His Big Reveal: An Interracial BWWM Billionaire Romance (BWWM Alpha Males) (3 page)

Ryan sighed. “Of course I didn’t. But I like her and I think she likes me too.” He sensed her reticence last night and if he were a betting man, he would say it had a lot to do with her past abuse and her current line of work. “She did give me a long, sensual hug though.”

Casey threw her hands up in mock joy. “Oh boy, a hug? At this rate you’ll reach third base around next summer.”

“Just because you’re cynical about love and never met a guy
or girl
you didn’t want to sleep with, doesn’t make the rest of us prudes.” He plopped down in the chair across from her. “Why can’t you be happy for me, Case?”

“Because Ry, you are a big fat stinkin’ liar and I like what I know about Miri. She spends her days trying to protect women and children from the abusive assholes in their lives, she fought off a gun-wielding maniac without any help and she seems like a sweetheart. You’re lying to her and it will blow up in your face and break her heart.” She blew out a long breath and gave me a stare that said she was pissed off at him.

“Okay fine, you
do
have a point. But I will tell her, I swear I will. I just need to make sure she likes me and not my money before I do that.”

“You’re such a snob Ryan. Because she doesn’t have a shit ton of money, she
must
be interested in you for the piles of it you have? Real nice.” She crossed her arms and spun to look out the window at the rainy day blanketing Arlo. “If you don’t trust her, tell me why she should trust you?”

“Damn Casey I hate when you get all logical on me.” He raked his long fingers through his hair in frustration. He knew she was right, that he needed to tell Miri who he was so she knew what she was getting into with him. “If she agrees to go out with me again, I’ll spill then.”

“You better because I have Bruno on speed dial.” She lifted her phone to show him a photo of the big, bald bruiser.

“Yeah alright. Go get to work, already.” He waved her out and called a florist. “I need two, no three dozen tulips in all different colors to be sent to this address,” He rattled it off and gave her the message for the card. “Thank you. Have a good day.”

There were plenty of ways he could reveal himself to her, but he hadn’t lied to her anyway. He’d simply only told her what she needed to know. He could have told her that he owned the Lila M. Foster Shelter for Women & Children. That Lila was his mother, at least it was when she needed a place the same way her mother had. Today she was Lila M. Scott, woman about town who spent her days practicing yoga, teaching women starting their lives over job skills and raising money for victim of domestic abuse. In fact, she may already know Miri. “Dammit.”

He needed to call his mother before his lies blew up in his face.

“So are you going to tell me about your date or am I going to have to bug you for details?” Amelia smiled down at Miri with mischief in her eyes.

Miri sighed. She’d known this moment was coming as soon as she saw the flowers in the lobby yet she still hadn’t prepared for it. “The date was good. Ryan was funny and smart. Handsome.” That was a gross understatement of course, but if she said too much Amelia would get her hopes up.

“Good? With an Adonis like that all you’re giving me is
good
? Nope, no way. Give it up.”

Miri pushed back from her desk and looked up at her friend. “There are no sordid details to give. We ate, drank and laughed. At the end of the night we said goodbye and he kissed my cheek. The end.” Amelia might be disappointed but Miri thought it ended perfectly. To have such a connection with a guy who didn’t paw all over you was refreshing.

Amelia closed her eyes and pushed her balled up fists to her chest. “Oh that’s a heart stealer. Please tell me his lips grazed the corner of your mouth so it was
almost
a real kiss.” She laughed and squeezed Miri’s wide-eyed stare. “I knew that guy was gold.”

She smiled at her friend’s exuberance. “It was a good date. I’m glad I went.”

“And you’ll go out on another one,” she asked hopefully.

Her shoulders lifted and fell casually. “I don’t know. He hasn’t asked and I don’t know if that’s even what I want.” She stood and grabbed the new intake forms. “Now, one of us should get some work done around here.”

She pouted and then her eyes lit with humor. “By the way, you received a call earlier today. Someone named Ryan left a message to call him back. Here’s the number,” she laughed and stole the intake forms. “I’ll take care of these while you take care of yourself.”

Miri shook her head at her crazy friend and looked at the message. Amelia had drawn hearts all over the place, including the ‘A’ in Ryan’s name. She shook her head.
I can’t deal with this right now. I need coffee
. She grabbed her I.D. and some cash and slipped into the waiting area. “I’m going for a coffee run, be back in a bit.”

“I wouldn’t say no to a white chocolate latte.”

She nodded and rushed out the door before another emergency or crisis could waylay her. Out on the street the sun peeked between the clouds, casting a weird haze over everything that made it look bleak but left her feeling hopeful. About what, she had no idea. There was no such thing as a good man, as far as she was concerned. Eventually they all showed their true colors. She wasn’t jaded enough to believe all men abused the women in their lives, but she knew that between abuse and infidelity, she wasn’t in the market to enter a relationship.

Miri knew her job made dating difficult. It was hard to forget all the shit she saw on a daily basis. Black eyes and broken bones had a way of sticking with a girl, making it difficult to close your eyes in expectation of a kiss from a virtual stranger. She prided herself on avoiding abusive men, but now that she met Ryan she could be honest and say that avoidance was due to her complete avoidance of men and dating altogether. “Whatever works,” she muttered as she entered the small coffee shop. She went to the counter, “Hey Lana, can I get a white chocolate latte and a super extra large Egyptian roast?”

Lana smiled and Miri was glad to see that spark of life back in her eyes. It had been missing when they’d first met five years ago. She’d come into the shelter with a broken arm and two black eyes. Miri helped her divorce her abuser and get on her feet, which culminated in her finishing the business degree she abandoned when she got married and securing a business loan for this little café. “Here you go hun, how are you?”

“Good. How are you?”

Lana smiled. “Great. I met a man.”

Miri stifled the urge to roll her eyes at Lana’s excited words. “That’s wonderful Lana.”

“Don’t be like that Miri. He is great. He’s sweet and kind and he knows how to treat a lady.”

Yeah, she’d heard it all before. “I mean it, I’m really happy for you.” But she would reserve judgment for a while. Women like Lana and her mother were like magnets for these types of guys. “Just be careful and acknowledge red flags.”

“I will. Tell Amelia I said hello.”

“Will do, if she lives after drinking this sugar bomb.” She turned and ran smack into a man’s chest, spilling the latte down his leg. “Oh shit! I’m sorry, man.” She looked up into smiling green eyes.

“Don’t worry about it, Miri. But just so you know, you don’t need to spill coffee on me to get me to notice you. I
always
notice you.”

She smiled but brushed off his flirting. “Well I guess I owe you a coffee at least. Lana another latte and whatever Ryan’s having.”

Lana sent her a knowing smile. “I guess I’m not the only one who met a man.”

She glared over her shoulder. “I met Ryan when he stopped a husband from bashing my spine into dust.” She was quick to ensure Lana she was alright because the woman didn’t need those kinds of memories in her life. “I’m fine, truly.”

Lana skirted around the counter and wrapped Miri in a warm embrace, cooing and murmuring soothing words to her. “Oh Miri you’re so brave but I worry what those guys’ll do to you. Don’t you worry about her,” she turned a pleading gaze on Ryan.

He was struck dumb and Miri bit her lip to stifle her laughter. “Of course, but I highly doubt anyone tells Miri what to do.”

“Smart man.” His deep rumbling laugh reverberated through her body, leaving a trail of heat from her scalp to her aching toes. Who would’ve thought a job that was mostly administrative would be so taxing on the feet? During those early years Miri wore slacks and heels nearly every day, until one day she’d sprained an ankle running from an angry boyfriend and slammed her face into the jutting out ledge where women could complete paperwork. “Alright Lana, mama needs her coffee. There’s a mountain of paperwork back at the shelter with my name on it.”

Lana smiled. “No problem, just give me two minutes.” She whipped up two coffees and set them down before starting on the latte. “Hey Ryan, don’t I know you? You look awfully familiar.”

Ryan gave her his most charming smile. “I just have one of those faces.”

“Good face,” Miri muttered bitterly.

“I heard that. You like my face,” he gloated and batted his eyelashes at her.

“If it makes you feel better to believe that, Ryan, go right ahead.” She patted his chest and resisted the urge to squeeze the rock hard muscles in his chest and walked to the door. “Thanks Lana, take care. Bye, Ryan.”

“Hey! Wait up, you’re my protection now that I know you’re armed.”

“And because you need a tough black girl to protect you.” She raised a sculpted eyebrow at him with a feisty smile.

Ryan’s green eyes were as round as marbles, his mouth fixed in an ‘o’ of shock. “You’re black? I had no idea!”

“I know it’s hard to believe with this pale brown skin but yep, I am. Have been since birth.” His finger caressed her cheek up and down. “What are you doing?”

“I was trying to see if it came off. You know chocolate or cocoa or…paint?”

She tossed her head back and laughed, clutching her side. “Did you seriously just say paint? You think I paint my face brown because, there’s such a benefit to have this skin color?” She couldn’t stop laughing. Her eyes watered and her side began to ache. “Oh god, Ryan…too funny.” She straightened herself and swiped the tears from her eyes. “Thank you. I needed that.” Miri rose on her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek, obscenely close to the corner of his mouth. “See ya.”

Ryan stared, heart in his eyes as she walked purposefully into the shelter without looking back.

~

For two days the only thing Ryan could think about was Miri’s soft lips so close to his own he could taste the hint of cinnamon she wore. That kiss was the closest he’d come to any kind of physical affection from her and he enjoyed it as though they’d spent the night in bed together. It didn’t matter. She was warming up to him and soon, he would get much more than a chaste kiss on the street.

Today his goal was to see that full mouth smile spread across her face again. Watching her laugh had been equal parts hilarious, erotic and satisfying and he’d been dying to feel that way again. No woman could make something as mundane as smiling and make him feel like a superhero. He’d give anything to see that smile again, but his latest surprise wasn’t for her. It was for the people the shelter served, to make life away from home less scary.

Casey stormed into the room with a frown fixed on her pretty face. Today her nails were hunter green and matched her tights, which she wore under a leather dress. “You’re sending gifts over to the shelter?”

“I am. Is that a problem?”

“Who are these gifts from?” Her arms were crossed over her chest and one foot tapped the floor impatiently.

“Me, of course.” He leaned back, amused by her protective mama bear routine.

“Does she know who you are yet or are you just playing the role of benevolent stalker?”

“Neither. I’m just a concerned citizen offering up assistance for those in the community in need.”

She scoffed. “That almost sounded believable.”

His mouth curled into a smile. “I know.” He stood and looked at the window overlooking the city. “The thing is she knows what I do, she knows who I am.”

“Yeah but she doesn’t
know
, does she? If she did, she might not be quite as friendly as she’s been.”

That was what killed him. Miri might just be the one woman on earth who would be not only
unimpressed
with his wealth, but repelled by it. Casey was right, she was very friendly with him but it all seemed platonic. Even the kiss seemed to be more for a friend than a potential lover. “Damn, am I already in the friend zone?”

“Chill out Ry. I don’t think you can be friend zoned after just one date and a few coffee run-ins.”

That thought didn’t really make him feel any better. “What if she’s not interested?” It hadn’t occurred to him until now that Miri might not want him.

Casey shrugged. “Then she’s not and you move on to someone who is.” She stood and leaned over his desk with menace in her eyes. “Damn you Ryan for making me feel bad for you now. Just go play Santa Claus and see what happens.”

He listened to Casey because rarely had she steered him wrong and he stood outside the shelter waiting for someone to buzz in him and his boxes. “I come bearing gifts,” he told Amelia when she opened the door.

“In that case, come on in.” Her eyes glittered with mischief as she led him into the waiting area. “What’s all this?”

He set the boxes on the floor. “This is for you, well for the women and children who stay here. There are video game consoles, games and computers. This way the kids will have something to do and the moms can use the computers to update resumes, find apartments and jobs.”

“Wow Ryan, that is really thoughtful.”

“Just doing my part. It’s not easy being away from home and having no clue when things will return to normal.” He remembered sleeping on couches of friends and even the underground network for abused women. It was always scary but he knew it wasn’t as scary as home.

“Well thank you, Ryan.”

“Thank you for what?” Miri peered at both of them through the security glass.

“Ryan brought stuff for the residents.” She turned her back to him and mouthed
oh my god
to Miri with wide eyes and a bright smile.

“I have more stuff in my car. Just the basics like toiletries that smell good and make them feel good.” He watched Miri, speculation warred with her desire to give her residents his gifts.

A smile flashed his way and it was genuine and gorgeous. “Thank you, Ryan. That was incredibly thoughtful.”

He blushed and looked away. As much as he liked having that sexy smile aimed at him, he didn’t want her praise for this. “This is for them,” he clarified.

Understanding dawned in her eyes and she gave him a discreet nod. “Alright well I hope you know how to set this stuff up because our budget does
not
include a tech person.”

“Now that I
can
do for you. Lead the way.” The door opened to the reception area and he followed Amelia back before being handed off to Miri.

“I guess we’ll put them back in the recreation area so they can keep an eye on the kids playing video games.” Her delicate hands motioned to a spacious well-lit room filled with a few televisions, a stereo, board games and coloring books. “Let me find a table for the computers. In the meantime you can hook the consoles up to the televisions.” She stopped at the door and pointed a finger at him. “Try to avoid the residents, unknown men make them skittish.”

Ryan gave her a salute and a smile before he eased his big body onto the floor. There were four consoles and two televisions. They needed more screens.

“Hey Mister, what are ya doing?”

Ryan looked up at the small voice and saw a towheaded boy with big blue eyes full of trust. “I’m trying to set up the consoles, want to help?”