Page 67 of The Billionaire and the Runaway

I pull back, worried. “Did I hurt you? Is it your leg?” I ask as I search her body.

She laughs and wipes her eyes. “No, you big dummy. I’m just happy. So happy. I thought I lost you.”

I take her face in my hands and kiss her cheeks, her nose, her forehead. Then I bring my lips to hers. “You’ll never lose me. Because I’m not letting you go again,” I say against her skin. Our lips crash together again and I know I’m forgiven.

A clearing throat has us pulling apart a moment later. We both turn and find Katia leaning against the doorframe.

“Uh, sorry to interrupt this little…well, anyhow, Eric, you’re needed at the farmstand and, Ariana, are we packing or….” Katia trails off and looks between us, raising an eyebrow.

I turn to Ariana. She bites her lip and it takes all my energy not to pick her up and carry her to my room to make love to her all afternoon.

“No packing, Katia. But I do need to make one quick call,” she says as she pulls a phone from her pocket.

I watch her press call on her phone.

“Hi, Dad. I’m here. And there’s something you should know,” she begins.

I start to remove her from my lap, to give her a little privacy, but she grips my arm and shakes her head. I grin at her and she grins back.

“Well, are you going to tell me, or is this a new guessing game?” James Titan’s voice breaks the silence.

With a little shake of her head, she puts the call on speaker. “Dad, I’m here with Eric Windsor…my…” She pauses and looks at me and I nod. “My boyfriend and my boss.”

“What?” James screams.

“Dad, calm down before you give yourself a stroke. You need to know something about Kimberly.”

“Why are you with Eric? Get your ass back here!” James yells.

“Dad, listen to me!” she screams, and as if in shock, James shuts up. “She wants you to change the prenup and buy the farm where I work because she found oil here on a neighboring property. The private company that she hired used some university to do the survey and that is online. We were able to find it. There’s oil under this farm as well. She’s been telling you lies about me. She wants your money, Dad, and I think this property was going to be her backup plan. You were going to put it in her name, weren’t you?”

“Yes,” he says quietly as he processes what Ariana’s said.

“I’m sorry, Dad. I think Kimberly just wants you for your money. She wanted me out of the picture, and she knew Eric was hiring because of her research that started with the neighboring farm. It sounds like she has an oil tycoon friend and he mentioned something about possible reserves around Storyview Falls. Or at least, that’s what I can figure out from some documents that Katia found,” she continues.

“George Benjamin?” James asks.

“Yes, that’s the guy. Why?” she questions.

There’s not an answer. “I need to go, Ari. But we are discussing this later. You need to make smarter decisions.”

“Dad, wait. I know you think this isn’t the right place for me. I love that you want what’s best for me. But, Dad, Eric and this farm, they are what’s best for me. I know I was stupid about driving that tractor, and I promise I won’t be doing that again. But, Dad, I love him, I love this farm, I love my friends here, and I love this little town. I feel alive here. Please, at least come here and see things. I want to live, Dad. Really, really live. And I can’t do that in your penthouse. I can’t do that working for your company. I need to spread my wings and live my own life. And I want this life, Dad. Please, just promise you’ll come here. I’m going to stay here. Because this is my home.”

There’s dead silence on the other line.

“Dad?” Ariana asks after about ten seconds.

“And what if it falls apart? Then what?” he asks.

“Then, I guess I’ll find another job and another place to live. I can do this, Dad. Please, believe in me,” she begs and I see her tear up again. I squeeze her hand and she squeezes it back.

“I want you to be happy, Ari. I…” He clears his throat. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”

“I do, Dad. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but…I needed to make sure this was right for me. And coming here today…I know it is,” she explains as she stares into my eyes. It’s like she’s talking to me and her father all at the same time.

“I’ll come down tomorrow. We can talk. But no more of this lying bullshit, Ari. You tell me the truth. If you love some guy, I better know it. You aren’t some teenager. And I’m sorry if I treat you like that, but I love you. And I want what’s best for you.” He pauses and Ariana’s eyes well with tears. I’m guessing her father doesn’t profess his love to anyone very often. “But I also want you to be happy. So…we’ll talk.”

“I love you too, Daddy,” she whispers.

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