A Kiss To Remember..1(A Billionaire Romance) (4 page)

“
No, you can’t be that man.”

“Sorry, sweetheart. But you were too involved in your discussion to notice anyone else.” He grinned.

“Are you going to tell my boss about that?” There was no way Tim could know about it. Melissa and I would be in solid trouble if he knew that we were messing with the client just to secure our jobs.

“I don’t like beautiful girls to stay away from me.” He grinned at me.

I was stuck with him for fifteen days, for sure. I couldn’t lose my job and just couldn’t put Melissa in danger, either.

Chapter 6

“You can’t get to me by simply knowing my secrets,” I whispered in anger. I hated the way he’d turned the tables on me. “And it’s not my secret at all, it’s Melissa’s, and if you are not a jerk you’d understand the motivation behind it.” I frowned at his smiling face.

I should have been bursting out at him, but instead I was acting soft with him.

My eyes darted to his smiling face. His hands were moving gracefully on the steering wheel. He was cutting the corners like a pro, his hair scattered more due to the open top. My hands were urging to touch those hair and put them back, he really looked cute like that.

“I’m not saying I want to get to you. Okay, relax. I just want your company for the next fifteen days. I’m already getting bored here but have to stay for my sis.” He smiled at me, his green eyes moving to my lips like he was trying to kiss them with his eyes.

“What are you looking at?” He was making me goddamn awkward and shaking my core for his attractiveness at the same time.
Why am I acting so stupid, I shouldn’t be asking him these questions. I should just get out of the car and hail a cab to back home.

“
Your lips.” He explained shamelessly.“They look so soft, I was wondering how would they taste.” He pushed his hair back with one hand. It made me go weak one more time.

“Please stop doing that.” The words came out of my mouth without the realization of what I was saying.
Stupid, Trisha. Why are you doing this again.

“What? Looking at your lips? Sorry, they are too red to avoid. Or you are talking about the hair.” He chuckled. He pushed his hair back, again.

“Drop me home. I don’t care what you have to report back. I’ll take care of things myself,” I hissed. I hated him for knowing what was going in my mind.

“Okay, relax. The last thing I want is to screw up my sister’s wedding. So believe me, I don’t have any intentions to mess up with you.” His eyes were fixed on the road. His left hand touched my fingers, tracing through their length. “I won’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

“You are doing that right now.” I frowned; he knew my weakness. His touch was sending me over the cliff. That had never happened to me in my whole life, not even with Tristan.

“Sorry.” He pulled his hand back,” I was just trying to give you confidence in me.” He gave me another of his mesmerizing, ear-to-ear smiles.

How can a man smile so beautifully like that? And why do I feel so weak around him?

“Just keep a safe distance from me. I’m not the girl who would fall for you,” I said straight. There was nothing between us and I would make sure that nothing happened.
I don’t want to end up like other girls, destroyed and emotionless.
I had my own baggage of emotions and I was just getting out of those.

“Whatever.” He smiled again.

“Why do you smile so much?” I asked.

“Do you have problem with that, too?” He tried to make his face serious, but he couldn’t. He laughed. Again, he looked cute, making my knees weak.

“No, you can smile as much you want.” I had to stop being stupid around him.

“Here we are.” He pulled the car out of the fast lane and we stopped in front of Barney’s cake shop. It was famous in town. They had all types of wedding cakes. I’d come here one time to buy a cake for Sarah, and goddamn, it was so expensive.

“Welcome, Mr. Swan. How are you?” The shop owner came out smiling.

“Fine. Thanks, Andrew, how are you doing?” Eyan smiled back.

”Your sister visited us a month ago and chose the sample. It’s ready for the display.”

I thanked Evy for actually making all the arrangements. I just had to make sure that I got the things right and make them available for the wedding. I was actually drifting far away from my original work. I’d come as an assistant to the wedding planner, but now I was helping the bride and her cute brother.

I could see why Melissa was confident about the whole wedding. Evy was the woman of our dreams for the wedding planners.

“Can we see it now?” I was curious how it looked and to make sure it was up to the details Evy wanted.

“Yes, please.” He took us to an inside room. For any cake-lover, the room was heaven. It had glass shelves and every shelf had cakes, of different flavors and colors, different sizes and shapes. It was such a beautiful sight, and there was a six foot tall shelf, where Evy’s dummy cake was present. It was six feet tall, the biggest layered cake I’d ever seen in my life. And a beautiful man was playing guitar on the top of and he was moving in circle.

“No, this is not what Evy has ordered.” Sweat accumulated on my forehead, a hint of horror ran through my spine. Evy wanted a singing couple, not a man.

“What happened, ma’am? Don’t you like it?” The owner’s voice was shaking.

“She wants a singing couple on top of the cake, not a man. Can you change it, please?” My heart was beating faster now. It couldn’t be happening.

“Oh, you mean like this.” He opened a drawer; there were dozens of different statues, couples, men, women. You name what you want—there was one. One of them particularly grabbed my attention, a couple kissing each other. If I ever married, I would have chosen that.

Eyan picked that kissing couple. “I bet you’ll choose this when you get married,” Eyan whispered in my ear.

“And why do you think that?” My chin jutted up.

“Because of your lips. They are so kissable.” He chuckled.

I decided to ignore him. I turned back to face the owner, Andrew. “Thank God, I thought it was something difficult to replace. Thanks a lot, Andrew.” My face softened.

“Of course. Anyway, the one in the showcase is just a prototype and will be used in rehearsal. The actual wedding one will be made in ten days.” He smiled at us.

“Thanks a lot,” Eyan replied.

“Any changes you foresee here?” he asked, while changing the statue on the top.

“No, that’s it.” I smiled and turned back toward the door. My eyes darted to Eyan and he was looking at me.

“Shall we?” I asked.

“Sure.”

We walked out of the cake shop and my phone buzzed. It was Evy.

“One moment, Evelyn is calling,” I told him and picked the phone.

“Hi, Evelyn. We checked on the cake and it’s the one you wanted. I sent you the pic as well.”

“Thanks,” she replied, “Can you also check on the florist? Sorry it wasn’t in your schedule, but you both are in town and you can easily check that one. The shop owner was supposed to call me today, but he didn’t.” She sounded a little worried and it was obvious, if I was in her place, I would have freaked out if my florist didn’t call me.

“Sure, just text me the address and we will check on that,” I replied. Now it was my job to make her wedding as beautiful as she wanted. Not only because my company was paying me, but also she was a super-kind girl.

“Thanks, Trisha. You are a lifesaver,” She sputtered.

I should say the same to you, Evy.

I turned around; Eyan was tapping his fingers on the car’s hood. “We have to check on the florist as well. Do you mind taking me there? Or shall I call a cab?” I asked Eyan. It was just the start of the evening and the weather was getting awesome for a road trip.

“Anywhere you want, sweetheart.” He winked.

“Whatever,” I whispered and hopped in his car. I was annoyed by him, and at the same time I had started liking his company. And driving in the super-sexy, red-hot Ferrari was better than hailing a cab.

“There are only fifty of these in the whole world. I was the fourth to buy this one,” he said, pushing the gas.

“What?”

“The car, the F670.There are only fifty in the whole world.” He looked at me, drawing me in his eyes again.

“How did you know?” Why in the world could he read my mind so easily?

“I have that power. I know exactly what a cute girl is thinking when I look in her eyes.”

“And I should to believe that?” I giggled.

“Don’t.” He smiled back at me.

***

My life here in this town was an adjustment, an adjustment done to get rid of old memories and be closer to my mother. When I came here, it was difficult for me to get settled in this town where I had no friends. Then I met Melissa. She was older than me and had a kid, but then I didn’t know that when she became my best pal. But all her life was occupied with worries about her daughter, and most of our chatter remained mature. No one was actually around my age, someone I could hang out with for a beer or dinner. Or plan a movie or outing.

That’s why I’d became comfortable with Evy Swan in less than three days. Although she was a very rich client of mine, she made me feel at home. And never showed off her money. I had been with her for only two days now but that was more than enough for a bonding.

And Eyan Swan. I had never expected to like anyone else in my life other than Tristan, and I had successfully kept away all men in the last year. But since I had seen Eyan, I was feeling altogether different. Like he was the one sent for me to get rid of my loneliness and to help me start my life over with new hope. 

But again, that came with danger associated with him. Being in love is the most beautiful thing in life. But I could not allow myself to fall for anyone again. I knew very well that my heart could not bear if I fell again. Even Melissa had warned me about this rich brat. I
can’t let myself fall for him.

I was too deep into my thoughts to notice Eyan or the road and suddenly realized that we were already in front of the florist shop; apparently Eyan knew the address.

I looked at Eyan, embarrassed. He was staring at me and resting his head on the steering wheel. He was looking damn cute. How could I stay away from him when I’d started liking him since we first met?

“Are you all right, Thinking Beauty?” He grinned, still relaxing on the steering wheel.

“I’m not thinking anything.” I tried to lie.

“Oh is that right? It’ been more than five minutes since we got here. And you didn’t even notice that the car is stopped. Don’t think about me too much, by the way. I am going to be there with you.” He chuckled.

I sighed and didn’t bother to answer him.
I will have to keep my relationship light with him. I can’t be serious around him
.

I looked out of the car to notice the florist was closed.

“What the heck? This man was supposed to call Evelyn and tell her about the delivery. Where the hell is he now?” I muttered in anger. Things had gone smoothly from this morning, and now this florist had to close his shop for some unknown reason.

“Don’t worry, his house is on the back side. We can check in there.”

Eyan walked behind the shop. He was right; a small house was attached to the shop. We knocked on the door, and an old man opened it. His hair was all scattered, his cloths dirty, and he was smelling of whiskey all over his body.

“Brad, what happened to you, man?” Eyan asked.

“I’m so sorry, sir!” Brad muttered. Eyan pulled him up, “What happened, Brad? Why didn’t you call Evy? She was waiting for your call. Is everything all right?” I could see the compassion in Eyan’s eyes, feeling I thought I would never see in a player’s eyes.

“The frost, every farm in Florida is affected by the frost, and there is no lakeside sunflower left in the whole country. I’m so sorry—I can’t deliver that.” He started apologizing again.

It was odd to see an old man crying like that, but it meant no flowers for Evy and that meant I’d failed on the second day.

“No, this can’t be happening. She said she wanted those flowers at any cost. No, this can’t be happening.” Panic enveloped my whole body; the strength in my legs disappeared. I held Eyan’s shoulder to balance. He extended his hand and wrapped me in his arms.

“Brad, there has to be some way. What about other countries? There is always a way out.”

“Those are a very rare species, and only bloom in Africa and Florida,” he replied. “I’m so sorry, sir.” He hung his head again.

But his apologizing wasn’t going to help me. I was told to do a few things and I was failing in them. How could I tell Evy that her bouquet was not going to happen? how would I arrange something new in less than ten days? I was doomed. I would be losing my job just like that.
What am I going to tell Evy?
Everything went dark around me.

Chapter 7

I didn’t know how long I sat in front of Brad. Finally, I realized I had to go back and give the news to Evy. I had to be the one to deliver the bad news. Thank God, Eyan was with me; he could tell Evy that it wasn’t my fault.

“Eyan.” My voice was weak.

“Eyan.” I called him again after a few moments.
Maybe he is outside, talking with Evy. No, he can’t tell her the news on the phone. I should tell her face to face.

I pulled my ass up and ran outside. I had to stop him. But he wasn’t there. I walked to the front side of the shop, where his car was parked, thinking he might be in the car waiting for me. But holy shit, his car was gone. He’d bailed on me just like that.

How could he do that to me?
Why did he leave me there, alone, drowning and devastated?

“That’s not funny, Eyan.” I shouted. The chilly breeze running through the empty road didn’t cheer me up. The jerk didn’t understand the importance of the situation. He fled because he was afraid. He dumped everything on me and ran away. He was a stupid, rich brat after all. Melissa was right; he had the reputation of abandoning girls like that. Actually, I was stupid enough to trust him and think that he would help me telling the bad news to his sister.
Yes, I’m the fool here.
Now I had the weight on my heart, to break the bad news.

I dialed a cab.

It was fucking crazy that it was just my second day on the job, and I was the bearer of bad news. It couldn’t get worse than this. “Okay, Trisha, relax. Tell her it’s not your fault, and make a new arrangement. Be the person who solves the problem.”

I just might have to put everything I got on another florist, and being new in town I didn’t know anyone. My company had tied up three florists, but Brad was the biggest one and only he had promised to get those flowers for the wedding.
Come on, Trisha, don’t give up so easily. Find out the way. First go and meet Evy and see how it goes.

I stepped in the cab with little confidence, but as the cab was heading near to the Swan mansion, my confidence started drowning in the sea of hopelessness. Moreover, I was getting furious at that rich bastard who was accompanying me. “I’m going to kick your ass, Eyan.” My temper was raised to its limit. Though Melissa had told me about his reputation, I didn’t hold any prejudgment for him. But now I could see how he treats a woman.

I almost ran inside the mansion as the cab came to a halt. After the regular security check, I went inside looking for Evy.

Before entering the main gate, I peeked in the parking lot. A red Ferrari was already there.
What the fuck? He betrayed me and came here.
With fury burning me from the inside I called the elevator and got on the second floor.

I knocked on the door and entered Evy’s room. Evy was talking with someone on the phone. She was wearing a cobalt blue dress and it looked so perfect on her. She turned and saw me, and then she ran to me. I thought she was coming to hit me, or send me back where I belonged.

“I’m so...”

“Thank you, Trisha. Thanks a lot.” She cut me off and hugged me tightly.

“What?” I couldn’t understand what she was doing. I had to tell her the news; maybe she was thanking me for something else. That was a golden chance for me and I had to grab it and break the bad news to her. “Listen, Evelyn, I have some bad news about the flowers.” I tried to sound as low I could.

“The frost, right?” She held me at arm’s length.

I looked in her eyes, light green like her brother’s. I thought I would see fiery bullets coming out of those, but the eyes were laughing.

“Yes, the frost. But don’t you worry about it. I will talk to my boss tomorrow and we will try to figure out some other options.” I was the person to break it to her, then.

“Eyan called me and he already told me that.” She was not even listening to me properly.

No, why did he tell her on the phone? Jerk.

“
Okay.” I was collecting my thoughts; I knew Tim would not help me in this as he had already warned me about the season. But I myself took the opportunity to show up and convinced Brad to arrange flowers.
This is going to create a big scene in the office.
And Evy was going to be unhappy.

“Eyan called and he told me how you pulled some of your strings and arranged the flowers from Africa. Now he just needs to send our private jet to collect the flowers three days before the wedding. Oh, thank you, sweetheart. Thanks for the flowers. I couldn’t have gotten married without those flowers. Thanks a lot.” She hugged me again.

“What?” I couldn’t believe what she just said.
When did I arrange the flowers? Why did Eyan tell her that lie? There were no flowers.
If it was Eyan’s prank, then I was dead. The Swan family would kill me.

“Evelyn, no, there…”

I was pulled back from her embrace by strong hands. “Evy, I need her to arrange something. Would you please excuse us?” It was Eyan.

He was looking a little tired, like he’d run a marathon.

“Oh, sure. I just wanted to tell you guys that I am gonna be busy for three days as my schoolmates have arranged party for me. And we are heading for the beach for three days, starting tomorrow.”

“It’s your wedding in few days, sister. Where are you going now.”

“Sorry, bro, I know you are here for me, but my friends had arranged so many things and I couldn’t hurt them by saying no. I am feeling guilty, though. Parents will be here by the time I return and Mark and his family will also be joining us soon. So I wouldn't have anytime left after returning. That is going to be a super busy week.”

Eyan nodded his head.

“But Evelyn…” I still didn’t believe what was going on there.

“Don’t worry, Trisha I will be back in no time. As most of the arrangements are on track you can have a short break from our work. You don’t need to tell your boss about this. Keep my little brother company as he is getting bored.” She winked at him.

“And Eyan, do me a favor, please. Get Trisha the best dress from in town. She has saved my life today. She deserves a gift.” 

“Sure, sister. It would be gift from me to your wedding planner.” He smiled.

“Don’t say a word and follow me.” He bent down and whispered in my ear.

He grabbed my arm and literally dragged me outside of the room. My mind was still trying to recover from what had just happened inside. It was totally unanticipated, but if it was one of his pranks…

“I’ll kill you,” I said.

“What? And why in the world would you do that to me? I just saved your ass,” he asked.

“Why were you lying back there? You didn’t even think about your sister before pulling such a prank.” My eyes darted to his face, trying to see if he really meant what he’d said inside.

He pulled his phone out and showed me a web page. It was his order of the Lakeside sunflowers from Africa.

I took the phone in surprise and read the whole mail. It was really an order for the flowers.

“You really did that?” I couldn’t hide my surprise.

He nodded.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.” I couldn’t resist hugging him. My arms wrapped around the fine fabric of his shirt. I could feel his muscles underneath.

“Is that what I get for saving you? I expected at least a kiss.” He lowered his mouth to whisper the words in my ear.

I bit my lip. “No, you aren’t getting anything like that.” I frowned, pushing myself away from him, looking in his eyes. I tried to show him my resistance, but inside I liked the way he smelled, like fresh soap. I must admit, he was irresistible.

“Okay, you’ll have to do at least one favor in return.”

I was not sure about what he was asking. But I nodded positively.

“Would you be my partner for a pool volleyball match tomorrow?” he asked.

“What?” I could swim, but playing pool volleyball—I’d never done it.

No way. I am not doing this
. The thought of showing my body to him made me unsettled. My mouth dried in a second. I didn’t even have good shorts and a top to wear. I am a very average looking girl and was not comfortable to be half-naked around him.

“No, sorry, I can’t do that.” Though the thought of him being bare with me in the water was urging me to accept his offer.

“What is the issue?” His fingers brushed my cheek very lightly.

“I’m not comfortable with the swimsuit and the game.”

“There is no dress code as such. You can wear anything you want like a t-shirt , shorts, a bikini, anything.” He looked deep into my eyes. I felt like he could reach my core with his eyes.

“Hmm… I need to think.” My mind was working on if I had a swim suit or shorts to wear.

“It’s done, you are coming.” He turned around and started walking towards his room without listening to me reply.

He left me there, thinking about what I’d gotten myself into. It was totally a different world for me.
How can I try to catch up with him?
Anyway, I was free for three days.

***

I was standing in front of the water. It was inviting. I’d loved the first look of the pool; it was huge and the water was so crystal clear.

The pool was divided into two parts, and a net was raised from the bottom that divided the pool. Even the two parts were divided into two parts each with the use of another net. But this small net was placed higher than the water. So there were four courts.

“Are you ready, my sweetheart?” Eyan’s breath touched my neck and it warmed my chilling body. I almost jumped.
Why the hell he always refer me with such names? I have to tell him stop calling me this.

He silently snuck up on me.

“Come on, baby, I’m going in.” He dove in swiftly, like a dolphin, a few water drops spread on my already shivering body.

My heart was thundering hard; he had taken my breath away.

“Come on.” He pushed his head out of the water, resting his hands on the edge of the pool. I couldn’t guess if my breath had stopped because of the cold or his bare chest and wet hair. He looked like a supermodel in an underwear advertisement.

I knew I was looking very plain next to him, wearing a light blue sleeveless t-shirt and shorts. I’d avoided a swimsuit because I was sure he would run away if he saw my curvy body.

“Trisha, come on.” He waved his hand and showed me the way to enter the water by his gaze.

And suddenly I was dragged out of my thoughts. Someone pushed me hard and the next thing I knew, I was entering in the water. I couldn’t control myself from falling in. I lost my balance and inhaled lots of water. My throat choked by the pressure of water. My hands started fluttering for balance; I thought I would die drowning. For a second, I totally forgot that I could swim.

But then his strong hands came, saving me out of nowhere. He pulled me up, till my head came out of water. He steadied me, holding me by my waist. I gasped hard to take a breath. My lungs were already out of air. I was panting hard and trying to regain my breath.

“Are you all right, honey?” he asked in a very serious tone. I just nodded. He wrapped me in his arms until I recovered my balance.

I nodded hastily.

After few seconds, I realized he was so close to me that I could just jut my chin and kiss his lush lips. Being so close to him, I could smell his hair. I could feel his breath on my lips. Damn, I was holding back from kissing him. That was not the appropriate thing to do.

Then I heard couple of laughing sounds. I looked out; two men were laughing hard, looking at me.

“What the hell are you doing, Eden? Why did you push her?” Eyan’s voice was raised ,and I could sense the anger in his tone.

“Relax, dude, I was just playing. What happened to you? Why are you so pissed off for pushing your girlfriend? It isn’t like she wasn’t going to jump in herself.” A rough voice came from one of the men. “She seriously looks lame in her glasses.” And then the other one chuckled.

I was still standing in Eyan’s embrace. I was ashamed and nervous, I didn’t know what he had told his friends about me; I was not his girlfriend and the way they were treating me was very rude. I pushed Eyan’s hands off of me and walked away without even looking at those stupid boys. They were rude and didn’t have a shred of manners.

“Don’t go, Trisha. Please stop,” Eyan shouted.

“Let her go, man, she’s is your type,” one of them yelled.

“Shut up, asshole.” Eyan’s voice was fading as I walked away. Tears were dropping from my eyes and I was embarrassed. I didn’t belong there. I was a normal, average looking, low profile girl. Eyan was a son of a billionaire. Why would he defend me in front of his friends? They were right; I wasn’t his type. I cursed myself for accepting his offer.

The changing room wasn’t too far. A few steps more and I could get in, change to my old clothes and get out of here. I would be concentrating only on my work. I was already stupid enough to agree to Eyan for helping me. But no more games. I needed to focus on my work and that’s why I was there.