Page 47 of The Billionaire's Heart

As I think about her odd question, I walk towards her on the other side of the room. “I’ve never met someone that thinks about others before herself. I’ve never met someone that refuses to take advantage of me even when I try to give it to them. I’ve never met someone that has offered to pay for dinner like you did the other night in the parking lot. I’ve never met someone that has the soul of an angel, her dreams in her crosshairs, the self-esteem to demand what she deserves, and the body of a goddess. That’s why I want you, Mia. This last week since I’ve met you has turned my world upside down and it’s never been clearer. You are what I want, Mia. You.” I lay my heart on the line and then walk away from it and wait to see what she does with it.

I wasn’t expecting her to hand it back to me.

Chapter 23

Mia

Ican smell and I can taste the whiskey on his breath and it’s all I needed to know. He’s drunk and looking for a booty call. Well, he came to the wrong door for that because I ain’t selling.

“Ian. You should go now.” I wipe my forehead again with the towel because I’m sweating. It’s not hot in here, but I’m hot. And bothered. His kisses were amazing. His words, although what every girl wants to hear, don’t mean a thing because he’s been drinking. I’ve lived in too many foster homes where that’s all you could smell… alcohol and lies. They’re just words when alcohol is involved.

Besides, we don’t even know each other. Tomorrow morning he’s going to regret he even knocked on my door. No, I need to end this before it gets any muddier. “You should go.” I repeat and as I look up at Ian, the look on his face tells me that was not what he expected to hear.

After a moment, he nods, “You’re right. My apologies. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good night, Mr. Gallo.”

“Good night, Miss McIntosh.”

I watch him walk out the door and just like that, we’re back to formalities and I hate the way I’m feeling. Like I broke him. Like I broke his heart.

But I can’t believe his words when they’re spoken after drinking who knows how much whiskey. James, although it’s not fair to compare the two men because they’re night and day different from each other, would drink to excess and then tell me how much he loved me and couldn’t live without me. Then the next day, it was as if he had never said a word to me. It sucked, and I hated how I felt afterwards and with my new start, I promised myself that I wouldn’t let myself get hurt like that again.

And so, I kicked out the billionaire.

Great job, Mia. He’s going to kick you to the curb tomorrow morning and all you’ll have is a crappy apartment with a crappy car and no job. And the reporters will probably still be around because he won’t say a thing to the press. Or better yet, he’ll have Brinna do a press release telling everyone I was just a weekend fling or that he was just faking it.

Who knows, but now all the excitement I had over my new business earlier is completely gone and I probably need to figure out what I’m going to do when the morning comes.

I leave all my stuff where it’s sitting on the table, take off my robe, and climb into bed. Might as well get as much rest as I can in this delicious bed before I have to give it all up in the morning.

I turn off the light using the remote control from NASA and lay there staring at the ceiling, thinking about his kisses and how they felt. How he makes me feel. That’s when the tears start falling.

Turning over onto my side, I let the tears fall without wiping them away. I like Ian more than I think I realize. He sees me. I’m not inconsequential to him like I have been to others I’ve met inmy life. I just wish his words were true and not said because he’s horney and drunk.

The stress over the last few days has taken its toll on me and the tears keep flowing to where I get up and get my trusty towel from earlier to wipe away my tears. I’m ugly crying now and I can’t seem to stop myself. Suddenly, the door to my room opens up and I’m in Ian’s arms.

“Shh. I’ve got you, Mia.” He pulls me into his arms and carries me over to the bed. “Lay down.” He pulls the covers over me as he lies on top of the covers and pulls me back into his arms. “Cry it out. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here, sweetheart.”

And I do. I can’t help myself as the tears just keep falling down my cheeks. Ian lets me cry as he strokes my hair down my back, encouraging me to let it all out.

“It’s okay, Mia. I’ve got you.” He keeps repeating softly into my hair until exhaustion takes over and I fall asleep.

I don’t want to wake up, but I can hear lawn mowers just outside my window. Slowly opening my eyes, I see the curtains are still closed and it’s still pretty dark in my room, but there is some sunlight peeking in round the curtains. Immediately, I remember last night and my crying fit, then Ian coming in and holding me until I fell asleep. Is he still here?

I roll over and don’t find Ian, but I do find a beautiful hibiscus flower sitting on the pillow he slept on last night and a note that says ‘Stay here. I’ll be right back’. I smile at the flower, picking it up and swirling it around in a circle. Unfortunately, the flower has no smell, but the beautiful pink color makes up for it. It’s beautiful.

“You’re awake.” Ian says as he navigates a tray of coffee and what looks like another muffin from Paula.

I sit up in bed and suddenly I’m embarrassed over how I cried in front of him last night. Wonder if this is how he’s going to kick me out of his house and tell me the deal is off. “I am. What time is it?” Since I threw my phone across the room yesterday, it’s been off. The damn thing wouldn’t stop ringing or alerting me to another incoming text. I don’t know anyone, so not really sure who was calling and texting me but thought it best to just ignore the damn thing. But with it turned off, I have no clue what time it is.

“Almost ten.” Ian places the tray on the same table by the French doors to the balcony where I ate yesterday.

“Ten! What time is everyone coming this morning?” I start wrestling with the covers. How the hell am I all tied up in here? I can’t seem to get my legs out. How many covers do I have on me? Four?

“Relax. You’ve got some time. IT has already dropped off your computer and new phone. I put them over there.” Ian points to the coffee table in the living room. “And I gave your sizes to my personal shopper, and she’s already had some clothes sent over and more will be delivered tomorrow. What she’s sent should get you through until then.”

I finally get my legs out from underneath all the covers and sit up on the side of the bed. “Oh, okay. Thank you.” Getting out from under the covers feels like I just finished a workout.

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