Page 51 of Coffee Break with the Billionaire

I don’t want him to ask out loud because I don’t know the answer.

“What’s that star?” I ask to fill the silence. I point to a bright light in the sky.

Silas takes the cup and refills it for himself. “That might be the International Space Station,” he says with a chuckle. “But that one—” —he moves my hand— “—is Aldebaran, part of the Taurus constellation.”

“The Bull. I’m a Scorpio myself.”

“I might have been able to guess that, if I followed that sort of thing.”

“Stars, but not horoscopes. Got it.”

Silas finishes the soup and sets the thermos on the ground before us. I adjust the blanket and we sit quietly for a long time, looking up.

“Why did you hire me?” I ask finally.

“I thought you’d be fun,” Silas says softly.

“And what do you think now?”

“I suspect you might be more fun than I can handle. You did kidnap me, after all.”

I smile with cold lips. “I persuaded you with lobster chowder. There’s a difference.”

Chapter eighteen

Silas

Iwould really liketo kiss Fenella.

Like, reallyreallywant to kiss her.

But the little voice inside puts a stop to any moves I might still have. Notshe’s not going to kiss you back, because I’m fairly certain Fenella would be very into kissing me back. But the one that keeps repeating—she’s leaving.

“What would you be doing if you were home?” I ask to torture myself.

Fenella starts like she was deep in her own thoughts. “Do you know why I’m here?”

“Laandia is a great place to visit?” She smiles and I continue. “I thought it had something to do with the video of you throwing a fairly substantial ring at your fiancé.”

“Ex-fiancé, just so we’re clear. He’s very ex.”

Good to know.

“My father suggested I stay out of sight until it all blows over,” Fenella continues. “His suggestion was more of an order than a request. I’ve been wanting to work for the company fora few years, and I thought he was going to make that happen, but then Tiger happened. Public embarrassment and no job.”

“That’s…” All I can think of is that’s what she’s got waiting for her at home. Not a man, not friends who will be more fun, more entertaining than I could ever be, but a job.

And I’ve already figured out that it’s important for Fenella to prove herself.

“Yeah. It’s that,” she says heavily. “I’ve been basically exiled here. Not that it’s a bad place to be exiled. Gunnar offered a room in the castle, and I didn’t even think of going anywhere else.”

“I think it’s great that the two of you are such good friends still.”

“It really is,” she agrees. “And thankfully Stella isn’t one to get jealous. I had a boyfriend who hated the fact I had male friends. Super red flag there. He didn’t last long.”

“How did you meet Gunnar?”

“Through my brother, when they were both racing for Red Bull. That’s an awful lot of questions you’re trying to fit in there, you know.”

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