Page 81 of Seduced By a Billionaire

“Well did you like it? Dad said he was learning it to surprise you.”

“I loved it.”

“Good, now maybe he’ll play something else.”

Kyle laughed heartily, “You’re something else, kid.” He pulled Finn in for a group hug. They all squeezed together for a brief moment before Finn said, “Can we go now?”

“Yes. Shall we?” Kyle said pulling Ella up from the bench. “My ride or yours?”

“Jeep!” Finn called. “Race ya!”

Finn had a head start, Ella close behind. They raced across the marble floors through the mansion’s wide corridors and out the front doors where she had parked in the circular round-about.

“Do you want to drive?” Ella said, challengingly.

“You’re trusting me with your baby?” Kyle asked, surprised.

“Why not?”

Grabbing the keys from her he got behind the wheel, Finn crawled in back and Ella buckled in beside Kyle. He adjusted the rearview mirror, meeting Finn’s eyes, he gave him a thumbs-up then put it into gear.

“A family that plays together stays together!” Kyle shouted over the noise from driving with the top off. He glanced in the back again and his heart squeezed at the pure joy on his son’s face.Life was good.

33

It was a gorgeous sunny day, the sky a periwinkle blue, the air festive and lively. There were food trucks and art vendors selling pottery, colorful paintings, framed photography, handmade jewelry, and booths with tee-shirts ranging from tacky touristy screen printing to artful hand-dyed batiks.

Ella stopped to look at a pair of handmade silver earrings and held one up to her ear, inspecting herself in the small hand mirror. Kyle came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck. She leaned back into him, her body melting into his. She had never felt so alive, her whole-body vibrating with anticipation.

“You like those?”

“What do you think?”

“I think I love you.”

She froze, eyes widening she gaped at him through the mirror.

Voice strangled she said, “Excuse me?”

He turned her to face him, laugh lines fanning out around his eyes, he played innocent, “They were made for you.”

“No, I’m talking about the other part.”

“You mean the ‘I love you’ part?”

Eyes shining, she said, “Yes, that part.”

“I love you, Ella Palmer.”

She searched his twinkling eyes, which matched the navy polo shirt he had on today. “I love you too.” She stood on her tip toes and pulled his head down for a kiss.

A loud voice interrupted them. “Get a room!”

It was Pete.

“Great timing, dude,” Kyle complained.

“Hey, don’t you two get enough time for that when you’re alone? You don’t have to subject the rest of us to your nauseating happiness.”

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