Chapter 10
Samuel
I was trying to get away from the subject of our kiss. And until that unwelcome thought pops out of my mouth, we were finally breaking the ice and starting to have a conversation.
Of course, I suppose if a person thinks about something so much, they can’t help but talk about it. And that’s what’s going on with me. All I can seem to think about is that kiss, and that’s all I want to talk about too.
But it didn’t faze her or make her uncomfortable. If anything, Lucy smiles bigger.
“You’re the only billionaire I’ve ever kissed. But if that kiss was anything to judge by, I should be kissing more. It was...really nice.” Her tone kind of lowers and is soft on those last two words, and I believe she really means it.
Does this mean she likes me too? I have no idea, and I’m not very good at beating around the bush.
“I guess I worked so hard from the time I graduated from high school, even before, until now, trying to be a success, to grow my business, not just because I enjoyed earning money, but because I enjoy finding a challenge, and meeting it, and becoming victorious. It’s...almost an addiction.”
She nods, and this isn’t news to her. She is best friends with my little sister, after all.
“I suppose what I’m saying is, I don’t have much experience in relationships. The only ones I had are with girls who were after me for my money. And I didn’t really have to put much effort into them. Of course, that’s probably why they blew up in my face, and I ended up surprised. Since I hadn’t put much effort into them.”
“Okay,” she says, and I’m guessing that she’s probably wondering why I’m talking about this. I guess I’m wondering the same thing. Except I want to be honest with her.
“That’s a long, roundabout way of saying I enjoyed that kiss too. But I don’t know how to follow it up. This was the only way I could think of. By asking for you to work with me, which seems to be the exact opposite of what a normal person would have done. I should be putting more distance between us at work, not drawing closer.”
She nods thoughtfully, as though she’s not exactly sure what I’m saying, but I know she understands the part about working with someone that you’re attracted to and trying to make sure you keep things aboveboard.
“It’s perfectly okay with me if you want to work closely with me. I don’t really want to repeat the kiss though,” she says, looking at me carefully.
That is a blow to my heart. I don’t just want to repeat it, I want to wake up every morning to it and go to bed every night to her kiss. And how I’ve gone from having my eyes opened about my little sister’s best friend to wanting to marry her, I’m not sure, but it seems like a natural leap, at least to my logical brain. If I want to be with someone, I don’t want to beat around the bush about it.
“Can I ask why?” I finally say, knowing I sound hesitant and unsure, but this is shaky ground for me. I am completely out of my element and not sure where to go next. I want more, not less.
Her lips press closed, and then one pulls back. She looks down at her plate and puts a finger on the edge, tracing it. Her hands look like working hands. With short nails and calluses. They look capable, like she can take something and make it beautiful with her hands.
I’m a little fascinated by them, and I stare at her hands as she speaks.
“I’ve never been the kind of girl who just goes around kissing anyone. I know we talked about that last night. And I don’t want you to think that I...am that kind of girl.”
“I know you. I don’t think that way. I know the kind of girl you are.”
“You do?” she asks, sounding like she doesn’t believe it.
“Sure. You’re the kind of girl who doesn’t want to lie to her friends and family and isn’t afraid to tell a billionaire that. You’re the kind of girl who doesn’t go around kissing just anyone and the kind of girl who wants a serious relationship and not something that’s built on physical attraction or kissing.”
I can tell from the expression on her face that I’ve hit the nail on the head.
“My problem is, I don’t know how to go from kissing to trying to build a serious relationship, and I don’t know if you’re interested.”
Her eyes open wide, like that is not what she was expecting me to say. “I thought I was getting called in here because I was in some kind of trouble. Maybe even getting fired. I was not expecting you to talk about that at all.”
“I’m sorry. I guess I could have searched you out, but then I would be interrupting your work and making you feel like you had to talk instead of work. This way, you know that I’m in charge and that whatever we’re discussing is more important than you putting in the time that you’re being paid for.” She smiles again, and I know that she’s surprised that I know what her character is. But I figured that out last night after she didn’t want to lie. After all, getting paid for not working is lying, and I was able to connect the dots and know that would bother her.