Page 10 of The Bride's Billionaire

He nodded.

“Good. You with me?” She shook him a little bit, and the audience laughed.

Then the music began.

“We’ll sing the whole thing together, okay?”

He nodded. But when the words began, she was the only one singing. “Sing.” She nudged him.

I don’t know much.

But I know I love you, and that’s all I really need to know.

What an appropriate song for them. She knew nothing about this guy, not really, but she loved to be with him. “This is a great song for us. Just think about our fun date.”

He was in a daze. She shook him again, making the crowd burst into laughter again. She kept singing but took him by the shoulders and turned him so that he faced her. He blinked.

“Sing. You’ve got to do this. You made me promise to make you.”

He swallowed and lifted the microphone. “I don’t know much,” he whispered.

“You gotta be a little louder than that.” She smiled. “You can do this.” She stepped closer, dancing, moving slowly, lifting her hips and then she started a little samba, sensuous and slow and close.

His eyes darkened, and he wrapped a hand around her back. The wedding audience catcalled and cheered. And then he started singing, really singing.

Kayla’s eyes widened. He was great! She softened hers to harmonize with his rich tenor, and they blended beautifully all the way to the end, swaying a slow samba, staring at each other.

When the last note ended, she waited, watching him. His eyes stared down into hers as if she were his lifeline. Then he wrapped his other arm around her back and pulled her close into a hug. “Thank you,” he whispered into her hair.

Three teenage girls ran up on stage next, wanting their turn at the karaoke, and Kayla and Tyler slipped away and out the side door.

As soon as they exited onto the street, he whooped. “Wooohooo!” Then he spun her around. “Thank you, Kayla. I can’t believe I did that! I’ve been wanting to for so many years. Every time friends have one, I sit there and sweat and worry––but you did it! You got me up there.” He pulled her close again into a hug, and she thought the air would never re-enter her lungs. “I owe you. That was incredible.”

She nodded against him, loving the rich smell of him, the solid chest, his pounding heart. Then she pulled away. “Youwere incredible! What a voice. Who knew you could sing so well!”

“Certainly not me. My shower at home never gives feedback.”

She laughed and spun in a circle. “This has been the best night I’ve had in a long time. Thank you, Tyler with no last name.”

He stopped. “Oh no. It can’t be over yet. Say it’s not over. We still have to get you to face your fear.”

“Swimming in the dark?” Her heart thumped painfully and then seemed to stop. “I can’t.”

He put his hands on either side of her face. “You can. You don’t have to. But if this is something you want to face, I’ll get you there.”

“What? In our clothes?”

“Whatever it takes. I’m here for you like you were for me.”

She clenched her wrap in her fists. “I don’t know. I don’t know.” Then she started pacing, wringing her hands.

“Whoa, now. Hold on. Let’s not ruin a perfectly great evening. Let’s continue our walk.” He headed away from the ocean, and she felt like that was a great first step. She did want to face her fear but didn’t know if she could.

The one thing she did know was that right now, even though she had a huge day tomorrow, even though she should get to bed, even though she was afraid to face her fear, she didn’t want the night to end.

Chapter 4

Tyler wanted to go find his crazy, spontaneous past-self, standing outside the wedding dress store and thank him. Kiss him beijos on both cheeks and buy him a new Ferrari. What kind of intuitive brilliance had he displayed by sticking around and taking a risk and starting this evening with Kayla? She was something special, and now that he knew, he couldn’t let her out of his life.

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