The Billionaire’s Crush

by Tineka Brown

  There was silence for a little while. Her hand was still resting on his arm and she did not seem to notice that it was still there and she was not aware that he was watching her; noticing the delicate planes of her beautiful face; the smoothness of her caramel skin and the way her brow arched delicately and when she lowered her eyes; the way her lashes made shadows on her high cheekbones.

  “I’m in,” he told her huskily. He wanted to touch her so much but he held back.

  Her eyes flew towards him. “What?”

  “I will help,” he told her with a wry smile. “I will go and visit this home with you and not only open my check book but try and see what else I can do.”

  “Oh David!” she cried, launching herself into his arms. He stiffened for a minute and then with a groan he pulled her onto his lap; his lips seeking hers. God knows he had tried but it had not worked and he could not resist her. She stiffened at first and then with a low moan she opened her mouth to him; taking him in. David gentled his touch as his tongue delved inside her mouth seeking her and wanting more. His hand drifted to her full breast and he felt the hard nipple and his heart stuttered within him. Abby tore her mouth away from his, her body trembling. “David I can’t,” she whispered. His arms were like steel traps around her body and she found that she did not want to move; did not want to leave him.

  He held her to him. “Don’t go,” he said huskily resting his forehead against hers. “Please.”

  “I can’t,” she repeated gently. “I have never – I can’t-“

  With a deep shudder he set her aside. “Go to bed Abby,” he told her wearily.

  “Are you okay?” she asked him concerned.

  He gave a harsh laugh. “Depends on how you look at it.”

  She hesitated for a while and then went quietly to her room, closing the door behind her. She was not here for this and she would be foolish to get involved with a man like David. He was used to sophistication and she certainly was far from it.

  Chapter 4

  A week passed before he made good on his promise to come to the children’s home with her. They had been tiptoeing around each other for the whole week and had tried to avoid touching each other. He had gone to church with her but had made some excuse and she'd had to find her way home after.

  It was hard to believe they had been on the island for four weeks. The time had slipped past so fast that it did not seem possible. The progress at the church was going along steadily and she had been spending her days either developing the children’s ministry or going to the children’s home to help out. She had brought them some more items that had been shipped and now they had a whole library of books, toys and several computers. David had written his check and she had given it to Mrs. Hill and the woman had taken it with eyes widened in shock. She had been spending a lot of time with Moira and the little girl was coming out of her shell.

  It was Wednesday morning at nine when she had come out of her room because she had been out pretty late the night before at prayer meeting so she had slept in. She was surprised to see him at the breakfast table sipping coffee and on his lap top. “You’re still here?” she said confused; going to pour herself a cup of coffee.

  “I am waiting for you. “He told her briefly. “We have a date at the children’s home remember?”

  Abby’s eyes widened as she took a seat at the chair opposite him. There were fruits in a basket on the table and the smell of freshly baked bread and scrambled eggs. “I thought you had forgotten,” she admitted.

  “Nope,” he said flippantly. “I never make promises that I can’t keep; so eat something and let’s go.”

  The day was bright and sunny and he had to turn up the air-conditioning to combat the heat. It had rained the night before and the place was lush and green.

  “How are you?” he asked glancing over at her as he maneuvered the car over the dirt road leading to the home.

  “I am okay,” she looked at him puzzled; her eyes unwittingly taking in the casual sophistication he portrayed in his simple yet expensive striped shirt and dark blue jeans. He had on designer dark glasses and Abby could not see his eyes. “How about you?”

  “Apart from thinking about you all the time, I am absolutely fine,” he told her.

  Abby went still with shock. She had not expected him to be so candid and it unnerved her. “David, what are you doing?”

  He shrugged and returned his gaze to the road. They were approaching the building that housed the home now. “Just expressing what I am feeling.”

  “We can’t,” she told him firmly.

  “Can’t what Abby?” he parked the car and turned sideways to look at her; still not removing his glasses as if he was using it as a shield. “Can’t have these feelings for you? Can’t think about you in the next room and how your lips feel when they are against mine? Can’t be falling in love with you?”

  She was speechless. And before she could respond they were approached by Mrs. Hill who was beaming as she came towards the car. They got out and David greeted the woman with a charming smile.

  Somehow, Abby managed to smile and have a normal conversation but it was difficult. She found herself looking at him as he played with the kids and talked with the various adults working there. She could see why he was such a successful businessman; he made everyone feel as if they mattered. He spoke to Mrs. Hill and graciously accepted her profuse thanks on the generous donation he had given and told her that the thanks was mostly due to Sister Abby as she was the one who had seen the need and told him about it. He met Moira and was quite taken with the little girl who followed them around while they viewed the place.

  He even used his phone and treated everyone to lunch.

  They left at two o’clock and he was silent most of the way. Abby did not know whether or not to bring up the topic of his supposed feelings for her.

  “Moira is a sweet kid,” he commented after they had gone a distance.

  “Yes she is,” Abby said absently. “David we need to talk about what you said.”

  “Can it wait until later?” he asked her; they had almost reached the church where she had planned on meeting with the ladies to discuss the Sunday school topic. “I have to go to the hardware and purchase some stuff for delivery.”

  “Okay,” she said hastily, not sure that she really wanted to talk about it anyway. She did not know what to say.

  “We are going to talk Abby,” he told her in amusement as if reading her thoughts. “Just not right now.”

  He dropped her off at church and the ladies were already there. They went into the discussion and sorted the material they needed to use.

  The refreshment area had been turned into a soup kitchen and a number of neighborhood children came to eat and were invited to church and to be a part of the Sunday school.

  She walked home at around four o’clock and went straight to the bathroom to take a shower. Mrs. Larkins had done some tidying up and had also done the laundry and the place smelled pleasantly of fresh pine. Abby put away the fresh laundry that had been left on her bed and went to take a shower.

  He came back just as she was about to eat something; deciding not to wait on him.

  “Pack that up, we are leaving,” he ordered as he strode into the kitchen and saw her dishing out some food.

  “Where are we going?” she asked startled.

  “You’ll see,” he said mysteriously as he headed to his bedroom to take a shower. Abby packed the fried chicken in a bowl and put cling wrap over it and then put the macaroni salad in a plastic container. She also took out bottles of water and after a slight hesitation grabbed two bottles of beer and some cola.

  He came back out freshly showered and wearing blue and white cargo shorts and a blue T-shirt.

  She got into the passenger seat of the car while he put the stuff on the back seat along with a huge beach towel.

  She thought he was taking them to the river he had been before but this place was a small well-hidden grassy knoll with a stream ge
ntly running at the foot of it. David spread the towel and placed the basket on it and indicated for her to sit. “One of the work crew told me about this place; Gary; big thick guy with a very loud laugh.” David grinned. He had stretched out and was staring up at the sky which was still light and incredibly blue rivaling his eyes. “He said it’s unofficially called a make out corner.” He laughed at her horrified expression. “Don’t worry that’s not what we are here for; only if you want to that is,”

  “David you have to stop talking to me like that,” she told him seriously. Her heart was tripping and she did not dare look at him.

  He turned sideways and rested his head on his hand; looking at her. “Tell me why,” he said softly.

  “Because it’s not right,” she protested, her hands twisting inside her lap. She had pinned her hair on top of her head and her long delicate neck was exposed; a few tendrils of hair rested against her cheeks and she had no make-up on. The women he was used to would never be caught dead without their make-up on and he found her fresh beauty intriguing.

  “You’re going to have to elaborate.” He told her with a slight smile.

  “We run in different circles.” She told him, giving him a direct look. “I am a child of God and well, you are used to huge parties and corporate meetings and private jets. I have a simple life and I like it that way.”

  “I can be simple,” he eased up and drew nearer to her.

  “I am not your type David,” she told him firmly. “You’ve been here for too long and you miss your lifestyle and you’re probably bored with this place and I am here and I seem like someone you could pass the time with.”

  David did not respond and Abby sneaked a peek at him to gauge his reaction. “You don’t have a very high opinion of me do you?” he asked her dryly.

  “No, David, I did not mean-“ she protested.

  He held up a hand. “It’s okay Abby. For a while I was that kind of person. I went to every party and had any woman I wanted.” He told her unabashedly. “The extreme wealth got to my head and although I grew up in church I did not once go back because it was not cool to go to church and no amount of lecturing and gentle guiding from my parents could convince me. I was a billionaire and I did not need God but after a while I grew bored and restless and guilty. I started giving to charities and becoming involved in my Dad’s church, trying to find my way. I am not some rich kid who thinks the world revolves around him Abby and I am not going to be ashamed because I happen to have a lot of money. I give a lot of it away but I still like to live very comfortable.”

  Abby stared out over the gently running stream; the place was so quiet that she could hear the sound the water made as it bubbled over the rocks buried underneath. It was a peaceful place and very beautiful, untouched by big businesses. Nature in all its beauty.

  “My dad left my mother for a younger woman,” she began, not looking at him. “Before that they had a very unhappy marriage with my mom treating him like he was her footstool. I guess he could not take it any longer and he left. When he did she took it out on me; unleashing a bitterness that touched me deep and I made a decision that I would never get married because marriage sucked the life out of people and I want to be able to live my life to the fullest.”

  “Look at me,” he said to her softly. She did, her golden brown eyes steady on his; her lips slightly parted.

  “God you’re beautiful,” he murmured, reaching out a hand to gently stroke her cheek. “Your parents made bad choices but that does not mean you are going to. Marriages work Abby; look at my parents and take for instance Deacon Williams and I could name more. Don’t close yourself off from love and what it can do to you, it’s not fair.”

  “David, we are very different and I have no intention of falling into something where I will end up getting hurt, nothing is wrong with us being just friends.” She turned her head away from him.

  “Abby, you and I both know that the friendship boat has sailed from the very moment we kissed,” he told her with slight amusement, turning her head back to face him. “We cannot retrieve it. I am falling in love with you and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Now let’s eat.”

  Abby stared at him as he leaned over to get the basket and she did not know quite what to say. They ate and he told her about growing up as a pastor’s son and how he had been teased and the kind of trouble he had gotten into.

  She told him about growing up in a home where there was no love. Her father had tried but he had been so miserable and eager to please her mother that she had all but grown up alone. He told her about his obsession with video games and how it had often gotten him in trouble, both at school and at home.

  He stretched out on the towel and pulled her down beside him. She hesitated at first but then she went into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder. “I want this Abby,” he told her softly his hand gently rubbing her back. “Not all marriages end in divorce and I think the ones that do are those where the commitment is not there; was not there from the start.”

  ‘We are not suited David,” she murmured. She was curled up in his arms and she felt as if she belonged there. But right now she was not thinking straight. “We are miles apart and I told you before I do not want to get married and I certainly am not going to have an affair with you.”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to,” he told her softly. “I am not going to push you Abby but I just want you to give me the benefit of the doubt and let me prove to you that marriages are made in Heaven.”

  “What did you say?” she lifted her head and stared down into his intense blue eyes.

  “Marriages are honorable to God aren’t they?” he asked her casually. “I am not so far gone that I have forgotten the words of the Bible Abby and I know that marriages come from Heaven, how can you believe otherwise?” He pulled her back down and she settled back on his shoulders; her thoughts racing. He was breaking down her resolves and suddenly she did not feel so firm in her beliefs. She was actually being swayed and she knew she had to call on all her inner strength to be able to resist David.

  “You’re a virgin,” It was not a question, it was more of an observation and Abby nodded. “I knew you were special, I just didn’t know how much.” He told her softly.

  “I chose to be a virgin and I am not going to be like some girls who are ashamed of their virginity,” Abby murmured. She had curled up beside him and her eyes closed. “I rather like being different.” She smiled.

  “I am glad you are,” he told her softly. “I want to kiss you Abby. I promise I won’t let it get out of hand but I want to kiss you so bad that I can taste it.” He told her huskily. He turned slightly so that she was underneath him. She gazed up at him; her eyes wide and her hands caught between their bodies. “I won’t go where you don’t want me to go I respect you and respect what you stand for,” he continued. She did not tell him no; she welcomed his touch as he bent his head and captured her mouth softly, moving over her lips until her mouth opened and his tongue touched hers. Feelings exploded inside her and she moaned as she surrendered to his touch; her arms reaching up to wrap around his neck. He kissed her ardently; his body hardening as she opened up to him. “Abby,” he whispered dragging his mouth from hers to kiss her cheek, her eyes, her pert little nose and coming back to her lips; his mouth moving over hers with crushing intensity.

  This time it was he who broke off the kiss and he rolled away from her to lie on his back fighting to control the urge to take her and damned his promise to her.

  “I need a minute,” he told her hoarsely as she sat up and reached out to touch him. “Please,” his tone softened as he looked at her. Her eyes were heavy lidded and her full red lips swollen from his kisses. She looked like a woman who had been thoroughly loved and damned if she didn’t look incredibly sexy.

  “We can’t keep doing this,” he told her; sitting up and staying away from her.

  “I understand,” she told him, reaching up to pin back her heavy hair on top of her head. It had started
to get dark and the sky was riddled with bright twinkling stars. The night had gotten cool and a slight breeze was blowing.

  “Let’s go home,” he said suddenly, standing and reaching a hand to pull her up. He kissed her softly on the lips and then he let her go.

  They got home shortly after and David went straight to his room, telling her he had some things to tie up and was going to be working part of the night on his lap top.

  Abby went to her room and took a shower before climbing into bed. She opened her Bible and started reading St. Matthew five but she could not concentrate. For the first time in her life, she found herself questioning her firm decision to remain single. David had made her feel things that she had never expected to feel and she did not know how to deal with it. She pulled the soft cotton sheet up to her neck and closed her eyes, envisioning his mouth on hers and the pleasure going through her body. She had called her mother yesterday and had listened to her whine as usual about her being so far away from her and her not having anyone to take care of her. She had reminded her that she did not need taking care of, she was young enough to take care of herself. Abby had to listen to her calling her names and saying she was as bad as her father and she was the one who had given her life so she owed her. Abby had quietly and firmly hung up the phone – she refused to let her mother’s bitterness get to her anymore – it was time to end it.

  *****

  David stared at the computer screen blankly. He had not lied when he had told Abby that he had some things to take care of; he did but he could not concentrate; she was on his mind and he was finding it very difficult not to think about her. He, who had been with women who constantly threw themselves at him. Maybe that’s the problem; he thought wryly, Abby certainly was not one of them. He stood up and went inside the bathroom pulling off his clothes; maybe a cold shower would help.