The Art of Love

by Kayla C. Oliver

  She has no idea why I set this whole thing up. I’m so in love with her it aches. I stay awake at night long after she’s drifted off to sleep and I stress and worry about the agony I’d feel if she left me. I think about how hard it would be to lose her. To let her go. I would, of course, if she wanted me to, but it would scar me deep in my very soul.

  I’m going to ask her to marry me. I’ve got her father’s blessing. I’ve got Grandma’s ring. I’m going to ask her to love me forever right here in front of the people who mean the most to us in this world.

  And I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.

  Sure, it’s fast, but like the cliché line goes - when you know, you know.

  As the conversation around us surges, I listen to my guys talking rocks, to Amber and Jake talking quietly about something that they’re in total agreement on. The way they lean in close warms my heart, and I think I know what’s been eating Jake up lately.

  Amber is a beautiful girl, though she could never hold a candle to Camille, and while she’s quick to temper, I feel like she’s a good match for my oldest friend.

  I scan the table, glad to see so many people who I care about talking, eating, and enjoying their conversations and lives. Shane and Brice are talking about love and how that crap will never be part of their lives. I have to smile at that, because it’s going to get them when they least expect it. That’s just how it works. And when it gets them, I’ll be right there to rub their faces in it.

  Mom smiles at me while talking to Cliff, and dad winks at me. It’s nice to know they’re in on it. Hell, I think everyone knows except Camille.

  And it’s nice to know I’m going to surprise her.

  She’s been such a surprise to me. She’s smarter than I knew when we talk business, and she’s logical and controlled until we heat up the sheets. Then she’s unrestrained, unabashedly sexy and incredible beyond words. She’s perfect. While I’m sure she doesn’t think so, I know she’s aware of her flaws, but I’m in love with her and know her flaws have made her into the woman I’ve come to care so much for over these last months.

  She never ceases to surprise me.

  And now, as conversations lull and silence seems to eat into the moment, I decide to get to it. People are waiting. I get out of my chair and turn to Camille. She looks up at me in surprise.

  And I get down on one knee and see the tears begin to sparkle in her eyes, along with joy, fear, and something more exciting: love.

  “Camille,” I say, glad everyone is listening and silent. “Ever since you walked into my life, you’ve challenged me.” I hear Jake let out a quiet snort and know he’s thinking about how I’d carried Camille upstairs over my shoulder like a damned cave man.

  Camille smiles and I know she’s remembering it too.

  “You’ve pushed me to be the man you thought I was, even at my worst.” I think about how she’d told me I wasn’t the monster I wanted her to believe I was. She’d been so sweet, so sure, and even when I’d tried to make her realize I wasn’t that good man she thought I was.

  “You monster,” she whispers, and there’s a ripple of laugher throughout the table.

  I grin, unable to hide my amusement at her humor. It’s one more thing I love about her, how quick she is to laugh at herself, at me, at life.

  “You’re perfect,” I tell her, needing her to understand what I mean. “Your imperfection, your flaws, you,” I emphasize, “are perfect for me.”

  “Our baggage matches,” she jokes, and I let out a little laugh. How many times we’ve shared that sentiment as we dig into who we are, how broken and fragile, how human and real we are and what changed us every step of the way through our lives. She swears we met by chance, but I’m certain she walked into my life because I needed her.

  “You’ve asked me questions no one else thought to, you’ve trusted me, and you’ve challenged me. And I love it. I want you to keep making me think on my toes for the rest of our lives.” I take out the ring and hold it a moment. It’s a beautiful bit of Alexandrite surrounded by tiny diamonds.

  Grandpa had given it to my grandma because he said it reminded him of the shift of liking her to loving her over time. Perhaps because the gem itself changes color. In the sunlight, it’s a brilliant blue with vibrant green overtones, but inside the house, under artificial light, it’s a deeply red gem with a hint of raspberry color.

  And now, as I offer it to the love of my life, I suddenly understand. The feelings had started deep and over time had lit into a raging inferno of joy and passion that I couldn’t have imagined love could be. It’s better than I’d even imagined.

  Camille gives me her hand and whispers yes. I slip the ring on her finger, joy imploding in me as I rise to my feet with her in tow. She throws her arms around me and our lips meet as the people we care about most clap.

  With her, I can do anything.

  Camille is everything I need, everything I want. For her, I’ll be the best man I can be. Together, we’ll live a flawed, perfectly imperfect life. And it won’t always be easy, but it’ll always be worth it.

  Touch Me (Preview)

  The Billionaire’s Secrets Book 1

  Kayla C. Oliver

  Chapter One

  Heidi

  These ten-minute breaks were the only times in the day when I could breathe a little. Not that I didn’t constantly feel blessed that I could run my own café in the heart of the tourist district. I was indeed lucky and every day I counted my blessings. My parents couldn’t afford cooking school and for the four years that I apprenticed with Chef Dunphy in Los Angeles, I could only dream of one day running my own place.

  But I got lucky. I’d never heard of Brunswick before, and even if I had, Georgia was never a state I had visited in my life. In fact, I wouldn’t ever have thought of visiting this town hadn’t it been for my ex-boyfriend, Jake. His grandmother used to live here, and he brought me one summer to introduce us. Now Jake was gone, getting married, last I heard and I was left behind, madly in love with this town and the proud owner of my very own café.

  At twenty-eight and the proprietor of a café, I managed to turn over a profit within the first year of opening shop. I was proud of myself, but none of this would have been possible without hard work or all the years I had put into working as a baker’s apprentice. All the money, the very little that I had saved, I put into this business but I didn’t regret a second of it. Brunswick was my home now, and this was where I was going to make my life.

  It wasn’t exactly a sleepy town, especially not during the summer months when its unique location for being a busy harbor town as well as its beautiful surroundings attracted a lot of tourists. This was prime time for my business to bloom. So, the ten hours a day when I wasn’t slogging away at the café, I was at home trying out new recipes or working on marketing campaigns.

  Other than myself, I was able to afford two other staff, one of whom waited on the tables and the other helped me with the baking. So these ten minute breaks when I stood at the back of the café, gulping down a shot of espresso and munching on a mini muffin were extremely precious to me. I savored these moments, staring at the gently swaying boats and yachts anchored in the harbor in the distance, breathing in the fresh summer scent in the air, just thankful for life and the world’s bounty. Only when my mind wandered on occasion, did I allow myself to think about Jake and what he was doing. How could he have moved on so quickly from our relationship? He was engaged to be married within four months of our breakup. I still couldn’t wrap my brain around it.

  This move to Brunswick had been good for me. I couldn’t continue to live in LA after we broke up. We were in a relationship for two years; I thought we were going to settle down. He had brought me here to meet his grandmother! But things spiraled out of control when we went back. This was when Chef Dunphy promoted me to assistant baker, over Jake who had his fancy baking school degree while I had risen from nothing.

  When we broke up, I knew I couldn’t go back ho
me to Wisconsin. I couldn’t return to my hometown feeling defeated and worn out. What would my family think of me? And neither could I remain in LA. That was weak of me. I was letting Jake win, but I couldn’t find the courage to stay there and cross paths with him on a daily basis.

  I kept an eye out on Brunswick properties. The town had left its mark on me. It was peaceful, slow paced and didn’t have many cafés, even though it had quite the influx of tourists. When this commercial site came up, I looked through my accounts and discovered that I could actually afford it. I took the plunge, made my own business plan, procured the required licenses and equipment and within three months “Bread & Beans” was a fully functional café in the heart of Brunswick’s town center.

  A smile flickered on my face now. I couldn’t stop replaying the past year over and over in my head. I was a successful businesswoman, and all thanks to my own hard work.

  A crash of plates from inside the café snapped me out of my thoughts. With my brows crossed I whipped around to look in. I could see Lucia, standing with her mouth covered with both hands. She looked upset and wasn’t making a move to clear up the broken plates on the floor in front of her.

  I gulped down the rest of the espresso and carrying the cup in my hand, I rushed back into the café.

  “Lucia? What’s going on?” I said as I pushed open the door.

  Our café was small, with only four tables lined up along the bay windows. But each of those tables was occupied and our patrons were all staring at the scene in the center of the café.

  Two men were at each other’s throats. An older and a younger man, both glaring at each other. The older one’s face had reddened, but he was somehow managing to hold the younger one apart.

  There was complete silence in the café. Everyone was staring.

  “Stop that, now!” I screeched and both men turned to look at me.

  I was startled, just for a moment when they turned, but I registered that sensation. The younger man’s icy blue eyes pierced right through my soul. He had spiky, dark hair and a few locks fell lazily over his bloodshot eyes. He was a tall man, towering over the older, portly one. His shoulders were wide and strained now, from the strength with which he was gripping the other guy. He had turned to look at me, and when our eyes met, he relaxed his grip.

  The older man slipped away, coughing and cursing under his breath. I was snapped out of that slow-motion, hypnotizing moment and I stepped forward.

  “What is going on? I will have to call the cops,” I said, planting my hands firmly on my hips.

  The two men exchanged looks, and the younger one looked at me again.

  “That won’t be necessary miss. We will sort this out ourselves,” he said and I noticed the way he clenched his jaw. I jutted my chin out towards him, and despite the dangerous blueness of his eyes, I met his gaze confidently.

  “I don’t care about your argument. You can’t do this in a public place. You’re distressing my guests,” I hissed at him, glancing angrily at the older man who was still standing by, rubbing the back of his reddened neck.

  “I said I’ll sort it out,” the younger one said and stepped towards me. With my brows crossed and my nostrils flaring, I narrowed my eyes at him.

  “Please get off my property,” I said, not willing to step away from him. There was still silence in the café. Not one other person had moved. The man was glaring at me now, his blue eyes were focused on my face. I noticed the way his gaze fell briefly to my breasts, my hips, and the shape of my legs. I could feel him sizing me up. I kept my chin up because I didn’t want to show any signs of weakness.

  “I will, if you let me pay for the damage,” the man said abruptly and looked down at the broken plates on the floor. Now I could see that it was more than just a broken plate. A brand new vase was lying shattered on the floor as well, as were two glasses and there was water spilt everywhere.

  “Please just leave,” I snapped at him and looked up to meet his eyes again.

  The man’s eyes had softened. I couldn’t help but notice how perfect his jawline was; how broad that chest was. He was in dark jeans, a white shirt and a black leather jacket. This man deserved a spot on the cover of a glossy magazine. How much would women pay to see a photograph of him with his clothes off…even just his shirt?

  I shook my head to drive thoughts of this guy, naked, out of my head. I was supposed to be mad at him. I was trying very hard to appear to be so.

  “How much do I owe you?” he said and I saw his hand slip into the pocket of his jeans. I didn’t want his money. I wanted him gone. Those things he had broken were all replaceable, my customers were not.

  “Just go, before I have to call the cops,” I said firmly and this time, I stretched my arm out, pointing to the door. The man remained standing where he was, his eyes still inspecting every curve of my body. I thought I saw a grin forming on his face. How could he possibly want to smile in a situation like this? When he had just caused a scene in my place of business! What an obnoxious, arrogant Greek god! I could feel rage spurting out of my ears.

  “C’mon, let’s go,” the older man interrupted us. I was surprised to find that he was being civil with this guy. They were at each others throats only minutes ago. I didn’t understand it. I was just glad that they were finally leaving.

  The older man left quickly, setting off the bell at the top of the door as he stepped out. The younger one, on the other hand, was walking backwards, his blue eyes still on me, watching my every movement.

  I could feel my cheeks burning up; the back of my neck hot under his steady gaze. My lips felt dry; there were goosebumps on my arms. The longer he looked at me, with his perfect bone structure and totally kissable lips, the more agitated I got. The mixed emotions of being annoyed with his attitude and at the same time being filled with desire for a man with the most delicious body had overwhelmed my mind.

  “Rhett Larkin, nice to make your acquaintance,” he said, just as he was about to step out. I straightened my back and breathed harshly out of my nose.

  “I’m glad I know your name now. You’re not welcome here again,” I said, loud enough for everyone else to hear. Especially my employees, Lucia and Sophie, who were standing huddled together in one of the corners. Judging by everyone’s behavior, scenes like these didn’t often take place in a small place like Brunswick.

  The man named Rhett finally left, and even after he had shut the door behind him, I followed him with my eyes. An unexpected sense of disappointment settled in the pit of my stomach when he didn’t turn to look at me. Chatter suddenly erupted in the café. People were talking in hushed voices, still looking out to see if they could see the two men.

  “They were just sitting there having coffee and then suddenly got up and Mr. Larkin grabbed the other man by his collar,” Lucia had come up to me and was talking really quickly now. Her cheeks were flushed, and when Sophie joined us, I could see her eyes looked bedazzled as well.

  “Mr. Larkin? You make it sound like you know him,” I said to Lucia, as I grabbed the uniform apron from the counter and started tying it around my waist. It was time to get back to work. Lucia and Sophie exchanged looks, and I caught that. They were both blushing now, biting their lower lips, on the verge of breaking into giggles.

  “Everyone knows Mr. Larkin. I’m sure he had good reason for his behavior,” Sophie said and I looked at them, confusion marring my face. Other than the fact that Rhett Larkin was extremely good looking, why were these girls on his side? When earlier, I could clearly see that he had scared them silly.

  “Who is this guy?” I asked, trying to sound uninterested.

  “Rhett Larkin. He’s one of the three partners of C Scape, the shipping company. They are the youngest billionaires in Georgia,” Lucia said, giggling openly now, because she couldn’t believe I had no idea who he was.

  Chapter Two

  Rhett

  I couldn’t get that woman out of my head. I didn’t even know her name, but she had left a stirring impr
ession on me. She had fiery, strawberry blond hair that fell in tight curls around her face. Her eyes were large and green and she had a look on her face that told me she wouldn’t shy away from kicking me out physically from her café if she had to.

  I was thinking of her as I walked back to my office when instead of that woman, I should have been thinking about Massimo and what I was going to do about him. I knew he was going to be trouble the moment he sat down at the table, and I had never intended to make a scene in such a public place. I had a reputation, a carefully crafted reputation; one that I had to uphold. I didn’t even think that he would just suddenly turn up in Brunswick although I should have expected it all along. Now that C Scape was in the limelight and I had recently been interviewed by Fortune Magazine, it was no surprise that Massimo would find his way here.

  It was just that I thought I’d left Brooklyn behind.

  “Mr. Larkin, you’ve had three phone calls…” Maria jumped off her chair at the reception desk when I entered the lobby of my office building.

  “Not now Maria.” I waved a hand at her and rushed towards the elevators. I needed to clear my head, and find a way to stop thinking about that woman from the café, so I could concentrate my energy on how I was going to handle Massimo.

  “But Mr. Larkin…” Maria stopped in her tracks in front of the elevator doors when I stepped in. She was clutching sheets of paper from her notepad with caller-information written on them.

  “Thank you Maria,” I said, as the doors closed and separated us. I was in no state to deal with clients or business calls at the moment.

  I ran a hand through my hair and shook my head as the elevator took me up to the top floor. I shared the floor with my two other business partners, who were also my best friends.

  When the elevator doors pinged open and I stepped out, I saw Hunter walking towards me, followed by his Personal Assistant at his heels.

  “Rhett! Just the man I was looking for. We need to sit down and discuss the Wilson account today,” Hunter said, in his usual booming, charismatic voice.