Page 55 of Not the Billionaire

“We don’t have to spend a long time at dinner if that’s what you want.”

She nodded then turned to Skylar and Franky. “Okay. Dinner sounds great.”

Their entire exchange gave Sebastian a glimpse of what the future could be like for them—the closeness, the understanding, the two of them in each other’s confidence. He wanted it all.

“I’ll only be a few minutes,” Skylar announced as she walked toward the building.

“We’re not taking your car, are we?” Sebastian called after her.

“Yes!”

Franky let out a little whistle as he spun around. “I love her car.” He looked at Genevieve. “Have you seen it? Sexy red Porsche 911 S.” He pointed toward the car parked across the street.

“My legs are too long for the back seat,” Sebastian complained.

“I can sit in the back with Genevieve if you want.”

His eyes bored into Franky’s.

“Or not.” Franky burst out laughing.

“So, you’re all good friends,” Genevieve said. It wasn’t a question. More of an observation. Like she was trying to piece together the relationship between him, Franky, and Skylar.

“Yeah, good friends,” Sebastian spoke before Franky could say anything.

Skylar came out of the building a few minutes later as promised.

As they walked to her car, disappointment settled over Sebastian. He wanted Genevieve to get to know his family and friends, but not under these circumstances. Circumstances that he’d put them in by lying about who he was. He’d dug himself this giant hole that kept getting bigger. And now that Franky was involved too, he felt like he was sinking further and further into the lie.

He wanted Genevieve to know him as Sebastian and be close with his loved ones. He wondered how she would react if he told her the truth. Would she be very angry? Anyone who was lied to would be unhappy about it, but was she the kind of person who held a grudge? Or would she listen to his reasons and understand where he was coming from? He didn’t know her well enough to know that, but he prayed she’d be the latter.

EIGHTEEN

Genevieve hadn’t laughed so hard in a long time. Franky was a very funny guy, and she could see why Kurtis liked him. He was constantly joking around, and it was obvious he was the life of the party. She also suspected that Skylar had a thing for him. Maybe Franky didn’t notice the way Skylar looked at him, but Genevieve certainly did.

Skylar’s car was amazing. Smooth, supple leather seats with that new car smell permeating the space, air conditioning that seemed to immediately cool them—maybe because the outside air was so stifling—and this car had some serious horsepower.

She continued to wonder about the dynamic between the three of them. They seemed to be good friends. The kind of friends that were comfortable around each other. Kurtis didn’t seem the least bit concerned about class, considering the car they were riding in and the very wealthy woman driving it. She had no idea what Franky’s situation was or how he knew the Schultz family, but their association made her assume he came from money too. Maybe that wasn’t correct, but it was her initial judgment.

Kurtis had been right when he said his legs were too long for the back seat. The seats were tiny, probably more suitable for children or petite women like Genevieve. His knees were bent way up to his chest, and no matter how much shifting he did, he couldn’t seem to find a comfortable position. He’d taken the seat behind Skylar, and she’d moved forward to make as much room for him as possible, but it didn’t help much. He shifted once more, and his knee leaned across the center console and rested against Genevieve’s.

She looked over at him.

“Sorry. It’s a tight fit back here.”

“I don’t mind.” She could have angled her legs toward the side of the car to give him more room, but she didn’t. She wanted to feel his strong thigh pressed against hers.

He moved his hand and rested it on his knee, millimeters away from her bare leg. More than anything, she wanted to lay her hand over his. Instead, she placed it on her own knee next to his, giving him the opportunity if he wanted it. She was sure her motive was obvious, and she felt a little foolish for doing it. But then she felt his pinky press against the side of hers. Just the warmth of that simple touch erased her misgivings. She didn’t look at him or their hands. She simply stayed still to see what he’d do next.

Her eyes fixed on the passing landscape, and she was beginning to think she was being foolish again since he hadn’t moved. She was sure he liked her. They had this flirtatious thing going on between them. And he’d nearly kissed her last week. But was she making more of this than there really was? Maybe he’d accidentally brushed her finger with his.

Just as she was about to move her hand away, his pinky gently skimmed over the top of hers and on over the back of her hand as the rest of his fingers followed, gently caressing her skin, softly trailing across her hand to her wrist and back again, leaving chills in their wake. As his hand slid over hers, she lifted her fingers, intertwining them with his, and he folded his fingers into her palm, holding onto her hand and gently moving his thumb back and forth along the side.

She could barely breathe. His hand was so warm atop hers. She turned her eyes away from the window and dared to make eye contact. And when she saw the tender look in his eyes, she knew it wasn’t all her.

She was falling for Kurtis. Falling hard. And she was certain he was falling for her too.

The restaurant was not what Genevieve expected. She’d pictured something a little fancier, with more expensive decor and tastes, but when they stopped in front of a little building overlooking the lake, she couldn’t have been more surprised or pleased. Sunset Grill. She loved it already.

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