Page 67 of Coffee Break with the Billionaire

She thinks we’re friends. And we are.

While it’s fun to be friends with Fenella, I can’t help where my mind goes at night. Or during the day—watching her smile at the customers, making them feel like they’re the most important people in her world right then.

I like her. More than I should. She’s not going to be here forever, so there’s no point wishing on whatever falling star that brought Fenella to me. I’ve already had my heart broken once and don’t need to go through that again.

“I think my ride is leaving,” Fenella says in a glum voice.

I glance over her shoulder. The group is gathering coats, finishing drinks. Gunnar looks over at Fenella and gestures to the door. “I thought you were staying at Edie’s.”

“Tomorrow. I don’t have my things.” Fenella leans toward me. “I guess I better go.”

“Or you’ll turn into a pumpkin?”

She touches my arm, runs her hand along my bicep. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you not wearing flannel. I miss it.” I swallow as she drifts even closer, her cheek brushing against my shoulder. “I’ll miss you,” shewhispers.

My heart gives a leap like it’s doing an Olympic-worthy high dive.

She’s been drinking. That much is clear. But that’s not why she’s saying these things. There is something here between us. I felt it from the start, only I never expected Fenella to feel it too. But still…

My hand moves of its own accord, pushing back strands of hair that cling to her cheek. It’s soft, silky to the touch.

“Fenella,” I begin.

“Silas.” There’s a challenge in her purple eyes; those eyes that hold me captive and have since the first time I saw her.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Gunnar and Stella move toward the door with the others. Fenella is leaving with the family. Is leaving…

It would be so easy to touch her lips with mine. Take her in my arms and kiss her with every ounce of my want.

But still… “I don’t know…” It breaks the spell, pops the bubble around us, and transforms Fenella’s hopeful expression. “I don’t know if you… I don’t know.”

Disappointment floods her face. “I don’t know either,” she confesses. “Can we just not know? See what happens?”

“But you’re leaving.” The lump in my throat makes it difficult to swallow.

“Yes,” she murmurs. She swallows and her lips part. All it would take is for me to lean down and brush my lips against hers.

I want to. I want to kiss her so much—I want the others to leave and keep her here with me and…

She touches my chest.

Fenella lifts a hand and rests it on my chest, curling her fingers slightly like she’s fisting my shirt in her hand and for one horrified moment, I think she’s going to kiss me.

And then she pats my chest and steps back. I draw in a ragged breath. “Good night, Silas,” she says with resignation.

“Good night, Fenella.”

I walk her outside, and she doesn’t look back as she takes her spot in the royal caravan back to the castle.

It’s for the best that nothing happened.

Because if Fenella Carrington kisses me, there is no way I'll ever be able to let her go.

I stand on the sidewalk with Sophie as we wave goodbye. The hour is late and the moon swings high in the sky. Clouds scud along, obscuring many of the stars. I can make out Polaris at the tip of Ursa Minor.

“That was fun,” Sophie bubbles. “And totally unexpected.”

“Uh-huh.” I stare at the SUV until it turns the corner.

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