Tempting the Billionaire

by Ginny Sterling

  “Oh! Goodnight!” she shouted and slammed the door shut, hiding away. She hadn’t seen a thing due to the darkness and the water, but the sheer intimacy was there between them.

  He’d admitted that he was crazy about her, but did he even recognize what being around him did to her heart? She was already halfway in love with a man she’d met online and would soon be working with. A true recipe for disaster if she wasn’t careful.

  Chapter 16

  Jemma was surprised she’d slept so heavily during the night. The hot mineral bath combined with chamomile tea and sheer exhaustion must have done a number on her body. She awoke the next morning, slightly stiff, but fully rested. She got up and soaked again to warm her body before getting dressed for the day.

  Hearing a noise, she realized that someone was up and moving about the house/hotel that she was located inside of. She’d just finished braiding her hair and quickly put a tie on the bottom. Throwing on the simple white under gown, she wrapped a kimono from one of the hangers around her and tried desperately to tie the obi belt around her. Giving up, she slid open the doorway and peeked down the long hallway. Seeing nothing, she tiptoed barefoot to the main room and saw Margaret there in the kitchen cooking.

  “Oh! You’re awake. I’m sorry, was I making too much noise?”

  “No. You are absolutely fine. This is your place, your home,” Jemma protested and then stopped. “Do you need any help cooking?”

  “Thank you but no. I’m almost finished. Do you need help with your obi?”

  “Omigosh- yes, please,” she rushed out gratefully. “How do you tie this by yourself? Do you wear them all the time? Not that you don’t look lovely in it,” she blurted out and had the good graces to flush nervously.

  “I don’t wear them all the time and tying the belt takes patience sometimes. I have regular street clothing that I wear out if I am leaving Kyoto. Here at home, a lot of women wear the kimonos. It’s like dressy clothing back in America. As you enter Osaka or Tokyo, kimonos are rarely seen unless it’s a special occasion. If you are more comfortable in your clothing, I can get a few things from my closet and see if it fits you?” Margaret offered politely.

  The side door slid open, allowing a view of the pond and Aaron to enter the main room. He looked devastatingly handsome in dark, sedate pants and a button-up shirt. His dark eyes met hers and Jemma saw him smile. She hoped the kimono hid her toes curling in pleasure. Her cheeks flushed as she looked away shyly.

  “Should I get you something else?” Margaret asked softly, a knowing look in her eyes.

  “No thank you,” Jemma said quickly, ignoring the pleased smile on her face as she moved away from her to set the table. There was awkward silence between them all. Jemma didn’t know what to say and sure didn’t want to talk about what she’d seen, or hadn’t seen, in the pond last night.

  Did his mother know? Is that why she was smirking?

  She felt like a teenager that had been caught kissing a boy… and she had kissed Margaret’s son. She’d glimpsed quite a bit of his shoulders too! Jemma thought and felt her face turn bright red at the memory.

  “What are you two planning on doing today?” Margaret asked suddenly; her voice held a note of happiness and glee to it, making Jemma glance up and then back down again. The woman was watching her with knowing eyes and she was mortified.

  “I thought I would take her to the Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine in Kyoto.”

  “That’s a good idea. Your father loved the kitsune statues there.”

  “I remember that. Did you want to come, Mother?” he asked graciously but the reluctance was palpable in the air. He wanted them to be alone and Jemma knew it.

  “No. No. You two have a good time. I’ve got things to do here. Will you be home for dinner?”

  “No.”

  Jemma glanced up and saw him watching her. She didn’t say a word, but simply finished eating so they could go. He had something up his sleeve and it thrilled her to no end.

  She couldn’t wait to see the shrine. It was on the cover of her e-book that she’d been reading on the tourism in the area. They quickly helped clean the table and headed out into the street. Edo pulled up the car and Jemma glanced at Aaron in surprise.

  “I called him,” he confirmed, holding open the door for her. They sat silently in the back of the car, each looking out of the window instead of at each other. There was so much tension between them that it was a little uncomfortable. A line had been crossed between them when he’d opened up and kissed her. Things that couldn’t be unspoken between them. Jemma felt his hand touch hers between them in the seat.

  “We are here,” Edo announced, breaking the silence.

  “Thank you, Edo,” Jemma said quickly, opening her door. Before she could get to her feet, Aaron was there extending his hand to help her out. It was terribly polite of him and it touched her that he treated her so much like a lady. None of the other guys she’d dated ever did that.

  Glancing up past his shoulder, she gasped in awe. The main gate was breathtaking in its splendor. Rich hues of red and gold adorned the building with touches of green here and there. Large bold stone statues of what looked to be foxes stood guarding the temple entrance in the distance.

  She could see a walkway that led back to the entrance and watched as Aaron washed his hands in a basin with ladles that were marked with glyphs. A stone dragon overlooked the water and he explained that everyone needed to cleanse themselves before entering the shrine. Jemma poured water over one hand, and then the other, just as Aaron directed quietly. There was a ritual to it, and to do it improperly was frowned upon.

  A brilliant line of bright reddish-orange gates led up the mountain like a snake. Each gate was comprised of two large posts and a massive beam connecting the two. They were side by side, winding towards the heavens along the side of a mountain.

  “What is all of this? It’s incredible,” Jemma breathed in reverence. She’d never seen anything like it and was fascinated. A sea of tall, thin bamboo stalks waved in the breeze and it reminded her of cornfields or fields of wheat back home.

  “Each torii, or gate, was put in place to either get a wish granted by the gods or in thanks for a wish that came true.”

  “How wonderful,” Jemma whispered, and as they walked under the gates, she looked up in wonder and amazement. A field of shrine gates lay ahead of her with an occasional stone fox poised along the path. There were so many that it formed a tunnel that she and Aaron walked under. She followed him quietly, simply taking it all in and was stunned by the majesty of the old shrine. He’d told her it was built in 711 A.D. and that people have gathered here to pray for bountiful harvests for thousands of years. He also admitted it was a huge tourist magnet that brought people to Kyoto, helping local businesses.

  It was utterly breathtaking.

  They walked for about an hour, up the pathway, stopping to take photos along the way. The temperatures were perfect for something like this, keeping her from becoming overheated. The shrine was starting to get really crowded with tourists and locals. They sat at a tea shop at the top of the hill for just a bit. As they were served, she saw him watching her.

  “You keep looking at me and it’s a bit unnerving,” she admitted. He sat back and cleared his throat nervously, tugging at his collar. The small shop was filled with people huddled around the glass case that held a variety of mochi snacks and biscuits filled with sweet red-bean paste.

  “I can’t help it.”

  “You could try,” she hedged and chuckled. “I feel like I am being scrutinized and that everyone is looking at me, honestly. It makes me feel like I am back in high school, sticking out like a sore thumb.”

  “They are probably looking at you because they’ve never seen anything so lovely in their lives,” he told her, his dark eyes still watching.

  “See? You are doing it again.”

  “Jemma, I think you are utterly gorgeous, and I am so lucky that you are here that it makes it hard to believe. I
keep thinking that I am going to wake up from a dream. I don’t know how I held back from getting to know you better.”

  “Probably because I freaked out when you told me your name was Aaron not Achoo.”

  “True,” he chuckled, pouring the tea for them both. She watched his fingers as he held the lid carefully. It was funny that she thought his hands were just as beautiful as his face, form, and smile. Everything about him was a miracle- just like their meeting.

  “I’m sorry I pushed you away,” she said suddenly, feeling like an idiot. If she’d have only listened to that little voice inside or tried a little harder, maybe they could have met earlier in their lives.

  “Don’t be sorry,” he countered. “Timing is everything and neither was ready to meet yet. I believe in fate or destiny – and I know that this was meant to happen eventually.”

  “It does feel like I was put in your path, or you were put in mine, doesn’t it? Maybe they are just intertwined and this is just a moment we’ll share before we split up again,” she hedged nervously, sipping on the hot matcha tea.

  His face fell and disappointment furrowed his brow. Obviously he hadn’t thought about her job and her career. She’d worked really hard to establish who she was in the world, just as he had done. Aaron was wonderful, their single kiss had been amazing, but she wasn’t ready to throw it all away on a romantic fling.

  “You realize that, right?”

  “I do. I’m trying not to think about it.”

  “I have to return home in a few days, Aaron. This is all a wondrous, magical dream that I am blessed to be sharing with you right now… but this is not my life. It’s not yours either.”

  “Let’s don’t talk about leaving or the future, let’s focus on now. Right now. Two best friends meeting, exploring the city, and seeing where this takes us.”

  “Fine,” she said carefully. “I just don’t want either of us hurt. I’m scared because this is a dangerous road we are walking right now. We’ve crossed the line between acquaintances or friends. You kissed me. That changed things- a lot.”

  “And I am going to do it again if you don’t stop being so negative,” he bit out in frustration. She knew he’d gone through a lot lately, and pining after someone would only add fuel to the fire.

  “Aaron, listen…” she argued softly and gasped as he shot to his feet, leaning over the tiny table, nearly upending it. Hot tea splashed onto the wooden table top, soaking into their napkins. His lips took hers almost forcibly before softening. He’d wanted to silence her- and he had- but now he wanted to savor this feeling between them. The stillness around them was broken by several clicks of cellphones as well as hushed whispers. He finally broke the kiss, hovering just above her lips, his breath mingling with hers.

  “Don’t fight it so much,” he whispered. “Let’s see what happens, Jemma.”

  They finished their teas after cleaning up the mess that was made and slowly walked back down the hills. This time, Jemma stopped to take pictures of the shrines. He read some of the inscriptions to her, revealing names and addresses of people that donated them.

  Aaron said something in Japanese to a couple walking past them and they stopped. Jemma looked at him in surprise as he handed them his cell phone. She quickly caught on and handed hers over to the woman as well, posing near one of the posts of the shrine. Aaron’s arm wrapped around her waist, causing her to let out a sigh of happiness. Maybe he was right, she thought. They took a few photos with each phone and just before they continued, Aaron smiled down at her.

  “Come here,” he whispered, pulling her into his arms there in the shelter of the shrines. He held up the camera, taking a quick photo of the two of them together. Jemma ignored the image of them reflected in the cell phone screen, instead looking at him fondly. He turned and looked at her, only to have her kiss him this time. Her arms climbed around his neck for the first time ever and it felt like she had truly come home. The idea both terrified and amazed her. This was her Aaron, her Achoo, her online friend.

  “You can do that anytime you need to,” he panted softly, resting his forehead against hers. She could feel his arms trembling around her waist and knew her own knees were shaking. They still had quite a distance to walk down the side of the hill back to where the cars were parked.

  “This is completely crazy of us,” she admitted. “If I go with your suggestion to just see where this goes… we are going to be in trouble.”

  “Love,” he said softly, kissing her lips again. “The word you are looking for is love, Jemma.”

  Chapter 17

  Over the next few days, Jemma spent every waking moment with Aaron. She insisted on being back at the hotel instead of staying with his mother in Amanohashidate. He had thought it was extremely comical that Jemma had been embarrassed seeing him in the pond, when in fact he had been the one who was mortified. The only reason he’d gone to swim was because his mother was in the one bathroom in their small house and he was almost positive no one would see him. The idea of this big, tall, businesslike man being painfully shy just tickled her to no end.

  They toured the streets of downtown Kyoto together, seeing all the neon lights and visiting the stores. She saw several anime shops, one that had some statues of Tempting the Stars mecha. Aaron bought one for himself and one for her. It didn’t slip past Jemma’s watchful eye that the two he bought were in love on the anime show. They also got matching t-shirts that said ‘Anime nerd’ on each of them with big gaudy arrows on the stomach that pointed at the other person. They’d put their t-shirts on over their clothing and took several goofy photos together.

  Now that both of them had seemed to relax and fall into a relationship, things were going so smoothly between them. They liked similar foods, talked about books they read as well as television shows they had recorded, hoping to watch someday. Both were workaholics and this seemed to be a vacation for both of them… not just her.

  Each time they were out sightseeing, they stopped at a church or shrine so Aaron could have a moment. It wasn’t long, but he would take a second to offer up a prayer for his father. He’d admitted that he truly believed his father knew somehow that Jemma would help him get through his grief. When he’d said that, she felt a pang of guilt and immediately invited Aaron’s mother to join them the next day. They’d gone shopping, Jemma and Margaret instantly bonding and fawned over Aaron, much to his chagrin.

  “He is the strong, stubborn, silent type like his father,” Margaret had told her one afternoon at a restaurant. “Unless he is hollering in anger, everything is fine. Aaron’s father never said much but it was the little things he did,” she said wistfully, with a tender smile on her face.

  Such love seemed so encompassing and so wonderful; it brought a tear to Jemma’s eyes. Her parents adored each other, but it was a quiet love. Her father would kiss her mother’s cheek or hold the door for her… but that paled against the love she saw in Margaret’s eyes. She’d found and lost her soulmate.

  Blinking rapidly, she saw Aaron hand her his napkin. His own eyes were glassy, the irises warm and burning with love. He adored his mother and was a good man because of it. Nodding, she accepted it gratefully, mouthing silently ‘thank you’ to him.

  That evening, she called her parents to update them on her trip. She was already over by a few days, relying heavily on emails and updates from her staff. There was no avoiding it, she was going to need to head home.

  Tomorrow they were supposed to pick up shells on the beach and see another nearby temple. She would tell him tomorrow that they needed to go over the contracts and get them signed. Her heart was breaking at the idea of saying goodbye, but hoped that they would have a chance to develop their friendship in a different manner since they now knew each other.

  This time, instead of Edo picking her up, they decided to ride the train out to Amanohashidate station. Jemma wanted the full experience of Japan, not just the rose-colored glasses version that falling in love with Aaron brought her. She adored the town and
the quaintness that it still had. It was the very combination of traditional and modern that he’d struggled with and didn’t even realize it.

  “You know,” she said thoughtfully, “this is how we should market A.I.- with a feudal scene… that goes through stage after stage of change, but the values are still the same.”

  “I like that,” he admitted, kissing the tip of her nose as he held her close on the train to keep them from falling or being jostled about.

  “I’m serious. I love that idea and can get started as soon as I get home.”

  “You can start today if you want, just don’t leave yet.”

  “Aaron, you know I do have to go home…right?” Jemma laid her hand on his cheek as he stared straight ahead; she felt his jaw clenching with tension. “I know you are not fond of it, but my life is there.”

  “And it should be with me,” he said suddenly, looking at her. “I’m serious, Jemma. I want you to stay. I love you more than I ever thought possible and I don’t know how I am going to get by without you.”

  “Aaron, you are such a strong, loving man,” she admitted thickly, feeling her eyes begin to water at the thought of ruining their budding relationship. She loved him desperately but knew if she told him, he would never let go. Her family was back in Indiana. Her job was there. It was unimaginable to let everything go for the sake of one man, yet he was asking her to do that.

  “I don’t want to discuss this today,” he said flatly and she fought back a smile. Suddenly Jemma could imagine what Margaret meant when she said Aaron was a lot like his father. He was set in his ideas, his ways, and didn’t want to have anyone question him.

  “Fine. We’ll discuss it tomorrow when I go to A. I. and sign the contract.”

  “What if I tear that contract up?”

  “What?” she gasped in shock, backing away from him. His eyes were stormy, like he was in pain and trying to hide it deep down inside. “You would do that to me because I want to go home to my family?”