Ellie laughed and jumped behind the wheel. “Let’s go over to Newton,” she said. “There’s a great coffeeshop there.”
“Right. The drive along the coast isn’t half bad either.” Leo was grinning now, and he got in the passenger side and folded his long legs up.
Ellie was lucky no cops were on the road that day, because she didn’t exactly stick to the speed limit. The Ferrari was fast, it was beautiful, and it handled like a dream. Too soon they were in Newton pulling up in front of a beachside coffeeshop.
As she handed the keys back to her stepbrother, Ellie said, “Thanks, Leo. That was pretty much the most fun I’ve had in…a long time.” She was beaming and exhilarated, still feeling the purr of the powerful motor in her body. She gave the car a longing look as they went inside. “It’s too bad you have to give it back. What do you drive in France?”
“Oh, nothing, actually. I work so much that I’ve just never gotten around to getting a car. If I have to go somewhere, I hire a driver. Mostly I just use the Paris subway.
“The subway! What’s a trillionaire doing riding the subway?”
Leo laughed. “Not quite trillions. And um, I like the subway. You see everybody down there.”
“Oh, mingling with the common people?” said Ellie, regretting her bitter tone just a little.
Leo just gave her a look but said nothing. “Let’s get some coffee,” he said.
Ellie took awhile making her choice and finally came to the little table with a cappucino, dusted with cocoa. Leo was drinking a simple Americano, black, no sugar.
She took her place at the table, unable to keep her knees from bumping into his legs, which made her blush.
Okay, I admit, it is good to see him….
“So what kind of trouble have you gotten into over there? And don’t try and tell me you haven’t, because I know you.” Ellie took a long sip of her cappucino and a small moan of happiness escaped her lips.
“Well…I hope I can explain this without sounding like a jerk. Because at a certain point…the money thing….”
“Just spit it out!”
“Okay,” said Leo, shrugging and looking sheepish.
She knew that look and it gave her a little jolt of affection, seeing the expression from the child she remembered on the face of this very handsome man. Ellie noticed how glossy his wavy dark hair was, and had an urge to run her hands through it. She shook her head as though to clear such thoughts away.
Finally Leo said, “Well, it’s like this. I got in trouble a lot as a kid because I wasn’t doing what other people wanted me to do.”
“Yeah, little details like homework!”
Leo laughed. “For sure. But now, I’m the boss, the person giving the orders—and pretty much anything I don’t like to do, I just hire good people to do it for me. I would get in trouble with the press, but my staff won’t let me talk to them,” he laughed.
Ellie nodded. She could barely listen to what he was saying, because he was right there, finally, right next to her. She could smell his manly scent, maybe tanning lotion mixed with something impossibly sophisticated and French. She leaned in and took a deep breath through her nose.
Leo looked at Ellie seriously. “See, it’s impossible to talk about without sounding like a total ass.”
“It’s just…a world I can’t even imagine. My life is really simple, and I like it that way.” She paused. “Did that sound ridiculously defensive? Because I’ll admit, Leo…it’s sort of hard to sit here with you and realize that I was the really good student, and now I’m a waitress in a diner. And you were the screw-up, and you’re swimming in money.”
“Just like Scrooge McDuck,” he said.
“Comics nerd.”
“El, I don’t for one second think that I got so rich for any other reason than 99% luck. Sure, some hard work is in the mix but I’m sure you work hard and so do billions of other people. I had a couple of pretty good ideas. The main thing I had though—I had a reason to succeed that mattered to me more than anything, and so I—” Leo stopped and took a sip of his coffee, then looked at Ellie, letting his gaze wander over all of her, and then turned to look at the ocean.
“Yes?” said Ellie. “What reason?”
“We can talk about that later. So tell me about how things have been here? Dad says he never sees you except when he comes to the diner for breakfast, and I get the feeling he doesn’t do that very often.”
“How about never?”
“What? So you never see him at all?”
“Nope. Not that I want to.”
“He’s a good guy, he really is, but I understand—he totally let us down. Those first months after…after your mom…he was a complete zombie. Remember the two of us walking down to Stanley’s because we knew he would feed us?”
And those words was all it took for all the memories to come flooding back, those horrible months after her mother died. When the pain was unrelenting. And there was never any food in the house or gas in the car, because their dad was shut up in his bedroom incapacitated by grief. She had figured out how to fend for herself at age fourteen.
“Actually,” said Ellie slowly, “what I remember is that you left about five minutes after the funeral.” She stared deep into his eyes and for once did not notice their blue color or the gold flecks in them. “That is, left the country. And didn’t come back.” She was glaring now, her body tense.
“It wasn’t five minutes,” Leo answered in a low voice. “I was—”
Suddenly Ellie stood up, bumping into Leo and jostling the table. “I don’t know why I let you talk me into coming out with you. It’s not what I want, not anymore. You bailed, Leo. Right at the moment when bailing was the worst thing you could possibly have done. So just—”
She searched for something cutting and final to say but came up empty, and turned and walked out of the coffeeshop.
It was too far to walk home all the way from Newton, but both towns were small and Ellie was confident that if she started down the road, someone she knew would pick her up. It wouldn’t be a Ferrari, she thought, but who cares.
So Leo? You can get right back on the plane and go back to Paris. I don’t need you now. I’m happy with my life exactly how it is, exactly how it’s been since I got out of high school. I work, I come home, I read, and everything is just fine. And no one is going to force me to do things any different.
3
Once back in her apartment, Ellie threw open the windows to get some fresh air, and then began to pace.
Who does he think he is, sashaying back to town after five years have gone by? Does he think a freaking Ferrari would make me forget how he ran off without me?
She ate some more stale Wheat Thins and tried to read her fantasy novel, but it was hopeless. Her mind was filled with images of his strong legs with that stupid golden hair, and then remembering the note he had put in her room when he left for France, trying to joke about his leaving. She had promptly gone into school the next day and switched from French to Spanish and done everything she could to block him out of her mind—the dream of kissing Leo on the Eiffel Tower had been ridiculous anyway, nothing but a childish wish that would never happen.
And then she did her very best to forget about him. She already had her mother to grieve for, there just wasn’t room for anyone else.
But she was older now, and more resourceful. There was no way she was going to stick around for this torture.
She pulled a dusty duffel bag out from under her bed, then took it to the landing outside her door and beat it against the roof, sending a cloud of dust into the air. Guess I’m not quite the housekeeper I thought I was, she thought wryly. She put the bag on her bed and emptied the contents of her small dresser into it. She didn’t have much, and it all went in. Then she went to the bathroom and got her toothbrush and shampoo, her razor, and that was about it. She’d have to call Stanley later since her phone line was still cut. I don’t regret that, she thought defiantly.
On the w
ay out, she grabbed the box of Wheat Thins.
Sometimes the best thing to do is leave town. I’ll lie low until the Amarettis get bored, which they will soon enough. Au revoir, Leo!
A bus came through town in late afternoon, stopping in the supermarket parking lot. Ellie made sure she was there to meet it. A scuffed-up pay phone, the last one in town, stood at the edge of the lot, and Ellie picked up the phone and slid in some change. She considered calling Patsy to apologize for not getting together, but decided not to. But she called and left a message on Stanley’s voicemail, telling him she was sorry but had to miss work for a few days, she was leaving town but would be back before long.
The minute she hung up the phone she realized that she had said way too much. It would be like Stanley to hire the cavalry to come after her. Well, she could outrun them too.
It’s sort of like the opening to a movie. Me sitting here on the bench with my duffel, waiting for the bus to take me away. If only I were going to someone instead of away from someone….
Ellie wasn’t sure of the bus schedule. She knew it was a daily, but no firm idea when, and so she sat, at first patiently but as the hours went by, she got fidgety. It was weird though—even just this, sitting on a worn bench waiting to catch a bus that wasn’t going to take her anywhere very interesting—it was a little exciting. It felt different and good just to have a bag packed and be going somewhere.
She ate the last of the Wheat Thins. The cappucino was a distant memory and she would have killed for another cup. And a decent sandwich too, for that matter. She stood up and walked around the bench just to stretch her legs, tired from waiting so long.
And then the cavalry showed up. A candy apple red Ferrari, to be exact.
Ellie stood still, watching it zoom into the parking lot.
He could be just doing some shopping for his dad.
But I hope not. I hope…he’s coming for me.
Dammit.
The car rolled up next to the bench. Leo lowered the window and gave her his usual deadpan look.
“Going somewhere, kid? Want a ride?”
Ellie fought to keep from smiling.
He knows just how to work me with that damn car. I want to resist, but…oh, jeez, look at it! And look at him!
Leo was wearing a suit that fit him like a glove. The fabric looked soft and supple, gray with a faint blue windowpane. Exquisite, there was no other word for it And Leo looked amazing in it. “Well? Come on!”
“I don’t know,” she said. And she really didn’t. What was she supposed to do when seeing him made her want to run away as fast as she could, and at the same time, run straight to him and leap into his arms?
Which way?
Leo narrowed his eyes at her. Suddenly he was the take-charge CEO billionaire and no longer her childhood pal. “Get in,” he said.
She did.
“Leo, I—”
“No. No more of this. Look in the backseat. I ordered some things…and I’m taking you back to your place where you’re going to put them on. And then we’re having dinner, just you and me. And Ellie? You can get mad, you can threaten me, whatever. But you are coming to dinner with me. Tonight.”
Ellie would have expected to fight against someone giving her orders like that, especially Leo. But to her suprise, she relaxed into the luxurious leather seat, and didn’t say a word. She was desperately curious about what was in the backseat but did not want to give Leo the satisfaction.
They got back to her place in less than a minute, Leo flying down the road. “I’ll wait here. I want you back in fifteen minutes, dressed.”
“You sure are bossy.”
“Sometimes I have to be.” Leo wasn’t smiling.
Ellie scampered up the outside stairs with the bags under her arm, dying to know what was in them.
Just because I lead a simple life doesn’t mean I’m not interested in the other side. It doesn’t have to mean anything.
In the first bag, a shoebox. Ellie whipped off the top to see the most beautiful pair of shoes she had ever seen. Stiletto heels, criss-crossed straps of the softest leather. She squealed and put them on. Despite the heels, they were comfy and easy enough to walk in. She really wished she had a full-length mirror to see how they looked. Next bag held a dress, gently folded. It was black like the shoes, satin, with a neckline right at her collarbone. Totally drop-dead gorgeous.
I’ll never fit into it. It looks like doll clothes!
Quickly she tore off her shorts and top and wriggled into the dress. The satin had just the right amount of stretch and the dress fit perfectly. It was tight, very tight, showing off every curve and dip of her body.
Well, at least the neck is cut high. That keeps it from being slutty, right? Right?! Where’s Patsy when I need her!
The last bag contained a long blue velvet box. Ellie’s hands trembled as she opened it. Inside was a necklace, a choker, of diamonds and emeralds. She had never seen such a thing, never imagined she would ever hold such a stunning and valuable thing in her hands. It was absolutely breathtaking.
No way could she accept it.
Was he trying to buy his way out? Did he really think all would be forgotten if he dangled a Ferrari and jewels in front of her? Is that really what he thought of her?
She stomped downstairs, or stomped as well as she could in the delicate shoes. “Leo!”
“Good God. You look incredible. I knew you would, but still, I’m just…I’m speechless.” Quickly he strode to her and put his hands on her waist. “Ellie,” he said, and then he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. Slowly he pulled back, and then slowly came closer again, grazing his lips on her cheek again, and then on her neck, and then, finally, their lips met. The kiss began tentatively but quickly the heat was turned way up and they kissed each other hungrily, as they’d both wanted to do for years.
For a long moment it was like all the barricades fell away, and Leo and Ellie knew nothing but their desire for each other, knew nothing but the glorious feel of the other’s lips, tongue, scent. Ellie’s whole body began to tremble.
She pulled away.
“What I came down to say,” she started, her voice shaky, “was that…and listen, thanks for the compliment and all…but you can’t think that bringing me nice stuff is going to make me forget? Is that all you think of me?”
She spoke as though the kiss hadn’t even happened. It was too much for her to take in—the car, the jewels, her formerly nerdy step crush now a total hunk who was kissing her. As much as she wanted to give in, to climb in the car and drive them off to dinner and laughter and who knew what else—another part of her wanted to run right back up that outdoor staircase, get in her oldest, softest pajamas and jump under the covers with her fantasy novel.
Where it was safe. Where she could listen to the surf that had taken her mother, and feel close to her, and not risk loving anyone else.
Leo narrowed his eyes at her again. She noticed the blue this time, and the golden glints. He said, “What has happened to you? You used to be the least bitter person on earth. Of course I’m not trying to buy my way out of anything, Ellie. Is that all you think of me?”
Ellie opened her mouth, then closed it. He had a point.
“Listen, just have dinner with me. That’s all I’m asking. I’ve got so much to talk to you about, and I want to hear all about your life too. If you’d like at some point to unload all your fury on me, you can. Say, while we’re having for dessert. Can you wait that long?” Leo was smiling again. “Wanna drive?” He tossed her the keys.
Ellie caught the keys and got in, but she was unsettled and uncertain, and even more so once Leo climbed in next to her. The cockpit of the sports car was so small that they were almost touching. She was so aware of his body, of his presence. She wanted him so much, but the fear….
As she drove past Stanley’s, she waved, seeing him standing at the grill as usual. And then, at the next intersection, she turned the Ferrari around and drove back into Stanley’s p
arking lot.
“I had another place in mind, Ellie—down a coast a little ways, so you could enjoy the drive—”
“I’m not going.” She stopped the car and undid her seat belt. “It’s not that I’m angry, Leo, it’s not that. It’s just…I just can’t, that’s all. Thanks for everything.” She slammed the door and went inside the diner.
She did not look back.
4
“Nice wheels!” said Stanley, wiping his hands on a dishtowel.
“Yeah,” said Ellie dejectedly.
“And nice duds, too.” Stanley’s voice softened. He saw Leo get in the driver’s side of the Ferrari and take off, and had a pretty good idea what was going on.
“I don’t usually get your class of people in here,” he said, smiling at her.
Ellie walked behind the counter and poured herself a cup of coffee. “You let this get burnt,” she said, and then burst into tears.
Stanley put his hands on the counter and leaned on them. His kind face first looked sad, then determined. “Ellie?”
Ellie sniffled.
“I’m going to speak plainly,” he said, coming around and putting his arms around her. “Get your head out of your ass. There. I said it. Been wanting to say it for years.”
Ellie pulled away and glared at him. “You too, Stanley?”
“Oh, cut it out. Life is not us against them, Ellie, haven’t you figured that out yet? And can’t you see what everyone else in town can, that Leo loves you? Why do you have to fight it so much, when obviously you want him too?”
Another round of sobs. Finally she managed to say, “But he left me, Stanley. How do I know he won’t do that again?”
“You don’t. That’s the short answer. Love is never a guarantee, El, but that’s part of its magic. You have to take the risk to get the good stuff. And also—you assume he left because he didn’t care. What if he left to make his fortune, just like in fairy tales, and now that he can take care of you, he’s come back?”
Billionaire Stepbrother in Paris Page 2