Page 47 of The Billionaire and the Maid

“Here,” he says. I go to reach for the water at the same time Chase does and my head hits his chin.

“Ouch,” we both say at the same time.

“Oh,” Lorenzo says as he steps back and looks at us.

“What?” we say again in unison as I rub my head and Chase rubs his chin.

“That’s good luck. In the little village where I was born, there’s this legend that if two lovers collide, they are meant to be together forever,” he says with wide eyes.

“Nonno, it’s a silly legend from a tiny village. And we didn’t reallycollide, we just bumped heads,” Chase says, handing me the water.

I take a sip and look between them. “Yeah, it’s no big deal,” I agree.

Lorenzo shakes his head. “I think it might be. I know you have concerns about having a horse, Ella. And I’m sorry we sprung him upon you. Chase saw him and said he’d be perfect for you, and I couldn’t resist buying him. But please, take him out for a ride. I’ll keep him as mine if you like or Chase can, but you always have the right to ride him whenever you like,” Lorenzo assures me.

Chase’s hand squeezes my shoulder, and he places a kiss on my cheek. “Keep him, Ella. Riding makes you happy. And I like seeing you happy.” I fight the tears in my eyes. No one has openly said they like seeing me happy in years.

“Thank you,” I say as I manage to get up. I hug Chase and give him a quick kiss. Then, I hand Chase my water and I walk over to Lorenzo, hugging him. His arms wrap around me, and he places a kiss on the top of my head.

“You are most welcome.” He leans down and whispers in my ear, “You make Chase very happy. And that makes me very happy.”

I crane my neck and look up at him. He has the same warm eyes as Chase. “Chase is a good man. Just like you.”

Lorenzo blushes a little. “You’re a kind soul, Ella. You deserve to be happy. Your father would want that.”

“You knew him?” I ask as I step back.

He nods. “Of course, he was my neighbor. He was a good man, Ella. I didn’t recognize you before, but when my son mentioned who you were and said your last name, well, I see a lot of him in you now.”

I smile sadly. “I’d love to hear more about your friendship with him someday,” I say.

“Anytime. He’d be very proud of you,” Lorenzo says as he reaches out for Ridgley’s lead and hands it to me. “Take our boy for a ride.”

I laugh. “Well, when you put it like that.”

“I’ll grab a horse,” Chase says.

I watch Chase walk into the stable. Fuck, why does he have to have the most toned backside I’ve ever seen? I shouldn’t be attracted to my fake boyfriend. This is bad. Very bad.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

Chase

“Do you miss it?” I ask, motioning to the house in the distance.

“Sometimes,” she answers. She stares at it, and I wonder what she’s remembering. Good memories? Bad ones? Maybe I shouldn’t have brought her here today.

Ridgley shakes his head and Ella leans down, wrapping her arms around his neck. He makes a contented noise. I’m glad they are bonding. Horses seem to soothe her. I wish I knew what happened to Gunther. I’ve put out feelers for him, but so far, I haven’t found him.

“Ridgley seems to be enjoying our ride,” I state.

She turns her head toward me and smiles, nodding but not speaking. I sense her sadness and it’s killing me. She’s normally so bubbly and happy. I feel like I’ve been bringing out the worst in her, or at least sad feelings. I decide right then and there, we need to do something fun. I have a million things to do today. I have calls to make, I need to catch up with Ward, and my dad’s sleazy assistant, Ken, is trying to set up some sort of meeting, but I want to bail on all of it. I want to spend the afternoon with Ella.

“Do you have work later?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “No, not till tomorrow morning,” she says.

“Come on,” I say as I nudge Rook and we take off across the field and back through the forest. I can hear Ella and Ridgley in tow, and I smile as I hear Ella laughing and talking to Ridgley as though he’s her best friend. She used to do that with Gunther. I’d forgotten that until now.

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