and the golds in his hair. His shoulders were relaxed as he soaked in the morning light, absorbing it's radiance. His smile was almost brighter than the sun and just as beautiful. When he smiled, it was better than the sun coming up. It made my heart beat faster and my stomach make strange knots.
I looked away, turning back to watch the bright ball rise further until I couldn't bare to look at it anymore. Feelings of hope and renewal flowed through me. This is the way to start a day, I thought to myself. Almost better than coffee.
After a moment, I shifted my weight in the water, feeling awkward. “So, are the waves any good for surfing?” I asked, looking over at the billionaire and motioning to the board floating in the water beside him.
He looked over at me surprised, as if he had forgotten that I was there. The brilliant smile was gone, but so was the sternness I remembered from the day before. Out here, he looked like a young man excited for the day. Even the scar down his cheek was less pronounced. He was friendly in the morning light, as if he hadn't had time to harden.
“The waves here aren't big enough for surfing,” he patiently explained. “I paddle-board.” He grinned, threatening to reveal that brilliant smile again, as he held up the paddle. “Best way to greet the day.”
I looked at his board. It looked like a surfboard, but just a little different. The fact that he had a long paddle that looked like it belonged more on a kayak also suggested something I wasn't familiar with.
“I've never actually done that,” I said slowly.
“You're welcome to join me,” he offered. “There's extra boards in the shed.”
“I'm not exactly dressed for swimming.” I blushed, looking down at my boxer shorts and seeing the pale pink hearts darkening on the hem from the ocean water. “Is that how you broke your board?
His eyes looked me up and down, taking in my thin pajamas and just how tight I was holding my arms close. I could have sworn his pupils dilated, and just thinking that they did made me blush harder.
“No,” he said shaking his head. “That board got hit by a boat.”
“I hope you weren't on it,” I said when he didn't offer anymore information.
He regarded me quizzically for a moment before shaking his head slightly. “No, I wasn't. I was driving the boat.”
“Oh.” I smiled and nodded, hoping like hell that the pink sunrise was at least partially hiding my blush. It was really hard not to stare at his muscles under his wetsuit. Good lord, he was built. “Then maybe I'll take you up on your offer to paddle-board, but I'll remember not to go out on a boat with you. Or at least not be on a paddle-board when you're sailing.”
I looked up to see the corner of his lips twitched, hinting at his own amusement.
“As long as you don't tackle me again, I promise not to hit you with a boat.” He kept his face straight, but his eyes twinkled. I couldn't help but smile back.
He nodded politely and stepped away. Pulling his board close to him, he then lay down on his stomach and began paddling out into deeper water.
It only took a moment before he rose first to his knees and then up to standing in a graceful motion I knew must have taken months of practice. Even from where I was standing, I could see his abs and arms working with the strength needed to push him through the water. It was easy to see how he stayed in such good shape if he did this every morning. It looked like a full body workout.
I watched him for a moment, enjoying seeing his finesse and strength in the water, until I realized that I was staring again. Somehow I managed to blush even more, especially knowing that I could have happily watched him all day. I was a creep, but at least I knew it.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Now that the sun was up, it was warmer but my pajamas were still thin and getting wet. My stomach rumbled, reminding me that dinner had been a long time ago and Charlotte had mentioned something about breakfast in the morning.
Reluctantly, I turned and headed back to shore. At the base of the deck was a little freshwater shower that I used to rinse the sand and salt from my legs before climbing the stairs back inside. I looked out at the water as I finished rinsing, surprised to see Mr. Belrose looking back at me.
He grinned, and the blush that had finally faded came roaring back. I bit my lip, determined not to make a complete fool of myself and hurried inside, nearly colliding with a giant wall of man. Elijah avoided me easily, making sure that I didn't run into him or the door in my attempt to stop the collision. He chuckled, shaking his head.
My face was burning now, knowing that not only was the stealthy body guard chuckling at me, but Mr. Belrose had seen the whole thing. I mumbled an apology and scurried up to my room to put on real clothes and hopefully fade my blush before my skin permanently matched my hair.
Chapter 5
I glanced at the map as I hurried through the maze of rooms. I was fairly sure that the kitchen was two more rooms to the right, but every room had the same opulent extravagance. Gilded frames and antique furniture all meshed together until every room looked the same. It was all about the display of wealth. It made it hard to distinguish what room I was in without physically checking the art hanging on the walls. Since the map didn't have that information, I had already gotten turned around once.
I finally just followed the smells of cooking and coffee. It was two rooms to the right and one to the left. Once in the kitchen, though, I finally felt like I was where I belonged.
The mansion's kitchen felt like it had been decorated by someone else. It's simple, rustic charm didn't match the rest of the house. That isn't to say that it wasn't luxurious, huge, or full of gourmet items, but that it didn't feel pompous or overbearing. Of all the rooms in the giant mansion, the kitchen actually felt like one that people lived in rather than a museum.
Leaning against the center island with a bright red mug that said, “If this cup is full, don't bother talking to me” was Charlotte. She was happily chatting away with a heavyset woman in an apron who was bustling around the kitchen cooking something that smelled absolutely divine.
“Good morning, Ava,” Charlotte greeted me, a welcoming grin spreading across her face. Her dark hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail and s
he wore a crisp short sleeved, polka-dot shirt with the cutest skirt I had ever seen. “I wasn't expecting anyone up for a little while yet.”
I grinned back. “I wanted to see the sunrise. I'm very strange and happen to like mornings.”
“Just like her mother,” added a very grumpy voice. I turned to see my father stumble into the kitchen and settle with his work bag at the heavy wooden table. His gray hair was rumpled, and he still looked swollen from traveling. His green in his eyes looked strange against the bloodshot whites. I knew he had slept because I had heard him snoring from across the hall, but he sure didn't look like it.
“It was the time for just Mom and me,” I recalled, smiling at the memory. I could still recall with perfect clarity how Mom would always curl up in the sunny patch of the couch in the mornings, reading the morning paper or a dogeared paperback book. She was always sipping on tea or coffee and wore the same pink, ratty robe. I still had that robe, tucked away into my closet at home. Sometimes in the mornings, I would wrap myself up in it to read the paper just so that I could feel her presence again.
Charlotte handed me a full cup of coffee in a plain blue cup, pointing to the kitchen table where a pitcher of real cream and a sugar bowl sat waiting. I grinned and headed over to make my mug more cream and sugar than coffee.
“Coffee, Mr. Fairchild?” she asked, holding up a green mug. Dad mumbled a barely coherent yes and she poured him a generous helping. Just as she finished setting the cup on the table in front of him, Elijah the Bodyguard bustled into the kitchen. Without missing a beat, Charlotte picked up two waiting travel mugs from the counter and handed them to him. She's like Starbucks, but without the line, I thought to myself.
“Charlotte,” Elijah said, taking a big sip out of one of the mugs. “You're the best, you know that right?”
“Of course I do,” Charlotte replied smugly. She held up a brown paper bag. “Make sure Sebastian eats something for breakfast today. He's got that meeting with the sales rep, and last time he nearly took off the poor guy's head because he was hangry.”