Page 32 of The Billionaire and the Maid

“I’m your first guest?” I reiterate.

He nods as he pours me a drink and pushes the flute toward me. “Well, I’m honored to be your first guest, Mr. Marino,” I state as I hold up my glass to his. He clinks his against mine and we both take a sip, our gazes still locked. I’m the one who caves, looking away to examine the room. Part of the house is two stories high and it’s beautiful with expansive windows that must provide an amazing view back at the falls. Several trees are blocking the view from the other side of the cliffs, which explains how I never knew anything was out here.

The part of the house we are in is one story. The kitchen is large for a small house with granite countertops and dark wood cabinets that are almost black. It’s modern and clean. I wonder how often he comes here.

“Are the bedrooms upstairs?” I ask.

“One is and one is just on the other side of this wall,” he says as he walks me through an open door. There’s a bathroom and on the other side of that there’s a bedroom.

“This is nice. Bigger than I expected,” I say as I take in the king-sized bed.

“The upstairs room is slightly bigger, but it’s the balcony upstairs that I love the most,” he explains. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

I follow him up a narrow staircase to a small landing where there is a door. He opens it into a large bedroom with a bathroom off to the side and even a small walk-in closet. But when he opens a sliding door onto the balcony, I pause. It seems like it has no railings.

“They’re made of glass,” he explains as he takes in my look of concern. “Come on, it’s perfectly safe.”

He holds out his hand and I step forward tentatively. Is now the time I tell him I’m scared of heights? Maybe I was cool with them as a kid, but now, not so much.

I plaster myself against the wall.

“I swear, there’s a glass railing,” he promises and taps his knuckles on it. “See.”

I swallow. “I’m good right here.”

Chase steps forward, placing his body between me and the offending glass that seems to not exist. His finger presses my chin up and my gaze locks with his.

“You were never afraid of heights when we were kids,” he muses.

“I wasn’t on the edge of a rocky cliff with seemingly nothing between me and sudden death,” I mutter.

He grins. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Eleanor.”

I swallow again. I want to saythen don’t let me fall for youorstop being so sweet that I forget you’re a billionaire playboy. But instead, I just continue to stare at him.

“Why don’t you live out here?” I ask, trying to distract myself with conversation.

“I may, someday. I only finished this place a few months ago. And I like being closer to my grandfather. He’s not been well lately,” he explains.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize he wasn’t well,” I say as I bite my lip.

“He’ll be alright. Ella…” Chase trails off and I’m suddenly nervous as fuck.

“W-why are you named Chase?” I stammer.

He laughs. “What?”

“Like, why Chase? Your dad and grandfather have Italian names,” I blurt out, my nerves causing some sort of verbal diarrhea that won’t stop.

“Uh, I don’t know. I think my mom picked our names. Chase was her mom’s maiden name and Tate was her grandmother’s maiden name. You’ll be pleased to know that my middle name is Giovanni,” he explains.

“Oh, that’s cool,” I say as I lick my lips nervously.

Chase runs a thumb over my wet bottom lip. “I do believe I’m making you nervous,” he says, his voice turning low and gravelly.

“N-no,” I splutter.

We’re so close now. All I see is Chase’s face. I’m no longer cold from the blowing wind or scared by the see-through-glass deck wall. I’m fixated on Chase’s brown eyes which seem exceptionally dark out here.

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