Page 31 of The Billionaire and the Maid

“I think they’re shy,” Marie whispers loudly to her beau.

“For the love of God, Marie, you’re killing these kids’ mojo. We’ll leave you young people to it. Lord knows you have more stamina than I do,” the man announces as he takes Marie’s hand.

Marie leans forward toward Ella.

“Try a little liquor in her coffee. Loosens her right up.”

“Marie!” Ella yells.

Marie’s laughter increases as she follows the man down the path. “You’ll thank me later, Ella. Don’t waste your youth.”

Ella slaps a hand to her head. “I’m so sorry. That’s Greta’s friend. She’s clearly intoxicated.”

Laughing, I take Ella’s hand in mine. “It’s fine. Maybe we should head somewhere else. We keep getting interrupted here.”

Ella freezes and looks at me and I suddenly realize I sound like a presumptuous jackass. “I mean. We don’t have to do…anything. I just meant we could talk more,” I stammer.

“I, uh, sure,” she replies while another blush creeps up her cheeks.

We head over to the valet, and once we’re in my car, I glance over at her. I don’t want to take her to my apartment at my parents’ place. I need Ella alone. I want Ella all to myself.

“Do you have to work in the morning?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “No. I don’t have work tomorrow. But I do need to study at some point,” she says slowly as she tries to decipher what I mean.

“Good, ’cause I want to take you somewhere,” I state.

“Somewhere?” she asks.

“Yep. Somewhere,” I reply as I steer us toward a place where we can hopefully be without interruption. Ella’s quiet as I drive. I glance over at her occasionally. A part of me wants so much more, but she deserves better. I can’t give her my full attention. I can’t give anyone my full attention. And as much as I shouldn’t be taking her to my secret place, I know I can’t stop myself any longer. I want her. All of her. Maybe if I can just get a little taste, just for one night, I’ll be able to get her out of my system. Yes, that’s it. Just one night to get my fill. That should work. Shouldn’t it?

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

Ella

I want to ask where we are going. I open my mouth at least a dozen times to inquire, but then I don’t. Somehow, even though this relationship is fake, I trust him. I trusted him all those years ago and right now, after he stood up for me tonight, I trust him even more.

He pulls onto a small quiet road after driving us for almost twenty minutes. We’re just outside of Storyview Falls on the far side of the cliffs from Gus’s apartment where a local river runs into the sea. I’ve heard that’s where Storyview Falls got its name, but Isa tells me the real falls are on the Wellington estate.

The drive leads to a small, modern house. I look at it in the darkness. The moonlight and a few outdoor lights illuminate the lines of the dwelling.

“Where are we?” I ask as Chase parks his car.

“My escape house,” he replies, opening his door and walking around to mine.

He opens it and holds out a hand. I accept it and he keeps my hand tightly in his as he leads me up to a door. He unlocks it with a code, and I step inside.

“Is this house made of…cargo containers?” I ask as I look around.

He grins. “It is. It’s six of them. Two bedrooms. Two bathrooms. And I can always add more. It’s modular. A friend of mine designs them. My grandfather gifted me this parcel of land years ago and I never knew what to do with it. Then my friend asked if he could experiment here with a house idea and the rest is history.”

I laugh. “Wow. I have good friends, but none of them have built me a house.”

“Maybe you need to make more friends,” he says. His eyes don’t leave mine. His intense stare unnerves me a little. Is this a fuck pad? Oh God, I’m so stupid. Did he just bring me out here to fuck me?

“Do you bring lots of people out here?” I ask, unable to keep the question to myself.

“No. You’re the first,” he answers as he opens the refrigerator and pulls out some champagne.

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