Page 56 of Billionaire Unexplained: Kaleb

She had a talent for listening and reading people. One of the things I’d liked about her from the very beginning was her intuitiveness.

Anna had managed to reach past my defenses fairly easily at the cabin, and I wasn’t an easy man to get to know.

The slow music ended, and the band announced that they were taking a break.

I led Anna back to the table so she didn’t fall face first to the floor and carefully sat her back down in her chair.

Despite her earlier comment about having coffee, she tossed back the remainder of her second slugger in a few gulps.

If I didn’t know her better, I’d think that she was nervous.

Time ticked by as she looked around the room, seeming interested in her surroundings.

All I did was watch her.

Something was wrong with her. Something other than the fact that she was intoxicated.

She finally turned her head and looked at me.

My gut clenched as I saw a tear roll down her cheek. She leaned closer so I could hear her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything about the way I feel or how much I want you. I know you’re physically attracted to me, but I feel like you really don’t want anything else to happen between the two of us anymore. I get that, actually. I’m leaving soon, and—”

“Anna, stop!” I growled as I rose to my feet. I couldn’t watch her cry for another fucking second. “Nothing you ever say to me is wrong.”

I lifted her out of her chair since I knew she wasn’t going to be steady on her feet.

Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around my neck so she’d be balanced in my arms. “Kaleb!” she squeaked. “What are you doing?”

“Taking you home,” I rumbled irritably.

I’d never actually seen Anna cry. She’d sobbed out her sorrows that first night in the dark, but I’d never had to see those tears in the darkness.

Now, I could see the tears, sorrow, and remorse on her beautiful face, and it wrecked me.

I didn’t hesitate as I headed for the exit.

Someone opened the door for me, and I strode through it, my only objective to get Anna home.

She didn’t like being vulnerable, and I was going to make damn sure that no one saw that vulnerability except me.

Anna

I woke up the next morning feeling like someone had repeatedly hit me on the head with a sledgehammer.

I moaned as I sat up slowly and looked at the clock.

Shit! It was almost noon, and I still didn’t feel like getting out of bed.

I should have listened to Kaleb last night.

Those sluggers had snuck up on me. They’d gone down so smoothly that I didn’t notice that I was inebriated until all the alcohol hit me all at one time.

I noticed a tiny thermos, a mug, a large glass of water, some pills, and a blueberry muffin sitting on my bedside table.

I would have smiled if my head didn’t feel it was exploding.

Kaleb.

He’d obviously done the delivery to my room this morning because he knew I was going to feel like crap.

---