Page 54 of 21 Nights with Billionaire Boss

She sees something that makes her frown and purses her lips. That small pout is enough to make my heart skip a little faster and my throat closes up.

I don’t understand my reaction to her. And now’s not the time to try to.

This morning, I wasn’t doing much thinking when I went down on her and then asked her to have lunch with me.

Maddie’s not just anyone I can forget. So I definitely shouldn’t be looking for more opportunities for us to be alone together.

I imagined it would be one and done with her, finishing what we started in the garden. But now it’s getting to be more and I’m not sure how to deal with it.

She turns, a bright smile on her lips. “This is so lovely.” She waves around us. “Seems cultural in a way.”

She’s referring to decor. Wooden beams make up the roof and the walls. Rustic tables and chairs cover the sitting area and green palms hang overhead. Combined with the sound and smell of the sea, it gave a feel of the outdoors but with comfort.

“How often do you come here?”

The last time I did was two years ago. “Not often.”

“Huh.” She looks everywhere but at me. “Because it’s not your kind of place?”

Do I have a kind of place? That’d be my office. It’s quiet and I can do the most work there. But I’m certain that’s not what she’s asking.

“No, because I’ve had no reason to until now.”

Her lip quirks and her gaze falls to the smooth table.

Is she shy?

Before I can ask about that, she picks up the menu and starts discussing options. Glad there’s something to do aside from staring at her and getting lost in my head, we go over what we’d like.

A waiter comes over and takes our orders. A seafood pasta for her, and a pork soup and potato salad for me.

We’re served a coconut cocktail while we wait.

“It’s weird how the beach is so quiet.” She gazes out the window as a couple walks past. “The public beaches we haveback home are stuffed full of people. I’d rather stay home in the summer.”

I frown. I’ve never been one to idle away time on the beach but there were fun days when I was young. My brothers and I had fun swimming, surfing, and playing on the sand. “That’s sad.”

She shrugs. “It’s not bad. We made the most of it. I had my family with me and we had fun.”

“And your family is?”

“My mom and dad and me.”

“You’re an only child?”

“Uh-huh.” She sips from her glass.

“Did you ever miss not having more siblings?”

She rolls her eyes up thoughtfully. “No, not really. I’ve been friends with Nat since we were teenagers. It’s like I’ve always had a sister.”

A smile pulls at my lips. “I’ve never had a sister. Well, there’s Lucy but she’s…”

“One of the boys?”

“Yeah.”

Maddie smiles. “I saw her almost floor Baxter.”