Page 11 of The Billionaire's Heart

Mr. Gallo is handsome and that electric thing whenever we touch is new, but he’s a billionaire and I’m a poor foster kid from Knoxville who has lofty dreams.

Don’t get your head in the clouds, girl. He was being a nice guy. That’s all it was.

Unfortunately.

My car started this morning just like it’s supposed to, and it was wonderful not having to worry whether it would start or make me late to work.

Taking a step back from the newsletter last night worked because this morning when I opened the file, it looked perfect,and Mrs. Wilcox was pleased with the results. It’s now been sent off to the printers, and she’s handed me more minor projects that I can help her with.

“Hi Mia. How are you doing?” Rick asks me as he walks into the kitchen where I’m pouring myself my third cup of coffee for the day.

“Hey, Rick. I’m good. How about you?” Grabbing a paper towel, I clean up the few drops of coffee that spilt when Rick startled me.

“Well, today is hump day, so there’s that. Are we still on for Hooplas and a tour on Friday after work?” Rick fills up his own coffee mug.

“Yes. I can’t wait to see the sights and have a beer.”

“Mia.” Mr. Gallo says from the kitchen entrance. He has an angry look on his face.

“Mr. Gallo.” I respond to him and finish stirring my creamer into my coffee.

“Hello, Mr. Gallo.” Rick says quickly to him and then looks at me. “Catch you later, Mia.” Rick scurries out of the kitchen.

I finish making my coffee just the way I like it while Mr. Gallo just stands there and stares at me. It’s weird, so I look up at him. “Did you need something, Mr. Gallo?” I’m not afraid of him and I refuse to be like everyone else in this office.

He shakes his head and then pushes off the doorframe with his shoulder and approaches me. “No. Tell me, Mia, how’s your head feeling today?”

I watch him raise his hand like he’s going to touch where I bumped my head last night, but then quickly decides not to and lowers his hand. His eyes are a deep blue today, darker than they were yesterday. I wonder if that means anything.

“It’s fine. Not even a headache today.” I lie. “Thank you for asking and thank you again for helping me out last night.”

“My pleasure.” He pulls a coffee mug out of the cabinet above my head and we almost touch, but I move out of the way quickly. I don’t know what happened yesterday every time we touched, but I’ve decided that it’s all me and I don’t want to make that mistake again. I dreamed of him all night and that was disconcerting when I woke up this morning.

“Did I hear that you have plans this Friday with Rick?” he asks me, taking me by surprise. Why does he care?

“Um… yes. Rick and his partner offered to take me on a tour of Hibiscus Harbor and show me around and then to a bar called Hooplas.”

Mr. Gallo smiles to himself when I mention the bar but doesn’t elaborate. “Are you new in town?”

I nod. “Yes, I just moved here last weekend.”

“From where?”

“Knoxville.”

He nods his head as he stirs his coffee. “Well, when you’re at Hooplas, tell Steph the bartender to put it on my tab.”

“I can’t do that; you’ve done enough for me, but thank you for the offer.” I pick up my coffee mug and make my way to the kitchen door.

“Mia…” he says.

I turn to look at Mr. Gallo, but he just shakes his head. “Never mind.” He waves me off.

“Have a good rest of your afternoon, Mr. Gallo.” I turn and make my way back to my desk. I don’t know what that was all about, but I write it off as having hit my head last night.

God, I hope this third cup of coffee finally gets rid of my headache.

My head is killing me.

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