Page 48 of My Billionaire Neighbor's Secret

“I’d told him to stay for dinner, just in case you’d be staying,” he explained.

“Aaahhh…” I said with realization. “You really planned this!”

He laughed. “Of course not. But I prepared just in case.”

“You wanted me to stay until dinner!” I exclaimed. “Even if Drake had been here?”

“Well, yes,” he said. “This feast can feed five or six people!”

My mouth watered at the sight of the delicious dishes in front of us. The smell made my stomach grumble.

Carter suddenly took my hand and looked into my eyes. “Leigh, I didn’t want you to stay until dinner,” he said. “I want you to stay the night. Stay here with me until tomorrow.”

It wasn’t a question but a proposition. I felt my heart skip a beat.

“I’ll think about it after we eat,” I told him. In my mind, I was already weighing the consequences.

It was just one night. But one single night can change a whole lot of things.

Chapter 20

CARTER

Westayedatthefully furnished model villa, the biggest one in the resort. I felt elated when she said she would stay the night. But at the same time, I was nervous about where it could lead.

I was a visionary and a planner--- but certainly not in relationships. I’ve always avoided women I knew wanted more than just fun and sex. But this time, with Leigh Andrews, I just couldn’t. I was immensely drawn to her.

On a whim, I called my assistant and asked for a special arrangement. It was a surprise for the woman who seemed to have captured not just my attention but much more than what I was willing to admit to myself.

“Have you truly seen this dazzling city at night?” I asked Leigh.

She looked at me with a puzzled expression on her face, already wondering what I was up to.

“I’ve been to the center of Las Vegas at night,” she answered. “I’ve seen the lights and all the action at the famous Strip.”

I grinned as I led her out of the villa and into a black luxury car waiting for us outside. We drove a short distance to a spacious lot behind one of my hotels.

Leigh had been asking where we were going, but I wanted it to be a surprise. When we entered the vast gated property behind the hotel, she heard and saw the massive machine that was waiting to take us on a very special tour of the city.

“Oh, my gosh,” she whispered as she looked out the window.

The sound of the helicopter engine was noisy. I almost didn’t hear her. The chauffeur parked the car just outside the helipad. We got down, the strong winds whipping our hair and clothes.

Leigh looked at me excitedly as we were guided toward the helicopter. Seeing her happy made me happy.

As we sat behind the pilot and the doors were closed, I took her hand in mine. It wasn’t a conscious effort. At that moment, it just felt like the natural thing to do.

“Is it your first time to ride a helicopter?” I asked.

She nodded, looking a little bit nervous.

We took off after a minute or two. I felt the familiar sensation of queasiness and excitement in my stomach as the vehicle lifted off the ground.

Leigh intertwined her fingers with mine while looking out the window.

As we went higher and higher, we were greeted with the spectacular vista of the colorful lights of the city and the breathtaking skyline of radiant buildings and structures. The streets were bustling with a flurry of people and cars. Even I was amazed despite seeing this view from an aerial perspective.

“Wow,” Leigh breathed in awe. “This is so beautiful.”

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