Page 18 of Triplet Babies for the Billionaire
"Stick close," I say, guiding her around a vendor’s table where a large fish is being expertly filleted.
The smell of raw seafood lingers in the air, mixing with the thick, savory scent of meat from the butcher’s corner. I can see her wrinkling her nose slightly but she doesn’t pull away, instead walking in step with me as we navigate the tight space.
We pass a stall selling vibrant vegetables, the colors so rich they almost look fake, and a sweet aroma of ripe fruit fills the air.
People around us shout about their deals, bargaining for the best price. It’s nothing like the smooth flow of service at the hotel, but there’s a certain energy here that I can’t help but appreciate.
We reach the truffle dealer’s stall, and I release Blossom’s hand, stepping forward to address the man behind the counter. He’s older, wearing a stained apron, and looks a little flustered when he sees me approach.
“Noah Hudson,” he says, almost apologetically. “I’m so sorry, but the truffles are delayed. The shipment’s stuck, and I don’t have any to send you right now. I know you’re on a tight schedule, and I deeply apologize for this.”
I take a deep breath, my patience thin, but still intact. “Look, I don’t have time for this,” I say, keeping my voice steady but firm. “I need those truffles today. You understand the kind of pressure we’re under. The entire night’s menu depends on them.”
The dealer looks down, rubbing the back of his neck. “I know, Noah. I’ve had some problems with my suppliers. If you want, I can get them to you tomorrow, but—”
I cut him off. “Tomorrow won’t work. What can we dotodayto make this right?”
I glance over at Blossom, noticing how she’s watching me closely, her eyes sharp.
The dealer looks at me, then nods. “I’ll tell you what. I can give you a premium deal for the inconvenience, a discount for next time, and priority shipping for this order. It’s the best I can do.”
I look over at Blossom, then back at the dealer. “Done,” I say, extending my hand. “Let’s seal the deal.”
As we walk away, I feel Blossom’s gaze on me.
She’s impressed.
“Not bad,” she says quietly. “That was...smooth.”
I smile. “You’ve got to know how to handle these situations. In business and in life.”
I pull out my phone and call the hotel, telling my chef that he’ll have to improvise for tonight, but the truffles will arrive tomorrow in time for him to create the menu he has planned. I also tell him to make sure that he calls me if there’s a rush at the bar that the bartenders can’t handle.
We get back into the car, the engine humming to life as I prepare to pull out of the parking lot, my mind still buzzing from the deal I just made. The city’s lights begin to blur around us, the night closing in, but the air between us feels charged.
Blossom is sitting silently next to me, but I can feel her glancing over at me every now and then. The tension from earlier is back, different, but still present.
I want to reach for her, but I don’t.
Then, out of nowhere, she leans in.
Her lips are soft, hesitant at first, but they meet mine, and I’m lost.
I kiss her back, just as softly, letting the tension between us melt away in the heat of the moment. It’s not a kiss that was planned, but it’s urgent, like we’ve both been holding our breath for too long.
When we pull away, she looks at me with wide eyes, almost surprised at herself.
I grin. “I guess we’re both in a rush to see where this goes, huh?”
She laughs softly, still a little breathless. “I guess so.”
The drive back to the hotel is quiet, the tension still hanging between us, but this time, it feels different. There’s something more beneath it.
When I pull into the hotel parking lot, I turn to her. “You want to come up? I’d like to spend some more time with you.”
She looks at me for a long moment before nodding. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
The elevator doors close behind us, the quiet hum of the ride almost drowned out by the quickening pulse in my ears. I can’t help myself. I reach for Blossom as soon as we’re inside, pulling her close, kissing her with a hunger that feels long overdue.
