The Millionaire Myth (22 page)

Chapter 38

             
I stammered, “Uh, no. I really shouldn't.” I turned and hurried across the porch toward the stairs.

             
I heard Drew behind me, “Stella, Wait!”

             
I shook my head, still heading to my car. “No. I'm sorry about this Drew. I'll tell Gina to come out here herself. I know I said I wanted you and Trina to be happy, but I'm just not this mature, okay?”

             
“Trina isn't here. Stella, would you stop running away from me and listen for a second?”

             
I was almost to my car, but his words made me stop and reconsider. I turned around. “She's not here?”

             
He shook his head. “No. She's not here.”

             
“Well, where is she? I know a woman like that wouldn't sell a house without meeting the listing agent.”

             
Drew gripped the crisp white porch rail with both hands. “She's not coming here. We broke up months ago.” He tilted his head toward the front door. “Will you please come inside so I can explain?”

             
I stood there looking at him. I was dying to go inside, but I was terrified of getting hurt again. So, I just kept standing there, waiting for one feeling to outweigh the other. After a minute, Drew sighed and walked toward me. I watched him come down the porch steps. I watched him approach me with caution, as if I might spook. Which I felt like I might.

             
He stopped when he was in front of me and took my hand. Touching him again gave me butterflies. “Listen, I know I hurt you before. I wasn't trying to do that. I was just confused. I thought I still loved Trina. But I didn't. I just felt obligated to still love her, if that makes any sense?”

             
It did make sense, but I didn't trust myself to speak, so I gave him a little nod.

             
Encouraged by the nod, he continued, “So I did what I thought I was supposed to. I went back to her. But I started to notice how little we had in common. How we didn't really laugh together anymore, how we didn't really even like each other that much. So, after about a week, I broke it off.” He chuckled at the memory. “She wasn't even upset. I think she felt the same way deep down. After I ended things, I moved out here.”

             
I finally had something to say. “You've been broken up this whole time?”

             
He nodded. “Yeah. I wanted to call you, or come and see you, but I wanted to get myself together first. I wanted to make sure I was ready before I knocked on your door.” He smiled. “But then, a couple weeks ago, when I finally did knock on your door, a big bald guy said that he'd never heard of a 'chick named Stella'.”

             
“I got tired of living there.”

             
“I figured.” He moved to take both of my hands. “Listen, when I realized I didn't know where to find you, I freaked. It proved to me how much I wanted you.” He squeezed my hands. “So I did the only thing I could, I called Lawson & Stone. I asked for you, but the person told me that you didn't work there anymore. So, I asked for Gina, and they told me that she didn't work there any more either. Luckily, after I begged, the person on the phone was nice enough to give me her cell phone number.”

             
“How did you know to ask for Gina?”

             
“I remembered her name from that night she was passed out in your apartment, remember?”

             
I smiled. “I remember. That was the night we looked at those magazines.”             

             
He nodded, returning my smile. “I had so much fun that night. I wanted to kiss you so much. It took everything in me to stop myself.”

             
I felt myself blushing. “You did? I wish you would have said something.”

             
“I wish I would have done something sooner. I should have ended things with Trina months, hell, years ago.”

             
I grinned. “Better late than never, right?”

             
He nodded. “Will you please come inside? Brillo's in the back yard, and I know he'd be thrilled to see you.”

             
“Brillo?” My              heart melted at the thought of that sweet dog. I looked back at Drew. “Yes, I'll come inside.”

             
Drew led me up the steps and through the front door.

             
The hard wood floors were just as beautiful as I remembered, but now the room was made even warmer with the brown leather couch and oversized club chair. On the other side of the room, close to the kitchen, there was a cherry wood dining table large enough for six.

             
I couldn't believe the difference. “Oh my God, Drew...” I looked at him in amazement. “I can't believe this place.”

             
He grinned. “I'm glad you like it.”

             
“I love it.” I walked past the dining room table into the kitchen, which, true to his word, had bright orange appliances. He'd painted the cabinets white, and had black granite installed. The back splash had been done in white subway tile. It was still small, but so clean and the pop of orange made the whole room fun.

             
“What? No orange tile?”

             
He shook his head. “Not after I thought it over. It occurred to me that if I ever wanted different appliances, I wouldn't want to have to rip out tile. White seemed safer.”

             
“You did an amazing job, Drew. Really.”

             
“Want to see the upstairs?”

             
“Show me.”

             
He took my hand again and we jogged up the stairs. I looked into the bathroom, prepared to see that spa paradise, but instead, saw a black and white hexagon tile, light blue walls, with white wainscoting, and a beautiful, bright white, claw-foot bathtub.

             
I turned to see Drew smiling behind me. “What happened to the glass shower and marble?”

             
“I thought your idea was better. Turned out pretty good, right?”

             
I nodded. “It's beautiful, Drew.”

             
“Come on, check out the bedrooms.”

             
The bedroom on the left was set up as an office. Drew had painted it a medium blue, and the wood floors glowed from the light coming through the large window. His large oak desk fit perfectly in the space. “This turned out so nice.” I said, leaning against the white door frame. “What a difference.”

             
“You want to see a change? Come and look at the master.”

             
He led me into the bedroom which was painted sage green. There was a queen sized sleigh bed, made with all white sheets.  On each side, he'd placed a nightstand. On the wall across from the bed was a highboy dresser. All of the furniture was obviously a different style, but all the wood was the same shade. It looked like something out of a luxury hotel. Then I looked past the furniture and saw the change he was referring to. He'd installed french doors on the back wall. I walked over and opened them, stepping out onto a balcony that held a small bistro table and two chairs.

             
I looked back at him, my mouth open in shock. “You added a balcony?”

             
He nodded. “Yep. Pretty cool, right? I thought it would be great for morning coffee.”

             
“You were right,” I said as I looked out at the view. It was perfect.

             
“Wait,” I turned to him. “Why did you do all this?”

             
He looked confused. “What do you mean?”

             
“I mean, why fix this place up just to sell it? I thought you loved it here.”

             
“I do love it. I'm not selling it.”

             
“You're not?”

             
He laughed. “No. I guess I got sidetracked in my story. When I called Gina, I told her that I really needed to speak with you. I explained everything to her, and she agreed to help me.” He smiled at me. “This whole thing was a set up, just to get you out here.”

             
I looked around, then back at him. “So, you're not selling this place?”

             
“No way. I love it here.”

             
I narrowed my eyes. “So what you're telling me is that you lied.”

             
He gave me a grin and moved toward me. “Like you've never told a lie.”

             
I was about to argue when he grabbed me and kissed me. After a very long, very nice kiss I said, “I guess I can forgive one tiny lie,” I pulled him toward the bed. “But you had better make it up to me.”