by Krista Lakes
I glanced back over at Chad. “Somewhere private?”
He nodded and took my hand to led me from the staircase. I could see Charlotte making her way down. Leo's eyes fixated on her and I wondered for a moment what was going on between the two of them. I didn't get to see what happened next because Bastian was pulling me into the next room. We hurried out to the back porch.
Outside the murmur of the music filtered through an open window somewhere, but it was soft and muted. The ocean hummed against the shore, dark water against white sand. I was suddenly incredibly nervous about being alone with Bastian.
He hadn't lost the guarded expression. In fact, as soon as the door swung shut, he dropped my hand and went to the railing to look out at the beach without me. The loss of his touch hurt like a physical wound. The waning moon shone on his dark suit and caught the dark edge of the scar along his cheek.
“Why are you here, Ava?” Bastian's voice was low, but I could hear the quiet anguish in his voice. His hands tightened on the railing making his knuckles turn white.
“I'm here for you.” My voice shook. My whole body was shaking. I felt naked even with the beautiful dress and perfect makeup.
He forcibly relaxed his hands from the railing and turned sharply, his eyes catching the moonlight. “Why?”
I swallowed down the fear and turmoil roiling up in my throat. This wasn't exactly the greeting I had been promised by Charlotte.
“I had to see you,” I whispered, taking a step forward. He retreated slightly.
“You said that when you left, you were gone.” His beautiful eyes were like stars in the night sky: distant and cold. “I was told you were seeing someone. That you had been seeing someone when you came here.”
“What?” I shook my head confused. “I wasn't with anyone but you. I don't want anyone but you.”
His hard expression flashed with hope for the briefest second before his brows came together again like storm clouds. “Please explain, then.”
The breeze off the ocean tugged the loose strand of hair across my face and I carefully tucked it back where it belonged before starting. I was surprised I could talk at all my stomach was so tangled up in knots, yet the words came smoothly.
“When I left, I was sure I didn't deserve you,” I started. I looked at his hands, remembering how they felt against my skin. So strong and safe. “I still don't think that I do, but I can't be without you.”
I glanced up from his hands. His face was still hard, his expression unreadable. I smoothed the fabric of my dress.
“I'm not worthy of a billionaire. I'm still a little broken and I'm not used to any of this,” I motioned to the party behind me, but I looked up and into his eyes. “But, I was wrong to leave. I was wrong to push you away because I was afraid. I guess if anything, it just shows how much I don't deserve you.”
My voice failed me at the end and I had to look away.
“And you didn't go home to be with someone else?” he asked. He sounded far more calm than I was. Almost business like. I looked up and into his beautiful, sad eyes and realized that he was using his business voice and face to keep from crumbling.
“No,” I replied emphatically. “Who ever told you that was a liar.”
“Chad. One of the auctioneers,” he said quietly. “He said that the two of you were engaged.”
If Chad had been on the balcony I would have thrown him off it and fed him to the sharks.
“Bastard,” I hissed. “Dirty, rotten, lying bastard!”
Bastian's eyebrows raised and the hint of a hopeful smile crossed his lips. “So, it's not true?”
“No,” I nearly shouted. I wanted to scream and cry. “Not even remotely close.”
“That's good to hear.” Bastian's shoulders relaxed slightly and he lost a little of the guarded look in his eyes. “I was afraid I really had lost you forever if that was the case.”
I took another step toward him and this time he didn't shy away. “No, you haven't lost me. I just took a wrong turn for a little bit. You've always had me.”
“Why are you here, Ava?” he asked again, but this time his voice thrummed with hope. I was now close enough to touch him.
I touched his cheek, shaking as I traced the scar from his cheek bone to the tip of his lips. The words came simply and more easily than I ever could have expected. They flowed because they were true.
“I'm here, because I had to tell you I love you.” I smiled, my heart pounding like a drum. “I love you, Bastian.”
His body stiffened and then melted as he reached for me, delicately placing his big hand on the back of my neck, and being careful not to mess up my hair. His blue-gray eyes met mine and sparkled, making me lose my mind with love.
He smiled. It was the smile he reserved for the dawn, and now it was my smile. He pulled me to him and kissed me like he hadn't seen me in months rather than just days. He kissed me like he needed the kiss to survive.
My heart soared on golden wings. Songs would be written about this moment and scholars would look back and say that this kiss was one for the books. It was heaven. Pure and absolute heaven.
He kept his forehead pressed against mine as he pulled away, both of us breathless and shaking.
“I love you too, Ava,” he whispered, barely separating his lips from mine. I beamed at him as his face split into a grin that illuminated my world to brilliance. I couldn't stop giggling. I was drunk on my own happiness and love.
“I can't tell you how glad I am that you're here.” He was grinning like a schoolboy on the first day of Christmas break. His gray eyes flashed with excitement and joy. When I looked into them, I knew I was where I belonged.
He picked me up, his hands wrapping around my waist and spinning me through the air as if we were dancing on clouds. He set me down, laughing at my shrieks of delight before kissing me again.
This time, he wasn't careful of my hair and I didn't care. The pretty hair was for him anyway. His fingers tangled in it as his mouth searched mine. He tasted so damn good I couldn't stop.
“Don't ever do that to me again,” he whispered. “I wanted to come after you so badly, but you had asked me not to... and then he said you were engaged...”
I kissed him, silencing the hurt. “I love you, Bastian. More than anything.”
His eyes searched mine, the moonlight catching his tears of joy. I kissed him, closing my eyes and just focusing on how good he felt. How this was the best moment of my life.
“I'm sorry to interrupt,” Charlotte announced, peeking her head out of the back door and not looking sorry at all. She was grinning and her mascara was smudged. “But it's time for your speech, Bastian.”
“Come with me,” he commanded, grabbing my hand and pulling me back into the house. I giggled and happily followed him, walking on glee rather than the floor. Charlotte high-fived us both as we passed.
Once inside, he guided me quickly to the grand foyer entrance. Bastian waited for a moment at the base of the stairs before snagging two glasses of champagne from a passing server. He handed one to me.
“Now you get to see what all your hard work is going toward.” He grinned and pulled me to the center landing between the stairs in the grand foyer. “Come celebrate with me.”
I stepped up, willing to follow him anywhere. Upon his ascension to the staircase, the background music died. He grinned once at me and then turned to face the crowd and tap his glass.
The room of celebrities and upper crust society quieted, with every eye turning to look at the staircase. I immediately felt awkward standing on what was now the stage, but it was too late to escape. Moving off the landing or going up the stairs would bring even more attention than just standing there and doing my best to look pretty.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming tonight,” Bastian called out. The room hummed for a moment as the last of the onlookers settled and turned to watch. “As you all know, I bought this house a very long time ago, but it has never really been mine.”
Bastian paused, waiting for the crowd.
“You are all here to bid on the exquisite artwork and furniture, as well as the house itself. I am pleased to announced that Fairchild Auctions and Appraisals has valued the estate and it's furnishings at just over one hundred and seventy million American dollars.”
An awed whisper rippled through the crowd and it made me smile. This was certainly the biggest appraisal I had ever done, and most likely would ever do. One-hundred and seventy million dollars was a lot of money. Even for a billionaire.
“With that, I am incredibly excited to inform everyone that every penny of that money will be going to the Foundling Foundation.” Bastian glanced around the room. Most of them didn't know his back story. Most of the people in this room were used to luxury. But Bastian had seen the other side of life. He had seen the children in the system. He had been one of the children in the system.
“They are the people that helped me when I needed it most, and now I'm proud to be able to give something back that will help other lost children like me. In addition to the funds raised by your purchases, I will be donating a matching contribution.”
A small gasp went through the room. There would be some foster-children finding their lives getting better because of this. That much money was unfathomable to most, but not to Bastian. I had a feeling that there would be many such benefit galas like this in my future.
“So, please, tomorrow, dig deep and help me give this non-profit organization the funding it so justly deserves,” Bastian concluded. He held up his glass and toasted the crowd.
I nearly forgot to raise my own glass and toast. I was blown away. Everything, all of the art, the house, the furniture- all of it- was going to charity. To a charity that Bastian believed in. A charity that would help future Bastians. My heart was already full of love for the man and this act made it ready to explode. I didn't know if he could get more wonderful.
Bastian turned and kissed me, claiming me as his own in front of everyone present. I thrilled, not caring that flashes were going off all over the place. He was mine as much as I was his.
He slowly released me to the sound of applause. I turned to see Leo and Gabe clapping enthusiastically. Bastian flushed slightly, but not near as much as I did. I turned bright red all the way down to my toes. Bastian on the other hand, seemed to swell with pride.
“You are wonderful, you know that right?” I said quietly as we stepped from the landing. He smiled wide. “Why didn't you tell me what this was all for?”
“And risk not seeing the expression on your face right now?” he asked, raising his eyebrows and grinning.
“You're wonderful,” I repeated, meaning it completely.
“Save me a dance?” he asked, as someone came up to his elbow, anxious to speak with him about his donation. I nodded and his eyes sparkled. I couldn't wait for my dance. He kissed my cheek one last time before turning to talk with his guests.
A camera phone light flashed in my face as the crowd dispersed. Standing at the base and taking a selfie with me and Bastian in the background was Chad and his friends. I nearly threw my champagne glass at him, but that would have been a waste of good champagne.
“I'll send this little gem of a picture to Ava,” I heard Chad inform his friends. Diamond-necklace woman was gone. “Show her just what that billionaire thinks of her. Minute she's off the island, he's got some hussy model hanging all over him. Ava will come crawling back to me with her father's business tucked between her legs.”
The two men with him in matching cheap suits laughed. Bastian turned from the man he had been talking with to see my face crumple. I finally understood what Chad had seen in me. He had seen my father's business. That's why he had kept trying to win me back. He hadn't loved me at all.
Bastian's eyes darkened and lightning flashed through them. Chad had told him we were engaged. Chad was a dead man.
Bastian caught Chad's shoulder and spun him around, pinning him to the staircase railing with Bastian's fist wrapped around Chad's bargain-bin tie. With the two of them together, Bastian dominated Chad physically. I had never thought of Chad as small, but he had nothing compared to Bastian.
“Mr. B... B... Belrose,” Chad stammered, his face draining of color. He had definitely not been expecting Bastian to have overheard his comment. Several guests were turning to look at what the commotion was and I could see Elijah coming out of the shadows. “I didn't mean any insult to you sir... I...”
“But you did mean offense to her?” Bastian growled, tightening his grip. The scar on his cheek had gone white with rage. I hope he had control of his temper, but part of me hoped that he would just deck Chad. Maybe even break his nose. “You lied to me.”
Chad's eyes were getting bigger by the second and flashing around the room to search for help. His two friends had instantly abandoned him. Diamond-necklace was long gone. Chad's eyes met mine, first asking for assistance and then slowly filling with recognition.
“Ava?” Chad squeaked, looking me up and down in shock. I guessed he couldn't believe that I could look like this.
“Hi, Chad.” My stomach was in knots, but for the first time, I wasn't going to back down. I didn't need Chad. I didn't need him or what he thought of me. I had myself. And now I had Bastian. I took a bold step forward. “Crawling back with my father's business between my legs, huh? I am so glad I dumped your ass when I did, you two-timing cheater. I actually pity you.”
Bastian released Chad's jacket, smoothing it out and giving him a snide smile. Much of the crowd was staring and listening to every word. Bastian didn't need to hit Chad. I had just hit Chad in the worst possible way. His pride.
Bastian wrapped his arm around me, clearly signifying that I was with him. That I was good enough for him. I was good enough for a billionaire. It made me hold my head up high. And everyone now knew it.
Chad stupidly opened his mouth, thinking he would say something clever, but Bastian saw it coming. He lunged, just moving his massive shoulders forward and not even moving his feet, but enough to give the threat of attack. Chad yelped and cowered against the banister while the crowd laughed.
“Shall we, Ava, my love?” Bastian asked loudly, holding out his arm for me to take. “I'd like to introduce you to Jack Saunders and his wife. I saw them in the drawing room and I know they'd love to meet you.”
“That sounds wonderful, dear,” I cooed, knowing that Chad would be crying at this missed opportunity. Not only was I dating a billionaire, but he was introducing me to his billionaire friends. How was that for not good enough?
My skirts swooshed against the marble tiles as Bastian led me out of the room. I walked like a princess, finally letting myself feel like one. Bastian treated me like a princess because I deserved to be treated like one.
“The lunge wasn't too much, was it?” Bastian asked as we rounded the corner into what I thought was the drawing room.
“Not at all,” I told him, kissing his cheek. He must have shaved right before the party as he still smelled of his aftershave cream. “I thought it was perfect.”
Bastian smoothed the stray strand of hair away from my face. His eyes were soft and full of love just for me. Everyone else in the room melted away. “You're perfect,” he whispered. “I'm so glad you're here.”
“Me too.” I beamed up at him. He smiled back and kissed me, soft and sweet, but full of promise. For a moment I wondered if one of the upstairs rooms were empty...
“Bastian!” A masculine voice called out and Bastian released me from his kiss. “Great party.”
Bastian looked over at the voice and smiled before turning back to me. “Now, I'd like you to come meet Jack and Emma.”
“For real?” I asked. I had been sure the offer had been just meant as one more parting blow to Chad. “I get to meet Jack and Emma Saunders?”
“Yes,” Bastian answered. He shook his head like I was asking if we were having wine later. He had every intention of introducing me to his billionaire friends.
“Just one more question,” I said, pulling on his sleeve. Bastian stopped and waited. “How late is this party supposed to go tonight?”
He grinned, joy bubbling in his eyes. “Until after sunrise, my love.”
Sunrise Kisses: Epilogue
It's dark outside. The stars twinkle and the gray promise of dawn has started. The sun will rise in exactly 9 minutes. I know this because I have had the hour and minute circled on my calendar for the past six months.
“Your mother would be so proud of you,” Dad whispers. He's said it at least fifty times already today, and a thousand more yesterday, but I still smile. I wish she could have been here for this. There is an ache in my heart for her, but I know that she's here in spirit. She wouldn't have missed today for the world.
“Five minute warning,” Charlotte announces, stepping into the small room where I've been getting ready. “Sunrise in seven, but we have to get you down there.”
Butterflies alight in my stomach. I press my palms against the smooth satin of my dress, trying to tell the butterflies to settle once again.
Dad clears his throat. He stands in front of me and takes my hands in his. Tears make his eyes glisten and I can tell that he's holding his emotion back. I hug him, pulling him close. He wraps his arms around me, holding his breath. I feel like a little girl for a moment, cradled and safe with my father.
“Your mother asked me to give this to you on your wedding day,” Dad says, slowly releasing me. A tear trickles down his cheek and I know I'm about to start bawling at any moment. He reaches into his suit jacket pocket and pulls out an envelope. “She made me promise.”
My hands tremble and it's taking everything I have not to cry. Charlotte hands me a tissue.
“It's okay,” she whispers. “There's a reason they make waterproof mascara.”
The envelope is wrinkled and there's a small tear in the corner, but my name is on the front in my mother's hand. I trace the letters, imagining her writing it and smiling. I open it.
Dearest Ava,