Page 64 of “Not” Engaged to the Grumpy Billionaire

“Just a little something,” I say, cutting her off before she can finish. “I figured we’ve both earned a break.”

Her gaze softens, and for a moment, I wonder if she can see right through me, at how much I’ve thought about this, about her.

“This isn’t ‘little,’” she says, her voice shaky with emotion. “This is… amazing.”

I smile, offering her my hand. “Shall we?”

As we sit down, the tension I didn’t even realize I was holding melts away. Liz looks stunning, the soft light highlighting her features in a way that makes it hard to focus on anything else.

“You’ve really outdone yourself,” she says, her voice tinged with awe as she glances around. “I can’t believe you did all this.”

“It wasn’t that hard,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “Just a few calls, a little planning. Nothing you don’t deserve.”

Her cheeks flush, and she shakes her head, smiling. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Impossibly thoughtful, maybe?” I tease, earning a laugh from her.

The food arrives shortly after—a simple but elegant meal delivered by a staff member I’d asked to leave us alone after it’s served. Liz takes a bite of her dish, her eyes fluttering shut as she hums with approval.

“This is incredible,” she says, looking at me with a grin. “Do you ever do anything halfway?”

I shrug, my smile widening. “Not when it comes to you.”

The words slip out before I can think better of them, but I don’t regret them.

As the meal goes on, the conversation flows effortlessly. We talk about everything and nothing, laughing over shared stories and trading lighthearted jabs.

“You know,” I say, swirling the wine in my glass, “I can’t remember the last time I just… forgot about everything.”

Liz tilts her head, her eyes curious. “What do you mean?”

I pause, searching for the right words. “Work, responsibilities, the past… It’s always there, weighing me down. But with you, it’s different. I feel like I can breathe.”

Her expression softens, and she reaches across the table, placing her hand over mine. “You’re not the only one,” she admits. “These past few weeks have been some of the best I’ve had in a long time.”

Her words hit me harder than I expect, and for a moment, I can’t look away from her.

“Liz…” I start, my voice low.

“Nate,” she says, cutting me off with a small, nervous laugh. “Don’t make me cry up here. The view is too pretty for that.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Fair enough.”

After dinner, I lead her down the winding staircase, her hand in mine as we step out onto the beach. The sound of the waves is louder here, the cool sand sinking beneath our feet.

“What now?” she asks, glancing at me with a playful smile.

“You’ll see,” I say, guiding her toward the blanket I’d set up earlier.

As we settle onto the sand, I pull my phone from my pocket and send a quick text. A few seconds later, the first fireworkshoots into the sky, exploding in a cascade of bright blues and silvers.

Liz gasps, her eyes lighting up as she looks toward the sky.

“Nate, this is—”

“Shh,” I say, pulling her closer so that our shoulders touch. “Just watch.”

The fireworks continue, each one brighter and more dazzling than the last. Liz’s face is illuminated in flashes of color, her expression filled with awe.

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