Chapter 19 #2
He should have stayed. He should have blown off the Hong Kong deal again and stayed to make her see how good they were together.
And yet, when he’d kissed her good-bye, she’d melted into him.
Maybe the best thing was to leave her alone for a little while. To let her remember how amazing last night had been. To let her think about how much better they could be. To let her remember his last kiss.
And she’d finally realize how perfect they were for each other.
Because pushing her for everything he wanted might actually push her away.
He knew women, and he knew Michaela needed a little time. He’d call her after the meeting. If she still wasn’t ready, he’d give her another twenty-four hours.
Then he’d make her his all over again. And this time, it would be forever.
Michaela wasn’t shocked when Troy called her right after his meeting ended.
“Hey,” he said. “How about having some fun for the rest of the day?”
She hadn’t stopped thinking about him since he’d left, and her conclusion was the same.
She could never fit in his world. He was a billionaire whose parents had jetted all over the world for ski vacations.
He was an Olympic gold medalist. And she was a girl from Modesto whose father had left and whose mother had become a seamstress to support them.
She and Troy could never work.
“No, my mom is coming home today.”
“Are you going to talk to her about Walter?”
His tone gave no hint as to his thoughts. So she told him the truth. “I don’t know. Maybe what you said last night was right, that she has to make her own decisions and I shouldn’t stick my nose into them.”
He laughed softly. “I didn’t say it like that.”
That, however, was the gist of it. She’d given thought to her mother and Walter as well. Was that relationship any different than her own non-relationship with Troy?
Oh God, she hoped her mother hadn’t slept with Walter last night. She had to push that thought completely out of her mind. “How was your meeting? Did you finalize the deal?”
“It was great, thanks. Not finalized, but we’ve definitely got the ball rolling.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks.” After a pause, he asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to go for a hike or something? Before Flo gets home?”
“No, I can’t.”
Finally, he conceded. “All right. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Then he was gone. Leaving her all alone with her fears, not only for herself but for her mother.
Late in the afternoon, Flo bounced in like she was walking on air.
Michaela hugged her. “Did you have a good time?”
The stars in her mother’s eyes were as bright as New York’s Times Square, and her voice came out breathy as she said, “We had the most marvelous dinner and then the show.” She clasped her hands, sighed, then beamed at Michaela. “It was amazing.”
Now this was a billionaire’s date. A fancy dinner, an incredible show, and a luxurious penthouse suite. It sounded like a big fat seduction, and her mother was falling for it.
But did Michaela have a right to say anything? She didn’t know. She settled for saying, “I’ve just brewed some tea. Let’s sit out on the patio.”
But even once they were sipping tea, she didn’t know how to bring up her worries in a nonjudgmental way.
Instead, Flo did. “It was such a wonderful night, Michaela.” Stars still shone in her eyes.
“He’s such a gentleman. After the show, we sat up for hours in the suite’s living room just talking.
He’s a fascinating man.” Her mom sighed dreamily, then abruptly said, “And no, he didn’t come to my bedroom. ”
Michaela immediately snapped, “I wasn’t going to ask.” Although she’d been trying to think of a way to do that very thing.
“All he did was kiss me sweetly on the cheek.”
Remembering the kiss Walter had given her mother before he’d helped her into the limo, Michaela couldn’t help it. “Which ones?”
Flo burst out with the most beautiful laugh. Then she pointed to the left side of her face. “This one. And I haven’t washed it since.”
Michaela couldn’t help laughing with her, and suddenly the opening seemed so easy, almost as though it were a joke. “Do I need to ask him what his intentions are?”
Her mother said pertly, “It’s not time for the intentions talk yet. At least not on his side. But you haven’t asked me what my intentions are.”
And there it was. Did Michaela even want to know? But she had to ask. “And what are your intentions?”
Her mother sat back in her chair, tipped her face to the sun.
“I’d like a romance.” Her cheeks seemed to glow in the light, especially the one where Walter had kissed her.
“I’ve never had a romance.” She shrugged.
“Oh, maybe there was a bit with your father. But that was so long ago I don’t even remember. ”
Michaela couldn’t stop the wince of her heart.
She wanted a romance for her mother. She’d been trying to match her for years.
But Flo never let her. And now she’d matched herself with a billionaire.
Michaela couldn’t help thinking about Troy, how far apart their worlds were.
There was no difference for her mother. Except that Flo was older.
As much as she questioned whether she had the right to speak up, Michaela simply had to. “You deserve a romance, Mom. But remember, he’s a billionaire. And they don’t think like us. Their worlds are completely different from the one we live in.”
Flo flapped her hand. “You don’t need to worry about my heart, sweetheart. It was broken once, and now it’s unbreakable.”
But was it? “I worry about you. I don’t want to see you hurt again.”
Flo shook her head. “I’d rather take a little risk than skip the romance altogether.”
It was almost as though she meant those words for Michaela.
But of course she didn’t. Because her mother didn’t know about last night with Troy.
And even though Flo was her very best friend, she couldn’t talk about it.
Right now, she felt too pressurized. Because she’d come to care for him.
Because the lovemaking had been so amazing.
And because it made her fears only worse.
As if her maternal antennae had picked up her thoughts, Flo asked, “So what did you do last night?” Her eyes glittered as though she already knew.
Maybe she did. Because where her daughter was concerned, Flo Killian was psychic.
Michaela shrugged. “I binged all our favorite romance movies.”
Flo gasped. “Without me? That means you’re not going to want to watch them again very soon.”
Michaela sighed. “You know I’ll watch them anytime with you.”
After looking her over for a long moment with that all-knowing gaze, her mother said, “Are you all right? You seem—” She pursed her lips as her gaze traveled over Michaela’s face. “A little down?” Her voice rose in a question, as if she couldn’t quite define what she saw.
Michaela had to turn this around. “I’m fine. I missed you, that’s all. I’m not used to having a Saturday night all to myself.” Or with anyone else. It was pathetic. But Flo would know what she meant.
Her mother patted her hand. “I’ll be here next weekend. Walter has only asked me out for Friday night. Saturday night we can binge whatever movies we want.”
Michaela’s stomach sank. She wondered if she’d be able to pick up the pieces of her mother’s heart when Walter Braedon broke it.
It was the thought of her mother’s heart and all its broken pieces that had Michaela calling Troy on Monday morning. She had to nip this thing in the bud. “I have the paperwork ready for the sale of the yacht. Can you come in sometime today to sign?”
“Absolutely.” He sounded a little too excited, and not about the yacht.
But she knew what she had to do. This was just business, and she had to remain businesslike the entire time.
He arrived so quickly she was sure he’d been getting coffee at Santa Cruz 9. Once in her office, he moved on her like he intended to take her into his arms, but she quickly retreated behind her desk, pushing the folder of paperwork toward him. “I put a sticky flag everywhere you need to sign.”
But Troy was having none of it—not the contract and not her businesslike attitude. He rounded the desk, and when she tried to retreat again, she bumped into her chair, sending it rolling into the wall.
Putting up her hands, she said, “Stop.” Then she added the only thing that might get to him. “This is moving way too fast for me.”
With a slow smile, he said, “It’s not moving too fast for me. Haven’t you figured out that I’m in love with you?”
She didn’t just freak out this time. She totally melted down.