This is Love (High Stakes Billionaires)

by C. J. Thomas

  I stuck my hands inside my pants pockets and watched him turn to the door. And just when I thought I had gotten away without him asking me to take his daughter to the fundraiser, he turned his head and said, “I forgot to mention.”

  My heart skipped a beat at the same time my stomach flipped.

  “Audrey stayed in town.” He paused, as if to purposely add to the suspense already buzzing in the room. “She was hoping you would be the one to pick her up tonight.”

  I froze like a deer in the headlights.

  Mr. Rothschild winked then left the building, leaving me with little doubt in my mind that I needed to kick Cooper’s ass for putting me in this position.

  10

  Nolan

  Needing to escape the stresses of the office, I made my way into the village center to check in on the venue ahead of tonight’s preparations.

  What Cooper did was inexcusable. He didn’t have a right to go straight to Audrey’s father. This was my decision to make. And, besides, if Cooper was worried about not receiving the Rothschilds’ support in his run for governor, then he should find another way to secure the funding he needed to manage a successful campaign.

  With my hands buried inside my pockets, I grumbled up the street, rolling my eyes at the stupid family politics we all had to play.

  Our family gave the Rothschilds huge checks to show our support for the events they organized. And in turn they gave it right back, supporting our own causes. Round and round it went.

  Cooper needed to be in attendance tonight if he really cared, not me.

  Pulling the front door open to the venue where tonight’s gala was going to be held, I quickly found Christine, the event coordinator, busy working the room.

  Making my way to the center, I picked up a welcome brochure and fingered through the bouquet of flowers carefully centered on every table.

  Determined not to let Mom and Dad down, I promised to push my frustrations to the side until I could speak with Charlotte tonight. Because, really, she was at fault for Cooper learning about my lack of interest in Audrey. She was the reason Cooper knew any of this at all.

  With her clipboard in hand, Christine barked off instructions to a colleague before fixing her gaze on me. She marched up to me with a smile and I leaned in as we greeted each other with a series of air kisses.

  “I didn’t expect to see you until later this evening,” she said.

  “Just needed a breather from the office.”

  “As long as that’s all it is.” She turned back to the room, admiring the work she had done.

  “Have you heard from catering?” I asked.

  She nodded. “Food prep is underway.” Then she turned and angled her head up to me. “The kitchen is up and running.”

  Rubbing the back of my neck, I needed everything to go perfectly.

  Christine stepped closer and touched my arm. “Relax. Everything is under control,” she said as if reading the emotions lining my face.

  I pulled in a deep breath of air and said, “We’re expecting a full house.”

  “Wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

  “And I’ve notified members of the local media, so expect to have them approach you sometime tonight.”

  She smiled. “I’ve got this, Nolan.”

  When our eyes met, hers softened.

  “You’re in good hands.” She stepped closer, smoothing her hand further up my arm.

  “You’re doing a great job.”

  “It’s because I work with the best.” She winked and stood on her toes, kissing my cheek once again. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to kick the slackers into high gear.”

  I chuckled and turned around, my breath catching in my chest.

  Sophia was staring at me from outside.

  What was she doing here?

  We held each other’s gaze for what felt like forever as if we were both evaluating what to do next. Then she lowered her head and began walking away.

  My brows knitted as I dropped my chin and hurried to catch up with her.

  Pushing through the glass doors, I lengthened my stride and called, “Hey, Sophia.”

  Her walk was brisk, and she acted like she hadn’t just seen me. But there was no denying it. I knew what I saw—what I felt.

  Pumping my arms, I quickly caught up to her. Matching her stride for stride, I said, “It’s not polite to stop and stare without greeting.”

  She barely looked in my direction. “It’s not polite to make such big assumptions.”

  “What are you doing out here, anyway?”

  She dug her heels in and stopped long enough to look around. “What everyone is doing. Window shopping.”

  I shoved my hand through my hair, berating myself for asking such a stupid question. That was all that surrounded us—shops, restaurants, and cafés—to cater to the tourists that flocked here from around the world.

  “Are you sure you’re not stalking me?” I teased.

  Her eyes finally met mine and there was no denying how I saw hers sparkle with amusement. She liked me. She might not be able to admit it, but I could see it hiding in the corners of her beautiful eyes.

  “No. No.” I showed her my palms. “Let me guess.”

  She arched a brow and shifted her weight to one side.

  “You locked yourself out again.”

  Turning her head away, she clucked her tongue.

  My core was hot from the electricity that buzzed between us. And as I stood there looking her over—with the sun shining perfectly down upon her—I couldn’t help but notice all the wonderful things about her that I’d somehow missed yesterday.

  She had an elegant look but not overly done or forced. There was little makeup on her face, and between her long lashes, high cheek-bones, and plump lips, I knew that even without the makeup I would find her beauty hard to resist. Sophia Monroe was electric, and she had that natural look—a look that was hard to find in the crowds I was accustomed to in a community full by women who came from more money than they knew what to do with.

  Then she reached into her back pocket and pulled out the condo key. Dangling it in front of my face, she said, “I never make the same mistake twice.”

  Retreating, she made me feel like I’d met my match. I smiled like a fool in love, as she was impossible not to feel giddy around. But I couldn’t stop from wondering what an attractive woman like her was doing all alone. Surely, there had to be a good reason.

  “No, I wouldn’t think you would.” I grinned, watching her hide her key as I raked her over, unable to come up with a good reason why she was in the mountains alone.

  She kept glancing at me as if wanting me to ask her something.

  And in that split second, I saw a glimpse of loneliness flash over her eyes and it damn near broke my heart. Then it occurred to me she might have experienced a painful break up—and was on the mend—or maybe something worse.

  “Look, Nolan—” She gave me a look as if she wasn’t sure by what name I wanted to be addressed.

  “You can call me Nolan.” I smiled.

  “I’m sorry for yesterday. I can imagine what a pain it is to cater to visitors and to interrupt your time like that—”

  “Sophia—” I dropped my chin and looked at her as if needing confirmation we were now on a first name basis.

  “Yes.” She nodded and laughed.

  “It was a pleasure.”

  One side of her face scrunched. “I shouldn’t have been such a bitch.”

  I lifted my head and laughed. “It’s best just to blame it on the elevation.”

  She snickered. “Yes, that’s all it was.” Her eyes rolled. “So, what brings you down here? I can’t imagine you’re window shopping.”

  I glanced over my shoulder toward the magnificent venue behind me. Then I held up the welcome brochure I was still holding for tonight’s event. “I’ve been tasked to host this fundraiser tonight.”

  Sophia’s slender fingers pinched the brochure. Her nails were
painted a light shade of purple that matched her eyeliner. I watched her read it, unable to stop myself from wondering how I could ask her to join me.

  “Cold weather isn’t my favorite,” she handed the brochure back and looked me in the eye, “but I know how important it is to preserve our climate.”

  I took the paper from her hand, purposely brushing against her fingers with an eagerness to feel anything that was hers.

  “It sounds like a wonderful cause.”

  With a surge of confidence traveling up the center of my spine, I thought how I wasn’t about to let her get away from me this time. Not only was she gorgeous, she was also smart. “Hey, how about you come?”

  Her brows shot to the top of her head.

  “Join me.” I wet my lips as I felt my heart race out of control.

  Biting her lip, she shook her head. “I won’t know anyone.”

  “You’ll know me.”

  She looked up at me from under her brow. She was still biting her bottom lip, and God she looked so damn appetizing I couldn’t take it. I wanted to taste her, to know what it felt like to have her tongue swipe over mine as she clasped her fingers around the nape of my neck.

  “Meet some locals. Get to know new people.” I said just about anything to get her to bite. “I promise, it will be fun,” I stepped closer and lowered my voice into a husky drawl, “and highly entertaining.”

  The corners of her eyes crinkled with a smile. “I don’t know,” she hemmed and hawed.

  Taking a step back, I said, “Unless you have other plans.”

  She looked up the sidewalk and when she fixed her eyes on me again, I knew she wanted to say yes.

  Feeling bold, I reached for her hand, hoping to not come across as being as desperate as I really was. But I needed her to be my excuse to not have to take Audrey. Sophia was my way out—my ticket to actually having a chance at enjoying the evening.

  Casting my gaze down to the hand she let me hold, I said, “Come with me.”

  She laughed. “I don’t have anything to wear.”

  God, her laugh was even amazing.

  “I packed for a weekend getaway, I didn’t expect to be attending a gala.”

  Lowering my head, I wanted to make sure that she knew I could take care of all her worries. “Don’t worry. We can take care of that.”

  Her eyes began to sparkle like diamonds. “What time?”

  Releasing her hand and with my feet backpedaling, I said, “I’ll pick you up at eight.”

  11

  Sophia

  As soon as I arrived back to the condo, I closed the door and leaned my back against it.

  Melting into the wood paneling, my core was steaming hot after unexpectedly running into Nolan. The fingers he’d held were still on fire. I liked having his firm fingertips pressing into my skin. It felt natural, like we had done it before. And I wanted it to happen again.

  Closing my eyes, my head spun.

  Not from the elevation or the mild hangover I’d awoken with, but because of how he took the time to really look at me. Like I was worth something.

  Holding my hand over my fluttering heart, it was impossible not to think too much into how Nolan made me feel. I was completely charmed by the man. The simple gestures, subtle glances, and even the possessive determination to talk to me. It was all a welcomed distraction from the events that had kept my mood low yesterday.

  And he did it so effortlessly.

  The way his eyes drifted over every inch of me, as if studying a book, made me feel desired. Like I was the only thing his eyes could see. It was more than anything I had felt when it came to interacting with another man outside of work in a very long time. And not once did I allow my insecurities to cloud my vision, distract my train of thought, though perhaps that was part of the reason why this—he—was so confusing.

  Touching my throat, I felt my pulse ticking in my neck. I was still fighting to catch my breath. And as I fought the sincerity behind his asking me out, I questioned what it meant and if I should be as optimistic as I was. But the more I thought about it all, the more I swore to myself that he couldn’t be real.

  Sucking back a deep breath, I sighed.

  There was no way Nolan could be as amazing as I was thinking he was. I swore my mind was playing tricks on me—fooling me into believing he was something that he wasn’t. Since coming to the mountains, I hadn’t been feeling myself. I was distressed, full of resentment, and alone. Altogether, it was the perfect combination to vividly dream up a concoction too sweet to deny.

  Sliding down the door, I kicked my legs out and let the back of my skull fall back between my shoulder blades.

  Nolan Foster was too good to be true.

  He had to be. Nobody was that perfect. And as I let that thought sink in and take a couple passes through my cranium, I worked to convince myself that tonight wasn’t a date.

  But if it wasn’t that, then what was it?

  Fanning my hand in front of my face, I needed to get control of my emotions before I made a fool of myself.

  Pushing myself off the floor, I made my way into the kitchen and put on a kettle of water.

  I was acting like I couldn’t handle being charmed by handsome men like him. In fact, the exact opposite was true. I could handle Nolan. And had already proven it to him. Perhaps that was why he kept asking me out.

  When the water boiled, I made myself a pot of green tea.

  Wrapping my lips around my mug, I thought that maybe me sticking up for myself was at least part of his reason behind wanting to invite me to attend his fundraiser.

  Jerking my head back, I burned the tip of my tongue not paying attention to how hot I had made the water.

  The truth was, I liked him. And maybe that was why I was absolutely terrified of having committed to going with him tonight. I really liked him.

  The remainder of the afternoon blurred together as I was lost inside my head. Attempting not to overthink tonight, I got in my bathing suit and headed to the pool for a quick swim. Then it was a long soak in the hot tub before retreating back inside my condo for a small snack and shower. And once I couldn’t keep my commitment with Nolan a secret any longer, I found myself talking on the phone with Sienna.

  “Let me get this straight,” she said through my speakerphone. “First, he asked you to have drinks in a bar, and tonight he’s taking you to a gala?”

  “Fundraiser,” I said, standing in front of the mirror and doing my hair.

  “This is totally a date.”

  “It’s not a date,” I cried.

  “Tell me then; what are you doing now?”

  “My hair.” I met my reflection in the mirror, unsure how I should choose to wear it tonight. “What do you think, down or up?”

  “What are you wearing?”

  I glanced to my cell and checked the time. With two hours to go, I still had no idea what I was wearing. “Nolan said he would take care of that.”

  “What does that even mean?” I imagined Sienna’s brow furrow.

  Keeping my hair down, I thought that no matter what outfit I wore I could never go wrong with letting my hair cascade over my shoulders with layered waves.

  “I assumed that it meant he has something for me to wear.” I gnawed on the inside of my cheek. Each hour that went by without receiving any word from Nolan had me anxious to know what in fact he had planned for me to wear.

  “When has a guy ever told you what to wear?” Sienna questioned.

  Pushing my boobs up, I angled to the side. “When was the last time I was on a date?”

  “Good point. But is that what this is?”

  “I don’t know what this is.” And it was the truth. “I guess I’ll know more when I see what it is I’m wearing.”

  “Are your legs waxed?”

  “I’m not a barbarian.”

  Sienna laughed. “How about your koochi?”

  “Sienna!” I yelped.

  “What? I’m rooting for you, girl, and I want this to be per
fect.”

  “It’s not a big deal,” I groaned. “It’s just a fundraiser. And what does it matter if I’ve waxed my koochi? It’s not like I’m going to sleep with him on our first da—”

  “And there you have it, folks.” Sienna burst out laughing. “Even Sophia Monroe is calling it a date.”

  My shoulders rounded just as I heard a knock on the front door. “I’ve gotta go.”

  “What? I just said what we both knew was true,” Sienna pleaded.

  “That’s not it.” I shook my head, smiling. “Someone’s at the door.”

  “Soph, send me a photo of yourself after you decide what to wear.”

  I promised I would before killing the call and hiding my nearly naked body inside a bathrobe. There was another knock on the door as I ran through the condo. Making sure I was decent before exposing myself to the world, I tightened the cinch around my waist and went for the handle. Opening the door, I was quickly greeted by an average height man, snuggly tucked inside a nice suit.

  “Special delivery from Mr. Nolan Foster.” He smiled, extending the over-sized angelic white gift box to me.

  I took it graciously with wide, unblinking eyes.

  “Have a wonderful evening, ma’am.” He nodded and left.

  Closing the door, I retreated back inside, unable to take my eyes off the box. It was heavier than expected, and much nicer than any gift box I had ever seen before. It even felt expensive, which was part of my reason for being afraid to see what was actually tucked away inside.

  Sitting down at the kitchen table, I carefully untied the silk bow.

  My knee bounced and my heart raced.

  Slowly, I popped the lid. Feeling as if it was fragile enough to break, I intentionally set it off to the side before turning my attention to the red rose lying on top.

  Biting my bottom lip, I tried to smile, tried not to be impressed. But as I pinched the flower stem between my fingers, I lifted it to my nose. And as the flowery scent traveled straight to my brain, I couldn’t deny myself the excitement that tonight was bringing me any longer.