Page 43 of Billionaire and the Barista

NATHAN

After cleaning up and returning to the bed, I pulled Gabriella into my arms. We both were breathing heavily. My body’s need may have been satisfied, but my need for her was foremost in my mind. How had I lived without her by my side?

I bundled her back against my chest, wrapping around her.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Don’t thank me, that was my pleasure. That was a small fraction of what I need to make up to you. Go to sleep.” I felt drowsy and lulled into that comfortable place where I could sleep in perfect bliss.

I wanted to wake up with her in my arms and make love to her all over again. I’d call into the office and spend the day with her. Even if there was no way to convince her to stay in bed with me. I knew her too well to think she would call in sick to her own shop unless she was on death’s door.

“That sounds entirely too tempting,” she said and then began moving.

I tightened my arms around her.

“Just where do you think you are going?”

“I can’t stay. As much as I would love to.” She rolled in my arms, so we were facing each other. She placed a delicate and perfect kiss on my lips. “I have to get up early and open the shop.”

I kissed her again. I didn’t want to let her go.

“Nathan,” her voice was an admonition, a caress, a promise.

I lifted my arm and let her escape from me. I followed her out of bed and pulled on my shorts.

“What are you doing?” she laughed. “Go back to bed, you’re tired.”

“I’m driving you home.”

“I can get a ride; I have those apps on my phone.”

I pulled her to my chest, interrupting her from putting her clothes back on.

“Don’t take this from me. I’m not going to let you just get in a car, not after that. I’m driving you home.”

“Oh, okay. Thank you.”

The rain hadn’t eased up during our time together. She kissed me in the car as the rain made a roaring sound against the roof of the car.

“You are not getting out of this car,” she chastised me when I reached for my belt. “Thank you for the ride home. For the wonderful dinner, for, for everything.”

“When do I get to see you again?”

“The next time you come into Love Buns.

She dodged raindrops as she ran into the side door of her building. The stairs were on the other side of that door. She waved and then the door closed.

I waited and watched the windows to see when lights came on inside. When that happened, I knew she made it safely home. My bed was cold and empty when I returned to it. Having Gabriella in it had felt entirely too right. She belonged there.

In the morning, I rolled out of my bed, and after getting dressed for the office, I went straight to Love Buns. The smile Gabriella gave me warmed my entire chest.

I had to wait in line. I shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, she had a crowd most times of the day. Having made it a point to be in the café for days on end. I knew this. Only today, they were all in my way. I wanted to kiss her and take her in my arms. And I wasn’t even going to get a hug.

Miguel, her help for the morning, was ringing up orders, filling coffee, and was just as busy as she was behind the counter.

“Good morning,” I said as I stepped up.

She gave me that smile that I had been waiting for, the one that made me feel like she didn't have anyone else in the place, just me.

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