Waterfall Kisses (The Kisses 9)

I looked up at him. He was serious. Those blue eyes were smiling at me, but they were serious. “Really?”

“You called me and said you needed help.” Leo handed me an energy drink. “I'll stay here all night if you need me to. You're going to pass this test, Charlotte.”

“Okay.” I sighed. If Leo thought I could do it, then I could do it. I still felt guilty for taking him away from his evening out. “You don't have to do this, Leo. I know you have a hot date tonight.”

“This is more important, Charlotte,” Leo assured me. “You are my friend and you need help. I'm here until you can recite that book backwards and forwards. The date can wait.”

I stared at the energy drink in my hand. This test felt hopeless, but Leo wasn't giving up on me. He never gave up on anyone, come to think of it. He wouldn't give up on me.

Leo stood up and walked around the table, putting his hands on my shoulders. It was a simple gesture. It wasn't romantic or sexy, yet it filled my heart. Even if Leo never felt the way I did about him, he still cared about me. He didn't have to stay here and help me study- he was choosing to. He was just that awesome of a guy. I loved him, even if I couldn't have him as my own. He was my friend, and if that's all that I could get, I would take it. Having Leo in my life as a friend was better than not having him.

Besides, he'd given up his date night to come help me. That had to count for something.

He squeezed my shoulders, making my heart ache for more. I knew that a shoulder squeeze was as much as I was ever going to get from him. “Okay, then. Let's start at the beginning...”

Chapter Eleven

“And that concludes our auction. Thank you to all of our bidders and to Mr. Sebastian Belrose.”

I leaned against the back wall and let out a huge sigh of relief. The auction was over. My work here was done. Everything was now in the hands of the auction house and Realtor, so I could go back to my normal job and not be doing double duty. For the first time in weeks, I was free. After the gala last night, and the auction all day today, I was beat. But, with everything finally finished, I could finally relax.

My sigh turned into a yawn, which I quickly stifled. I'd been up since before dawn making sure that everyone and everything was ready for the auction today. Luckily, the auction house run by Ava's aunt had their act together. Even my least favorite auctioneer in the world managed to show up on time and do a good job.

My stomach rumbled, reminding me that the last meal I ate was coffee and a granola bar sometime around sunrise. I needed to eat soon or I'd be chewing on the curtains. I was half surprised my stomach growls hadn't accidentally made bids during the auction they were so loud.

I turned and hurried down the hall to the kitchen. The warm, yellow space was quiet after the hustle and bustle of the auction floor. I grabbed a glass of milk along with some cheese and crackers left over from the gala the night before. I had hoped there would be leftover chicken, but everyone had eaten all of it.

Thinking of the gala made me think of Leo. Really, everything made me think of Leo, but pretending it was the gala made me feel a little less obsessed. I hadn't been able to talk to him all day, despite my best efforts. Either we were in too public a place or someone had been calling my name all day.

My hand rose to my lips, remembering the kiss. The way his lips pressed firm against mine. The heat and the desire. I needed to find him. I needed another kiss.

But only after I got a little bit of food in me.

I let out a happy little moan as I bit down on the cheese. It was good cheese, some sort of cheddar with a delicious saltiness, but hunger really was the best spice. It took all my willpower not to stuff the entire plate into my mouth.

“There you are,” Bastian said, entering the kitchen. He watched as I stuffed another slice of cheese and cracker into my mouth and barely chewed it before swallowing. “We're done!”

“Thank heaven,” I replied, stuffing another slice of cheese down my gullet. I was starving.

Bastian leaned against the counter, watching me for a moment before pushing the quickly emptying plate a little closer to me. “Will you do me a favor?”

“That's how you got me to help you with this auction...” I narrowed my eyes a little and paused. “What do you want?”

Bastian chuckled and grinned. “This one's easy. Can you arrange for Ava's father and his girlfriend to come to the island tomorrow?”

That was an easy request. Besides, I liked Ava's father. I grinned at him. “Sure. It shouldn't be a problem.”

I looked down at the plate. The cheese was almost gone but I was still hungry. At least the raw edge of starvation was no longer gnawing on my belly, but I knew I needed to a real meal soon.

“You're the best,” Bastian told me, coming around and giving me a big hug. He held me there for a moment longer than necessary. I wondered what he was contemplating when he asked, “Charlotte, you like Ava right?”

“Are you crazy?” I asked, giving him a little push. “I love her. You need to marry her, you know that, right?”

Surprise crossed his face and then happiness. He grinned widely before wrapping me up in a bone-breaking hug. “I'll get right on that,” he promised.

“You better,” I gasped, finally breaking free. I could see his brain already working on something, and I hoped it had something to do with Ava. And a ring.

If it didn't, this fairy god-mother was going to have to go to work again.