Page 84 of Coffee Break with the Billionaire

“What do you think? I turn my pumpkin to face Silas. “My first time.”

“I bet you don’t say that too often,” he says, turning it this way and that. “You seem to have done everything.”

“It’s surprising how many firsts I’ve had since I’ve been here,” I admit.

He glances at me with a half-smile. “And has that been good for you?”

Good for me? Since when does anyone ask if something is good for me? I nod. “I think so.”

“This looks great.” He spins it around to face me.

“It looks like a face, doesn’t it?” The eyes are different sizes and the mouth ended up more of a hole, but at least it will show lots of light.

I like it. It’s my first jack-o’-lantern.

“It does.”

Chapter thirty-four

Silas

Fenella carves two pumpkins,and the second is much better than the first.

It’s always a fun evening, more so this year because I get to watch Fenella try something new.

That was the plan. I’m not trying to change her, only show her what else is available in the world that doesn’t come with a price tag only a few can pay.

“That was fun,” Fenella says as we wave goodbye to Edie and Kalle. “Thank you for bringing me.”

“I have fun with you.”

Fenella tucks her arm in mine. “I know.”

I like her confidence. And I like when she laughs at herself, and when she admits she doesn’t know something.

I just like her.

We leave out the front door and it’s an easy walk home for Fenella—straight down the alley. But I don’t make the turn. Instead, I linger by the door because I’m not ready for the night to be over. “Are you…?” I stammer. “I thought… Do you want to walk down to the pier withme?”

She tightens her grip. “Are there stars at the pier?”

“There might be a few.”

“Then I’m in. I never could have imagined that looking at stars would be something I enjoyed,” she admits as I steer us away from The King’s Hat.

“It’s not that exciting a hobby,” I concede.

“It’s not that… okay, maybe it is a bit,” she says with a laugh. “But I don’t do a lot that involves being outside when it’s dark in places where I can see the stars. And I don’t do a lot that involves me being still.”

“I’ve noticed that about you. You like to keep busy.”

“I thought the first few days here would kill me,” she confesses with a laugh. “It’s so quiet and—”

“Boring?” I offer.

“No.” She gives a quick shake of her head. “I thought so at first, but not now. Now, it’s… comfortable. I like being here.”

“But…”

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