Best Friends with the Billionaire: A Clean and Wholesome Romance (Billionaires with Heart Book 2)

by Liwen Ho

  “There’s no need to leave, dear.” The saleswoman waved her hand about, as if shooing away Noah’s idea. “I will bring you our special treat while you think.”

  She soon returned with a silver platter holding two small desserts. The square pieces of cake were turquoise in color and wrapped up with white bows made from fondant. She presented them to Noah and Laurene with a toothy grin. “Here, please help yourself. One bite of these will solve all your problems.”

  Laurene thanked her, took one of the cakes, and handed the other to Noah.

  He promptly placed the whole cake in his mouth while she took a delicate nibble off hers. He swallowed and nodded in satisfaction. “I didn’t realize it was pound cake. That was delicious.”

  The woman’s sharply arched brows shot up on her forehead, making them look like upside down Vs. She narrowed her eyes at Noah and touted, “These are petit fours. Not pound cake.” Her tone dripped with more disdain than a French accent. She wrinkled her nose in disgust and walked away without a look back.

  Noah winced. “Oops, I think I just insulted her puh—what were they called again?”

  Laurene laughed behind her hand. “Petit four.” The words rolled off her tongue as if she’d been speaking French her whole life.

  “Ah, right, puh-tee foor.” Noah rolled his eyes at his weak attempt. “I did say it was good cake though.”

  “You did. I don’t know why she got so upset. To be fair, these are pound cakes cut up into small squares.”

  “Well, it’s obviously because I’m not sophisticated enough to know the proper term. I actually feel the same way about someone who says YOLO instead of carpe diem. The Latin just sounds better.”

  She gave him a good-natured grin then lowered her voice. “Well, I think she made a huff about nothing. I’ve had better ones in Paris. Ones that tasted much more moist and flavorful.”

  She was about to set her piece on the platter when Noah stopped her. “Hey, I’ll take that if you’re not going to eat it. Pound cake happens to be one of my favorite desserts.”

  “Is that so? Well, I’ll definitely need to take you to Paris to try the good stuff.” She flashed him a flirty smile and leaned in close, holding the cake in front of his lips. “In the meantime, you’ll have to settle for this.”

  Noah gulped as he realized Lauren was offering to feed him. If this was called settling, he was more than happy to oblige. He opened his mouth and received the petit four on his tongue. His taste buds tingled in response to the sweetness, but soon, a different sensation overtook him. Lauren ran a finger across his bottom lip, leaving a scorching path in its wake. He imagined his cheeks likely resembled rubies by now. It took several seconds before he had the mental acuity to force his mouth shut and start chewing.

  Several emotions—from playfulness to surprise—flickered across her face as she regarded him. After a moment, she dropped her gaze with a demure smile. “I, uh, I think I’ll go for it.”

  Noah swallowed hard as her words sunk in. Was Laurene talking about him? About the two of them? “Huh?”

  “I’m going to get it—the necklace.”

  “Oh, for sure, the necklace.” He exhaled the breath he was holding. “Good for you.”

  Laurene made eye contact with the saleswoman who had been helping another customer on the other side of the store.

  The older woman strode over with an enthusiastic nod to complete the transaction. “I’ll take care of this for you, miss.”

  With one swipe of her American Express Black Card, Laurene brought a wide smile to the saleswoman’s face. After she had placed the receipt in a turquoise booklet envelope, she handed it to Laurene. “Thank you so much for your patronage today. We hope to see you again soon.”

  “Thank you for your assistance,” Laurene replied in a gracious tone. She paused to shoot Noah a mischievous grin before asking the saleswoman, “Would you mind if we took some of your petit fours to go? We love the taste of pound cake.”

  Speechless for but a second, she finally spluttered, “Of course, miss.”

  Noah had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing out loud. He liked Laurene even more now. The woman had a great sense of humor. He winked at her as he chimed in, “We sure do.”

  Muttering under her breath, the older woman walked away and returned with two petit fours sitting on a napkin. She handed them to Laurene. “Here you are, miss. One for you, and one—” she smirked “—for your driver.”

  Laurene’s cheeks flushed. She gave a curt nod before turning to Noah. “Let’s go.”

  Noah followed her out of the store carrying her many bags. The security guard flashed him a look of sympathy, making the pit in his stomach even heavier. Why hadn’t Laurene corrected the saleswoman? Or did she only think of him as one of her hired help?

  Chapter Four

  Laurene

  Laurene marched out of Tiffany’s with Noah on her heels and headed straight for her car parked down the street. The flames coming from the cone-shaped tiki torches placed along the sidewalk lit her way. The sky was already streaked with pink and orange hues as the sun set behind them. The sight usually made her pause with gratitude, but she didn’t have the heart to enjoy it this evening. Guilt weighed heavily on her shoulders. Why hadn’t she spoken up in Noah’s defense? Why had she allowed the saleswoman to assume he was her driver?

  The only reason she could think of was that shock had held her tongue. She couldn’t believe how rude the elite—or those who worked with them—could be. And petty, too. Who did that woman think she was to be judging Noah’s social status? She’d likely taken one look at his clothes and decided he wasn’t worth her time. Even if he wasn’t a paying customer, just the fact that he was with Laurene should’ve been enough reason to treat him with respect.

  A chill went down her back as that last thought crossed her mind. Respect. If she were honest with herself, she’d admit that she hadn’t shown Noah the respect he deserved either. She’d been blurring the lines between friendship and something more, especially with how she’d teased him when she fed him the petit four. The memory of his face, specifically the trust and tenderness in his eyes, ate at her conscience. She could tell without a doubt that he genuinely liked her. But how did she truly feel about him? Was she just using him like the saleswoman implied?

  She released a heavy breath as she reached her car. Turning around, she came face-to-face with the very man at the heart of the matter. Noah gave her a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. That dimple of his that she loved remained hidden behind his stoic expression. He strode to her side holding several large shopping bags in each hand. She tried to meet his gaze, but he seemed to be focused on everything but her face. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, of course.” He lifted the bags and asked her, “Should I put these in the trunk or the backseat?”

  The indifference in his tone made her chest constrict. Gone was the sweet man she had bonded with minutes ago over pound cake. In his place was someone she didn’t recognize. “The trunk, please.”

  Noah placed the bags in the trunk then returned to her side. “So, where to now, miss?”

  Laurene didn’t miss the formality of his words. It was time she addressed the elephant in the room. She was going to need to do major damage control if she wanted to get back in Noah’s good graces. Stepping forward, she placed a hand on his chest and peered up into his face. “Noah, forget about what happened at the store. That saleswoman was being petty and rude. I couldn’t believe she’d say something like that.”

  He finally met her gaze, his eyes looking more gray than blue. With a droll laugh, he remarked, “I know. I bet she was still upset about the petit four.”

  “Exactly. It’s just pound cake, for crying out loud.” She held up the cakes still in her hand. “There are way more important things to get hung up over. Like global warming or world peace or anything else for that matter.”

  His expression softened a little. “Yeah. It’s good cake though—I mea
n, it’s a good petit four.”

  Laurene’s shoulders relaxed to see Noah’s dimple peek out. He was such a handsome man, with a heart of gold to match. She couldn’t believe he’d spent nearly six hours shopping with her. He had the patience of a saint to wait around while she tried on outfit after outfit, and he never complained, not even once. Gratitude overwhelmed her, prompting her to do something special in return. “You know what. It’s been a great day of shopping, but we’re not done yet. It’s your turn now.”

  He balked. “My turn? To do what?”

  “To shop! It’ll be so much fun. We can get you a whole new outfit from head to toe.”

  “As much fun as that sounds, I’m good, really. I’m not much of a shopper.”

  “That’s what I’m here for. I’ll help you find the perfect shirt, pants, and shoes. We can even get you a watch and wallet—”

  “Laurene, I can’t.” He took her hand from his chest and gave it a gentle squeeze before he let go. He waved at the stores along the street. “I can’t afford this. Even if I wanted to buy something new, I wouldn’t be able to shop at Gucci or Yves Saint Loorent—whatever that store is called.”

  “Yves St. Laurent,” she finished for him with a giggle. “The T at the end is silent.”

  “Another French word, I presume?” He scoffed softly. “Me and the French don’t get along, as you well know.”

  “We don’t have to go there. We can go somewhere else, anywhere you’d like. It’ll be my treat,” she insisted with a firm nod. “You’ve been so sweet to go everywhere with me today, I want to do something for you.”

  “You don’t have to pay me back, Laurene. I did this willingly.” Despite his casual tone, there was an intensity in his eyes. “I’m just happy to spend time with you.”

  His words made her heart happy. “I know, but will you let me do something for you, just this once? Please. I’m doing this because I want to. And I’m not taking no for an answer,” she added with a playful grin. “If you want your petit four, you’re going to let me take you shopping. Deal?”

  “You’re using pound cake as leverage? That’s not fair.” He clutched at his chest, pretending to be in pain. With a sigh, he eyed the dessert she was holding up to his nose. “Can I have your piece too then?”

  Laurene dropped her jaw. “You want both pieces?” Pretending to ponder for a moment, she finally gave in. “All right, it’s a deal. But no complaining about what I pick out for you, you hear? You have to give everything I choose a fair shot, even if you don’t like the style or color. You never know what looks good on you until you try it.”

  He took one of the petit fours and popped it into his mouth. “Okay, I can do that.”

  She held out her pinky. “Promise?”

  Chuckling, he reached out his own pinky and hooked it around hers. “Promise.”

  Laurene’s eyes widened as Noah pulled her hand to his mouth and planted a kiss along her knuckle. The soft touch of his lips sent a tingle straight down her spine, surprising her with its power. The pounding of her heart told her what she already knew. She was falling for Noah—hard and fast. Could it be possible to be more than friends with him?

  Chapter Five

  Noah

  If Noah had learned one thing from shopping today, it was that clothes did make a man. Not just any clothes, but those from a high-end store like Hugo Boss. The brand was still European, but at least it had a name Noah could pronounce. Thanks to Laurene, he looked and felt like a different person in his new button-down shirt, cream-colored blazer, and cranberry shorts. He’d almost nixed the shorts when Laurene first showed them to him, but he was glad he tried them on. She was right; you had to give things a fair shot.

  He was thankful Laurene had decided to give the Ala Moana Center a shot, too. After some hesitation, she’d agreed to go shopping at Hawaii’s largest shopping mall. They had driven only a mile and a half from Luxury Row, but the prices here were more in line with what Noah was used to. And the restaurants reminded him of home. He exhaled in relief to be back in familiar territory.

  “How’s your food taste?” he asked Laurene as he dug into his plate of Chinese food. They were sitting in the crowded food court on the first floor of the open-air mall. Noah had suggested grabbing a quick bite to eat before they flew back to the Big Island. When he learned Laurene hadn’t gone to Panda Express in years, he knew he had to remedy the situation. “They don’t use MSG, but it’s still got great flavor, don’t you think?”

  “It’s … not bad.” She pushed her food around her oil-stained paper plate with a pair of wooden chopsticks. With narrowed eyes, she studied the wonton wrapper that had been stuffed and fried to a golden crisp in the shape of a four-petaled flower. She picked one up and took a bite, only to set it back down. “Interesting. I can’t taste the crab in this.”

  “Crab?” he repeated in surprise. “There’s only cream cheese in that.”

  “Oh.” Her mouth twisted in disappointment. “The ones at Chef Chu’s back home have real crab in them. Now those are really tasty, so crunchy and light, they almost melt in your mouth.”

  Noah bit back a smile. He’d met Laurene before she became part of the one percent, and sometimes he forgot how her tastes had changed. To him, she was still the cute teenager who used to wear pink flannel pajamas and make hot chocolate from a packet. But he only had to take one look at her to see how much she’d grown up. Money aside, she was a gorgeous and sweet woman whom any man would be lucky enough to spend time with.

  “If you don’t want it, I’m happy to take it.” When she nodded, Noah used his fork to spear the wonton off her plate. He stuffed it into his mouth with a pleased smile. “Just the way I like it. Oily and cheesy,” he added with a chuckle. He rushed to eat the rest of his chow mein and orange chicken and fill up his empty stomach. A whole day of shopping probably burned as many calories as an hour at the gym. His appetite had also returned in full force after the incident at the jewelry store.

  Despite his earlier reservations about what Laurene thought of him, he had decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. She was being so kind and generous, treating him to a mini makeover and going along with his choice for dinner. The smiles she flashed his way made him feel rich. Not wealthy in terms of money, but in the sense that he had it all. With Laurene by his side, he could be and do anything. It was a crazy thought, but one he felt like running with. Why couldn’t he pursue her?

  It would take some convincing on his part to reassure Gabe that he was good enough for his sister. But perhaps he could use their friendship to his advantage. He himself would appreciate knowing his sisters were dating someone he knew already rather than a stranger off the street. And if Gabe didn’t approve and it made working with him awkward, then so be it. Noah could easily find another tech job in Silicon Valley, but a woman like Laurene? She was a rare gem.

  He felt her eyes on him, studying him with a curious smile. “Sorry, I just got lost in my thoughts for a second.”

  “I could see that.” She tapped the tip of her chopsticks against her pink lips. “Care to share? You had a smile on your face that made me think you won the lottery.”

  His grin grew wider. “It’s funny you should say that. I was just thinking how fulfilled and happy I am right now. I’m eating one of my favorite dishes, wearing this great new outfit, and spending a day in paradise—” he paused to swallow his nerves “—with the woman of my dreams.”

  Surprise registered in her eyes, causing her pupils to dilate. “Are you talking about me?”

  “Of course I am. No other woman even comes close,” he added as he lowered his gaze. Baring his soul like this in a crowded mall hadn’t been on his vacation to-do list, but it was now the most important thing on his mind. He hesitated to look up, afraid of what he would see. What if he had read Laurene’s signals all wrong? What if she was only interested in some temporary fun? A warm hand covered his on the table, drawing his attention up to a pair of vibrant green eyes.

 
“I’m flattered, Noah, I really am.”

  He swallowed hard and waited for the but that he feared would follow.

  “I think—” she paused to lick her lips “—I feel the same way.”

  Laurene’s words resounded loudly in his ears even amidst the clamor in the food court. Two small girls ran by, chasing each other in and around the round tables and chairs. Noah hardly heard their screams as they fought over a stuffed toy. All his attention was devoted to the woman who was gazing lovingly at him.

  “Laurie? Laurie Brooks?”

  Both their heads turned in the direction of a young woman who happened to be walking by. Dressed in a matching athletic top and bottom, she looked to be in her early thirties. Her long dark brown hair had been pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and her cheeks were flushed pink.

  “Kylie Martin?” Laurene pulled back her hand from Noah’s and faced the woman. She crossed her arms across her chest, her expression suddenly guarded. “I always wondered what happened to you after graduation. Are you here on vacation?”

  “I—uh, you could say that.” Kylie’s jaw dropped as she gave Laurene a quick onceover. She didn’t try to hide her shock at seeing all the pieces of shiny jewelry. “You look amazing. Wow, that necklace must’ve cost a fortune. I take it your family’s doing well.”

  Laurene frowned at the comment, but she quickly recovered. “We’re doing fine, thank you.”

  Noah sat quietly, all the while watching the two women size each other up. He didn’t need a degree in psychology to know there was some underlying resentment at play. The exchange reminded him of a catfight where both sides had their claws drawn. He decided to speak up in hopes of diffusing the situation. “Hi there, I’m Noah.” He offered his hand to Kylie. “You must be an old friend of Laurene’s.”