??
I blushed at the accidental compliment, biting my bottom lip in a bashful smile as I fiddled with a strand of hair. The thought of kissing him slipped into my mind again, and I nearly did before remembering who he was. I couldn't just kiss a billionaire because he said something nice to me.
“I looked up her work,” he said, turning to look at the painting again.
“Who?” I stammered, my brain spinning and sliding on the smell of his cologne. I took a step back in surprise and promptly lost my balance.
He caught me, wrapping me up in one of his arms before I even realized I was in danger of falling. His arm was steel muscle and I couldn't stop thinking about what it would be like to have it wrapped around me in an entirely different room. I pressed my thighs together, struggling to keep the image of his arms on either side of me, his chest bare and strong above me, his hair falling into his eyes with exertion...
“You okay?” He hadn't let go of me yet, but I also hadn't fully regained the use of my legs yet either.
“Yeah,” I grinned, knowing I was blushing like a fool. “Just stepped back funny. I'm okay.”
He waited just an extra moment before releasing me. I didn't want him to let me go. I was considering falling again, just to have him touch me, but I didn't want to appear weak or too obvious.
“Berthe Morisot,” he replied, looking back at the painting. “One of the 'les trois grandes dames' of impressionism. I like this one, but there's something about her landscapes that appeal to me more.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised that he had even remembered her name. “Do you have a favorite?”
“'A Corner of the Rose Garden,'” he answered. A full smile filled my face. It was one of my favorites as well. It had always reminded me of mornings in my mother's garden when I was little.
“I can't believe you actually looked her up,” I said, tucking the strand of hair behind my ear.
“What?” He grinned. “A billionaire can't use Google?”
I laughed. “I don't know, is there a gold plated version?”
“Platinum.” He put on a straight face, but his eyes twinkled as he teased me. “Gold is for mere millionaires.”
I giggled and he grinned. His smile had the same warmth as it did at sunrise and the beauty of it made my heart flutter. When he smiled, the world lit up.
I wanted to ask him so many questions. I wanted to know why he was in foster care with Charlotte, and how he had found the way to turn a dating company into a billion dollar empire from that background. Where did he go to school? Did he have any hobbies other than paddle-boarding? What was his favorite color? I wanted to know everything about him.
“Hey, you ready, Ava?” Charlotte called, stomping into the doorway. She stopped as she saw the two of us standing remarkably close and looking at one another. “Damn, I need to work on my timing.”
“Are you two going out?” Bastian asked, a frown crossing his handsome features. It tugged at the scar on his cheek and eyebrow, making him look more serious than necessary. I liked the smile so much better.
“Yes,” Charlotte replied, coming to my other side. “Just to Surf Shack for some girl time.”
“Charlotte,” he began, the scar darkening, “I-”
“Think it's a great idea,” Charlotte finished for him. “Thank you, Bastian, for your opinion. We'll be fine.”
Bastian's lips tightened and he glared at her. Charlotte rolled her eyes at him and sighed.
“Do you want Elijah to come with us?” she asked, pointedly raising her eyebrows at him.
“Yes.” He nodded and the frown faded slightly. “It would make me feel better.”
“You hear that, Elijah?” Charlotte yelled out toward the hall. I winced slightly at the increase in volume so close to my ear. “You get to come to girl's night!”
Elijah's head popped into the doorway. “I'm not drinking one of those frou-frou drinks again with you, Charlotte.”
What had felt like a comfy, cozy, and possibly romantic location two seconds ago suddenly felt very public. I knew Elijah followed Bastian around everywhere, but the fact that he had been just outside the doorway listening to us flirt was a little daunting.
“Aw, you're no fun, Elijah.” Charlotte grinned wickedly at the bodyguard. “I was going to get you the one with whipped cream and the flower on the glass. I know how much you loved it last time.”
Elijah didn't say anything back and the room went silent for a beat.