Page 79 of The Billionaire's Ride

“I feel . . .” My chin trembles. “I feel heartbroken.”

“What happened?”

Lisa has always wanted me to meet someone special. She’d always be disappointed when nothing worked out so I never told her about Drew. Not about the motorcycle ride, the park, the sketchbooks, or our weekend in New York. And I’m pretty sure she never saw any of the photos fromCheeri-Ooh!because she never mentioned them.

When I regain what’s left of my composure, I relive my entire romance with Drew right there on the couch with Lisa. Balled-up tissues litter my living room rug. My face is warm and wet, and I can’t breathe through my nose anymore. She listens thoughtfully but is careful not to react too much, hiding her smile during all the really good parts like how we danced to Billy Joel and Barry-freaking-Manilow.

“He’s obviously crazy about you,” Lisa starts. “What are you so afraid of?”

“Getting hurt. Being miserable for the rest of my life because it didn’t work out.”

She wipes her thumb over my wet cheeks, and I can smell her La Mer cream. “But honey, you’re already hurt and miserable.”

“Yeah, but I don’t want it to be worse than this.” I blow my nose into an already sopping wet tissue.

“Take it from someone who’s been heartbroken a few times. It doesn’t get worse than this.” She rustles my messy bun.

“But look at you and Dad. Don’t you wish you never married him?” I ask, relieved to finally ask her this burning question.

“No!” she says with an incredulous chuckle.

I blink a few times. Not the reaction I expected. Not in the least.

“Your father was great to me. We had a good life together while it lasted. And if I hadn’t married him, I would have never had the opportunity to help raise you. And that’s something I’d never trade for anything in the world. Kate, I’m so proud of you. I wouldn’t wish a single day away. Not even the bad ones.”

“Really?” I ask, sniffling.

Lisa nods, and I look into her crystal blue eyes. “Yes. Being in love is one of the greatest experiences you will ever have. You don’t want to look back and wish that you hadn’t let love pass you by.”

“But he lives so far away. I’m not sure how we can make it work.”

“Well, you haven’t even tried yet. Maybe he will move here. Maybe you move to London. He’ll probably fly you back and forth on his jet. He’s a Bonnaire. He can afford it.”

I tilt my head, wrinkling my brow. “How do you know about the Bonnaires?”

“I met Dean Bonnaire a couple of times. Once back in the ‘90s at a party in Paris, and again at one of Nina’s Savoy’s parties in London. He was such a fox but he was married.” Lisa’s gaze drifts like she’s daydreaming about Drew’s father. If he looked anything like his son when he was younger, I could see why.

“But he hasn’t called. What if he won’t talk to me? What if it’s too late?”

“If he meant what he said, then he’ll at least hear you out. I’m sure he misses you as much as you miss him.”

I lean back and suck in a deep breath. I don’t know how the hell I got here, but here I am. And after talking with Lisa, I feel like maybe it’s okay to put myself out there. Maybe it’s worth taking a chance on love. And if I’m going to take a chance with anyone, it will be him.

“I don’t know how to get him back,” I say, at a loss.

Lisa looks at me like the answer is obvious. “Yes, you do.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

DREW

I wantedto return Kate’s call but I was angry. Angry at myself. How could I have let myself be so vulnerable to a woman? I knew better. I fell for the one girl that I knew would never fall for me. When she didn’t call again, I knew that it was over.

She doesn’t love me. Now, it’s like I’m sixteen again, totally heartbroken over a girl. But this is so much worse. No one’s ever made me feel the way she does.

I keep waiting for these feelings to fade and wishing I could forget about her. But I don’t love her any less. For weeks after, every time I got a knock at my door, my heart skipped a beat thinking it could be her. But it never was.

Then one day, a messenger appeared at my door with an envelope from Nina Savoy. It was the proof of Kate’s spread forLux Magazinewith a note of praise for my work. She looked incredible and I began reliving everything about that day. How I walked in on her in the dressing room by mistake. How nervous she was to be wearing so little in front of the camera. How her energy shifted when I fixed her stocking.

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