Page 45 of Beach Bum Billion-Heiress
"Please enjoy your dessert and stay for the dancing right after." Sage turned the mic off and I pulled her into a hug while the crowd clapped for her.
"Congratulations, baby. You did it. So damn proud of you." My voice shut down and I couldn't say anything more. Instead, I cupped her jaw and brought my lips to hers, showing her what I thought of her accomplishment. The kiss was sweet and gentle, something I didn't do enough of with her. She loved it rough and wild and out of control, but I also wanted to show I cherished her. I adored her. I loved her.
"All right you two, break it up!" Esa shouted in my ear, pulling me from my moment with Sage. I blinked my eyes open and saw Esa, Bailey, Hessa, Brinley, Ivan, Jack, Kai, and Dean surrounding us, giving pats on the backs and hugs to Sage and I. The atmosphere went from sweet and intimate to loud and celebratory in the space of a kiss. I knew there would be plenty of time for Sage and I to be alone. Right now, I wanted her to live it up and celebrate her accomplishments with our friends.
"Looks like you two are officially doing this thing now that her dad's seen you together," Kai loudly whispered to me.
"We'vebeendoing this thing, whether Mr. Vanderman acknowledged it or not." I wasn't going to let that man dictate our relationship.
Looking back to our table, I saw that Mr. Vanderman was no longer seated. I frowned, but didn't have time to figure out where he'd gone.
Jack clapped me on the back. "I've been meaning to tell you, nice going, landing a sugar mama." He busted up laughing along with the other guys.
I glanced over at Sage, glad she was too busy with the giggling girls to have heard that comment. Then I glared at Jack and he just laughed harder.
"I guess I should get used to hearing that shit, considering I'm looking to make it permanent."
All four guys stopped laughing and leaned closer, all jokes aside.
"For reals, man?" Kai asked me, a soft smile on his face.
"Yeah, if she'll have me. But keep it quiet, I want to surprise her, okay?"
"Hell yeah, man. Congrats. She's a lucky girl." Ivan shook my hand. "All the cool kids are getting married these days." He winked at me.
"Hey, don't look at me. Bailey and I just got together and things are going smoothly. No need to rush that conversation. Could you imagine her and Esa planning their weddings together?" Jack held his hands up and backed away a step, his face scrunched up like he smelled something funny.
"Dude, it's not contagious." Dean playfully punched Jack in the arm.
"Better safe than sorry, man." Jack still looked scared, which made us all laugh again.
"What are you boys saying to my man? He looks green around the gills." Bailey stepped over to our group, her hand resting on his chest while she snuggled up to his side.
"We were just asking him if he knew how to dance, seeing as how you two are together now and he's one of my groomsmen. He'll have to dance at the reception, right?" Ivan piped in, saving Jack from talk of engagements, but throwing him under the bus just the same.
"Yeah, he said he wanted to salsa dance with you." Dean tossed out there, ignoring Jack's looks of hate.
"Salsa is so fun, Jack. You gotta try it!" Brinley piped in as she joined the group.
"I know! Jack can sing a duet with Hessa at the reception." Kai looked excited at the prospect, earning him a deeper scowl from Jack.
"Really? You'll dance with meandsing?" Bailey looked like a toddler with her first ice cream cone. She was bouncing up and down in her stilettos. Shit, Jack was going to have a hard time backing out of all that.
I pulled Sage to my side and steered her clear of the group. I wanted us out of there before Bailey caught wind that we were all just teasing Jack. That girl was a little too fiery for my taste. Plus, we needed to find Sage's father and close that trust fund conversation once and for all.
When we hit the hallway to the back, the noise of the festivities died down a bit. Sage spun around, surprising me.
"Before we talk to my father, I need some answers." She looked serious. Way too serious for a girl that was celebrating her accomplishments.
"What's wrong?"
"With everything going on, I forgot to ask you this earlier. How come you didn't need me to introduce you to my father? How do you two know each other?" Her eyes narrowed, her stare intent, but her hand was still clasped in mine.
I sighed, happy that there wasn't something serious going on. "Remember when your father was flying here a few months ago and you asked me to trust you?" At her nod, I continued. "When you were dealing with the real estate agent on this property, I was at the hotel, meeting with your father. I called him and asked to meet with him."
Her face scrunched up and she shook her head. "But why? I don't understand."
I squeezed her hand tighter. "I wanted him to know why I wouldn't sell. That it had nothing to do with your skills as a real estate developer and everything to do with me and what my property meant to me. Plus I wanted him to understand exactly what a wonderful woman you'd become. Make him see that, if I could. You needed someone to be on your side for once.”
