Free Rise of the Billionaire by Ruth Cardello Page B

subject, he said, “These prototypes are amazing! And solar powered. That is so cool. The site talks about saving the world and I can see how they could. Just amazing.”
    He closed the laptop and looked across at Marie dubiously. “Can I really build a romantic trip around visiting a waste -disposal facility?”
    Marie smiled, her good mood returning. “Normally, I would say no, but it’s a passion of Jeisa’s. You know how they say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach? The way to a woman’s heart is through appreciating whatever she loves. Let me make a few phone calls. I’ll set everything up. All you have to do is get in the limo I send for you.”
    Jeremy crossed the room and hugged Marie. She protested lightly and brushed him away, but she was smiling as she did so.
    “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Marie.”
    Her smile was kind when she said, “I get that a lot.”
    Jeremy stared absently out the window long after Marie had left his office. His phone rang several times, but he didn’t answer it. His body might still have been in the office, but his heart and mind were already imagining California with Jeisa.
     
    On Monday morning, poised on the edge of her couch, Jeisa started to text Jeremy but then deleted the partially written message. Instead, she reread the earlier text he’d sent her.
    “See you at eight.”
    Not, “I love you.”
    Not , “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
    Just , “See you at eight.”
    Oh, my God, what if he didn’t really mean it about the overnight bag? Or he might have changed his mind. What if he met up with Alethea over the weekend?
    I’m not sixteen. I know the rules.
    Rule number one in the book of how to protect your heart: Do not go away with a man who loves anothe r woman. It only leads to heartache.
    Rule number two: Do not spend the weekend shopping and having your hair done for a date you are not going on. If you forget why, refer to rule number one.
    Rule number three: Do not sit on your couch, dressed to impress, for an hour before said date with an overnight bag by the door and then overthink the situation. If you’ve decided to throw caution to the wind and do something you know is wrong, at least try to enjoy yourself.
    Jeisa jumped off the couch at the first knock. She smoothed the skirt of her dress and answered the door. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Jeremy.
    Dressed in one of the designer suits she’d chosen for him, he held out a bouquet of red begonias. Jeisa took the flowers. Beautiful and odd at the same time. Only Jeremy. She said, “I should probably put these in water.”
    Neither of them moved.
    Jeremy said, “You look amazing.”
    Jeisa smiled a nd said, “So do you.”
    Which earned her a smile in return.
    Jeremy took her by the hand and said, “Don’t worry about the flowers. Let’s just grab your bag and go.”
    Before we both change our minds. He didn’t have to say it.
    Jeisa looked into those deep blue eyes and made a decision.
    I want Jeremy.
    For tonight, if that’s all we can have.
    Screw playing it safe.
    With that she threw the bouquet of flowers over her shoulder and into her apartment with abandon.
    Jeremy laughed in surprise and pulled her to him for a crushing kiss, one that cleared her head of any lingering second thoughts and replaced them with a hum of need. The kiss deepened as his arms enfolded her and she sank into the bliss of his embrace.
    When they were both shaking with need, Jeremy broke off the kiss, rested his forehead on hers, and said, “We’d better go.”
    “Where?” she whisper ed.
    He straightened and took her hand in one of his and her bag in the other. “It’s a surprise, but I think you’re really going to love it.”
    Her heart tightened in her chest. I already do. That was never the problem.
     
    Jeremy followed Jeisa into the back of the Hummer limo that Mrs. Duhamel had arranged for the date. Soft, romantic music filled the dimly lit interior.