Page 28 of Mr. Billionaire's Second Chance

Chapter Eight

Preston

It was a cool, Manhattan evening when my limousine pulled up in front of Katherine’s apartment building. I felt a strange sense of nervousness wash over me as I clutched the bouquet of red roses in my hand, stepping out and shutting the door behind me. Out she came with her brown hair slicked back behind her ears, that perfect wash of pink over her full lips, and the longest damn legs in the world. She looked over at me with a smile, glancing down at the bouquet in my hands.

“I thought that if I showed up with one in person, the chances of you tossing it would be extremely low,” I teased.

“My favorite flowers are peonies, but I won’t be tossing this one. I can promise you that,” she responded.

Her eyes lit up underneath the streetlights, making them shine a warm amber color. Her skin glistened and that incredible scent of vanilla made me want to take her right into my arms. I kept my cool, holding the door open for her as she slid inside, and I smiled right as I joined her.

“So, are you going to tell me where we’re headed for dinner tonight?” she asked.

“I won’t be telling you that because it’ll ruin the surprise.”

“Oh, I’m sure it’ll be another lovely restaurant nestled somewhere in Brooklyn, which would be a smart move on your part because the paparazzi vultures must still be looking to get the right shot for their next story,” she said.

“They may have calmed down with that for now, but one wrong move and it’ll be chaos again. Besides, I don’t need that ruining our evening together.”

She smiled at me, and I felt her fingers brush up against mine. I took her hand, feeling the warmth of her skin, and this time she didn’t pull away. It wasn’t long before we pulled up outside the art gallery, and she turned to me, looking rather confused. I led her inside, watching as she took in her surroundings. Right in the middle of the gallery was a table set for two with a white linen tablecloth and candles lit. I glanced over at the back room where the caterers were getting ready to begin service, and I knew everything was absolutely perfect.

“Can I take those?” I asked, pointing to her wrap and purse.

She handed them to me and I set them aside before we made our way to the table.

“Thank you, Preston. T-this is beautiful.”

“Only the best for you, Kat.”

The waiter came around with a bottle of 1996 Chateau Latour and from the moment she took a look at it, she blushed. The tension was high in the air and I knew that no matter how perfect the night was, she was still hesitant. I’d fucked things up so badly that she didn’t know what to think and I knew it was going to take time before she actually trusted me again.

We had our dinner, chatting for hours, and it was the first time in a while that I truly made her laugh. Once we’d finished with dessert, I led her around the gallery so she could get a better look at all the art I’d collected recently.

“These are breathtaking,” she said. Her hazel eyes darted around as she took in every last detail of the paintings before her.

“Not nearly as breathtaking as you,” I murmured.

She turned to me and I didn’t give it another thought before I lifted her chin, leaning in to kiss her. It was like a fireworks show had erupted between us, as I indulged in her soft lips, how incredible she tasted, and how much I wanted to find a quiet corner in the gallery to sleep with her.

She melted into the kiss and before I had the chance to take it any further, she pulled away. I could practically hear her panting, desperately trying to catch her breath, and that told me all I needed to know. You’ve gotten quite good at fighting our connection because you were so damn angry at me, Kat. That anger is slowly starting to melt away, isn’t it?

“I’m here to give you a second chance, Preston. That doesn’t mean I’m giving you an open invitation back into my bed,” she said.

“I never expected you to, Kat.”

The rest of the night was wonderful, so much so that when it finally came time for me to drop her back at her apartment, I didn’t want to go. I could feel the heat between us, the urge to feel every inch of her skin rushing through my body, but I didn’t want to scare her off. She still had her reservations about me, but I knew they’d dissipate with time.

“I had a lovely night tonight, Preston. I really did,” she said, with a soft smile.

“I’m glad you did, Kat. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you.”

I turned to leave before turning back at the last second right as her key entered the front door. I pulled her into my arms, kissing her hard, as her hands caressed my cheeks. I slowly pulled away, kissing her forehead before I headed back to my limousine.

“Good night, Kat,” I said, with a smirk.

“G-good night, Preston.”

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