Page 17 of The Billionaire's Caress

Whispering in their ear.

Before he had the chance to rub up on someone else, I got real interested. And I was determined to shoot this freaking balloon. All his other students had failed, I had to show him that I was the exception to the rule. That I was special.

I ignored the voice that whispered he’d probably miss it because he was too busy flirting and I breathed.

Inhaled.

Exhaled.

Pulled the trigger.

The whole stand lit up like the Fourth of July when I popped the balloon.

“You did it!” Corbin’s voice was the only thing I heard, rising up above the bells and whistles as he lifted me, spinning me around. When he put me down, I glanced back to give his admirers a special little smile, but they’d already conceded, sulking off in the other direction.

The operator handed over my prize, clearly trying to get this oddly lucky couple away from his game before he lost any more money.

I took the bear in my arms, not even caring that it was the ugliest thing I’d ever seen. It was cotton candy pink, with mismatched eyes and a discolored belly that read ‘Congratulatiens!’ with an E.

Corbin wrapped me in his arms again and I inhaled the smell of Irish Spring soap, kettle corn and love. “Good job, Leila Bear!”

I GRABBED MY COFFEE and made a beeline for the far wall. It was apart from the main floor, far enough from the window that we wouldn’t be seen from the sidewalk. The back room was reserved apparently, which would have been my preference otherwise.

I lowered myself in my chair, the irony of that not lost on me. Back when Corbin was in my life, I loved having him on my arm. Walking into a room and reaching for his hand to make it known that he was mine.

That’s because otherwise, no one would have had any idea, reality reminded me. Corbin was a shameless flirt. Monogamy wasn’t in his nature, something that I didn’t learn until it was too late.

I tapped my foot nervously, checking my phone. It had been half and hour since I gave him the address, he should have been here by n-

Almost on cue, the bell at the door chimed and I knew it was him before I even lifted my eyes from the screen. There was a hush that raced around the room, like the world was taking notice as he strode to place his order.

“Unbelievable,” I scoffed as I watched him lean on the counter. The barista, who barely made eye contact with me, was currently giggling like a schoolgirl. I glared at the scene as he popped his cap off and gave his golden locks a shake before he slipped it back on—backwards, of course, so she could get a good look. He took his cup and headed over to the cream and sugar station. He finally scanned the room for the whole reason he was here, cocking his head in acknowledgment when he saw me.

I just stared at him until his smile disappeared. He finished up and trudged over like a kid with a report card lined with C’s and D’s, filled with apologies and explanations.

“Sorry I’m a little late-”

“Don’t worry, I remember punctuality isn’t one of your strong suits,” I interrupted with a shrug. Among other things...

He winced. “I guess I deserved that.”

No way was I walking away from that. “Deserve? What you deserve would be something along the lines of a slap. Or a punch.” I gripped my mug with both hands. Or another cup of coffee being spilled, only this time, it would be thrown right at that picture perfect face.

I put the mug down, not because I was having second thoughts about assault via coffee, mind you. I was starting to shake uncontrollably, and I didn’t want him to see. His effect on me these days was far from positive; anyone with the gift of sight could see that being around him was a trying affair. But I didn’t want him to know he still had any effect on me at all.

I put down my mug and dropped my hands to my lap. I rubbed my hands together and tried to not imagine that I was wringing his neck.

My struggle must have been all over my face because he hung his head. “I know I’m the last person you want to see. Trust me, I nearly had a heart attack when I saw you standing in the front row.” He lifted his chin from his chest, dusky eyes flickering with light. “Didn’t know you were a fan.”

“Oh, I’m not,” I said without missing a beat. “Me ending up at your concert was a complete fluke. We-” I paused, feeling the first spark of hope since I saw him at the office. “My husband and I were scouting the event.” I left out the fact that said husband wasn’t with me that night since we were arguing. He didn’t need to know the dirty details. I didn’t owe Corbin Wolfe a thing.

His nostrils flared and I almost laughed. I knew him well enough to know he wasn’t jealous. Not really. Everything was about him—if anything, he was just bothered that I was no longer drinking his flavor of Kool Aid. No longer pining over what could have been. Not asking for his autograph.

“You’re married now? Wow!”

“And we have a daughter,” I piled on. “But I didn’t come here to talk about my home life-”

“Uh huh,” he grunted sarcastically. He had the audacity to wink at me to boot.

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