Page 32 of Coffee Break with the Billionaire

I don’t look that bad. I’m Fenella Carrington. I can make anything look good. Some of the outfits I’ve worn modelling were worse than this, and far less warm.

I free my hair from the heavy fabric likeSilas did.

No man has ever given me their coat when I was cold. That may be because I live in a warmer climate, but still. Gunnar offered me his suit jacket once when we were out for dinner in London, but that was in the early stages of our relationship and photographers had followed us. We both knew what the optics of me wearing his jacket would be.

But Silas never hesitated or had an ulterior motive. He’s a nice guy who knew I was cold, and I never expected him to give me his coat—or insist on I wear it back to the castle.

I didn’t expect any of what happened last night. I bought a car and saw some beautiful stars at the edge of Laandia and Silas gave me his coat to wear because it was frigid cold.

I wondered what it would be like to kiss him.

When Wyatt told me to make a wish because I saw ashooting star, my mind went right to that mouth, and what it would be like to kiss Silas.

I have kissed a lot of men in my life. Some have meant something. Most haven’t.

I have also seen a lot of beautiful things in this world, so a simple shooting star shouldn’t have had me jumping like I got a present. Billionaires don’t react to beauty—we act like it was put there for our benefit. That view from Lake Como? Of course it’s for me. Seeing the northern lights in Iceland? I paid to be there, so it was expected.

But the unexpectedness of the night did something to me. Made me think of Silas in a way that I never really considered him.

He did that for me.

Not that it was planned; it was a random coincidence that I was even there at the same time as he was but still.

Silas is…

Not for me.

Seriously, there’s no way I would be good for him. My life would eat him up and spit him out. There’s no way sweet Silas could handle the real me out in the real world.

Sometimes I can barely handle myself.

But I still wake up thinking of that almost-moment when we could have—

Yeah. We could have. And it would have been nice.

Maybe better than the shooting star.

I hug Silas’s coat and, for the first time in a long time, have that little jump of excitement when I think about seeing someone.

When I get to the dining room where the cook has set out breakfast, that little jump of excitement hops away because Edie is at the table.

I met Edie when I came for Prince Odin’s wedding back in June. At that time, Edie was a “friend” of Prince Kalle’s. Istress the friend because I had a few moments with Kalle while I was here.

There were a few dances at the wedding, possibly a kiss or two, and then a dinner. That was it. Kalle is Gunnar’s older brother, and while I have no qualms about most families, I was not putting myself in the middle of a healthy, brotherly relationship. Plus, things with Tiger were off-and-on back then.

I never should have flipped the switch back to on with Tiger. Things shouldn’t have continued with Kalle, but I should have shut it right down with Tiger.

I tell myself it won’t be awkward with Edie when I find her seated at the table.

“Hey, there,” I say.

Since when do I say “hey, there”? Awkward.

“Fenella.” Edie smiles, her dark eyes warm and fully awake at this hour. “Good morning.”

I pour myself a coffee and survey what’s available. Food has been laid out on a sideboard by the door, and the scent of it has my stomach rumbling. Silver serving dishes of eggs and bacon, fresh bagels, and a display of fruit take the centre of the table, with carafes of coffee and hot tea.

I’ve stayed in more luxurious places and eaten better food, but there is something about the castle that makes me feel at home. When Gunnar invited me to stay, I didn’t have to think twice before I agreed. I may not feel like I belong in the small town of Battle Harbour, but King Magnus and his family have always made me feel welcome whenever I have visited.

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