Page 36 of The Billionaire and the Runaway

I furrow my brows. “It’s fine,” I state because I feel like she’s prying for information.

“Oh? The company is a good one or is it just one of those struggling small businesses?” she asks as if she just asked about the weather.

What game are you playing, Kimberly? I think to myself.

“It’s doing OK. I mean, they hired me, so obviously, there’s money,” I state.

“Oh, of course, right. Well, glad everything is good and that you do all that hard work remotely. Tell Katia I said hi. Maybe I can talk your father into popping over there for a weekend?” she suggests.

“Uh, right. Yeah, well, we’re not sure where we are going next, so…” I trail off.

“I see. Well, have fun. Bye, Ariana,” she says and hangs up with a click. Leaving me wondering what the hell that was all about.

I immediately call Katia.

“Hey, how was his dick? Is it enormous? Was your first time good?” she asks. She’s, like, the only person on the planet that knows I’m a virgin.

“It didn’t happen. I think he got freaked out about kissing me. But whatever. Kimberly just called,” I say, my words coming out fast.

“Whoa! You didn’t do it?” she asks.

“Focus! Kimberly called. She said something about trying to get my dad to come see us,” I say.

“Oh, shit! Well, I can always get our yacht repositioned if we need to, you know…hide or something. I guess let me know,” she says. “And I’m sorry that…what’s his face…Eric? Didn’t want to pop your cherry.”

“Yeah, not as sorry as I am,” I grumble.

“Maybe you should just bail on this job and come over here. I can buy you a plane ticket,” she offers.

I look out the window and watch as Eric dumps food in Petunia’s trough. My mind races through all the employees on the farm, the folks in town, and even the animals. This place needs me. And I can help it.

Resigned, I sigh. “No. I have a job to do. And I’m at least going to stay and finish it.”

“OK, but call me if you change your mind,” she says.

“I will. And, Katia?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks,” I say.

“You’re welcome. Love you!” she replies, and I smile. At least I can always count on my bestie.

“Love you too,” I say as I hang up and get back to making social media graphics because this work is something I can actually do.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Eric

I’ve fed all the animals. I patched a broken board in the barn. I’ve secured and re-secured things around the property in anticipation of the storm, but I’m kidding myself by saying I did this because of the weather. I did this to avoid confronting my actual feelings for Ariana.

My analytical brain tells me I fucked up. I can’t be messing around with an employee. Not that Windsor Family Farm has any sort of employee handbook, but I don’t like the idea that there would be any chance she would feel pressured to be with me. I have a feeling that’s not the case, but it’s certainly a concern I’m having as I try to work hard enough that my brain goes blank.

The rain is coming down in sheets now. I barely feel my phone buzzing in my pocket. I pull it out and answer it when I see it’s Kingsley.

“Hey, just checking up on you. Do you need me out there?” he asks.

“Nope. I just fed all the animals again and secured them in their pens and stalls. Everything is as ready as it can be. Stay put. Is your mom home?” I ask. Kingsley still lives at home with his mother and commutes to a local university for classes. His parents divorced after Tori died. Both his mom and I tried to get him to live on campus, but he refused.

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