Chapter 17
The clip-clop of horses’ hooves beat the pavement, then stopped in front of Kellie Flannigan’s family’s home. Ethan noted the nice trees in the yard and the way the grass was kept neat and the hedges were trimmed.
Climbing out of the carriage he’d rented for the day, Ethan called out to the driver of the two horses that pulled the pristine white carriage, “I’ll get her and be right back. No need to get down.”
“Yes, sir,” the driver said.
Ethan was dressed in a tan linen suit. He’d instructed Kel to wear something romantically comfortable. Curious to see what she’d come up with, he rapped on the door, then waited for someone to answer it.
A man opened the door. “And you’re the Scot.”
“Ethan Southern, sir. You must be Master Flannigan.” Ethan saw a woman behind the man, peering over his shoulder. “And you must be the mistress of the manor.” Neither greeted him with a smile of any kind.
The door was opened and behind them stood Kel. She was glowing in a flowing pale pink dress made of cotton and lace. Made in two tiered levels, the cotton portion covered her to just above the knees, and the lace went to the ground. Tan sandals let her pretty pink toenails show. She’d straightened her blonde hair and looked radiant.
“I like your romantic, comfortable style choice,” Ethan said as Kel walked to the door.
“And I like yours,” she said as she stepped out the door and saw the carriage. “I saw that from my bedroom window. I must admit, I’m impressed, Ethan.”
She took his arm, and he led her down the walkway. Her mother called out to them, “Dinner’s at eight, Ethan. I hope you decide to join us.”
He stopped and asked Kel, “Would you like that, my love?” She nodded, and he looked back at her mother. “I’d like that, Mrs. Flannigan. Thank you.”
Kel was in a dream-like state with the romantic gesture Ethan was making. She knew it was all an act to get into her pants, but she was still impressed.
Ethan opened the carriage door, allowing Kel to get inside of it. White leather covered the comfortable seats that ran along each side. He took the side opposite from hers. “You’re not going to sit next to me?” she asked.
“I want to take in the lovely scenery that is you, love.” He reached out to take her hands in his as the horses moved the carriage forward. “Today is only about you.”
With a nod, Kel looked out the window and tried hard to remind herself the whole thing was fake. All of it was planned to get her into bed. Her heart ached as she tried not to cry.
“The weather’s lovely today; don’t you agree?” Ethan asked as he trailed his fingers along the top of her hand.
“I have to agree with you. Would you like to tell me what we’ll be doing today?” She watched his fingers as they moved over her skin. As hard as she tried to ignore the heat it caused her, she couldn’t.
“Tell, me, love,” he said as they pulled to a stop at the edge of a park. “Do you like plays?”
“Um, I’m not sure. I mean, I was in one in my high school days, and it was fun. But I’ve never been to a real play,” Kel answered.
Ethan got out of the carriage and turned to help her out. “Who’s your favorite actor?”
“Leo DiCaprio. I just loved him in that Titanic movie. He and Kate Winslet are my favorite on-screen couple,” Kel said as she let Ethan take her hand and lead her down a path nearly obscured by large bushes.
“Oh, and your favorite comedic actor?” Ethan asked as he lifted her hand and kissed it then tucked it back into his.
“Rebel Wilson can make me laugh even when I don’t want to,” Kel told him as they walked along the pathway. They came to a small clearing where a red and white checkered blanket was neatly placed on the green carpet grass. A giant oak tree sprawled over it. “Is this us?”
Ethen gave her a nod and helped her take a seat on the blanket. A basket was sitting at one corner. He sat down and pulled it over to him, taking out a bottle of champagne along with a couple of flutes. “Bubbly?”
Kel had to smile at him. “Please.”
The bottle had been opened already, letting Kel know someone was helping the man who was trying his best to impress her. He filled the glasses, then pulled out a covered silver tray. When he pulled the top off, she found the silver platter covered in little delights.
“Fancy a nibble?” he asked her as he picked up a bite-sized strawberry that’d been dipped in white chocolate. There were crackers with caviar on them, some truffles, and red grapes.
Kel let Ethan place the fruit in her mouth and had to admit to herself that he was quite adept at the romance thing. When someone cleared his throat, she looked up to find a man standing at the edge of their blanket.
A man she recognized, but he couldn’t be who she was thinking. A couple of women came out from behind a large bush and Kel nearly choked on the strawberry. “No!”
“Hi, Kel; allow me to introduce myself,” the man said.
“Leo DiCaprio!” she said in a whisper. Kel’s eyes moved to the woman who stood on the right of him. “And you’re Kate Winslet!” The woman on the other side of him bowed. “And you’re Rebel …”
“Wilson, at your service, madam,” the woman finished Kel’s sentence.
“I hired these three to perform a play for you, my love,” Ethan said as he took her in his arms, then leaned back against the large tree’s trunk.
“Ethan!” Kel gasped.
“We’ll be performing an F. Scott Fitzgerald play for you today, Kel,” Leo said. “Porcelain and Pink.”
All Kel could do was nod. Her throat was swollen shut. Her brain had gone numb. She gripped Ethan’s arms as he pulled her back to lean against him. “Thank you all for this, guys,” Ethan said. “I think she’s ready to watch you all work your magic.”
All three bowed, then stepped away to ready the area for the play. Kel turned her head as Ethan leaned up and kissed her cheek. “How?” was all she could get out.
“Never mind that, love. Just enjoy the play.” He held her tight as he rested his chin on her shoulder.
Although she knew Ethan was doing it all just for a roll in the hay, Kel had to admit that the man was beyond anything she’d ever imagined. “Thank you, Ethan.”
“This is just a taste of what you and I can have,” he whispered. “Just a bit of icing on a monstrous cake.”
Kel was inclined to believe him.
He was blowing her away.
Chapter 18
Jess thought Griffin was most likely lying about liking Thai food, so when he ate more than she did of the spicy stuff, she was pleasantly surprised that he had turned out to be telling her the truth.
She let him drive when they left the restaurant to go to the movies. “Are you sure, Jess? I don’t mind letting you drive.”
“I’m stuffed. You drive,” she said as she went to the passenger side of the Lamborghini.
Griff was quick to step up and open the door for her. He took her by the waist and gave her a quick kiss. “I’m glad to have someone to eat Thai with.”
Jess ran her hands over his broad shoulders and wished like hell he wanted more than a quick screw. “You talk like you’ll be sticking around, Griff. That’s not really fair of you.”
“You talk like I have to leave, which I don’t.” He closed the door and went around the car to get in.
Jess watched him and wondered why he’d say such a thing. When he got into the car, she asked him, “Have you ever been in a serious relationship?”
He started the car, then smiled at her. “Not really.”
“You’re kind of old not to have had one. That tells me you’re a player,” she said as she turned to look out the window. “So I’d like to remind you that I haven’t had much experience, and you should really be careful what you say to me. I might take some of it to heart. If you know what I mean.”
“I hope you do take the things I tell you to heart, baby.” He pulled out of the parking lot and he
aded up the road as Jess sat there wondering why a man who was interested in her merely to win a bet would tell her so much bullshit.
Anger began to rise up inside of her as they drove down the road. She became eerily quiet, a thing Griffin was acutely aware of. He had no idea if things would progress past the point of one of them winning the bet, but he knew he genuinely liked Jess.
When he pulled into the parking lot of the local movie theater that was empty except for two other cars, Jess looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Are they even open yet?”
“Let’s go find out,” he said as he tried to keep a smile off his face.
Griffin had a friend back in Montana at the theater near his home that had an in with the movie industry. Calling in a favor, Griffin had been able to get a private screening of a film Jess’ aunt had told him she was chomping at the bit to see.
Parking the car right up front had Jess looking at the empty and closed looking theater with a frown on her pretty face. “Why don’t you run up and see if the doors are locked? I think this place is closed, Griff.”
Shaking his head, he got out of the car and came around to open her door. “Come on, baby.” He held out his hand, and she took it as she looked doubtfully at him.
Jess remained silent as she and Griffin went up to the doors. When one was pushed open, and a man in a red uniform stood at it, she was pleasantly surprised as he said, “Hello, Mr. Houser and Miss Flannigan. Welcome to your private movie.”
“Private?” Jess asked as she looked at Griff, who was all smiles.
The usher hurried to grab them a tray of popcorn, nachos, and sodas, then led them to one of the theaters. “I bet you like to sit way up at the top,” Griff said as the usher looked at them.
“I do. In the middle,” Jess said.
Up they went, the usher leading the way. “Here you two go. And the movie will start just as soon as I get up there to start it.” He handed the tray to Griffin and headed out.
“How’d you do this, Griff?” Jess took a handful of popcorn and popped it into her mouth.
“I have my ways.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I hope you’ll hold my hand while we watch the movie.”
“You never know. You might get that lucky, stud-muffin.” She smiled and took a sip of the soda.
The lights lowered and the screen lit up. When Jess sat back as Griffin put his arm around her, she gasped as the name of the movie came up on the big screen.
“Have you seen this one already?” Griffin asked her as he held back a laugh.
“Griff! How?” She was stupefied, as she knew that the movie hadn’t been released yet.
“I have my ways, baby. Stick with me and you’ll have lots of remarkable times.” He kissed her cheek and was more than surprised when she took his face in her hands and planted a big kiss smackdab on his mouth.
It took him by surprise, as Jess had been a bit on the cool side with him for the first part of the date. When she ended their kiss, she looked into his eyes. “Thank you, Griff. I mean that. This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
He took her hands in his as he watched her eyes dance. “You’re welcome, Jess. I mean that too. I have to admit; you’re even more beautiful when you’re happy.” Then he pushed up the armrest divider that separated them and wrapped her in his arms. With a kiss to the top of her head, he knew he was going into uncharted territory with the young woman. He just couldn’t seem to stop himself, though.
Chapter 19
The quacking of little black ducks had Cait looking behind her to watch the birds as they swam across the pond. Phoenix had taken her to a lovely little park where they seemed to be the only patrons that afternoon, except for a strolling Italian acoustic band that made it seem as if they were in a remote Italian village rather than the middle of Massachusetts.
A small, round, white linen clothed table with two chairs was filled with wine, oysters on the half-shell, and a cheese and fruit tray.
Phoenix looked like some kind of a model as he sat in the sun’s glowing light. And Cait resembled a princess in Phoenix’s eyes. He couldn’t remember a time he’d thought anyone looked so beautiful.
“Would you care to take a walk with me, Caity-cat?” Phoenix asked as he got up and offered her his hand.
“Sure,” she said as she took it and got up.
He slipped his arm around her waist, holding her close to his side. Cait wished things didn’t feel so natural and right with the man. Either that or maybe he’d tell her about the bet and add that he’d stepped out of it.
But he never said a word about that. Instead, he said, “Since I’m coming over for dinner tonight, maybe we should make some plans for tonight too.”
Cait tensed with the offer. “Why?”
He stopped their procession down a small pathway through a grove of lovely trees. “Why?” he asked her as he took her by the shoulders. Then he kissed her with an easy kiss.
Cait knew the kiss was meant to throw her off guard. Phoenix was trying to coddle her into thinking he had no ulterior motives. Thankfully, she knew better. When he pulled his lips from hers, leaving hers pulsing and wanting more, she said, “Phoenix, tell me what you want in life.”
He had no idea what to tell her. He had all he could ever ask for and then some. He was rich. Didn’t have to work another day in his life. What more was there?
But he knew she was looking to get to know him better, so he made some shit up. “I want it all, Cait. I want the big dream. You know?”
“No, tell me,” she said as she took his hand and started walking again. “For instance, my big dream is to have a great career, develop some great tasting and nutritional foods—out of insects, mind you—and get people to not only buy them but like them too. And I want to have a family of my own one day, to share my life with.”
“Like a hubby and some kids?” Phoenix asked as he hoped she’d be adding that she wanted that in the distant future.
“Yes, like that. Maybe in the next year or so,” she said, freaking him out.
Phoenix coughed and looked away. “You’re young, Cait. No need to go rushing into anything.”
“Oh, I’d never rush into something that important,” she said. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”
“No,” he said abruptly. Her words were making him think she was getting a bit too serious with him and he wanted to slow things down. “I think love grows on a person.”
“I don’t know,” Cait said. “I think I’ll know I’ve found the man for me when I see him.”
“Have you seen him yet?” Phoenix asked as he crossed his fingers and hoped she wasn’t about to tell him she was in love with him or some shit like that.
“No, I haven’t,” she said, and she looked at him with a smile.
He should’ve felt relief. Instead, he felt let down. “You sure about that, Caity-cat?”
She nodded and pulled at him to go over to a swing set. “Would you push me on a swing, Phoenix?”
“I will,” he said, but forced the issue about her not finding love at first sight with him. “You know, I saw a spark in your eyes when you first looked at me, Cait.”
“I saw one in yours too,” she said as she sat on the swing and he went around behind her, pulling it back a bit then letting it go.
As she swung, she had to smile and think to herself that Phoenix seemed to be trying to get her to admit she’d found love at first sight with him— a thought that was hilarious in her mind.
Phoenix had no idea why it was getting to him so badly as he blurted out, “Well, I think you liked me when you first saw me.”
“I didn’t know you at that time. So I didn’t like you just by looking at you. Did I think you were hot? The answer to that is hell, yes. But I didn’t like you until we talked and you kissed me. Then I liked you very much. But I have no idea about anything other than that. You’re a bit closed off. A bit secretive about who you really are. That’s off-putting.”
He stopped the
swing and went around to get in front of her then pushed her away from him as he said, “I could tell you more about myself tonight, after dinner. If you’d go with me somewhere afterward.”
“Hmm, a hotel, maybe?” she asked with a grin as the swing came up to him and he pushed it back.
He smiled, and the next time the swing came up, he grabbed it and kissed her, then let it go, and she swung away from him. It made her giggle, and he found the sound intoxicating. “Maybe a hotel. If you want to do that.”
“I don’t.”
“I think you would like to, but I won’t push you on that. So, how about drinks after dinner? Since you told me that your mother’s making haggis, I think I might need a drink or two.”
“Knocking my mother’s cooking before you’ve even tried it, Phoenix?”
“It’s guts cooked in a stomach, Cait! Yeah, I’m knocking it.” He laughed, but his tummy clenched as he thought about actually having to eat the dreadful stuff.
“You said you like authentic Mexican food, Phoenix. Haven’t you ever eaten menudo?” she asked him as she put her feet down to stop the swing.
“I have,” he said. “It’s delicious.”
“And that’s guts too,” she said, then got off the swing, taking his hand again and walking to the edge of the pond.
“But that’s different,” he argued.
“I don’t see how,” she said as she swung their clasped hands between them. “If you don’t want to come eat, you don’t have to. I won’t hold it against you.”
But he knew she would, so he changed his attitude about the dinner. Stopping, he pulled her up into his arms and leaned his forehead against hers. “You know what? I’d eat anything as long as I could be around you, Caity-cat.”
With another kiss, he melted her heart, and she wished like hell it wasn’t all an act. She could see herself falling for the guy if he he’d been legit and not just trying to win a bet.
Nobody's Girl: A Billionaire Romance Novel Page 38