Page 49 of The Billionaire's Kiss
Chapter Twenty
Orla
Pulling up to Whisper’s Resort before daylight, I knew this would be the hardest day of my life thus far. “I’ll go gather my things. I’ve got half an hour before the shuttle leaves for the airport.”
Warner let me out at the lobby doors before he parked his truck in the garage. “I’ll be in my office. Come there once you’re done.”
“Okay.” I looked at the truck before getting out, grabbing theoh shitbar once more. “I’m going to miss this truck. We’ve got nothing like it back home.”
“It’s going to miss you too, baby.” Warner sniffed, which I saw as a sign that I should hurry and get out of the truck. If I saw him crying, then I’d start too.
“See you soon.” I hopped out and hurried inside, finding some members of my party already sitting in the lobby, waiting for the vans to arrive.
Mona and her mother spotted me right away, as Mona called out, “We were worried about you, Orla Quinn.”
“No reason to be worried about me.” I headed with purpose toward the elevator. “I’ll be down shortly.”
Customs would ravage my bags anyway, so I tossed everything into them without care. I put them on a luggage cart, leaving it in the hallway for the porters, who were going around and gathering them, to take to the lobby.
Time was running out. I ran to the elevator, taking it to the ground floor and running out, straight to Warner’s office. I closed the door behind me and ran to him, hugging him. I didn’t want to let go. I didn’t want to leave him behind. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
“Keep that picture of us from the Riverwalk on the nightstand by your bed, and I’ll do the same with mine.” He touched the necklace he’d given me. “And just remember that someone in Texas adores you, Orla Quinn.”
“You could come to visit me, Warner.” I clasped the diamond-studded Texas in my hand and knew I would never take the necklace off.
I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he gulped. “And spend another week or month with you?” He shook his head. “Then have to leave you again? That sounds like torture to me.”
It did to me, too. “We have each other’s numbers. I think, if either of us gets really bad in some way, we should let the other know, don’t you think?”
He nodded. “Yeah. If something horrible happens to me, I’ll let you know, or tell one of my brothers to let you know.”
“Or something very good too, Warner. We don’t only have to share bad news. We can share good news too.”
“Please don’t call me to tell me that you’re getting married or having some other man’s baby. Iwon’tbe happy for you, I can promise you that.” He smiled, but I knew he was telling the truth.
And I didn’t want to know that about him either. “Deal. No calls with news of that sort. If you feel like there’s something you want me to know, then make the call, and I’ll do the same.”
“We can’t have that kind of distance separating us and make things last. We can’t fool ourselves.”
“Yes, I know. This is it. It’s over. No hard feelings. And no sad goodbyes—just as we promised each other in the beginning.”
He licked his lips as he gazed down at the floor. “I might not be able to stop the sad goodbye.”
I knew it would be impossible. “I’ll forgive you if you’ll forgive me.”
“Deal.” He held out his hand as if he wanted a handshake.
I shook his hand, and then he pulled me into his arms again and picked me up, kissing me hard. I held onto him so tightly that I wasn’t sure I could let go.
I had truly had no idea this would have happened to us. I thought it would be fun and easy, and no one would fall in love. But even though neither of us dared to say the words, wehadfallen in love. There would be heartbreak and pain, and there was nothing either of us could do about it.
“The vans are here,” I heard someone shout from the lobby.
“Damn it,” I cursed. “Why do they have to be on time?”
“Because that’s the kind of establishment we run, ma’am.” He kissed me once more, softly and sweetly. “Come on, let’s make sure you get a comfy place to sit.”
We walked at a snail’s pace—I was in no hurry to part ways with the man. My hand shook as he held it, walking with me to the waiting van. “Warner, promise me that you’ll find someone to love. Your heart is so big that it would be a crime not to let someone in. The way you’ve let me in.” It was so hard to tell him to move on when I loved him so much. But the thought of him being alone made me sick. “Please.”
