Page 34 of Until I Find You

“Right. I forgot, Mr. Moneybags,” she says with a smile.

I laugh, though it’s a bit embarrassing. Having money to an almost limitless degree is nice, but it does put up a wall between me and other people sometimes. When they realize how well off I am, they put me in that untouchable billionaire category, and it’s much more nuanced than that.

“I’m a little unsure how I feel abouthim, though,” she says, looking through the screen door and into the cottage, her voice lowering.

“What do you mean?”

“He was so cagey about the untended land, I wonder what else he’s trying to veil.” She cocks her eyebrow. “You know?”

I’m not a dumb person, not by any stretch of the imagination. However, I’ve been playing in the stock market for years, not working out business plans or even dealing with people’s feelings. It’s been data and charts and trends. Facts. For the most part. “Good point. I wouldn’t have thought of that.”

“You’re too trusting, Jack,” she says.

“Well, I’m a man. That helps.”

The corner of her lip tilts up. “Wow.”

“I know, right?”

Camilla stares at me for a few moments. “You’re tired.”

“I am.” I nod.

She looks out at the view. “Me too.”

I’m surprised. She’s had it together since we met up to go to the airport. In fact, she seems untouched by exhaustion. “Really?”

Camilla’s eyes flick to me. “I haven’t been sleeping well.”

My breath catches. “Do I snore?”

She giggles. “No, it’s not that.”

I wait for her to say what it is with bated breath.

“You know, time change. Not my bed. It’s just different.”

“Right, of course.” So,notan inability to think of anything but the person beside her in bed? That makes one of us.

Kevin comes out with two cups of hot coffee which, if we weren’t in the shade, I might refuse. However, there’s no way to get to know a good hot coffee when it’s iced. We’re going to roast beans specifically for that. It’s already on my creative to do list.

“Thank you, Kevin,” Camilla says. “Do you mind giving us some time to discuss?”

He shakes his head. “Not at all.” There’s an edge in his voice, but he retreats back into the cottage.

Camilla watches him go. “He hates me.”

“No, he doesn’t.”

She shakes her head and picks up her mug of steaming coffee. “Not all men are as thoughtful as you, Jack.”

There’s a fluttering in my chest. “Really? I’m thoughtful? Even after I’ve asked you to lie to my family that we’re dating?”

“Well, when you put it like that…”

We both laugh, but when we realize we’re both sinking into a familiarity, we turn our attentions to the coffee. I lift my mug and blow off the steam, inhaling the scent of it.

It’s nice. Nothing special. I won’t be using their roasting techniques, though, so that doesn’t worry me. Good beans, though, that matters.

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