Page 38 of The Billionaire's Claim: Redemption
I lean over slowly until I’m lying on my side on the cool floor. Pulling my knees to my chest, I curl up.
“Sorry I’m not such a good company, Grandpa. But you are a perfect listener. Thank you for being there for me.”
What are you going to do now?
“Tomorrow, I’m going to tell Dominic I don’t have amnesia and leave,” I whisper into the darkness. “I should’ve known better than to dream such a foolish dream.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Elizabeth
When I open my eyes the next morning, I’m back in bed. I blink a few times. Did I dream everything? No. I couldn’t have.
Just like every other morning, Dominic isn’t in bed with me. I turn to see his side of the bed, then stop when I see a tropical flower lying there. It’s an arundina, probably from the drone shipments of fresh goods. I hold it to my nose, inhale its lovely fragrance. Dominic has never put a flower on a bed for me before, and the gesture touches me in ways I can’t articulate. Maybe he can sense our time is coming to an end, and this is a goodbye gift.
A hitch forms in my chest, and I wag a finger at myself mentally. I was planning to end it anyway.
No tears. No grief. Only dignity. That’s all that matters to a Pryce, comes Grandma Shirley’s cool voice.
I swing my legs over to the side and pad to the bathroom. Yup, what happened last night was no dream. My face bears the sign of poor sleep—the dark circles, the slight droop to the corners of my mouth.
Determined, I brush my teeth and shower. I blow-dry my hair and apply full waterproof makeup to cover up the signs of fatigue on my face. Then I practice a few smiles, until I find the one I like the best—friendly and warm, but not flirty. Dominic made his position clear on sex. I’m not going to bother him anymore.
How long does it take to arrange for transport to the mainland? If I fess up over breakfast, can he call for a helicopter or something to take me to the closest international airport today? I want to leave as quickly as possible. Anything else will only make me look pathetic, and him suffer for no reason.
I put on my favorite pink dress and beach sandals and join him on the first floor. He smiles, his straight white teeth bright, and leans over and give me a quick kiss—not on my forehead or one of my cheeks, but on my mouth. I don’t pull back, but I can’t help myself from growing stiff. He hasn’t initiated such contact since the first time where he fingered me to an orgasm outside. It’s always me who kissed him, coaxed and cajoled him.
“Good morning,” he says. “I heard you stirring upstairs, but I didn’t know you were going to dress up like this. Now I feel underdressed.” He gestures at his blue T-shirt and shorts. He hasn’t bothered with shoes. “I’m going to fry up some extra bacon. Want some with your bagel and cream cheese?”
I nod, unable to speak. This easy, cheerful Dominic is exactly the Dominic I fell in love with ten years ago.
He gives me a plate with a perfectly toasted bagel and cream cheese, then starts on a huge batch of bacon. It smells amazing, and when he’s finished, I take a couple of strips, while he munches on a mountain of them.
“Take more if you want,” he says.
“I’ll see after I’m done with these.” Tell him everything and end it.
After breakfast, I decide. No reason to ruin our appetites.
After his third strip, he says casually, “Ever gone boogie boarding?”
“Excuse me?”
“You know…boogie board? You get on a short board and ride the surf.”
“I know what it is. Just surprised you asked. And no. I’ve never done it.” Grandma Shirley thought it was an undignified and pointless sport, and that was that. I was allowed to play tennis and polo.
“Wanna try? I have a couple of boards and rash guards.”
“Yours may be too big for me.”
“It’s actually Kristen’s. She left it here last time she was here.”
“Does she come here often?”
“About once a year if she has time. She’s usually busy with work.”
I smile softly. “Good for her. I pre
