Beauty and the Billionaire (A Once Upon a Billionaire Novel)

by Cidney West

  Getting a better grip on finding her way around the mansion, Mira arrived in the dining room as Hunter sat down. Feeling less nervous than before, especially after their earlier exchange, she smiled brightly and took the same seat as before.

  “I hope we’re not having bone-in chicken again,” Mira joked, tilting her head to see Hunter behind the centerpiece. She smiled, coaxing a minor smile from him.

  When she came down, she wasn’t entirely sure he’d be there. She hadn’t exactly humored him earlier. So, either he was more confident than he seemed, or he ate here no matter what. But she had a place setting, so somebody thought she’d show up.

  Jimmy cleared his throat, striding up and pouring wine into her glass. Hunter glanced over, then straightened up. “Thank you for coming,” he said.

  Jimmy winked and backed away while Mira swirled the red liquid in her glass. She thought about making a snarky comment about how she didn’t really seem to have a choice but bit it back. Either he was always like this or he’d forgotten how to interact with other people. Instead, she decided to follow his lead. “Thank you for inviting me.” Even if he’d invited her in a demanding, awkward fashion. “What are we having tonight?”

  She thought Hunter shrugged. “I leave that to their discretion. They know what I like.”

  “So…Courtland and Penny?” Food sort of magically appeared every day. She wasn’t usually in the kitchen to see who was cooking.

  “Mostly Courtland these days.” Hunter set his wine glass down. “Though I suspect Penny will tell him if she doesn’t like what he’s doing.” Mira thought she detected a smirk.

  “Well, I think they’re all wonderful. They’ve been really nice to me.” Mira had never had such an easy time sliding in with new coworkers. Penny, Jimmy, and Courtland had immediately accepted her into the fold.

  Hunter arched an eyebrow. “So…you like it here?”

  She gazed away a moment, thinking about that. Despite the initial overwhelm at the size of the house and Hunter’s weirdness, she thought she did. “It’s taking some getting used to, but I like it so far.” She added in her head that Hunter was also taking some getting used to. But maybe she could figure him out eventually.

  “I’m glad to hear it. If you need anything, you shouldn’t hesitate to mention it.”

  Mira smiled in response. Now that they’d covered that subject, she wasn’t sure what to say. She knew next to nothing about Hunter or his family, but she was afraid to ask. He also seemed at a loss initially.

  “And how’s your father?” Hunter finally asked several seconds later as Mira began to hope the first course was coming soon so they’d have an excuse not to talk.

  Surprised, Mira brushed an invisible hair behind her ear. “Bored.” She laughed, and it echoed in the high ceiling. “He can’t physically do much and he’s starting to go a little nuts. He’s been listening to some podcast about this missing person in New Hampshire and he keeps texting me random details from it. Apparently, it’s kind of a big deal.” She didn’t bother to read most of the texts. But whatever kept her dad occupied.

  “I think I’ve listened to that one,” Hunter mumbled on the other end of the table.

  Mira inclined her head, trying to see around the stupid centerpiece. “Then you and my dad would probably get along.”

  Hunter met her eyes and his seemed to soften.

  “So other than listening to disturbing podcasts, what else do you like to do?” Mira said just as Jimmy brought out the soup course. This one wasn’t immediately identifiable. She picked up her spoon, noticing this time that the silver could really use a polish.

  Hunter exhaled, staring down at his soup. “Reading…sometimes playing chess, if anyone will humor me.” He smiled, a little wickedly if she saw correctly. “They’re not the best at losing.”

  “Why? Do you cheat?” Mira blew on what she’d found was a butternut squash soup.

  He peered over at her, his face neutral. “I don’t have to.”

  Mira held his stare, what she could see of him exuding confidence. He wasn’t bragging, he was just being honest. And it was the first time that he really resembled the photos online. He was sure of himself at this moment, and Mira felt goose bumps race up her arms at the way he watched her. He knew who he was and what he could do, and he might have been able to see into her soul. She could understand why women would want him. It didn’t necessarily have to do with his money.

  Mira dropped her eyes to her soup, taking another sip of wine, for completely different reasons than the night before. Despite the chill in the air, she felt flushed and decided to set the wine down in favor of water. Hunter focused on his soup and she wondered if he realized the effect he’d had on her. Probably, which was depressing. No doubt he was used to that reaction, even expecting it.

  “Do you play?” he said, waking Mira up from her own thoughts.

  She shook her head. “No. But my father does.”

  “He never taught you?”

  Mira smiled, mostly to herself. “He tried. I wasn’t a willing student.” She’d never had enough patience to play.

  “Then how do you entertain yourself…when you’re not daydreaming about cleaning my artwork.” Hunter’s lips twitched.

  Good question. What did she do for fun anymore? “Work is pretty consuming, but I love my music. And the occasional movie, that sort of thing. Nothing spectacular.” She never thought of her life as dull until somebody asked.

  Hunter went silent, whether because she’d just bored him to death or because he was processing, Mira couldn’t tell. It was impossible to read facial expressions in that light–or lack of it–and only seeing one side of Hunter’s face completely threw her off.

  The rest of dinner included spurts of conversation, but Mira was afraid to venture too close in case Hunter fled for the hills–or other wings of the house–again. She’d ask questions when he brought something up but had to think carefully about any subjects she broached. But when they did find something safe to discuss, she realized she liked talking to him. When he relaxed, and not that he relaxed totally, but when he did, she could start to see the person beneath the stiff outer layer.

  They made it through the entire meal without incident. So, Mira could only breathe a sigh of relief when Jimmy came to help her out of her seat. Apparently, that was the end and she was being dismissed. “Dinner was wonderful,” she said. “Thank you for inviting me again.”

  Hunter hesitated, candles flickering around her when she moved. “Goodnight,” he finally said.

  After a beat, Mira smiled, wondering if she should curtsy, then left with Jimmy to escort her back to her room. Before she left, she gave Hunter one last lingering glance. Or what she could see of him. She wasn’t sure what made her think this, but something told her he didn’t want her to leave.

  CHAPTER 9

  Hunter sat at the dining table alone for a long while, rubbing his hand across his mouth over and over, wondering why he couldn’t just get up and leave. Except he knew why. It was that look she gave him over her shoulder before she left. His eyes stayed fixed on that spot, wondering what was going through her mind at that moment. And he was afraid to even think that she wanted to stay.

  But did she?

  Before she left, he’d almost–almost–caved and asked her to watch a movie with him in his private theater. It would be dark, and Jimmy could handle Mira, so she’d be on his right side with space between them. He’d just have to make sure he didn’t turn too far. It might work, but his courage failed him. What was the point? Once she knew what he looked like–completely–she wouldn’t want him.

  Not that he was asking her on a date. Because it wasn’t like that.

  But then a little voice in Hunter’s head, the more rational one, whispered, “Then what on earth was it like if it wasn’t a date?” Hunter swiped his hand over his face. This was hopeless.

  Jimmy came out from behind and clapped Hunter on the back, his blue eyes sparkling and face beaming. Courtlan
d wheeled Penny in behind him, both of them all smiles. “Victory!” Jimmy punched his arms over his head, grinning. “How do you feel, Hunter?”

  Hunter dropped his arm, staring up at the three of them. Their smiles faded. “I told you not to serve the pork roast,” Penny hissed up at Courtland, who rolled his eyes.

  “It’s not the roast,” Hunter said, sagging into his seat. “It’s me.”

  “Are you breaking up with dinner?” Jimmy’s mouth hitched up in a lopsided grin as Hunter stared back at him. “You have every reason to celebrate. You did well, and Mira was happy.” Jimmy shrugged.

  “Jimmy’s right.” Penny rolled closer, placing a hand on his. “This was a big deal and you rose to the challenge. You should be proud. We are.” She glanced up at her colleagues, who nodded approval.

  Hunter felt like a little boy all over again. It wasn’t his parents who celebrated with him when he’d aced a test at school, or his team won in lacrosse. It was Jimmy, Penny, and Courtland while his parents were on the other side of the world. It was Penny who put Band-Aids on scrapes and Jimmy who made him laugh after a bad day at school.

  He let go of a small smile, and Penny squeezed his hand tight, her eyes twinkling. “That’s more like it. Now…what’s bothering you?”

  Hunter sighed, stroking his chin again. “I don’t know.” It was a lie, and he could tell that all three of them knew it too. And he could sense them conspiring against him.

  “Well,” Penny said, blinking innocently, “whatever will we do about it?”

  She glanced up at Courtland, who said, “She likes movies.”

  “And we just so happen to have a private theater in this house,” Jimmy added, setting his hands on his hips.

  “Wouldn’t you know?” Penny’s eyes danced in a challenge, her mouth twisted in a smile. She knew perfectly well he had trouble ignoring a challenge.

  Hunter licked his lips, gripping the chair arms. “Get the theater ready.”

  As soon as Mira realized the state of Rosefield, she started keeping track of what needed to be done, everything from dead lightbulbs to ignored artwork. The list was getting pretty long. And she knew it wasn’t a lack of trying on the part of her coworkers. They simply couldn’t keep up.

  The night before, silverware polishing had gone on the list, so Mira and Penny had pulled some of it out and sat working at the dining room table. In daylight, the dining room looked a lot less mood and brood, and Mira admired the carved oak mantle above the fireplace–roses taking center stage–and the vaulted ceiling and ginormous chandelier above their heads.

  “That would’ve been helpful,” Mira muttered, admiring how the crystal sparkled above them. She might have been able to see her dinner if the chandelier had been on.

  “What, dear?” Penny scrubbed the end of a fork, working across from Mira. It was nice to see her companion.

  “I was just thinking it must be beautiful in here at night with the chandelier in use.” She aimed a spoon up at the ceiling.

  Penny admired it for a second, her eyes wistful. “I’ve always tried to imagine what it must have been like when they first built this house.”

  Mira smiled, measuring the length of the table with her eyes. She knew the house had been built around the turn-of-the-twentieth-century. “I think they liked to party.”

  Penny laughed.

  “And what about Hunter?” Mira ventured. “Did he like to party?”

  Fortunately, Penny’s mood didn’t diminish. “He didn’t shy away from parties, but he wasn’t a wild child, either.” Her eyes settled on Mira, softening. “Hunter’s had a rocky time of it. But I think it’s good you came.”

  Under Penny’s gaze, Mira felt the need to focus on her spoon handle. She wanted to ask about Hunter’s past, but she couldn’t work up the nerve. Sometimes, she’d stopped and peered into the entrance to the forbidden wing, wondering what she’d find there.

  They polished all the silver they could stand, leaving the rest for later. Mira strolled back to her room, checking her phone for the first time in a while. Apparently, her dad had been listening to his podcast again, leaving several messages in a row. She texted him back, sending a quick hello. When she finished, there was still an outstanding message. She checked it, letting out a groan. Victor. Again.

  She glanced at the artwork dotting the hallway, recalling how Victor tried to get in her good graces by showing off his art knowledge, if you could call it that, and peppering her with questions. She supposed when she first met him, she thought Victor was handsome. But his conceit and narcissism quickly drove that thought out of her mind.

  “Everything all right?”

  Mira froze at the question, then relaxed, realizing it was her stalker’s–er, Hunter’s–voice…coming from…Mira spun around to find him.

  “Over here.”

  She followed the voice, finding him peeking out at her from another doorway. Mira held back a smile. She’d never had to have conversations with someone with a door in the middle before. “My fingers are cramped from polishing silver, but other than that, I’m fine.”

  Curiosity passed over his face, but he nodded. “More updates from your father?” He pointed toward her phone.

  “Yeah…he’s clearly bored out of his mind.” Mira decided to leave Victor out of the conversation. Hunter didn’t need to know about that. She studied him for a second, feeling like Hunter was trying to sound…lighter? Perhaps a tad more friendly? Not knowing what else to say, Mira asked, “Can I help with something?”

  Hunter hesitated. “I’d like–” He paused, then started over. “Would you like to watch a movie with me tonight? We have an in-home theater and I thought you might like to do something…different.”

  A smile spread across Mira’s face, her blue-gray eyes lighting up. He’d legitimately invited her to do something. Who knew? “Sounds like fun. I’d like to.”

  The strain on Hunter’s face eased and he straightened his shoulders. “Good. Jimmy will take you there. I’ll see you then.” Before she could ask or say anything else, he disappeared, shutting the door behind him.

  Mira realized she wouldn’t have much say about the time or the movie itself. But he had actually asked if she’d like to do it, so…one step at a time, right? She continued back to her room, unable to explain why she couldn’t stop smiling.

  CHAPTER 10

  If Mira got any closer, Hunter might explode. Every nerve tingled as her arm rested next to his while they watched the movie that night. There was supposed to be a seat or so between them, but Mira had waltzed into the aisle and sunk into the seat next to him before he or Jimmy could do anything about it. Once she sat down, Hunter was afraid to tell her to move and Jimmy just shrugged.

  Hunter faced forward, having to constantly remind himself not to turn too far toward her, though his eyes kept flicking Mira’s direction. She munched on popcorn from the movie theater popcorn maker they had, reclining a little with her feet propped up. Sometimes she’d catch him watching and he’d avert his eyes, telling himself to just watch the screen. Even if the movie was the last thing on his mind.

  “These are the most comfortable movie theater seats ever,” she said softly, close enough that her breath whispered down his neck and gave him chills.

  “You don’t need to whisper.”

  Mira smiled, her eyes, which he noticed shifted from blue to gray depending on the day, danced in the light from the screen. “I know, but it just seems wrong not to.” She tipped the popcorn tub toward him and he dipped his hand inside, almost grazing her knuckles. All she had to do was breathe on him to set him on edge. The last thing he needed to do was touch her.

  He finished swallowing, trying to think of something to say in return. “I’m glad you like it.”

  “If I’d known I could go to a theater where my feet don’t stick to the floor, I would’ve shown up here ages ago.” She stuffed more popcorn into her mouth.

  Hunter half smiled. He was happy it exceeded her expectations. And he f
elt a twinge of something–maybe hope?–that she thought about coming here sooner, even if she meant it as a joke. He honestly didn’t know what a normal movie theater was like because no one ever let him do anything like that growing up. And now that he was older, he realized they may have had good reasons for it. That made him think of his scars and he stiffened, staring straight ahead.

  The movie ended and, as directed, Courtland left the lights off. The credits rolled, and Hunter should have said goodnight and left immediately. But he just sat there with his arm still next to Mira’s, trying to convince himself to go. “What did you think?”

  Mira smiled. “It was good. I liked it.”

  Hunter hoped she didn’t want to talk about the movie because he didn’t pay any attention. He supposed he could say something about the great special effects, which he didn’t notice but could safely assume were in the film. “Good…” He was blank about what else to say, especially since he couldn’t remark on the movie. But he couldn’t bring himself to just exit.

  “This is a pretty awesome setup.” Mira twisted in her seat to face him, and Hunter had to practically grip the chair arms to keep from doing the same. “I’ve heard of these private theaters, but I’ve certainly never seen one.”

  “If I’d known you’d like it, I would’ve offered sooner.”

  “Really?” Mira arched one finely defined eyebrow.

  “Well, maybe not…”

  Mira laughed lightly. “That’s more what I expected.” She pressed her lips into a smile, and he couldn’t help smiling back. Tendrils of soft curls framed her face, her cheeks pink and eyes bright. He really needed to get out of there before he did something crazy. Like turn to face her.

  She glanced down, moving to the edge of her seat. “I guess I should get back to my room. It’s getting late.”