Page 118 of How to Fall for the Secret Billionaire
She’s standing there in a blue dress, the kind of blue that steals the last bit of sky before night. Her hair’s down, her eyes a little unsure but bright. She looks beautiful. Effortless.
“Hey,” she says.
“Hi.” I take a breath, because geez. “You’re… wow.”
She blushes, looks down at her shoes for half a second, then lifts her chin like she’s forcing herself to accept the compliment. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
I open the door for her, and she climbs in. By the time I round the truck and slide into the driver’s seat, there’s already a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
“You never told me where we’re going,” she says.
“I know.”
“Cal…”
I shoot her a quick look. “You trust me?”
She hesitates for only a beat. “I do.”
That shouldn’t hit me the way it does. But it does.
I pull out of the driveway and into the road, the sun dipping just enough to cast everything in gold. Tonight’s for her. And I’ve got it all planned.
Tonight, I want her relaxed. Not just a little. Fully. Mind, body, shoulders—not-a-single-worry relaxed.
So, I made sure she wouldn’t think twice about the inn. Thea and Hazel were easy to recruit. I barely finished explaining before they both smiled and told me, “Go. Have fun. We’ve got it covered.”
They even threw in a “Don’t mess it up” for good measure.
I’m taking her to Stars—Everfield’s most talked-about restaurant. It’s tucked into the hills with a view that makes people believe in forever. Perfect lighting, perfect music, and not too many people. The kind of place that whispers, “Slow down, you’re allowed to enjoy this.”
And after tonight, after I tell her everything—who I am, what I’ve built, the world I’ve left behind—I’m flying her out to see the world.
No fanfare. No pressure. Just me, giving her what she deserves.
Margot Hartwell isn’t the kind of woman you string along with crumbs. She’s full-course or nothing. The kind of woman who pours herself into everything she does, quietly, fiercely, beautifully.
She deserves softness. Warmth. Indulgence.
And tonight? She’s getting all of it.
Margot suddenly laughs. “I still don’t know how you got Thea and Hazel to agree.”
I laugh with her. “They were super easy to convince. They love you. And they want the best for you.”
She looks at me, her smile softening. “They do.”
We arrive at Stars just as the sun begins to dip behind the hills, the sky turning that soft watercolor gold. Margot gasps when she sees the building—sleek glass, gentle lights, the glow of something quietly luxurious.
Her hand touches her chest. “Oh my gosh. The food here is unbelievable. World standard.”
I nod, pleased. “There were so many reviews about it. Only the best… for the best.”
That makes her pause. And blush.
A real one—pink blooming across her cheeks, shy but sweet.
It’s beautiful. And I can’t look away.
