Page 27 of Her Beastly Billionaire Rock Star
“Yeah, man, but these things get pricey.”
Malakai contemplated a second. This picnic was going to happen even if it meant going to the grocery store himself. Okay, no. Not after knowing his picture was everywhere. “Find one you think will work, send me the link, and I’ll get it.”
“Are you sure?”
“You’ve been good to me Jasper, and…” Malakai’s shoulders sagged. “And I should have been a better person…better friend…to you. I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you.”
Jasper chuckled. “We’re square.”
They said their goodbyes, and Malakai stuck his phone in his pocket. How many other people had he been gruff with? Better, how many people did he need to apologize to and make amends with? He thought he’d done all that after going to rehab the last time, but now he wasn’t so sure. He’d remedy that once this whole image thing was finished.
He turned and cracked the door a fraction to see if Charlotte was still on the phone. Instead, she was on the floor, and it looked like she was crying. He stepped through the door. “Charlotte, are you okay?”
She looked up as he stopped a foot from her. “I’m fine. Lately, she’s just getting to me a lot more.” Using both hands, she wiped her face and ran them down her jeans. “You’d think I’d be used to anything she throws at me, but I’m so tired.”
Malakai stepped closer and squatted down, taking her hand. “There’s a spot about a mile from here that I’d like to show you. Maybe it’ll help take your mind off things.”
Nodding, she went to push off the ground, and he stood with her. She swiped her face with her hands again and nodded. “I feel like such a mess. This is about you and your career, and I’m…”
He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. “Kind to a fault. Gracious. Forgiving.” So many wonderful things that it would be easier to list her shortcomings.
She snuggled into him and covered her face with her hands. “I haven’t felt this off-balance since I returned from college and found Octavia in my dad’s desk chair.”
“Come on. Let me show you that spot, and we can talk more.”
“Okay.”
Once Malakai got the golf cart going, they quietly rode into the middle of nowhere. On the way, he received Jasper’s text with a link to a drone. The guy hadn’t been wrong about the price tag, but it was worth it if Malakai could do something for Charlotte. He purchased it and then texted Jasper back with confirmation, a list of picnic items, and their coordinates so he could program the drone after he got everything together.
Maybe this would do more than make up for the night before. Perhaps it would take Charlotte’s mind off everything and give her a second to relax. He knew what pressure could do to a person’s emotions. If nothing else, it would give them some time alone together, and despite knowing she deserved better, he found himself craving her time.
* * *
When they reached the spot,Charlotte’s lips parted in a soft gasp. “Oh my goodness. This is incredible.”
Large trees lined a small koi pond with benches surrounding it. Large red and yellow rose bushes bloomed at one end and had climbed a trellis sandwiched between two trees. A sense of wonder and peace made the whole area enchanting. It was like a different world—a secret garden she could see herself never wanting to leave.
“I can’t believe this is here.” Charlotte stepped out of the golf cart. “This…” She turned in place. “It’s just beautiful.”
Malakai nodded. “Yeah, I did a little digging after the first time I found this spot. The original owner of the house created it for his wife for their fiftieth wedding anniversary. She was sick and couldn’t travel anymore, so he wanted her to have a taste of her hometown.”
Charlotte faced him. “That’s really sweet. I bet she loved it.” She couldn’t imagine being loved like that. Her thoughts drifted to Malakai, and she shook her head. He was just lonely and someone was finally giving him their time without asking for anything in return.
The kiss they’d shared earlier was still wreaking havoc on her. If that’s how he kissed someone he was just pretending to date, what would it be like if he meant it? If he loved… Again, she pushed the thoughts away. He had scores of women to choose from who would fit into his world much better than her.
“I can’t count the number of times I’ve spent the night out here.”
“I’d want to do that too. Those roses are so incredible and fragrant.”
With a wink, Malakai walked to the back of the golf cart and opened the toolbox attached to it, pulling out several blankets and holding them up. “We can if you want.”
Her jaw dropped as she smiled. “Did you plan this?”
Shaking his head, he said, “No, well, I planned to bring you here, obviously; but I keep the blankets with the golf cart because it’s easier. If I get here and feel like staying, I can without returning to the house.”
She walked to the pond. “These koi are huge.”
“Old, too. A couple of them are in their sixties.” After setting the blankets on the driver’s seat, he joined her at the edge of the pond. “I have someone who takes care of them. He’s taught me a little about them and how to tell if they’re sick.” He pointed to one of the larger koi. “That one with the red dot on her head is called a Tonsho Showa. She’s the biggest at eighteen pounds. The one with the blue on him is an Asagi, and those four with the red and black are Taisho Sanke.”
