Erin didn’t know a person could choke on ice cream. She grabbed a serviette and covered her mouth as she struggled to catch her breath. “What?” she said when she was finally able to speak.
Caitlin raised an eyebrow. “Now tell me you’re going to say no.”
Her jaw dropping, Erin tried to process this new information. Brock was a billionaire? Oh dear God. She’d had no idea. She’d known he ran the Three Wise Men with his brothers, and she’d guessed he wasn’t exactly hard up. But a billionaire… Erin couldn’t even conceive of how much money that was.
Across the table, Caitlin started to giggle at her expression.
“Stop it.” Erin put her face in her hands, thinking of her mother. “Oh… what am I going to do?”
“Seriously? I don’t understand the problem.”
“I can’t go out with him, Cait, he’ll think I’m just after his money.”
“But you didn’t even know he had any until now.”
“Well, I knew he had money, although I didn’t know how much. But he doesn’t know that.”
Caitlin sighed. “Oh give the guy a break. Okay so he doesn’t have to worry about where the next meal is coming from—does that mean he doesn’t want to date anymore?”
“Don’t you think it’s weird though? I’d only just met the man and he offered to take me away for the night.”
“But you said you believed him when he told you he meant separate bedrooms.”
“I did. That’s not the point.”
“What is the point?”
“I don’t know.” Erin couldn’t seem to vocalize her angst. “Mum said—”
“Argh!” Caitlin stuck her fingers in her ears. “No. Talk. About. Mothers. Please don’t tell me you’re making a decision based on Karen’s advice.”
“She put doubts in my mind. And since then I’ve found it difficult to believe he’s genuine.”
Caitlin’s expression softened. “Just because Jack was a bastard doesn’t mean all men are the same. Not everyone is out for themselves. Sometimes people genuinely want to help.”
It was almost exactly what Erin had said to her mother but, wanting reassurance, she just said, “Really?”
“He came all the way from Auckland to give your son a birthday present and to meet you because he liked the sound of you on the phone. That doesn’t sound selfish to me.”
“I suppose. So you don’t think he’ll expect anything from me in return for treating me to a night away? He’s not going to expect me to go back to his room?”
An impish light filled Caitlin’s eyes. “Would it be a problem if he did?”
“Cait!”
“Well. How long has it been since you’ve had sex?”
“Uh… Let’s just say it’s been a while.”
For the past three years, life had consisted of high chairs, Disney movies, toddler groups, and doctor’s visits. Erin couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn a skirt, let alone anything that had any shape to it. She wore her hair permanently in a ponytail and never painted her fingernails. She’d been a mum for so long, she’d forgotten how to be a woman.
“I’m not sure I even remember how to do it,” she said.
Caitlin grinned. “I bet he has a few techniques up his sleeve to help you remember. Don’t you think a one-night stand would be fun?”
“Oh my God, I couldn’t.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know… Stretch marks? Baby tummy?”
“You’re not fifteen, Erin. He won’t expect you to have a fifteen-year-old’s body.”
“Yeah but…” Desperation mingled with a growing excitement. She couldn’t possibly have a one-night stand with Brock King. Could she? Of course she couldn’t.
Panic overrode the excitement. “I couldn’t, Cait. It’s been so long. And he’d expect all sorts of things.”
“Like what?” Caitlin said with amusement.
“I don’t know. Fancy stuff.”
“Clowns outfits and trapeze work?”
“Don’t make fun of me. You know what I mean. Special techniques and… stuff.”
Caitlin laughed. “Sweetie, you’re gorgeous, you’re sexy beneath all the angst, and you’re willing. That’s all a guy needs, believe me.”
“What’s all a guy needs?” The male voice made them both jump. Erin hadn’t seen him walk up. It was Caitlin’s fiancé, the sexy chef who ran the restaurant a few doors down from the chocolate shop.
“Hey, Fox.” Erin smiled as he bent to kiss her on the cheek.
“Hey.” He pulled up a chair, turned it around and straddled it.
“Go away,” Caitlin said. “We’re having a private conversation.”
“What’s all a guy needs?” he asked, ignoring her. He raised his eyebrows at Erin. “Are you dating?”
Erin blushed. “No. Yes. Maybe.”
Fox grinned. “Who is he?”
“He’s a gorgeous billionaire,” Caitlin said. “By the way we’re breaking up so I can date his brother.”
“Yeah, right.” Fox caught her long blonde braid and pulled her toward him for a kiss.
“Ow.” She glared at him, then gave in and kissed him back. Afterward, she tried to push him away, but he refused to let her go, and the kiss turned into a long smooch.
“Oh, get a room you two.” Erin rolled her eyes and stuck her spoon back in her ice cream.
Fox let her go and laughed. “So, a billionaire?”
“He wants to take her away for a dirty weekend,” Caitlin said.
Erin closed her eyes. “Cait…”
“I hope you said yes.” Fox stuck Cait’s spoon in Erin’s ice cream and stole a spoonful.
“She’s thinking of saying no,” Cait advised.
Fox raised an eyebrow. “I hope you took her temperature because she’s clearly coming down with something.”
“That’s what I said. She’d be bonkers not to go.”
Erin sighed. “He’s a great guy, a doctor who I’ve spoken to lots of time on the forums. He came all the way from Auckland for Ryan’s birthday, and he’s offered to pay for one night in a hotel for me for my birthday on Saturday. I’m just worried about what he’d expect in return. He told me he’ll book two rooms but… well. Do you think it’s possible for a man to be truly altruistic?”
Fox took another spoonful of ice cream and gave her an amused look. “You’re asking me if it’s possible he’s arranged this out of the goodness of his heart?”
“Yes.” She knew her voice expressed her doubt.
He considered her as he sucked the ice cream off the spoon. His eyes had a hint of steel about them. “You’re asking me, a guy, whether it’s possible that another man might, for once, want to do something nice for you without having an ulterior motive. You don’t have a very high opinion of our gender, do you?”
Caitlin smacked his wrist. “Don’t embarrass her. You never met Jack. He was a dick. Sorry, Erin, I know he’s the father of your child, but he was.”
“I’m not arguing with you,” Erin said wryly.
“Look,” Fox said. “Let’s assume this new guy isn’t a dick, and he’s actually one of the good guys. Let’s assume it was me, and I was in his position, and I met this girl who lived a few hours away that I really liked. I’m a billionaire so money isn’t an issue.”
“I like this fantasy,” Caitlin said.
He grinned but carried on. “I want to get to know this girl better, and it’s her birthday, and her son’s just been in hospital, so I decide to treat her to a night away in a hotel. I book myself in the same place because I live three hours away and I want to take her to dinner and have a drink with her, but I book a separate room because I’m a nice guy and I’d never assume a woman would just go to bed with me.”
Caitlin snorted. This time he didn’t smile but raised his eyebrow at her. She bit her lip and lowered her eyes. Erin hid a smile. Fox Wilde was the only man who’d ever been able to tame the inimitable Caitlin.
“I like her,” he
said. “I want to treat her. Get to know her. I might secretly hope that things will develop, and if they do, then we’re in the right sort of place where we can take it further if we both feel like it. But I wouldn’t expect it. And I think it’s a real shame a guy can’t treat a girl without her suspecting he has ulterior motives.”
Erin studied her ice cream bowl. “Sorry,” she said in a small voice. “I didn’t mean to sound insulting.”
He sighed. “Like I said, I’m sure he won’t be disappointed if things develop, but if this is a first date I’m sure he’s not expecting anything. I don’t see why you shouldn’t go and have fun. Go to dinner with the guy. Get to know him. Have a drink. Enjoy yourself. And if you like him…” He shrugged and a smile curved his lips. “See where it leads.”
“Wouldn’t he think I was a slut if I went back to his room?”
That made Fox laugh. He rose from the chair and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “He’d think he was the luckiest man on earth, I’m sure. This is the twenty-first century, Erin. I don’t think you’ll be shunned from society if you’re seen alone without a chaperone.” He winked at his fiancée. “See you later.”
“See ya.” Caitlin watched him go, then turned amused eyes back to her friend. “Did that help?”
“I insulted him,” Erin said. “I didn’t mean to. Sorry.”
“Of course you didn’t. He would have been angry that guys like Jack give men a bad name and make us not trust the good ones. We joke about it, but let’s face it, none of the guys I know would take advantage of a girl.”
Erin thought about the men married to Caitlin’s friends up in Mangonui whom she’d met on a few occasions: Kole, Joss, Stuart, and Owen, all of whom were good, decent guys. “I suppose Fox is right. Hoping is different to expecting.”
“Of course it is. It’s annoying, but he’s usually right. Look, you’d be daft not to go. Forget about Brock being rich.”
“That’s easier said than done.”
“I appreciate that. What I mean is, try not to let that influence the way you think about him. If anything, it probably means he’s more generous than your ordinary guy. He wouldn’t think twice about giving a gift that other men might falter at. A night in a hotel will be peanuts to him. What hotel is it, anyway?”
“He didn’t say. I’m guessing it’s not going to be a cheap B&B.”
“Yeah. But my point is that it wouldn’t even enter his head that a gift like that would make you feel uncomfortable. It’ll embarrass him more if you say no.”
“I suppose.” Excitement rose inside her. “Am I really going to do this? Go away for a night with a man?”
“You are. You’d better get your legs waxed.”
“Cait!”
“And your bikini line.”
“Oh my God.”
Caitlin giggled. “I hope you have fun. And look, if you feel too awkward about taking things further, just thank him for a lovely meal and go back to your room. It doesn’t mean you can’t see him again. I’m sure he’ll be expecting you to take it slow. He knows you’re a single mum and that it’s been a while since you went out with anyone. He sounds like a nice guy, Erin. Why don’t you treat him like one?”
“Yeah. In a way I feel ashamed for having such low expectations.” Anger surged through her. That’s what Jack had done to her. He’d ruined her for every other guy because he’d been such a complete and utter bastard. “I don’t know why I ever liked him. I can’t believe I went out with him.”
Caitlin had obviously kept up with Erin’s change of tack. “You trusted him—and why wouldn’t you? The majority of men are nice. The majority of the human race is nice. But there is a small percentage that isn’t, and they spoil it for everyone else, destroying our trust. It’s Christmas though. Isn’t it a time for miracles? Maybe this is the guy you’re supposed to be with. Maybe this is Mr. Right.”
“Maybe,” Erin said doubtfully, “let’s not jump to conclusions. I don’t want to get my hopes up.”
Caitlin reached out and rubbed Erin’s arm. “Jack really did a number on you, didn’t he?”
Erin knew she didn’t have to explain how hard it had been when her ex had shown his true colors. She’d spoken to Cait a lot on the phone at the time, so Cait was perfectly aware how difficult it had been.
“Don’t let him spoil this thing—whatever it ends up being—with Brock,” Cait said. “I know you doubt your own instincts now, but try to trust them at the weekend. Go with your gut feeling, and believe in the magic of Christmas.”
“I’ll try.” Erin finished off her ice cream. It wouldn’t be easy to get rid of all her doubts. Jack had destroyed her trust, and it seemed impossible to get it back. Could Brock really be as nice as he seemed?
Chapter Eight
Brock glanced across at Erin. She sat beside him in his car, looking out of the window at the countryside flashing by. True, it was a splendid view, the hills an emerald green in the summer sun, the sea glittering on either side of them as they headed along the peninsula to Opito Bay. But even though it was magnificent, it didn’t explain why she wasn’t saying anything.
It had taken until Thursday for her to accept his invitation to go away for the night. He’d texted on Monday to ask how Ryan was doing, and she’d replied to tell him he’d finally been discharged from hospital. After that, over the next few days, they’d exchanged several chatty, light-hearted texts a day, mostly about Ryan, sometimes about what they were up to and how their day was going. He’d fought against his urge to ask if she’d made up her mind, knowing he had to let her come to her own decision without seeming to pressure her, and he’d been relieved when she’d finally sent the text on Thursday.
I’ve decided, by the way. The answer’s yes.
His heart had leapt like a sixteen-year-old boy’s after he’d asked a girl to go to the school ball. Excellent, he’d replied, a big grin on his face, shall I pick you up on Saturday at one o’clock?
I look forward to it, she’d said.
They hadn’t mentioned it again, although they’d continued to exchange texts. He’d grown used to his mobile vibrating in his pocket. He liked holding appointments with the delicious anticipation of knowing he had another message to read from her, and he didn’t miss the glow it gave him every time he saw her name on the screen.
He’d arrived at Erin’s house on Saturday shortly before one to find her ready and waiting with her bag packed. Her eyes had been bright with excitement, and she’d even given him a quick kiss on the cheek before she’d gotten into the car. He’d wondered whether she’d find it difficult to leave her son, but the boy had waved goodbye to her at the door, holding his grandma’s hand, and she’d seemed happy enough when they’d driven away.
Over the last ten minutes, though, she’d grown quiet, and Brock had the feeling she was regretting her decision to go with him.
As he glanced over at her again, he saw that her brow had furrowed.
“I thought we were heading to Sandcombe,” she said, referring to the small but pleasant hotel nestled in the bush overlooking the marina. He’d just passed the turnoff for it. “Where are we going?”
“Paua Cliffs,” he said.
Erin’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, seriously?”
He gave her an amused glance. “Have you been there?”
“Of course I haven’t been there. A room costs more than a month’s rent! Are we really going there?”
“You want me to turn around? I can get a room for ninety bucks at the motel on the main road if you’d rather.” He was joking, but as he saw the look on her face, he realized Matt had been right.
The day after he’d met Erin at the hospital, he’d told his brothers what he’d organized for the following weekend. Charlie hadn’t seen anything wrong with what he’d done, but then Charlie knew more about his laboratory than he knew about women, whereas Matt was more attuned to the female species than both his brothers put together.
“You fucking idiot,” Matt had said. �
��We finally get you to go out with someone and you want to take her to a hotel. She’s going to wonder what you want in return.”
“I don’t want anything in return,” Brock had said, puzzled. “It’s a gift. It’s her birthday.”
“Dude, even men who’ve known their wives for thirty years only buy them an ironing board for their birthday. No wonder the poor girl’s concerned. It looks as if you’re taking her away for a dirty weekend.”
“I…” Brock had remembered the look on her face when he’d first mentioned it. “But I told her I’d book two rooms.”
“So sex didn’t enter your head at all then?”
“Well I wouldn’t go that far. But I swear that’s not why I suggested it. I thought I’d take her to Paua Cliffs. I thought she’d enjoy it—a nice dinner and then a room to herself. Women like that.”
“Aah,” Charlie had said, “Paua Cliffs. Nice. Classy.”
“Yeah. She’ll definitely think you want sex if you take her there,” Matt had advised. “You should have gotten her a box of chocolates and a dozen roses.”
“She’s a single mum. She doesn’t want flowers scattering petals over all the Lego on the carpet, more mess to clear up. What she wants is time to herself.”
“With you knocking on the door asking for a cup of sugar halfway through the night?”
Brock had sworn at his brother and hung up. Sometimes he felt as if they were all still teenagers.
Now, though, he had to acknowledge that, as usual, his brother had been right, and he should have stuck to chocolates and flowers.
Seeing a picnic stop ahead, he signaled and pulled over, then turned off the engine. A family sat at a table further along, munching on their sandwiches as they looked over the bay, but Brock ignored them, unclipped his seatbelt, and turned in the seat to look at Erin.
Her eyes were wide, puzzled. “What’s up?” she asked.
“Perhaps we should get something out in the open,” he advised. “As a family, the Kings don’t struggle to make ends meet.”
“I’ve gathered that.”
“All three of us work hard—I can’t honestly remember the last time I took a whole weekend off. I save lives on a regular basis—I’m not being flash, it’s just a fact, and I give an alarming amount to charity. So I’m not going to apologize for having money, or for wanting to spend a tiny proportion of it on the first beautiful woman I’ve seen in two years who presses my buttons.”
The Perfect Gift: A Christmas Billionaire Sexy Romance (Three Wise Men Book 1) Page 6