Page 134 of Mr. Aster
“You quit?”
“I’m going nowhere with that job. All it does is keep me involved with people like you; quite frankly, it’s too much sometimes.”
“Well, well, aren’t you a rude little firecracker?”
“I’m not rude; I’m just being honest. I’m over it. I don’t care to know what any of you people do in your downtime, whether you’re buying the newest Bugatti off the line or having a multimillion-dollar super yacht named after your wives…none of it. I’m exhausted and bored of all the frivolous posturing.”
“So, I guess I’m out for men you’ll want to marry because I intended to name my super yacht after you,” he teased.
“Are you up for tacos on the beach?”
“If that puts a smile on your face and helps you to stomach being aroundpeople like me,” he softly laughed, “then sure. I’d gladly join you for tacos on the beach.”
“Bythe beach,” I said with a smile. “Onthe beach could lead to other things, especially when a sunset may be involved.”
“Do you always think twenty-nine steps ahead of a man trying to charm you?”
“I do, and I have to,” I said in a challenging tone. “There’s no way in hell I will have another Sebastian Aster situation on my hands. I can’t trust you rich guys for nothing. You go after whatever you want at any cost, apparently.”
“Well, have no fear. I merely plan to make sweet love to you, forcing all memories of Sebastian from your mind to help you heal and move on. I’m a very generous spirit in that way, you know?”
I rolled my eyes at his flirty gesture. I’d seen Titus on another occasion after meeting him the first night. He and his brothers were wildly gorgeous, and they took that charisma and charm and waltzed into Southern California, instantly making a name for themselves with the ladies.
Everyone seemed enamored by them, and I couldn’t blame any of them for it. Titus seemed to have the most significant following of single women, and it was no wonder, given the shameless moves he was pulling on me right now. I liked the guys, though. They were fun, even if they were a little flirty and scandalous. They could be taken down a notch or two, but that wasn’t any of my concern. I didn’t care for them romantically, which made me safe. Anyone who caught feelings for any of them should’ve been scared, though, because I couldn’t see anyone taming these boys.
“How about four this afternoon around the Santa Monica pier?” Titus asked.
“That place is busier than hell,” I answered. “I was thinking more along the lines of where Jim and Avery live in Malibu. About two miles north of their place is a more secluded beach that’s not so busy.”
“Are you embarrassed to be seen in public with me, Miss Burke?” he said, his voice filled with some humor and some concern.
“In a way, yeah,” I said. “I don’t need the person who’s going to take over my column to write about how I’m some gold-digger who jumps into relationships with every top eligible bachelor.”
“Isn’t that what this is, though? I mean, not the gold-digger part, but the relationship part?”
“If you believe I am doing this for a relationship, then we can just do this interview over the phone. I’m not interested in anything else. Sebastian has proved that trusting a man of your status is a foolish idea. Besides, you’d grow bored of me as quickly as your last girlfriend. I’m not doing that.”
“You tempt me, you know that?”
“Do you want tacos or not?”
“Santa Monica pier. That way, there is a large crowd of people, and things won’t getout of hand,” he teased. “Yourromantic, private little beach might bring out the softer side of me, and trust me, you won’t be able to resist it.”
“Right,” I said. “Okay, fine. I’ll meet you at the pier.”
“I’ll bring the food.”
After that, we hung up, and I returned to my boxes to finish packing the small apartment I’d leased for a short time. I was happy to get this chapter of my life out of the way and start on my newest adventure. Mexico had been calling my name for months, so I decided to take a leap of faith and go.
A small travel company had hired me to bring their patrons on diving excursions, and I couldn’t wait to embark on the adventure. I was damn good at selling billionaires on eating grasshoppers, so why wouldn’t I be just as good at convincing people to go scuba diving on the shores of Mexico? Truthfully, I could’ve been hired to sell fruit from a street cart and still be raring to go. I needed this break andresetin my life, and I was happy to embrace all of it. The rent was cheap, the food was unbeatable, and most of all, the culture and way of life were what I needed to restore my soul.
Saying goodbye to my parents and Antonio and his family would be challenging, but they were so busy and happy with the revamped winery that they wouldn’t have much time to sit around and count the days until I returned. Since I planned to visit often, I knew they’d be happy for me to rediscover my happiness.
“So,” Titus said, sitting beside me on a bench, “I hear you are leaving the country.”
“My God, rumors travel fast,” I said.
“Well, I’ve spent a lot of time with Jim and his brother, and Jim’s wife seems pretty sad that you’re leaving?”
