Breathe Him Deep (Pursued By The Shenandoah Valley Billionaire) (6 page)

BOOK: Breathe Him Deep (Pursued By The Shenandoah Valley Billionaire)

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I
walked around the delicious looking treat on the cute table and sat in the
chair next to him. The view was breathtaking. The sun was just over the horizon
of the mountains in the distance and it poured down a golden radiance over the
rows and hills of vineyards that stretched before us.

"Oh
my God, Michael. This is so beautiful. You have such a gorgeous place."

He
reached for my hand. "Thank you, Katie. I am so glad that you like it."

"Oh,
no. I don't just like it, I love it," I said with a smile. I had never
been up here to the foothills until the day I came wine tasting and met you. I
had no idea so many beautiful things existed up here." I winked adoringly at
him.

"I
am beginning to love it, too," he said looking out over the vineyards.

I
squeezed his hand back. "I can't see how anyone wouldn't love this place."

"Yes,
I know. It's been some time since I spent a lot of time here." He paused,
gathering his thoughts. "But, I think it's time for me to come home."

I
looked at him for a long moment. "Come home? My guess is, Michael, you
have a lot of homes."

"Yes.
Yes I do. But this place is different."

"Does
this decision have anything to do with last night when you left?" I
suddenly remembered his avoidance last night when I asked about why he left and
I quickly wanted to take back my question.

He
didn't seem phased by my forwardness. "Yes, it does have to do with last
night." He squeezed my hand tighter. "It's about you, Katie."

"Me?"
I asked. "You hardly know me. How could I make you come to that decision?"
He reached over and put two fingers over my mouth.

"That's
what is growing on me about you."

"What's
that?" I murmured through his soft fingers.

"That
no holds bar way you jump right into anything." He was right and he had
seen it a few times now in less than forty-eight hours. "My life has
become so cumbersome of late. This valley offers me something else."

"That's
good Michael. Maybe that's what you need."

"I
don't want anything to distract me from you." He brought his gaze to mine.
"I want you here with me. How about you, Katie?"

I
was surprised. Already in just a couple of days I was feeling so drawn to this
man, but I had no idea he was thinking beyond our little escapades. I've never
even dated a guy that did that, let alone a billionaire who could have any damn
thing he wanted. And he is saying he wanted me.

"Katie?"
he asked looking at me with a smile and waiting for my response.

"Yes,
I'm sorry." Bringing my self back to our conversation. It was a huge
question and I wasn’t sure if he was getting at what I really thought he was
getting at. But, there was one thought I couldn't shake. "Tell me about
your parents, Michael."

He
rubbed his thumb over my hand and shook his head evading my question. "Not
yet, Katie. There are some things I need to do this morning to get the ball in
motion. I know what I am asking is probably more than you can take in at the
moment."
Damn right
, I thought. He
continued, "So, there is an outfit in your size hanging in the armoire."
Does this guy not think of every detail?
And your clothes from yesterday are dry-cleaned and ready for you if you decide
to leave. Adam, will have a car take you back home if you wish. But, I want you
to take all the time you need to consider my request. Come and be here with me."

He
stood before I could respond. I stared at him. Everything in me wanted him,
this place, and this life. But, there was still a small voice deep within me
calling to me. It kept getting louder.
Don't
.
Don't!
This man has everything and
the one thing he wanted for so long was no longer in his life.
Her
. I was not going to be a rebound
relationship for this man. Hell, maybe she wanted him back into her life. She
knew him a lot longer than I had.
Why
would she let go of such a treasure?
And he was a treasure. There was a
deep sincerity in him. I wasn't sure if he was depressed or maybe he was coming
to a crossroads in his life. It was hard for me to imagine a man of his
confidence and means to have trouble. I was speechless.

He
leaned down and kissed me tenderly. I breathed in his skin and touched his side
as his presence broke through my paralysis.

"Will
you consider?" He asked so tenderly.

I
nodded then kissed him again. I didn't want him to go. If I could keep kissing
him then I had him here and didn't have to even consider what he was asking. He
released my kiss.

"Thank
you, Katie." He turned and left the veranda.

As
soon as he was gone, reality came rushing back to my mind and heart. "Oh,
my God, Katie," I whispered. So much had happened so quickly. My mind
started sorting through details. Work details, home details, what my friends
would think let alone my parents.

I
had been an independent woman for several years now living on my own,
overseeing a whole division of a large company and I felt like a teenage girl
deciding if she should date the high school star quarterback or focus on her
studies.
How can you even be considering
this?
But I was. I looked out over the veranda. I felt that old familiar
word marching up from my heart like a soldier on the way to battle.
Don't
. That word had been a safe word
for years. But this morning, it had no place in my heart.