The Billionaire Bum (17 page)

A brilliant streak of lightning flashed outside the picture window suddenly illuminating the city. It was followed moments later by a monstrous crash of thunder. I jumped, and Jackson slid his arm around my waist in a comforting gesture.

“David,” I said, “what do you do for a living?”

David set his coffee aside. “I’m an investment consultant,” he said. I gave him a look encouraging him to continue. “Essentially, I help wealthy people make wise strategic investments.”

“That sounds fascinating, Dave,” Lexy cooed. I wanted to hurl. Could she be any more obvious? Usually Lexy was on the standoffish side when it came to men. She was a big fan of playing hard to get. I had never seen this side of her, and it was kind of freaking me out.

“Who do you work with?” I asked.

“Well,” David smiled, “Jackson for one. That’s primarily how we know each other. I manage his personal portfolio. We became neighbors after we already knew each other. He told me about the remodeling project for this building, and I was very interested. I moved in shortly after.”

“How did you get into that line of work?” Lexy asked.

David turned his whole body to answer her. Honestly, if those two leaned any more into each other they were going to smack noses.

“I am originally from Texas,” he answered. “My family’s had oil investments going back several generations. One of my uncles kind of took me under his wing as I was growing up and got me interested in stocks. It just seemed like the right fit for me in college, and then I took over most of the family interests and added a few additional clients along the way.” Our conversation was interrupted by the sound of rain falling in heavy sheets on the balcony. “That’s quite a storm,” Jackson said. “Are you sure you want to drive home in this, Lexy? I would be happy to make up one of the guest rooms if you would prefer to stay the night.”

Lexy looked from Jackson to David. She didn’t speak for a moment, but I got the feeling that she was somehow communicating with David via ESP or something. Those two were really getting weird.

“No thank you, Jackson,” Lexy said, not taking her eyes off of David. “I’ll be fine for the night.”

Wait. She didn’t mean... she wasn’t going to go home with him? She just met him. I mean Lexy had her fair share of one night stands in college. So did I, for that matter, but I thought she had outgrown that phase.

“Actually, I should probably get on my way,” she continued. “I know Alissa needs to rest, and I have an early consultation tomorrow.” I opened my mouth to protest and then thought better of it. Lexy was a grown woman. She could make her own decisions. I was going to hear about it in the morning though. If she didn’t call me, I was going to break down her door.

“Thank you for all of your help, Lexy,” I said instead.

“Of course, ‘Lissa. Call me if you need anything. I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

“I’ll walk you out,” David said.

“It was nice to meet you, Dave.”

“You as well, Alissa. Night, Jackson.”

As Jackson showed them out, I made a halfhearted attempted at gathering up the dessert dishes and coffee cups. I didn’t want Jackson to think that I was unwilling to help, but the good food and wine had made me sluggish. He returned a few minutes later.

“Just leave it,” Jackson said. “I have a cleaning staff that comes in every day. They will take care of it tomorrow.”

“Oh,” I said dumbly. Of course, he has a cleaning crew. What doesn’t he have?

“Are you ready for bed?” he asked. It wasn’t really late. I knew that I needed to rest, but right now all I wanted to do was spend time with Jackson. It had been a lovely evening, and I wasn’t quite ready to let it end.

“I was hoping for another cup of coffee,” I said. “Would you like to watch the storm with me for a while?”

Jackson smiled and returned to the kitchen for the coffee. I made my way over to the wall of windows and looked out into the night. When Jackson came back, he moved the loveseat so that it was closer to the windows. He handed me my coffee and then turned out the remaining lights so that we could watch the lightning.

He sat down in the middle of the loveseat and then gently pulled me into his lap. I sighed contentedly and laid my head on his shoulder. My legs were draped over his, one arm was around my waist, the other resting on my knee. We sat like that quietly watching the storm and enjoying each other’s presence.

I kept waiting for the night to get awkward, for me to realize how different Jackson and I were, but it never came. Truthfully, I felt at home here as much as I did in my own place. I put aside my feelings of inadequacy and decided that right now, for this one moment, I had a right to savor this night and this amazing man. I didn’t understand it, but I was certainly enjoying it.

In the safety of his arms, I was content.

David

We made polite conversation through the evening, and with every passing minute I felt more and more attracted to the incredible creature that fate had placed in my elevator. Lexy. She was funny, genuine, interesting, sweet, smart, beautiful, energetic, and everything else I found desirable in a woman. I’d never met anyone like her.

I found myself moving closer and closer to her as the night wore on. It was like being distanced from her caused me physical pain. I knew that I should be nervous, as it was like a first date, but I wasn’t. I was more comfortable with her than I had ever been with women that I’d known for years. I never wanted to leave her side.

The storm grew worse and worse outside, but I didn’t even notice it. The whole world could fall apart for all I cared.

“That’s quite a storm,” Jackson said. “Are you sure you want to drive home in this, Lexy? I would be happy to make up one of the guest rooms if you would prefer to stay the night.”

Wait, wait, wait. She couldn’t stay here. She belonged with me.

Lexy looked at me, silently asking a question that she should never have to ask. Of course, she could stay with me. I never wanted to be without her. I smiled, trying to be reassuring without coming right out and saying it. I didn’t want her friends to think she was slutty for going home with me. It just wasn’t like that.

“No, thank you, Jackson,” she said. “I’ll be fine for the night. Actually, I should probably get on my way. I know ‘Lissa needs to rest, and I have an early consultation tomorrow.” I offered to walk Lexy out, and said a polite goodnight to Alissa and Jackson. I had a feeling that I would be spending a lot more time with them in the near future. That was fine by me. They were wonderful people.

I took Lexy’s hand in mine while we waited for the elevator.

“So..”

“So...” we both started at the same time.

“No, you go ahead,” I said.

“I um.... I’ve really enjoyed your company tonight,” she said.

The elevator arrived, and we stepped inside. I pushed the round 32 and then turned to face her. I cupped the side of her face in my hand and pressed my lips to hers gently.

“I’m not done with you yet, darlin’.”

“I was hoping you weren’t.” She smiled up at me, and I was done for.

“I know it’s fast, and please don’t feel pressured, but I really would feel better if you didn’t drive home in this rain. Stay with me.”

She nodded, and my heart soared. How could one person make such a huge impact in only a couple of hours?

I showed her in, and she made herself at home on my couch. I got myself a beer, and she asked for water. I’d never seen someone so easy to talk to. I wanted to know everything about her. She chatted away in the most beautiful bubbly voice. I could listen to her for hours, and I did. We slowly slid closer and closer to each other as we talked until I finally had her where I wanted her, in my lap with my arms wrapped securely around her.

The talking naturally faded into kissing, and when I’d finally undressed her and joined her body with mine, I knew that this was it for me.

We never went to bed. We spent the whole night making love and cuddling on the couch, baring our souls to one another. I told her things that no other living soul knew about me, and I wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. There was nothing that I could keep from her. My only fear was that this fog around us would break and she would suddenly realize that this whole night had been a crazy experience.

Jackson

Alissa was screaming.

My first thought was that Nick had somehow broken in, but I knew that was unlikely. I bolted from my bed and into the guestroom flipping light switches as I went. By the time I reached her she was curled into a ball and sobbing into a pillow.

“Alissa?” I questioned. “What’s the matter, sweetheart?” She turned her tear filled eyes to me, and I crossed the room to join her.

“It was awful,” she sobbed. I was beginning to put two and two together as my sleep fogged brain cleared. She had a nightmare. Why hadn’t I anticipated that? That was perfectly natural after such a traumatic event.

I lay down on the bed and pulled her into my arms. “Shhh,” I soothed, “it was just a dream, baby. I’m here now.”

She quieted as I rocked her gently. “Please don’t leave,” she begged. The desperation in her tone broke my heart.

“Of course not,” I said. “Just let me turn out the lights. I’ll be right back.” I walked back towards my bedroom to catch the light switches that I had hastily flipped on. I suddenly realized that I had been sleeping in only my boxers. Should I put clothes on before I went back to her? She had fallen asleep hours ago, in my arms as the storm died down.

Acknowledging the fact that she needed to rest, I had carried her to bed, and then gone to sleep in my own room. She was still wearing the outfit that she wore to dinner. I hadn’t wanted to put her in bed like that, but I wasn’t comfortable changing her either.

I ran my hands through my hair. What a mess.

“Alissa?” I said, “would you like to change out of those clothes before you go back to bed?”

She considered the situation for a moment and then blushed furiously. “Um,” she started,

“do you think I could borrow a t-shirt to sleep in? See Lexy...” I chuckled. We were back to that.

“Sure, why don’t you just come to my room? I am sure we can figure something out.” She got out of bed and followed me. I pulled a t-shirt and pair of my boxers out of my dresser and took them to her. Her eyes were still red from the combination of sleep and tears, but she looked calmer. I closed the bathroom door so that she could change and then nervously paced my bedroom.

She looked adorable in my clothes. Her hair was wild from sleep, and I wanted to bury my nose in it. I pushed those thoughts aside and settled her into my bed. I turned out the light, and then crawled in behind her. I spooned up against her body and listened to her heartbeat as she fell back to sleep.

The phone woke me not three hours later, and I nearly threw it across the room. Alissa had shifted in the night and our limbs were tangled together in the most wonderful way. Her body was warm and soft. Her head rested on my bare chest, her hair fanned out around me. It was a perfect fit.

I checked the caller ID. Jason.
This had better be important.
I tried to untangle myself without waking Alissa, but she opened her eyes beside me anyway.

“Jason,” I growled into the phone. “I hope this is an emergency.”

“I’m afraid it is,” he said. “Someone broke into Alissa’s place. Her restaurant has been vandalized.”

“What?!” I shouted. “How did this happen?”

Alissa was now alert next to me and trying to listen to the conversation. I flipped it on to speaker phone.

“Apparently, someone came in through the front door. There was no sign of forced entry so the police think that they had a key. They walked right in, made a mess, and walked right back out.”

“How bad is it, Jason?” Alissa asked.

“Alissa!” Jason laughed. “You got to the phone awful quick. Is there something you two want to tell me?”

Alissa blushed.

“Shut up, Jason. How bad is the damage?” I demanded.

“You need to come down and see. It’s pretty bad, but no one was hurt and I don’t think there was anything irreplaceable that was damaged. Whoever it was didn’t go upstairs, or couldn’t get through the door to the apartment, so Alissa’s stuff is safe, but the restaurant is trashed.”

Alissa looked at me, her eyes full of tears. “We’ll be down soon,” I said, and then I closed the phone. I held Alissa to my chest for a moment, and then asked if she was ready to go.

She pulled her hair into a messy ponytail and put on a pair of strappy sandals. She was still wearing my clothes, and I was enjoying seeing her in them far too much. Lexy really hadn’t packed her anything appropriate for this, and we were going to her place anyway, so it didn’t make much sense to change.

We took the elevator down to the garage. I had grabbed the keys for the Audi on the way out the door. I got Alissa settled in the passenger seat and then headed for her restaurant. I could tell she was trying to be brave. So far, she had succeeded in holding back her tears, but her posture was stiff, and she was incredibly quiet. I needed her to know that I would fix this.

“Alissa,” I said, after a few minutes of awkward silence. “I am so sorry. I know this has to be related to everything else that happened, and it’s entirely my fault. I will pay to replace everything. We’ll just buy all new tables and chairs and whatever else is ruined. I’ll hire a company to come in and clean it up. We’ll remodel the whole thing. I promise you: I will make this better.”

After a minute she answered me and her tone was far more spiteful than I could have imaged.

“Is that what your parents did, Jackson?” she choked, half exasperation and half tears.

“When you broke your toys they just bought you new ones and you thought it fixed everything?

I’ve poured my whole fucking life into that restaurant. Lexy and I finished those tables by hand because they were cheaper unstained, and I couldn’t afford them any other way. My father and his friends laid that hardwood floor one foot at a time. I picked each and every part of that place.

My decisions, the sweat of my friends and family. Don’t you fucking tell me that you can fix this with a blank check.” She broke down into sobs, and it was all I could do to keep the car on the road.