Melody Anne's Billionaire Universe: One Sweet Summer (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Love by the Numbers Book 1) (8 page)

“No.” She wasn’t laughing. “That’s not even the worst part.”

Kane sobered. “What is?”

He tensed, waiting for the blow to fall.

“He was my boyfriend at the time.” She seemed on the verge of tears. “He said he loved me and he wanted to help launch my career. Instead, I’ve spent the last five years trying to fight off the damage from my stupid mistake.”

Kane rocked back on his heels. The person she’d trusted, who’d let her down, was the person who was supposed to love and care for her. No wonder she was so twitchy about going on this date with him, much less a relationship. She probably thought he’d pull the same move on her once he grew bored.

Little did she know he found nothing boring in his sweet, sizzling firecracker.

“It was dumb, a stupid reaction, I know, but my dad was sick and I thought I could trust Rick and it all went to hell when he screwed me over. I was going to use the money to pay down some of the hospital bills. Had to put it on credit cards, instead.”

Ouch. She’d had a knee-jerk reaction to a really shitty situation. Heck, he’d had worse. But it might complicate things for the summer show, depending on how far word had gotten out.

“So you lost your temper.” He put his arms around her slumping shoulders. She leaned against him and sighed. “Big deal. I hope the guy was embarrassed.”

“Him and his twenty coworkers. He’d thrown some kind of party at a bar in midtown, near the docks. Let’s just say the unveiling didn’t go well. I heard photos of it were made into memes and circulated in the office emails.”

Docks? Uh-oh. “Where was this again?”

“Bainbridge Island. Just across the ferry.”

Kane closed his eyes for a minute. Seattle was a big city with a long memory. Bainbridge Island was small town and even worse. Something about the rocky shores made residents cling to any shred of gossip like it was going out of style.

If Anna’s giant peen was well-remembered, he’d have to do some damage control to get Anna’s work into the summer show. Maybe his father’s assistant Marta would help him out? He’d enlist anyone he could to salvage Anna’s shining career.

“I know I overreacted,” she explained. “But I’ve learned from my mistakes.”

“Why do you need to justify this to me?” Couldn’t she see how much he cared about her? “I totally understand and I—”

Well, he couldn’t say that he loved her. But he was falling harder and faster than he’d ever dreamed.

“I just don’t like letting anyone down. Myself least of all.” Her puffed-up shoulders deflated. She spread her hands wide. “That’s why I don’t trust easily. Not when it comes to mixing business with pleasure.”

“I’ll take that as a personal challenge.” He’d call in every favor he was owed, if need be. The Maverick clout ought to count for something.

“What’s the challenge?” She hugged her arms around her middle. Kane removed his jean jacket and placed it around her shoulders.

“To earn your trust.”

“You already have it, Kane.” There was something hopeful and hungry simmering in her eyes. Something that made Kane want to bridge the gap between them, to finally make her his.

“Good.” He took her hand again, and again she let him. Though he didn’t kiss her goodnight, he did tell her, again, that he was looking forward to next week’s camp, just in case she thought he was a quitter.

The Dino might be done, but Kane Maverick wasn’t done with Anna by half.

***

He drove the Ferarri home and parked it carefully beside his father’s Mercedes.

“Car looks great.” His father lowered the garage door as Kane cut the engine. “Worth the extra time they spent on it.”

“Yeah, Pops… about that.” Kane stalked into the kitchen behind Carson.

“You know, son.” Carson blustered on, as usual, not waiting for Kane to finish. “I had my doubts about giving you responsibilities at the gallery. But you really seem to be dedicating yourself. Much more than I’d hoped.” He clapped him on the back.

Kane throat felt like he’d swallowed a monkey wrench. “I’m glad. About the car…”

“Later. We need to go over your selections for the show by next week, okay?” Carson poked his head in the stairwell. “Beverly? If you don’t come down right now, we’re going to be late for the show. You know how traffic is.”

“Coming, dear.” His mother swooped into the kitchen, and kissed his cheek. “I showed your father how well the new sprinklers are perking up the yard, Kane. Didn’t he do a good job, Carson?” she prompted.

“No time, Beverly. The show.” His father fumbled for his keys and a cigarette at the same time. “Good night, son.”

“Night,” Kane replied. The Dino was back safe and sound. His parents seemed happy. So why did he still feel as if he wasn’t out of the woods, yet?

Chapter Seven

“Pops saw the car. Never suspected a thing.” Kane whispered over his shoulder when they finally had a moment to spare, as he marched Jasmine Anderson to the sink at the back of the classroom. Anna nodded and herded the rest of the kids to line up.

“I’m glad everything worked out.” She smiled at him as he tenderly scrubbed blue paint off the little girl’s palms. Then, they led the kids out to the waiting throng of parents. He reached over and took her hand on the way back into the empty classroom.

With the work on the Dino officially over, it was like she and Kane had turned a corner. Now as they chatted in a classroom that smelled like pencil shavings and peanut butter and all she could think of was how she was going to miss seeing him every day.

“Yeah, I’m not sure if it was the responsible thing to do or not, but your work was impeccable and Pops is happy, sooo.” He shrugged. “You’re amazing, Anna. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Kane was different than she’d expected. He made her laugh. Think. He was easy to talk to, and she loved being around him, but she wasn’t sure if that meant friendship or something more. Her heart skipped beats just thinking about it.

Today didn’t seem any different than other days, and yet, it was. Every laugh from the kids seemed bittersweet, and every minute she spent with him claimed a new space in her heart. She kept zoning out as she imagined her work featured at The Mav—and what it would be like to date Kane.

She couldn’t have both, could she?

Kane nudged her shoulder, interrupting another one long staring contests with her future.

“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours today? You’ve been distracted since lunch.” He took her hand. His lightly calloused fingers played over her knuckles with a delicious, rhythmic stroke that sent tingles from her head to her toes and all places in between. “Have the kids worn you out?”

The fact that after two weeks he could read her better than anybody ever had was disturbing. But it was nothing compared to the awful, twisted feeling inside when she realized camp was almost at an end. Her time with Kane would soon be over.

“I was thinking of you, actually.” She’d been distracted by him for a lot longer than a few hours. More like two weeks. Nine glorious days of being by his side, watching him laugh, play and teach the students. She’d thought he was a reckless player, but every day brought some new facet of himself to her attention.

He stood up straighter. “All good things, I hope.”

Getting to know the real Kane Maverick had sparked a fire in places she’d never dreamed when she’d agreed to take him on. It was worth every minute she’d spent with a ball-peen hammer banging out the dents from his Dino.

“Maybe,” she teased. “You surprise me. I can’t say that happens very often.”

“You have a keen eye, Anna.” He closed the space between them. “And I like the way you’re looking at me right now.”

He waited a moment longer, enough time for her to count the seconds in heartbeats, but neither of them made a move to break the tension. A deep yearning flared in her midsection, like kick-starting an engine that had sat for too long. She tried to swallow past her suddenly dry mouth, to tell him this was all wrong, but the words wouldn’t come.

“Kane, I…”

“Enough of this, Anna. Kiss me.” His arms slid around her waist and drew her against the hard muscled planes of his body. As soon as Kane’s lips met hers, she knew she was in deep, deep trouble.

It was a kiss to end all kisses. Right here in the community center summer camp classroom.

His mouth was firm and skilled and oh so much more than she’d bargained for. They fit together, perfectly joined as if they’d been made for each other. Kane’s warm hands slid up her throat, to cradle her face, and all her moments of worry and wondering melted away. She felt tender and treasured and desired in his arms. Her dormant engine roared to life.

For a moment, she gave in to the fantasy of a hot interlude with the guy she’d been crushing on for weeks. No fallout, no consequences, no dirty aftermath.

He shifted position, and the rasp of his stubbled chin against hers sending jolts of electricity through her veins. His tongue sparked a blaze of pleasure, sizzling down to her spine. Her head whirled. It was as if every other kiss she’d had in the past had been meaningless, just a sketchy prelude to
this
kiss. This man.

She pressed against him, savoring the scent of his cologne. Kane tugged her closer, his hands sliding to her hips, and sealed his lips over hers again. Her knees buckled and she sagged against him, creating delicious friction against the cleft of her thighs. He wrapped his hands around her backside causing her to move up and down against his leg. Each movement sent shivers down her spine, repeating like waves rolling off the Sound.

Oh, wowsers
. She buried her face in his chest to smother her shocked gasp of pleasure. Did she still have her clothes on? Why, yes, she did. They weren’t even skin-on-skin and he had her ready to go off like a rocket.

“You feel so good, Anna,” he muttered against her mouth.

So did he. But they were locking lips inside the community center where anyone could burst in on them. “This is crazy. We can’t do this here.”

“You’re right.” His voice was thick with desire. “Not here. Where?” His lips were still burning a trail down the sides of her neck.

Here, there, everywhere
, she sang in her head. She felt dizzy as his strong thighs pressed between her legs, his heavy breathing filled her ears, and his hands circled the span of her waist. She savored a sharp prickle of desire as he nipped at her shoulder.

A crash sounded in the hallway, near the front doors, and she heard a child’s voice inquire about a lost lunchbox. As the receptionist told the kid to go check the classrooms, Anna’s lust-fogged head cleared. “Wait, we can’t do this.”

Kane’s lips stilled on her neck. “At all? Or just here?”

“I’m not sure.” Oh God, she hated herself right now. For wanting him and for not being able to have him.

“Okay.” His face tightened as he dragged his hand through his dark hair, making it stand up in spikes, like a dark angel’s halo. “I can wait. Let me just…get myself under control.”

Kane headed to the restroom while she tried to regain the use of her knees.

Her whole body was on fire and screaming at her to finish what they started. From the bulge in Kane’s jeans, he had to be feeling the same. But they’d only known each other for a short time, and now their time together was ending. The summer camp was nearly over. She was going before his father’s critical eye for the summer show, but Kane seemed really confident his father would approve. After the show had ended Kane would go on to…whatever it was he did, and she’d hopefully have launched her career.

No matter what her body said, her head said they couldn’t. It wasn’t just the upcoming show. Her family had grown up on chrome and diesel fuel. His world was all caviar and champagne. It could never work. Would never work.

No matter how much she might want it.

Anna dragged her hair off her face and tucked the back of her T-shirt into her shorts. When the kid with the missing lunchbox arrived, she helped him find it and sent him on his way. She thought about ducking out before Kane got back, but that would be the coward’s way out.

He returned from the restroom before she had a chance anyway. They finished packing up the classroom in silence—kind of an intense, knowing silence where they were both thinking about the kiss.

“Let me walk to your car,” he said.

She raised her eyebrows at him as she shouldered her bag. “It’s right beside your truck.”

“Still.” He smiled, that easy, charming smile, and took her hand in front of the receptionist and everyone as they exited the community center.

Butterflies danced in her stomach. What car part would she use to depict those? She broke the silence first. “You know, Kane, I’m pretty sure your parents wouldn’t approve of us seeing each other.” She stared at the tufts of grass growing between the concrete pavers, afraid to see his expression.

He laughed. “Probably not.”

She stopped short on the sidewalk. “Is that why?”

“Why I want to date you?” They continued toward the cars until they stood between them. They could drive off their respective homes, right now.

Or they could do something else.

Kane took a deep breath. “No, Anna. That’s not why.”

***

“Then why?” she asked, her grey gaze seeking his. “Help me understand.”

He couldn’t say what it was, exactly, that drew him to her. Being with her was completely natural, like breathing. Like sunshine. Like happiness. It had been so long since he’d felt content, he almost didn’t recognize it.

Her expression contained a mute appeal for more of an answer; stubborn woman that she was, she wouldn’t just come out and ask him how he felt about her.

To be honest, he wasn’t quite sure. Her questions probed into the secret places of his heart. They stung a little. But all of that faded beneath the gaze of those incredible, indescribable eyes. He’d felt more of a man these past weeks than he’d ever felt on his show, in school, even hauling timbers.

“It’s this.” Protected a little from the eyes of onlookers by his large truck, he drew her toward him, wrapping his arms around the deep curve of her waist. “You see right through me, Anna. But more than that, you
see
me. The real me.”

The one he wanted the rest of the world to see as well.

He slipped a hand free and trailed his index finger down the side of her cheek. She shut her eyes for a moment, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings on her cheeks. She shivered in his arms and her breathing stuttered as he cupped her stubborn little chin.

He swiped a thumb over her bottom lip. “You make me want to be better, Anna.”

And he would be better, for her…and for himself.

He lowered his face until they were a breath apart, until he could hear the sound of her ragged breathing in his ears.

Energy sizzled between them as she rose up on her tiptoes and placed her mouth on his. He lost himself in the feel of her skin beneath his hands. How easy would it be to end every day with her kisses? How great would it be to start every morning in the same way?

Cradling her face in his hands, he placed his mouth over hers, thrilling at the jolt of awareness that sizzled through him. Kissing her was like touching a live electrical wire. If he wasn’t careful, he could get hurt.

Usually, that made him want to withdraw. To call it quits, whenever anyone came too close. But there was something about her that stirred his blood in ways his ex-lovers never had. Her special combination of fire and determination drew him like a moth to a flame. She was genuine. She was real. The opposite of every woman in his experience and the only one he craved.

They rocked against each other, kissing, touching with increasing passion, until the zipper of his jeans reminded him they were still standing in the parking lot of the community center. His heart was pounding like he’d run a mile in three. Much more of her sweet mouth and he’d consider taking her against the side of his 4x4. “Let’s go someplace private? Please, Anna?”

“Not yet. I should let you go.” She pulled away, but not out of reach.

“Do you really want to?”
Please say no, please say…

“No, but I’m...I’m not ready. I just want to be sure that everything turns out okay, you know?”

Oh, yeah. She was worried about the show. Number one on his to-do list. Right after letting his massive erection subside.

Kane dragged his hand through his hair, trying to force his breathing to return to normal. “Go out with me on Friday night. For more than a waffle cone or a greasy burger.”

“Are you asking me on a date?”

“Absolutely.”

“You sure?” She was choosing her words as carefully as she picked her art materials. The same cautious precision yielding a beautiful result. “I can’t take more disappointment in my life right now. Especially not so close to the show.”

He stroked the lock of dark hair that framed her face. “I’m sure.”

“Then, yes. I’ll go out with you,” she replied.