More Than a Billionaire (14 page)

“When you were on your honeymoon, Jake offered me a job with the Falmouth Foundation.”

“Is the moron moving with you?” Trent asked.

His sister had gone to the wedding alone and hadn’t mentioned anyone the day he saw her at his dad’s estate, so he had no idea who Trent was referring to. “Who?”

“Charles Perkins,” Trent answered in disgust.

Gray thought his sister had broken up with the moron, and he figured calling the guy a moron was being kind.

“We broke up. You know that, Trent.”

“Dad thought you two worked things out. He saw you having coffee together last week.”

“
I
stopped for coffee, and Charles showed up. So, the answer to your question is
no
. He is not moving with me.” Allison reached for her drink. “At least, he better not.” She made the statement more to herself, but Gray heard her.

“Is he giving you a problem?” Allison’s tone more, than her comment, switched on his big-brother protectiveness.

Allison took several sips from her glass, a well-known stall tactic when she didn’t want to answer.

“He keeps calling me,” Allison said after she put her glass down. “And he always shows up at places I just happen to be at. Like when I stopped for coffee.”

“Providence is a small city, and isn’t his office near the court house?” Addie pushed a piece of hair behind her ear.

Allison frowned. “I keep telling myself that. It’s still driving me crazy. I can’t wait to move. I signed lease papers for a condo last week. Dad is not happy. He calls at least once every few days and tries to change my mind. It’s getting annoying.”

The conversation continued throughout dinner, and no matter the topic, Kiera joined in with ease. Anyone watching would’ve thought they got together like this all the time.

“I’m ready for dessert,” Addie said as she stood. They’d finished dinner a while ago and all the dinner dishes had already been cleared away. “Be right back.”

Trent and Addie carried in the desserts Kiera had made, as well as a plate of cannoli. Gray liked cannoli, but not as much as his brother did. Since Kiera didn’t let him have a cupcake before they’d left her apartment, he opted for that now. The tart looked good, too, but chocolate was one of his weaknesses.

Removing the paper cupcake wrapper, he raised it to his mouth, the scent of chocolate conjuring up the memory of him unbuttoning Kiera’s top in the kitchen. From there, his mind continued downward, picking up speed, and he replayed their time in her bedroom.

After a pleasant hour or so in her room that afternoon, they’d ventured downstairs where he’d helped her frost the cupcakes. Of course, being a novice, he’d gotten frosting on her clothes, which meant he’d had to help her remove them. It wasn’t his fault that had led to other activities on her couch.

“Are you going to share the joke?” Allison held a cupcake in her hand.

Gray blinked. “What joke?”

“You’re smiling like an idiot. Something must be funny.”

“Thinking about how much I like chocolate.” Gray slid a hand up Kiera’s thigh and squeezed. “And how many fond memories I have of it.”

At the end of the table Trent choked on his drink.

“You get stranger all the time, Gray.” Allison shook her head.

Gray shrugged and caught his brother’s eye. Allison evidently hadn’t caught onto the sexual innuendo behind his words, but Trent had. Or maybe his brother noticed the blush on Kiera’s face.

“Allison, when are you moving?” Kiera asked as she pulled his hand off her thigh. “Maybe we can get together before you go and talk about how strange your brother keeps getting.”

Gray leaned close and whispered, “You didn’t mind where I put my hand earlier today.”

Kiera looked at him and smiled—which should have warned him, but instead, it distracted him.

Her hand dropped dangerously close to his crotch, and she leaned closer. “All’s fair, right?”

The happiness and love he experienced that morning returned magnified, and he stopped breathing. When he could get air going into his lungs again, he kissed her even though they had an audience.

“We’ve got a guest bedroom upstairs if you want to use it so the rest of us can enjoy dessert.”

Gray ended their kiss. Would his sister-in-law mind if he knocked out a few of Trent’s teeth? Maybe not. Addie seemed easy going, and she did have four brothers of her own. More than likely, she’d understand.

He pushed his chair back.

“Don’t go there. I don’t want to embarrass you in front of your girlfriend.” A smile tugged at Trent’s mouth.

“You keep thinking that, Trent, and I won’t tell anyone the truth.” Gray picked up his cupcake. He’d forgotten how enjoyable evenings with his family could be.

By the time they walked back into Kiera’s apartment, it was past midnight. She’d been apprehensive about the dinner, but she’d enjoyed the entire evening. There had been a few embarrassing moments, but nothing life-ending. The only downside of the evening stemmed from sharing Gray with his family because he’d be leaving tomorrow.

“You and Addie hit it off.” Gray hung up their jackets in the closet.

“I like her. Oh, and the baby is due in June. I asked Addie.”

“I know. I asked Trent, and then wished I hadn’t. Once Trent got going, he wouldn’t shut up.
Excited
doesn’t come close to describing his current state.”

“I picture you that way someday too.”

“Probably, but if I get as annoying as my brother hit me or something.”

Don’t read too much into that statement.
They’d been friends for a long time before their relationship took its current course. They’d remain friends if and when it ended so his comment made sense.

“Will do.” Kiera leaned against the couch. “When are you leaving?”

“If I was smart, I’d head to the airport now, but I’ll leave later this morning. My flight crew is expecting me at the airport around eleven.”

Kiera didn’t need a mirror to know she’d frowned.

“I’ll make this a short trip. I promise.”

Even if he spent a day or two in Cozumel, he’d still return to New York afterward, not Providence.

“I have work all week to keep me busy.”

“If you don’t like the idea say so, but I thought I’d stay here until I need to leave.”

“I hoped you would, but wouldn’t it be easier if you stayed in the city? It’s closer to the airport.”

Gray put his arms around her. “It’s not that much closer, and in the city, I wouldn’t have you.”

His comment captured another piece of her heart. At the rate they were going, he’d possess the whole thing in another week.

“I’ll be right down, Mom.” Kiera grabbed her jacket from the closet, and then checked her phone. More than a week had passed since Gray had flown to Cozumel. While away, he’d called almost everyday but always at a different hour. His last call had been Tuesday. He did send her a dozen roses yesterday with a note that said,
Miss you
. She’d hoped a call would’ve followed, but, instead, he’d sent her a text message that said,
Thinking of you; see you soon.
 

How soon? When he made it back four weekends in a row, she’d assumed he’d make it back every weekend.

She’d thought about calling him yesterday, but in the end, decided against it. She didn’t want to call when he was in a meeting or asleep. She could have sent him a text message, but she wanted to hear his voice, not just read his words.

Kiera slipped the phone into her purse and pulled on her jacket. As much as she wanted to hear from Gray, she hoped he didn’t call in the next few hours. She had shopping plans with her mom that afternoon.

“I’ve got the perfect idea for your dad’s gift.” Her mom drove away from the apartment complex and turned onto River Road.

“You told me you didn’t know what to get him.” Kiera certainly had no clues, but maybe her mom’s idea would give her some.

“I didn’t until yesterday. Your father started looking at old family vacation photos last night, and he kept bringing up how much fun we had. Then his cousin called. Bernard and his wife are going on a cruise. Your dad has always wanted to go on a cruise, so I thought the three of us could go on one together.”

“That sounds like a great idea for the two of you.” She loved her parents, but a family vacation at her age? The idea didn’t thrill her.

“He’d enjoy it so much more if you came, too. We might never get a chance again. Once you get married, we won’t be able to do those types of things.”

“Married? Do you know something I don’t, Mom?”

Her mom patted her hand. “You will someday. You just haven’t met the right man yet. He’s out there. I know it.”

Kiera kept her face forward so she wouldn’t give herself away. Once her mom learned she was dating someone, she’d pester her for more details. Then, she’d have to spill the beans. Something she wasn’t ready to do yet.

“Have you considered that dating service Jane’s daughter Stacey used? That’s where she met David. Did you know they’re expecting a baby in April?”

Once her mom got going on Kiera’s love life, she wouldn’t stop unless distracted by something else.

“Back to Dad’s birthday present, Mom. I think a romantic trip for just the two of you is a great idea. I’ll help pay and then it can be from both of us.”

Her mom looked over at her. “If you’re worried about being seasick, they sell medicine for that. Come on, it’ll be fun. I spoke with Jane last night. She promised to pull together some information for us to look at today.”

If her mom had called her friend Jane Steward, a travel agent, she’d made up her mind before she’d picked Kiera up that afternoon.

“Right now, I’m thinking a cruise to Alaska in July. How does that sound? Your dad mentioned wanting to do that. And then we don’t have to worry about hurricanes.”

Torturous.
“Mom, I don’t want to take a cruise anywhere. But you and Dad go. This is his sixtieth birthday. It should be something memorable, and you guys never go anywhere special.”

Her mom drove into the parking lot for Steward Travel. “You really won’t come?”

“I can’t take that much time off from work.”

She’d only worked at Mon Soleil for a year, so she got one week of vacation. A week she’d rather spend with Gray, assuming he stayed in one place long enough.

Her mom stopped the car. “I think you’ll be missing a lot of fun.”

Jane greeted them and wasted no time presenting the various vacation packages she’d put together. Each one sounded better than the one before it, and if not for the fact that a huge ship was involved, Kiera would’ve been tempted to book a trip for herself. Since her mom had decided on an Alaska cruise, she barely looked at the other brochures Jane handed them.

“We’ll go on the ten-night Alaska Wildlife Cruise in July.”

“Am I booking one cabin or two today?” Jane turned toward her computer.

Her mom looked at her. “Are you sure you won’t come? You could do your own thing while on board. We wouldn’t expect you to spend all your time with us.”

“Positive, Mom. You and Dad go and have fun.”

“It’ll just be the two of us. Can you get us a cabin with a balcony?”

Kiera heard the disappointment and excitement in her mom’s voice. “Dad’s going to love this. The two of you are going to have so much fun.”

While Jane and her mom discussed the details of the trip, Kiera checked her phone. She’d heard it ding several times since they’d sat down, which meant she had messages. With her mom busy, she could check them now.

All three messages were jokes from Joanna. Since none of them required responses, she put the phone away and listened as Jane explained the various cabins available and the prices of each.

After the travel agency, they stopped for a late lunch. Through the entire meal and the drive back to her apartment, her mom talked about the upcoming trip. Kiera couldn’t recall the last time her mom had been so excited.

“The itinerary lists two formal dinners. I’ll need another dress; I only have the one I wore to Trent’s wedding. Maybe next month you can come shopping with me.”

“Get two new ones. The one you wore to the wedding is dark blue, which is more of a winter color. You are going in July. You should have something bright and summery.”

“It’ll be fine. I will buy a new bathing suit. The ship has three pools. Did I mention it has a full service spa, too?”

Kiera opened her apartment door and walked inside. “You did, and I think you should book yourself a day there. Get the full treatment” Her mom never let herself get pampered.

“Maybe. I’ll have to think about it. Can you help me decide on some port excursions? I brought the information up with me. I already know I want to take the train ride when we stop in Skagway.”

Kiera walked past the table into the kitchen. “Sure let me get—”

“These are gorgeous. Who did you get them from?”

Kiera turned around. Her mom stood near the table, examining the roses. When she’d invited her mom inside, she’d forgotten about them on the table.

“No one. They looked pretty, so I bought them myself.” Thank goodness she’d removed the card that had come with them.

“Flowers do brighten up a room.” Her mom leaned in for a closer inspection. “What florist did you get them from? These are exceptional.”

The name of every florist she’d ever seen disappeared. “The grocery store.” The store in Cumberland did sell flowers.

Her mom raised an eyebrow. “You got these at the grocery store? Those florist sections don’t usually have flowers this nice.”

“I got lucky I guess.” Kiera took the vase and put it on the counter. “I’ll make some tea then we can look through that booklet. I bet Dad would love the flight tour to Mount McKinley.”

Her mom didn’t mention the flowers again, but Kiera wasn’t sure she’d bought her excuse. Once or twice her mom had glanced at them and then at Kiera. Each time, Kiera had held her breath and waited for more questions.

“Do you have any nights off this weekend so we can celebrate your dad’s birthday?”

“Tomorrow night and Sunday.” Kiera didn’t want to make any commitments just in case Gray showed up. At the same time, she couldn’t sit around and wait. She did have a life to live. “I have an idea. Bring Dad here tomorrow, and I’ll cook dinner.”