Page 47 of A Billionaire's Second Shot

Because no matter what happens, I’ll have him by my side.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Levi

The morning sunlight filters through the trees as the car winds its way along the quiet country road. The villa is just ahead, nestled on the edge of a serene lake, and I glance over at Tania. She’s staring out the window, her fingers tapping lightly against her knee, a smile playing on her lips.

“You’re not going to tell me where we’re going, are you?” she asks, her voice teasing.

“Not a chance,” I reply, grinning. “What’s the fun in that?”

She shakes her head, but her smile widens. “I don’t know why I let you get away with these things.”

“Because you love me,” I say with a wink.

Her cheeks flush slightly, but she doesn’t deny it. Instead, she leans back in her seat, her eyes glinting with curiosity. “Fine, I’ll play along. But if this ends up being some remote work retreat disguised as a vacation, I’m turning the car around.”

I laugh. “No work. I promise.”

When we pullup to the villa, Tania steps out of the car and immediately freezes. Her eyes widen as she takes in the cozy stone house, the sprawling deck overlooking the lake, and the gentle sway of the trees.

“Levi,” she says softly, her voice laced with awe. “This is... beautiful.”

“I thought you might like it,” I reply, grabbing our bags from the trunk. “I wanted to give us a little escape before everything gets crazy with the wedding.”

She turns to me, her expression softening. “You planned this?”

“Of course,” I say, shrugging. “I figured we deserved a break.”

Her smile is radiant, and she closes the distance between us, her hands brushing against mine as she takes the bags. “You’re full of surprises lately, Nichols.”

“Just wait,” I reply, smirking. “There’s more.”

The first thingTania notices is the rowboat tied to the dock. Her eyes light up, and before I can say anything, she’s already halfway to the water, her laughter ringing out like music.

“You didn’t tell me there was a boat,” she calls over her shoulder.

“It’s a surprise,” I reply, jogging to catch up. “Everything’s a surprise today.”

She rolls her eyes but climbs into the boat, settling herself on the bench. “Are you rowing, or am I?”

I step in, grabbing the oars. “I’ll do the hard work. You just enjoy the view.”

“You mean the view of you struggling to keep us from going in circles?” she teases, her grin mischievous.

I narrow my eyes at her, though I can’t help but laugh. “I’m a natural at this.”

She raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “Prove it.”

It doesn’t take long for her prediction to come true. The boat spins slightly as I struggle to find my rhythm, and Tania is doubled over laughing, her joy infectious.

“Okay, maybe I’m not a natural,” I admit, grinning. “But I’m trying.”

“You’re terrible,” she says between giggles, wiping at her eyes. “But I’ll give you points for effort.”

By the time we make it to the center of the lake, we’re both breathless from laughter. The water is calm, the sky a clear blue, and the moment feels so light, so effortless, that I can’t help but reach for her hand.

“Thanks for coming with me,” I say softly.

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