Staring at her reflection, she was glad she’d not let her more rational side talk her out of finding something new. The indigo halter-style sundress showed off her legs, in her opinion her second-best feature. At the same time, the color brought out the blue flecks in her eyes, which were her best feature. Or so she thought. The dress also matched the silver high-heeled sandals she’d bought on a whim the summer before but rarely got the opportunity to wear.
“Don’t fidget and he’ll never know how nervous you are,” she said to the mirror. At the fundraiser her long gown had reached past her ankles, hiding the fact she spent the entire time crossing and uncrossing her ankles. It had been either that or continuously fidget in her seat. Tonight’s dress skimmed the top of her knees. It wouldn’t hide anything.
Paige grabbed the small purse that matched her shoes and left. Before retreating to the kitchen, she stopped in the bathroom. She’d put on deodorant before slipping on her dress, but a little extra never hurt. In fact, if she could fit it in her purse, she’d take some with her. The weather forecast said the temperature would remain in the high eighties with 90 percent humidity even after sunset. Between the weather and her nerves, she expected to do a lot of sweating tonight. The last thing she needed was to smell.
“He’s a man, not some superhero.” She’d told herself the same thing yesterday because despite her best efforts she’d thought about Scott and tonight’s date every day since the auction. While she’d like to blame her preoccupation on the fact that people kept asking her about it, she couldn’t—however, she suspected the constant questions hadn’t helped any.
“You’ve gone out with men before.” Yeah, but not men my aunt bought for me. “Tonight won’t be much different.” Keep telling yourself that.
In college, she’d dated men she met on campus. Often she’d have a course or two with them, and they’d get to know each other in class before ever going out. After college she’d dated men she met at the hospital. She and Benjamin, her ex-husband, had met in the cafeteria at work one afternoon. On their breaks, they’d often sat and chatted over coffee. After two months of lunch breaks together, he’d asked her out. Never in her life had she gone on a blind date, which in many ways this was.
“At least I’ll get to see the fireworks and have a delicious meal.” For as long as she could remember, she’d loved seeing firework displays no matter the occasion. Something about the beautiful displays of color exploding in the night sky fascinated her. Thanks to work she hadn’t seen any in a while, so Scott’s idea was perfect.
Ryder stopped at her feet, his dark brown eyes gazing up at her in his best begging position. “You want a treat, don’t you?” The dog viewed eating the same way she did shopping. She’d even had to move his treats from the bottom kitchen cabinet because he’d learned to open the door and help himself. Not even a child safety lock had stopped him. He’d merely chewed his way through the plastic before helping himself to the treats inside. “One more and that’s it.” He’d already had two this afternoon.
The dog followed her to the pantry closet then once again got into his begging position. “Enjoy.” She handed him the meat-flavored bone. Ryder didn’t hesitate to accept it. Before he got a chance to do anything but carry it across the kitchen, the doorbell rang. On cue, the bone fell from his mouth, and he bolted across the floor toward the door, his bark echoing through the kitchen.
Swallowing, Paige checked the clock on the stove. Five o’clock on the dot. The man was at least punctual. That was a good sign. Her ex-husband had been perpetually late. In fact, whenever her former in-laws had invited them over, they’d told him to be there at least an hour before necessary.
“Okay, Ryder, be nice. No eating anyone tonight.” Although friendly once he got familiar with you, Ryder had a tendency to be on the aggressive side when a stranger first entered the house or yard. Not necessarily a bad thing when you lived alone.
Just to be on the safe side, Paige peeked out the window panel alongside the front door. Aunt Bebe bought me a gorgeous man, at least.
Forcing her lips into a smile or at least something close, she opened the door. “Please come in. I hope dogs don’t bother you. Ryder gets excited when the bell rings. He’ll calm down once he knows you’re welcome here.”
“Love dogs. I’d have one myself if I spent more time at home.” Scott closed the door behind him and walked further into the kitchen, somehow swallowing up the space, and she suddenly wished the room was larger. “I apologize for not returning your call. I had to make a last-minute business trip Tuesday morning to Costa Rica and didn’t get home until yesterday.”
She hadn’t expected him to call back. “No worries. I’ve never visited there. My brother went there on his honeymoon. He said it’s gorgeous. A place everyone should visit at least once.” Since fidgeting was out, Paige took several steps back, only stopping when her back bumped into the kitchen island.
“He’s not wrong. It’s my favorite place in Central America.”
Scott’s voice rolled over her, causing her heart rate to accelerate. Time to get this show on the road. “I’m… uh, all ready to go if you are.” She tapped her fingers against the island countertop as she spoke.
“Great.” He opened the door and waited.
“Be good, Ryder. I’ll see you in a little while,” she said in the dog’s direction before picking up her purse and following Scott outside.
The slightest scent of sandalwood tickled her nose as she stood and locked the door. She wondered if the scent came from his soap or perhaps some cologne. It couldn’t come from shaving cream, because a short, sexy beard graced his jaw. For a moment the image of him standing in the shower covered in soap suds and nothing else popped up, causing her heart rate to step it up another notch. Hoping to dislodge the inappropriate image, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and hoped Scott hadn’t noticed.
“What kind of dog is that? I didn’t recognize it,” Scott asked as he led her to the silver car parked in the driveway.
Paige didn’t know a lot about the mechanics of cars, but her ex-husband had dragged her to enough car shows that she immediately recognized the Aston Martin waiting for them. “Ryder is a cocker spaniel-pug mix. I adopted him from a local shelter three years ago.” It’d been one of the first things she’d done after Benjamin filed for divorce and moved out. When they’d been married, she hadn’t been able to own a dog because of his allergies. Not having a dog around had bothered her the entire time she’d been married.
Neither of them talked much as he followed the GPS directions away from her house and to the highway. Once they hit 146, he switched off the GPS.
“When I checked earlier, traffic didn’t look too bad. I expect we’ll get to Newport before our reservation. It’s not until six thirty.”
Paige glanced his way. So far she’d forced herself not to simply sit and stare at him, a task she found incredibly difficult. The man was too handsome for his own good. A conversation, however, gave her the perfect excuse to look his way and enjoy what she saw. “Good. There’s nothing worse than sitting traffic.”
“Agreed. I hit plenty of it this morning when I went through Connecticut.”
He shifted the car from third to fourth gear and for some crazy reason she couldn’t tear her eyes away from his tanned fingers around the gearshift. “You… um… you drove here today from New York?” Very intelligent. It’s not like the guy has wings. Of course he drove.
“I considered flying but decided I spent enough time on a plane yesterday. And on Monday morning I’m leaving for England.”
He wasn’t kidding when he said he wasn’t home much.
In front of them traffic, slowed as they approached the exit for Interstate 95. Scott dropped the car back down to first gear and looked over at her. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I never bite, at least not until the second date. And most of the time it’s not until the third.”
His comment left for speechless for a few seconds. Then s
he regrouped and laughed. “What?”
“You look nervous, and I want you to know there’s nothing to worry about. At least not tonight.” The smile trying to spread across his face finally did. “Now, the next time we go out, it might be another story. So be prepared.”
Paige laughed harder and unclasped her hands, which until then she hadn’t even realized she’d been wringing. “That’s a relief.”
“I think your hands agree. I hope you left some skin on them.”
She held them up and examined each one. “Looks like you rescued ’em in time.”
Traffic started moving, and Scott switched his attention to the road again, leaving her to watch him.
“This exit always backs up. Today actually wasn’t as bad as usual.” She drove this route every day to work. Some mornings the traffic at this exit backed up for miles.
“Compared to traffic in Manhattan, this is nothing.”
“Thankfully, I’ve never driven when I’ve been in New York City.”
“Do you go often?”
“Occasionally with Aunt Bebe. She loves to shop, maybe even more than me. According to her nothing beats the stores in New York, not even those in Beverly Hills. And she loves the shows. For her, it’s Broadway or nothing. She took me recently for my birthday. We saw two shows, and she did a lot of shopping. I tried to be good. Managed to leave the city with only one more pair of shoes and a new jacket. For me, that’s a record.” It’d taken a lot of willpower not to buy more. “Aunt Bebe wasn’t as disciplined.”
She’d given him the perfect opening to ask about her family. Rather than jump right to those questions, even though his curiosity demanded it, Scott decided to learn more about her as a person. So far he only knew she had a brother, loved to shop, and worked as a nurse. Considering he’d be spending several hours with her tonight as well as on three other occasions, he should know a little more. If for no other reason than so he could plan their other dates. Since she’d mentioned visiting the city, he’d open his questions there and see where their conversation went.
“My sister Courtney hates going into New York City. She says it’s too crowded. Only visits me there when she has no other choice. Do you enjoy it?”
“I like going once in a while for short visits. It’s such a unique place. But I have to agree with your sister about it being crowded. If I have to spend time in a city, I prefer smaller ones like Providence and Boston. I don’t know if I’d want to live in any city though.”
“There are pluses and minuses to living in a place like Manhattan.”
“I bet you never get bored there.” Paige pushed her hair over her shoulder. With the sun shining through the windows, he noticed the deep red tint to it. In the ballroom, pulled back in some elaborate twist, it had looked simply brown. After seeing it in the sunlight though, he decided it was more auburn.
“You’d be surprised.”
“Is your sister younger than you?” Paige asked.
He’d wanted to use the time to get to know her better, but realized he couldn’t make their conversation a one-sided inquest into her background. “Both my sisters are younger. Courtney is the older of the two, but Juliette and I are more alike.”
“Two sisters. Lucky. I love my brother, and we share a lot of the same interests, but I always wanted a sister. I don’t even have many female cousins. The ones I do have don’t live around here, so I see them infrequently.”
“Have you always lived in Rhode Island?”
“Yep. I grew up in Scituate. My parents still live there in the same house. Then I lived in Warwick for a few years. I moved to Lincoln about two years ago. And you grew up in Massachusetts, right?”
Between the printed bio in the auction program and the media, he doubted there was much she didn’t already know about him. “I didn’t move to Manhattan until after college. I try not to spend all my time there though. The world is too big a place. When possible I go to my house in Newport or drop in on a family member. Thankfully I have a lot of them, and they’re spread out all around the country.”
The traffic on the highway slowed again, and he lowered his speed as he prepared to keep their conversation going.
***
Opened twenty-five years ago by a husband and wife team, the Spiced Pear had become one of Newport’s premier restaurants thanks to its food, atmosphere, and of course location. While the main dining room provided a wonderful view of the Newport shoreline, the outside terrace contained the most sought-after tables. When he’d made their reservations, he’d requested one of those tables.
Scott bypassed the parking lot across the street, which appeared crowded, and pulled up in front of the valet parking stand. After accepting the parking ticket, he walked around, intending to open Paige’s door before she stepped out. He didn’t make it in time.
“This is gorgeous,” she said, facing the shore.
“It is. Personally, I’ve always loved the view from the end of the Cliff Walk, but this one is great too.”
Paige accepted his arm, and together they walked into the restaurant. “Where does it end? I’ve never walked any of it.”
“Really? We’ll have to correct that. Everyone should walk the whole thing once. It ends at the east end of Bailey’s Beach, also called Reject’s Beach, although I don’t know why.”
“That’s a horrible name for a beach or anything else. Anyway, I’ve never gotten around to doing it. I don’t come down to Newport too often. One of these days I’d like to walk the whole thing.”
A fashionably dressed woman approached them before they even reached the hostess station. “Good evening, Mr. Belmont. We’ve been expecting you. Your table is ready.”
Just once he’d like to walk into an establishment like this and not immediately be recognized.
“Excellent. Thank you.”
The hostess brought them through the dining room toward the stairs that would take them up to the terrace, and on cue eyes, turned in their direction as they passed by tables, something he’d grown used to a long time ago. Next to him, Paige gripped his arm tighter, a clear indication she either didn’t like the attention or wasn’t used to it.
He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “Ignore them. That’s what I do.” He released her arm and let her precede him up the stairs.
With her back to him, he took his time letting his gaze rake down her body and appreciating what he saw. He’d already noticed she was slim but not sickly skinny, and on the taller side, perhaps five seven or so. Just the way he preferred women. But he hadn’t noticed her legs before now. The night of the auction, she’d worn a floor-length gown. Tonight’s dress let him see just what the dress had been hiding. Tanned, well-toned legs teased him with each step she took.
When she stepped out onto the outside terrace, she stopped and looked at him. “Wow, this view is even better.”
He knew she referred to the landscape, but his mind still centered on her long legs. “Agreed.” Placing a hand on her lower back, he escorted her to where the hostess waited by the railing.
“Will this be satisfactory, Mr. Belmont?” the hostess asked, two large menus in hand.
“Perfect. Thank you.” Scott pulled out Paige’s seat while he spoke.
“Excellent. Your server, Valerie, will be over shortly.”
A young man perhaps in his late teens or early twenties appeared and inquired as to the type of water they’d like.
“Does that happen to you a lot?” Paige asked when the young man left to get their waters.
Still envisioning her legs, he focused on her face and noticed yet another thing he’d missed the previous week: her eyes. They reminded him of the ocean during a storm. “The stares when we walked through the restaurant?”
“And the hostess knowing who you were before you said anything.” She moved her arm when the young man returned a moment later and set down two glasses of sparkling water.
“Unfortunately, but not as often as it does some of my cousins. Going out with a
few of them is often like sitting under a giant spotlight for the evening.” He’d actually stopped going to certain places with his cousins Jake and Trent for that very reason. Instead, he either visited them at their homes or invited them to his.
“Since I know who your family is, I can imagine it must be.” Right after she spoke color spread across her cheeks and she closed her eyes. “Sorry, that was probably inappropriate.”
“Why? It’s true. Whether I like it or not, people tend to know a lot about my family and me. Don’t worry about it.” He took a long sip of his water and contemplated the wording for his next sentence. “I’d enjoy learning more about you and your family though, if you want to share.” Maybe now he’d get his curiosity satisfied.
“Are you hoping to fall asleep during dinner?” Paige asked with amusement.
Not the reply he’d expected. He paused before opening his mouth. “Nothing wrong with a good nap once in a while.” He winked at her. “But I’m serious. You don’t have to share anything you’re uncomfortable telling me.”
“Okay, but if the hostess or someone walks by, you might want to ask for a pillow.”
He liked her sense of humor. It was something his last girlfriend had definitely lacked. “Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll do that when our server arrives.”
No sooner did he say the words than a woman dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and matching black pants stopped at their table. “Good evening and welcome. My name is Valerie, and I’ll be taking care of you tonight.” The woman proceeded to list the evening’s chef’s special. Once finished, she turned an expectant look in his direction, and Scott realized neither of them had even opened their menus yet.
Falling For the Billionaire Page 5