Page 199 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

Maybe she wouldn’t even show up. I’d go there and wait and she’d never come, and I’d end up as the only billionaire in the history of NYC to get stood up.

My stomach cramped, acidic heat lancing up the back of my throat. I coughed and cleared my throat, rubbed my chest. The last thing I needed was to work myself up so much I got an ulcer.

I pulled up in front of Effervesce and stepped out onto the sidewalk. Early autumn sunset had all but claimed every scrap of blue in the sky, red and gold flames darkening to smoke and charcoal. I breathed in the warm air, tasted car exhaust with a hint of coffee bean.

I couldn’t delay any longer.

I stepped through the door and looked around. Megyn caught my eye right away, a magnetic tug that yanked me closer and closer. She had her hair up in that simple bun and had left off her glasses. As if I had needed any further proof she was Cinderella, here it was. Here she was, regal and enchanting, as if she really had stepped straight from the pages of a storybook.

“Megyn,” I said, holding out my hand. First-date handshakes were nevernotawkward, but I didn’t want to invade her space.

Megyn looked down at my hand and laughed a little bit. She ducked her head, then tilted her chin and peered up at me with her sweet brown eyes. “I’d rather hug.”

I held out my other hand, arms up a bit, feeling foolish and knowing I was, and being okay with it all at once. Maybe if I showed her I was more than a billionaire, more than a silly guy who stomped on her foot at a party, she’d start to come out of her shell. If she was this beautiful now, I could only imagine.

Megyn stepped closer to me and lifted her arms to wrap them around my shoulders. I closed my arms around her back and pulled her to my chest. She smelled warm, smelled of lavender, and her hair lay soft on my cheek.

I held her for as long as I dared before letting go of her. “If I’d known you were going to be even earlier than me, I would have left sooner.”

Megyn blushed and shifted on her feet. She wore a dress a bit too big for her, one strap slipping down off her shoulder; the hemline reached her ankles, concealed her shoes from sight. I had no doubt they would be blue Converse. “I’m a little bit nervous,” she admitted.

“Oh, so am I. You’re not alone in that.”

Megyn stared at me as if I’d told her I’d been abducted by aliens.

“What?” I frowned.

“I can’t believe that someone like you ever gets nervous about anything,” she said.

“Someone like me?” I touched her arm, laughing. “Does having money mean I no longer have feelings?”

Megyn blushed. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m only teasing you.” I brushed my fingers over her soft pink cheek. “I’m used to being nervous. Like anyone else, I don’t want something to fail. I’ve just had more practice managing it. You’re younger and still learning.”

“I don’t feel young.”

“Let me fix that,” I said, my heart going out to her. “Let’s have a fun night together. No worrying about anything. Just a prince and a princess having a good time. Okay?”

Megyn regarded me with an expression that almost broke my soul. She looked so tired, so worn down, and yet so hopeful. She wanted to believe. I hoped she would.

At last, her lips trembling, she nodded. “Okay.”

“Then let’s go.” I held my hand out for hers. This time, she took it, curling her fingers between mine.

I walked with her out to my car and opened the door for her. “Thank you,” she murmured. She smoothed her dress underneath her as she sat.

I made sure I wasn’t going to catch her dress in the door and shut it for her. Coming around to the driver’s side, feeling her watching me the entire time, I climbed in and started driving, taking us to the restaurant I had in mind; the staff hadn’t wanted to accept my last-minute reservation until I told them who I was.

Megyn didn’t seem inclined to making conversation. I considered making a few safe comments on the weather and compliments for her dress, but decided against it. She deserved better than some half-brained platitudes blurted out while I drove. She deserved to have my full focus upon her when we talked.

We arrived at the restaurant, the Lonely Whale. I found us a spot around the back, thankfully away from the dumpsters, and hopped out. Megyn opened her own door and came to join me, sliding her hand in mine. She peered up at the tall, aquamarine building, shading her eyes from the bright pole lights.

“Is this an aquarium?” she asked.

“Of sorts,” I laughed. I tugged gently on her hand to get her to come along with me. “Come inside and find out for yourself.”

Megyn trailed along behind me, staying so close that her hip brushed against mine.

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