Page 40 of Born a Billionaire

FOURTEEN

Adelia sat in the window seat for far longer than she probably should have. She couldn’t believe what Oliver had told her. It had been years since she’d walked in her sleep. She wondered if maybe it was caused by the stress over her parents’ separation. Separation? She hated even thinking that word because most times the next word in that situation was the d-word and she really didn’t want it to come to that. But the way things were going, she was pretty sure it eventually would.

She chewed on her bottom lip as she wondered what exactly she’d done last night. He said she’d cuddled with him. But how exactly? Her mind wandered through the possibilities. Did she kiss him? Did she touch him inappropriately? Her stomach churned at the thought.

He was extremely gracious about the whole thing, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to get past it. How could this have happened?

When the scent of pancakes wafted its way up the stairs, she finally headed to the bathroom to get cleaned up for the day. After a nice hot shower to try and wash away her embarrassment—which didn’t work, by the way—she headed downstairs.

She shuffled into the kitchen, head down and disgraced, and took a seat.

Oliver chuckled. “You look like someone ate all your chocolate chip pancakes.”

She frowned at him with a hint of playfulness.

“Lighten up, Addy. No harm done.” He removed a pan from the oven, which contained a few stacks of chocolate chip pancakes, and put them on a serving plate. “I kept them warm for you.”

That made her heart feel all gooey like the melted chocolate chips. “Aww, Olly, you’re so sweet. Especially after I groped you in your sleep.”

Oliver burst out laughing. “There was no groping. Don’t worry.”

That was a relief.

He set the plate on the table along with some syrup, orange juice, and milk.

“Dig in,” he said as he poured himself a glass of milk.

Oliver’s pancakes were golden brown with loads of chocolate chips, and they tasted heavenly. “Mmm. So good.”

The two of them ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Adelia chose to shift the subject away from her utter embarrassment.

“So, have you thought about what I asked you? About coming to Los Angeles?”

He nodded. “If you’ll feel safer having me there, then I can’t refuse.”

“I really will. And with the weird sleepwalking thing … we’ll be staying with Gus and Merritt, and it would make me feel better if you’re there, and you can keep me from doing anything … humiliating.”

He smirked. “You don’t have to convince me, Addy. I’m here to help.”

“You look nervous,” Oliver said when their plane touched down at LAX.

“Last time I was here, I was bombarded by paparazzi. Not really looking forward to that.”

“Well, so far, they don’t know where you’ve been so how would they know this is your flight?”

“They always seem to know.” Adelia pulled the wig from her bag and placed it on her head.

Oliver pointed at the wig and tilted his head to the right.

She shifted it to the left. “Better?”

He reached up and put his hands over hers and adjusted it. His palms lingered against the backs of her hands, and his eyes moved from the wig to her eyes before dipping to her lips. “Perfect.”

She gave him a little smile, and he lowered his hands, leaving a chill the moment the contact was gone.

They thanked the pilot and crew and headed out of the airport, where Andre was waiting with the town car.

“Welcome home, Miss Allen,” he said as he rounded the car and took their bags.

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