Page 8 of The Billionaire's Kiss
Chapter Four
Orla
My nap turned into an all-day event. I woke up just in time to see the sunset from the glass door on my balcony. Stretching, I couldn’t stop gazing at the dizzying array of colors, the melting sun draped over the city. It was a blur of headlights, bright building lights, and streetlights that blazed their silver beams upon the remarkably still busy residents.
The phone in my room rang, startling me. “Feck me!” A red light notified me of the waiting caller, and I walked over to pick up the handset. “Orla here.”
“We’re going to dinner now, and Mother said I should ask you if you’d like to join us since you’re a woman on your own,” Mona said. “We’re going to try the Mexican food at The Fiesta Room here at the resort.”
“Spicy.” I did want to try the Mexican—just not with those two. “My tummy’s not up for that yet, but thanks anyway. You two have a nice time.”
“Okay,” she sounded relieved, but I heard her mother in the background, chastising her. “You are going to eat something, aren’t you? Mum wants to make sure you eat.”
“Tell her that I will certainly eat, and thanks for looking out for me. Mum and Pop will be glad she’s doing it, too.” I hung up the phone, wondering where that handsome hotel owner would be eating his dinner. “What are you up to, Warner Nash? I’ve little enough time to make you mine. At least, for the week.”
I wasn’t in America to find myself a mate for life. But a mate for a week didn’t sound bad at all. And Warner just happened to check all my boyfriend boxes. Tall, dark, handsome, witty, and generous—the most important things to me in a man. Good looks alone merely weren’t enough. I’d found that out the hard way.
In my line of work, I’d met many, many men. And my eyes, like most people’s would, found themselves falling upon the handsomest. I’d dated a few of them in my time. And out of these few, only one had a decent personality; the others seemed to be coasting by on their looks.
The other problem with dating attractive men is that other women also found them irresistible. That’s precisely how I’d lost the one gorgeous man who did have a worthwhile personality—a daring lass had presented herself as another option. I chalked it up to the fact that he must’ve never been mine, or he wouldn’t have responded to Sarah Gallagher’s slithering tongue in the first place.
With the night ahead at the forefront of my mind, I went to shower and get ready. An hour later, I was standing in front of the full-length mirror, rotating to check out my backside. “Perky.” I shook my bottom, making the flowing dress move like waves around my ankles. Being January, it was far too cold to wear anything more revealing, I thought.
Looking up, I closed my eyes.I’m opening myself up to you fate—let’s see what you have in store for me.
Walking out the door, I found Mr. and Mrs. Maguire walking hand in hand down the hallway. “Evening,” I greeted them.
“Good evening, Orla,” Mrs. Maguire said with a nod. “We’re going to meet with the Walsh family at the restaurant called Essence. Would you care to join us? It sounds like a steakhouse—lots of meat and seafood on the menu.”
“That sounds nice, thank you.” Walking alongside them, I reflected on how much I loved taking vacations in groups from our town. It made traveling so much easier and less stressful. “Sounds like something Mum and Pop would like. They wanted to come on the trip too, but Pop threw his back out and they had to sell their tickets to the McCarthys.”
“Well, you’ve got your extended family of Kenmare citizens here with you, Orla,” Mr. Maguire said with sincerity. “You don’t need an invitation to join us for anything, you know.”
“That’s very nice of you. I do appreciate that.” Vacationing with my parents was nice, but it had made it impossible for me to ever have the romantic vacation fling I’d dreamed of having for ages. Not that I was sure this would be one of those dream vacations, but at least I was free if it did come my way.
Getting into the elevator, it took us to the very top of the building. When we stepped off, we were at the entrance to a restaurant that sparkled from within, already filled with people.
The sounds of jovial conversations replete with laughter formed a smile on my lips. The chatter was contagious, and I knew that whatever happened tonight would, at the very least, make me laugh. “Sounds fun in there, doesn’t it?”
“It surely does,” Mrs. Maguire agreed as she, too, was wearing a broad smile. “Come, let’s get inside and join the fun.”
As we stepped up to the hostess station, Mr. Maguire spotted the rest of our party. “Oh, I see Byron. Seems they’ve already gotten a table. Lucky for us, it has three more free places. I didn’t anticipate this crowd.”
The hostess took us to join the others. I ran my hand over the bright red curls of twelve-year-old Jason Walsh as I walked behind him. “Evening, Jason.”
“Oh, good. I’m glad you’re joining us, Orla. I was afraid I was going to be the fifth wheel here tonight.” He jumped up and pulled out the empty chair beside him. “Please, sit by me.”
Taking the seat, I thought about what a fine young gentleman he already was. “Thank you, Jason.” I turned to his parents, giving them a nod. “You’re doing a good job with this one, I must say.”
“Thank you,” Mrs. Walsh said with a proud smile. “He’s our pride and joy.”
Jason bumped his shoulder against mine as I picked up the menu. “What do you say to sharing a cocktail with me, Orla?”
I had to laugh. “I’ll do it.”
“You will?” he asked with surprise.
“Sure. When you turn eighteen, I’d love to share a cocktail with you.” I tweaked his nose, then looked at the menu. “What are you going to have for dinner, Jason?”
