Waterfall Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story (Saltwater Kisses Book 8) (8 page)

Leo sighed. “Unfortunately, dessert is here, and Bastian looks like he's slightly concerned about what I'm doing to you.”

“That's because your hand is on my ass,” I informed him.

“Do you have a problem with that?” he asked.

“Nope,” I replied with a naughty grin. “In fact, I encourage it.”

“Just you wait.” He grinned back at me for a moment before releasing me and offering me his arm to take me back to the table. “I have some other ideas you might encourage.”

L
eo reluctantly let go of my arm to pull out my chair for me. I tried not to shiver as he brushed his hand along the bare skin of my back as he left to take his own seat. Heat built in my core at the slightest of his touches.

In the center of the table was a beautiful bowl full of meringue covered ice cream. The caterer gave me a nervous smile as she cut an orange peel into a long thin string. After pouring liquor on the meringue, she dipped the string of orange peel into a saucer of Grand Marnier. With a deep breath, she lit the orange peel on fire.

The sweet scent of alcohol and orange filled the tent as she set the pretty dessert danced with blue and orange flames. The caterer carefully made sure nothing burned, definitely hyper-aware of the danger of the flames. It was a beautiful dessert and as the flames slowly died, the scent of sugar hit me.

The caterer let out a small sigh of relief as everyone clapped. She grinned at me before carefully placing seven small cups of perfect crème brulee on a serving plate and hurrying off to the next table.

Bastian scooped the ice cream, cake, and meringue concoction onto plates. The sweet scent of orange still lingered as I took a bite. It was a delicious mixture of hot and cold mingled with wonderful sweetness. This was why we had hired the caterer. It was absolutely divine.

The table fell silent for a moment as everyone tasted their desserts. The Baked Alaska was perfect and the crème brulee thick and creamy, yet with the perfect sugar shell crunch characteristic of the dish. It was almost as good as kissing Leo.

Almost.

It was painful to have him sitting across the table, yet not be able to touch him. Beside me, Ava and Bastian were holding hands. I wanted to do that with Leo. On my other side, Emma and Jack were gazing at one another with adoration. I wanted to do that, too.

But I had to sit, staring at the man of my dreams, knowing that we could be off kissing somewhere and being unable to do it. For the first time in my life, I hated my job. I hated that we had to have a public face and that the cameras were always watching.

Knowing that I could have everything my heart desired, that Leo wanted me and that we had to sit here and make polite conversation, was torture. All I wanted to do was kiss him again. I wanted my love story to begin.

Leo's phone started to ring. He patted his pocket, turning it off and looking embarrassed. “I told Toby not to bother me unless it's an emergency. Please excuse me.”

With a smooth motion and a pleasant smile, he stood from the table and put the phone to his ear. He said something into the mouthpiece as he navigated away from the noise of the tables and to the far corner of the tent.

I tried to pay attention to Emma as she described the adorable antics of her niece, but I couldn't. My eyes just kept going back to where Leo had disappeared out of the tent. I wanted him to come back to the table and laugh along with me. I wanted another dance, and I desperately wanted to end the evening walking back with him.

It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the party. Any other night, I would have been ecstatic for the opportunity to giggle with Ava and Emma, to dance with my brother and Gabe, and to enjoy the food.

But Leo had kissed me tonight. And now, that's all I could think about.

Movement at the edge of the tent caught my eye. Leo was coming back.

I held my breath for a moment, waiting for him to return. He paused at the edge of the tent. His face was pale and the whites of his eyes were huge. He wiped sweat from his brow, despite the fact the air conditioners were keeping the room almost chilly. I'd never seen him look so shaken. He was always the epitome of cool and calm. Something unpleasant had happened in that phone call. He looked up and our eyes met.

He froze. I smiled, hoping he would return to his easy smile and laughing eyes. He licked his lips and his brow darkened. Instead of smiling back, he shook his head and tapped his phone.

Bing. A new text.

I carefully pulled my phone out of my dress and read his message.

Can't stay. Eat my dessert for me. I'll see you tomorrow at the auction. You did great today, and I want to kiss you again.

I frowned, confused at the message. He wanted to kiss me again, but he was leaving? I didn't understand. When I looked up, Leo was gone. The only indication he had ever been there was the tent door slowly fluttering to a standstill.

I didn't want any more dessert. The idea of eating actually made me a little queasy. What was wrong with Leo? Was he having second thoughts about us? Why else would he leave? I glanced back down at my phone, searching for a better answer as to why he had left. Unfortunately, I couldn't come up with one. Whatever that phone call was about, it was important enough for him to leave.

I hoped it wasn't me.

For a moment, I considered getting up from the table and going to look for him. He couldn't have gotten far and he was most likely headed back to the place he was renting on the island. I set my napkin down on the table, determined to find out what was so important to Leo that he would ditch out on an important dinner like this.

“You okay, Charlotte?” Gabe asked, cutting into my thoughts. “You look worried.”

I looked up at Gabe. I had practically grown up with him since he moved in next door to my foster family. He and Bastian and been inseparable as kids and his little sister was my closest girlfriend.

“I'm fine,” I said, putting the phone back in my pocket. “Just trying to figure out why Leo left.”

“Don't worry about Leo. It's his loss for leaving.” Gabe stood from the table and moved to offer me his hand. “Besides, it's my turn for a dance.”

I wanted to chase after Leo, but I had responsibilities here. It would be noticed if Bastian's sister and assistant disappeared. I had done just as much as Bastian had to make this gala and auction happen and it would be odd for me to leave. A flashbulb went off as yet another photographer took my picture.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket. I would be able to feel if it vibrated with Leo changing his mind. I glanced one last time at the tent door and then around at the party. I couldn't leave. Not really.

I had responsibilities. Besides, Leo probably had a good reason. He always did. Leo was the most dependable person I knew. He'd helped me out more times than I could count, and I knew he had done the same for others.

One of his friends must need help
, I thought to myself.
Yes, that made sense. Leo was just helping someone.
I didn't know if it was true or not, but it made me feel better. I remembered how he had helped me study for a test I was sure I was going to fail and I knew that I was right. Leo wouldn't leave without a good reason.

I tried to smile and be happy. Leo was probably saving the world. I could stay here and smile for the photographers and do my part to make the gala a success.

Taking Gabe's hand was easy, but I still wished it was Leo's hand instead. As a consolation prize, Gabe was an even better dancer than Leo was. As he twirled me around, I decided to have fun tonight, even if I couldn't go chase after Leo. It was really the only thing I could do.

Another camera flash went off and I knew I had made the right decision to stay.

Besides, I'd see him tomorrow. After he was done helping his friend, just as he had helped me that night...

3 Years Ago

––––––––

“I
'm going to fail, Leo.”

“You are not going to fail,” he promised, sitting down at the table across from me. He looked wonderfully handsome in his dress shirt and slacks. “You are going to ace this test and graduate with honors.”

I banged my head on the book in front of me, wishing I could just absorb the information that way. Damn Professor Blanks and his stupid final. This was the last class I needed to graduate, but due to my work schedule, I hadn't gone to very many classes. It hadn't seemed like a big problem since it was supposed to be an easy course to meet my English requirement.

Except it hadn't been that easy, and now I was paying the price. The Theory of Literature wasn't exactly something I could ingest overnight. Numbers, business, and accounting all made sense in my head, but the finer points of literature were a bit more tricky. It was so subjective that my objective brain rebelled even thinking about it.

“No, seriously, Leo- I'm never going to get this.” I banged my head again. “I'm sorry I called you. You should go on your date.”

Leo reached out and took my hand. I kept my head on my book, trying desperately to ignore the electricity running through me at his simple touch. He didn't feel that way about me, no matter how much I wished he did.

I was his friend's little sister. A friend. Nothing more. That's all I'd ever be.

My brain realized this, but my heart and body just hadn't gotten that memo yet.

“Charlotte,” he said softly. “I believe in you. You can do this. You've managed to help us set up Kindling and get all your course work done. You're amazing. Don't let this one test stop you.”

My chest squeezed hard on my heart. I wanted to believe Leo.

“I just...” I raised my head and looked at the book in front of me. It looked more like gibberish than actual words. “How am I going to learn all this in one night?”

“I'm going to help you.” Leo said it without hesitation. “I even brought energy drinks and flashcards.”

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...”

“A
nd 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?”