Page 79 of The Heiress
“You know, don’t you?” The thing is, people could get weird about things like money, look at you differently, judge you unfairly. But if Dad hadn’t wanted Laura to know who I was, he would never have signed the card.
“Your father is Stephan Millar. He owns...a lot of companies.”
I nodded in a straightforward way and was immediately flooded with a sense of relief. Not until that very moment did it hit me how much I wanted Laura to know the truth. Not to brag about my family’s wealth, but to be open and transparent with her. It’s not like I was being deceptive about who I was, but maybe it would be seen in that way, like I’d been lying about my identity. My one true fear was that Phoenix would see it like that.
But Laura totally understood as I poured out my story in a gush, about my parents desire to protect me and give me an ordinary life after the gunshot episode.
“I can imagine keeping you safe is their number one priority,” Laura said with a comforting arm on my shoulder. “I’m sure they were terrified for you.”
I nodded. “They were, and I guess that’s the downside to wealth and riches. But the upside is that you can usually get what you want. So, if I want a party at Tuttle Hill for Beth, I’m sure my Dad can arrange it!” I gave Laura a sweet, but mischievous smile. “Do you think you can help me?”
Phoenix arrived home thirty minutes later, his face glowing from physical exertion, his eyes wide in surprise to see me and Laura sitting at the table.
“Elisha? What are you doing here?”
“Your Mom is helping me plan a birthday party for Beth,” I said, closing my notebook. “How did your coaching go?”
“It went great,” Phoenix said, opening the fridge and taking out a bottle of cold water. “Clay was awesome.”
“Ah, you look like you worked hard,” Laura said.
Phoenix nodded, walking over. “What’s this about Beth’s party?” He stood behind my chair, guzzling down the water, his nearness sending a delicious shiver down my spine.
“It’s just a little party,” I said.
“When?”
“On the same day as Addison’s.”
“Ah, good luck with that,” Phoenix said dryly, his hand resting on the back of my shoulder, entangling in my hair, the casual touch stirring the flutter of butterflies in my stomach.
“I’ll make that phone call now,” Laura said, winking as she left the room.
“What phone call?” Phoenix asked as he pulled out the chair next to me, leaning his weary legs against mine.
“Just a phone call,” I said mysteriously. “So, you’re about to take the tennis world by storm?”
Phoenix raised his eyebrows. “Won’t be long.”
“I’m so pleased for you,” I said, clasping his hands. “I can see that spark in your eye.”
Phoenix leaned closer. “That’s because I come home and find you here in my kitchen.”
“No, no. It’s that spark when you’re playing tennis, that look. Like when you’re about to smash a ball, hit a winner.”
Phoenix tilted his head, a smirk forming. “Well, what’s this look then?” His nose flicked across mine and his lips grazed the spot beneath my ear lobe.
A rush of warmth flushed through me, and I closed my eyes as I shuddered with delight. “I don’t know. I can’t see,” I murmured.
I presumed he pulled back to take a look, the absence of his lips on my skin like a vast void of emptiness. But a second later the void was filled as he pulled me up to standing and pressed a series of tiny kisses against my forehand, raising my heart rate, his hands threading through my hair.
Again, he pulled away, sending my tummy on a rollercoaster ride. “This is my I’m-about-to-kiss-you look,” he said, his fingers sliding down the side of my cheek.
My eyes popped open, but really, we were too close for me to observe anything. And I didn’t need to see anyway. His hands cradling my head, his legs brushing against me, my senses on heightened overload, every nerve tingling, every cell pulsing.
And his lips met mine, at first feather light, a little tentative like the first shot in a rally, but becoming less timid, stronger as his hands wove their way to the back of my neck. I held him tighter, like I was the one with wobbly, unstable legs, the one who needed assistance in standing.
Time stood still for me then, lost in Phoenix’s embrace, kissing the boy who’d opened my eyes and melted my heart, who was extraordinary in every way, rising from his own tragedy to reach for the stars.
