Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
I ’m in love with this woman.
The thought should have struck Troy like a thunderbolt.
Instead, it was like the finest mist of rain on a hot day.
He was in love with Michaela Killian. He didn’t know how it had happened in just a couple of weeks.
But Clay had fallen for Saskia in a matter of days.
It wasn’t unheard of. It had taken Dane twelve years to admit his feelings for Cammie and fifteen for Ava to finally admit she’d never stopped loving Ransom. Some people were slow on the uptake.
Michaela was extraordinary. She was more than just beautiful on the outside.
She was smart and funny—when he wasn’t irritating her.
She worked harder than anyone he’d ever known, and she did it all with integrity.
She was family and friends first, loyal and caring.
She’d been a matchmaker long before she’d started her business, had been all about helping her friends.
And she’d paid her mother back for her sacrifices, changed her life, bought her a townhouse, saved her eyes and her fingers from the hard work she’d done most of her life.
There was no choice. Troy had to win her. And lose the bet.
A mere half hour ago, he’d sent his matchmaking team away. And he still hadn’t come up with a single idea for wooing Michaela.
He was a lovesick idiot.
And he’d have to figure this out on his own.
Whatever he did, it had to be amazing. Something like…
flying her to New York for dinner at the most expensive, romantic restaurant.
Or… renting a train car and having a delicious meal served while the locomotive whisked them down to LA, where he would take her to the hottest new dance club, Exchange LA, located in the historic Los Angeles Stock Exchange.
It had become the premier destination for lovers of electronic dance music.
Did she even like electronic dance music?
Dammit, those were the kinds of dates a billionaire would use to impress her. He didn’t want to remind her of his billionaire status. No, he needed something better. He needed something totally un-billionaire-ish.
He couldn’t say why his eyes fell to the row of athletic shoes and hiking boots lining the wall. They’d been there for a couple of weeks, in place for today’s meeting, but suddenly he remembered what Flo had said as she was walking out the door.
Michaela liked to hike.
And he did need a test hiker for those boots.
His heart rate was already racing as he imagined watching her hike in skimpy shorts, getting all hot and sweaty. This was perfect. If he phrased it right, she wouldn’t be able to say no.
Not wanting to waste a moment, he called Michaela. Instead of saying something like, I want to go for a hike with you , he took a sneakier route. “Hey, look, I’m working on a new deal with a Hong Kong shoe manufacturer. I can test the men’s boots, but I need help to test the women’s.”
She puffed out an exasperated breath. “Don’t you have an employee who can help you?”
Of course he did. But he wanted her . “No one is available.” Though he hadn’t asked anyone else. “I’ve already had to reschedule the meeting with this supplier.” He didn’t say he’d rescheduled it so he could come up with the perfect date with her.
Was that a growl over the phone line? With a very audible sigh, she said, “All right, I’ll help you, but I want you to understand this is not a date.”
Oh yes, it was.
“Just so you know there’s nothing between us.”
Oh, but there would be.
“I’m only doing this because you need a woman to wear those boots.”
That was good enough for him.
Bam! He’d done it! “Great. What size are you?” When she told him, he suggested, “How about tomorrow, then?” It was supposed to be another beautiful June Saturday.
“Tomorrow would be fine,” she said, though he sensed hesitancy in her voice.
He wouldn’t let her back out now, so he pushed forward with definite plans. “Why don’t you choose a trail for us, and I’ll pick you up at eight tomorrow morning.”
“Okay,” she said as if she was still feeling hesitant. But then she added, “Meet me at my office. I’ll bring lunch.”
Oh yeah, he got it. She was trying to maintain a businesslike distance by making it the office instead of her home.
That didn’t matter. He felt his heart hammering at the thought of seeing her again. Of kissing her again.
Today, she might be denying it was a date, but tomorrow, after he kissed her the way he so desperately wanted to, she’d no longer be able to deny their attraction.
When Michaela had seen the name on her phone screen, her hand had twitched, and she couldn’t stop herself from answering.
She couldn’t believe she’d said yes to Troy’s hike tomorrow. But she knew exactly why she had. It was that kiss. Oh my God, that kiss . She touched her lips, thinking about it. She’d lain awake last night reliving it. Even when she’d finally fallen asleep, she’d dreamed of it.
And now they had another business engagement. She wouldn’t call it a date.
Her fingers caressing her lips, she murmured aloud, “I wonder if he’ll kiss me again.”
“Wait, who is the matchmaker finally matching herself with?”
The voice snapped her back to reality, to the meeting she was in. She’d completely forgotten about Gloria Madden sitting across from her, recalling only now that Gloria had been on the phone with her husband when Troy called.
Good Lord, she’d forgotten everything when his voice had purred in her ear.
This wasn’t like her at all.
Gloria was no longer a dating client. As Michaela had told Troy, she’d matched Gloria and Ivan Madden ten years ago, not only as the cofounders of FoodFast, but in love as well.
Now, she and Gloria were fast friends.
Ooh, she should to a search on that term. FastFriends could be a dating site Gloria and Ivan could build together. Right now, though, Michaela was doing some art matchmaking for the couple. She was sure they’d adore Rosie Jones’s paintings.
But first, she needed to address that kiss .
As with her mother, Michaela wasn’t ready to talk about it. Later, but not now. Not when her lips still tingled just thinking about that kiss . Not when her emotions felt all jumbled up.
She went into denial mode. “No, no, it’s just someone I’m helping out.” Which was true. She was helping Troy test the hiking boots.
Gloria eyed her with an all-seeing gaze. “I’ve never seen you blush like that before.” Michaela couldn’t help slumping in her chair when Gloria added, “So what’s this kiss you mentioned?”
She had no choice but to come clean, at least as far as she could.
“I swear, I’m not dating him.” Then the words slipped off her tongue. “But, oh my God, that kiss .”
Gloria smiled—she had a beautiful smile. And she was so put together, her blond hair perfectly blown out, her cheekbones high, her lips lined with a plum color that suited her complexion perfectly.
“It definitely sounds like a forever kind of kiss,” she said, her blue eyes twinkling.
A forever kind of kiss? No way. The man just knew how to kiss. He’d probably kissed a hundred women the same way. It didn’t mean a thing. “It wasn’t a big deal. He’s not my type.”
Gloria knew her well enough to say, “So he’s a billionaire.”
Michaela eye-rolled her friend.
Which prompted Gloria to add, “I know you’ve got your rule, but aren’t rules meant to be broken sometimes?”
“Not this one,” Michaela said adamantly.
And not with this man. He was dangerous. No one made her forget about her business, let alone a client sitting right there in her office.
Not until Troy.
She turned back to the business at hand.
“But let’s talk about art.” Gloria had already told Michaela what she and Ivan were looking for.
“I know exactly whose artwork you’ll love.
She’s a relatively new discovery, and she’s got plenty of works for sale.
Her name is Rosie Diaz Jones. She did the paintings in Dane Harrington’s resorts.
He had them made into limited-edition prints that he’s distributed throughout his resort suites. You can look at her work online.”
Thankfully, Gloria let her sidestep further talk about that kiss . “I’d love to chat with her, and Ivan and I can look at her work tonight.” She stood then. “But I have to go now.” Gloria blushed. “Ivan has booked a couple’s massage.”
Michaela winked. “That sounds like fun.” And sexy. Which, dammit, made her think of Troy again. Then she added, “I’ll talk to Rosie and see about setting up a time for you to chat.”
Gloria waggled her fingers good-bye as she exited the office.
That left Michaela alone with her thoughts, Gloria’s words echoing in her mind.
Forever kiss, forever kiss, forever kiss .
Per her instructions, Troy picked up Michaela at her office the next morning. She was waiting on the street outside, not wanting to give him a chance to do anything like that kiss . In the car, while he was driving, she’d be safe.
He got out the moment he saw her, popping open the back of his SUV to set her backpack inside. The man actually had two vehicles, one for day-to-day driving, the other obviously for more sporty activities. But wait, of course he did—he was a billionaire.
Though she couldn’t tell if he’d make a move toward her, Michaela kept her distance. But God, he looked good in hiking shorts, hiking boots, and a moisture-wicking shirt made of sun-protective fabric.
Good Lord, she’d be hiking with an Olympian. How was she supposed to keep up? Ah, but she could use the new hiking boots as an excuse if she had to.
He pointed to the array of boots lined up in the back of the SUV. “I brought different types, different sizes, and different kinds of socks for you to try.”
She appraised her own hiking boots. Though she’d agreed to try out his, she didn’t want to be stuck on the trail in something that chafed. You could tell almost right away whether a boot would work for you or not.