She leaned into him as they strolled across the moonlit grass.
“It was a wonderful evening, Phoebe. Thank you.”
“It was amazing,” she said, dreamily.
Reaching the entry, he turned her towards him. As she gazed up at him, he was tempted to kiss her long and hard, but instead, he cupped her cheeks in his hands and kissed her softly. “Good night, Phoebe.”
“Good night, Nick.”
She went inside and Nicholas returned to his car, thanking God for everything that had occurred that night.
Chapter 19
A week had passed since Phoebe took Nick to meet her mother. She was still riding on the excitement of that evening and couldn’t believe that she and Nick had finally kissed. And since then, they’d kissed again, several times, but he’d remained a perfect gentleman and hadn’t expected more from her, despite her being aware of his growing desire.
She put her hair up and added a touch of lip gloss to her makeup in anticipation of his arrival. When the doorbell rang, Phoebe buzzed him up.
“Hey.” Smiling, he pulled her close and kissed her tenderly.
As much as she would have liked to stand there kissing him all night, she pulled away and invited him in.
“How was your day?” he asked casually.
“It was great. Michael’s finally getting most three-letter words. I’m so proud of him.” Michael was a little boy in her class who’d been struggling with his reading.
“That’s awesome. I knew you’d be able to help him.”
Phoebe loved the way Nick was always so positive with her, but she often wondered what his days at work were like. Since he always remained vague when she asked, she sensed that he preferred to leave that stuff at the office rather than discuss it after hours.
“So, what’s the plan for tonight?” she asked as she returned to her desk and closed down her computer.
“A surprise.” He grinned impishly.
Phoebe laughed. She’d come to love Nick’s surprises, but tonight, something made her wonder if he was planning to propose. Her stomach fluttered. Lately, she’d been thinking so much about her future with him, but they’d only been together four months, so she couldn’t imagine he was ready to jump at marriage so soon. She put the thought away. “Okay, I’m ready for whatever!”
He grabbed her hand and led her out the door. They strolled to the car, and once seated, he headed out of the city.
“Okay, now I’m really curious. Where are we going?” All she could see was sand, and no lights, other than moonlight, reflecting on the glistening Pacific Ocean.
“Just wait,” he told her, winking.
Before long, lights twinkled in the distance. As the car slowed, a white gazebo came into view. It was decorated with fairy lights, like on a Christmas tree. Her heart fluttered; she was speechless. A small table with a candle flickering in the middle drew her attention. The whole thing was set up for just the two of them.
“Nick, this is so beautiful,” she said breathlessly, kicking off her shoes.
He grinned as he grabbed her hand and led her across the sand to the table. The salty sea air filled her nostrils and played softly through her hair. The scene was magical, and exactly how any woman would wish to be proposed to. And yet, they hadn’t spoken of marriage.
Reaching the table, he pulled a chair out for her, and then sat opposite. A waiter, dressed in a suit and bow tie, approached and welcomed them.
“Good evening, Mr. Barrington and Miss Halliday. I am your waiter for this evening, and I am at your beck and call. Whatever you wish, please let me know.” He turned and addressed Phoebe. “However, Mr. Barrington has instructed the chef to prepare your favourite dishes, which will be served in small courses. To start with, may I pour you a glass of wine?”
Phoebe hesitated. She didn’t normally drink alcohol, but maybe one glass wouldn’t hurt. But could she trust herself? No, it was safer to stick with a non-alcoholic beverage. She smiled at the waiter. “May I please have a non-alcoholic apple cider?”
“Of course. I’ll be right back. And you, sir? What can I get for you?”
“I’ll have the same, thanks.”
“You’re more than welcome.”
After he stepped away, Phoebe leaned in closer and gazed into Nick’s eyes. “This is magnificent, Nick. Thank you.”
He reached out and stroked her hand. “It’s a special night, Phoebe.”
Her stomach turned in anticipation. “Really?”
“You don’t know what today is?”
She frowned, but nothing came to mind. Had she gotten it wrong and this was for some other occasion entirely?
“It’s been exactly four months since our first date,” he said softly.
All the air rushed from her lungs. Of course! It was their four-month anniversary! How could she have forgotten?
“And exactly seven months since the day we met.”
“You remember all of that?”
“Of course I do. Should I be embarrassed?”
“Not at all. I’m impressed. I didn’t realise what the day was,” she confessed, feeling bad. “But I’m so glad you remembered.”
“You’ve made such a lasting impact on me, Phoebe. I’ll never forget any of our days together.”
She exhaled a long sigh of contentment. Although Nick’s words were smooth, she knew he was genuine. His honesty was even more integral than his charm. He wasn’t about to propose, and no matter how much she would have liked it, she didn’t mind. Their time would come. And Nick would certainly do it in a way that was special, of that she was sure.
The waiter returned with their drinks and the first course of their Thai banquet.
Nick took her hand and gave thanks. Hearing him pray with such sincerity warmed her heart so.
As they ate, soft music played in the background, and they chatted easily about many things, but most of all, their time in Thailand. After they finished eating, Nick took her hand and led her to the side of the gazebo where two recliners, complete with cushions and rugs, had been positioned perfectly to gaze at the water and the sky. Seated on the recliners, they leaned back and gazed at the stars together. Holding Nick’s hand, Phoebe felt entirely at peace.
“The stars are amazing, aren’t they?” Nick’s gentle voice floated on the air.
“Yes, they are.”
Still staring at the sky, he asked, “Where in the world would you go if there were no limits and you could go anywhere?”
She pondered for a moment. She’d dreamed of travelling the world. Ireland was on top of her list, as were the heather-filled highlands of Scotland, the monasteries of Ethiopia, and the jungles of Ecuador. But where did she want to go more than anywhere else? She finally replied, “I think I’d want to go back to Thailand. I can’t get all those children out of my mind. Of all the places I’d love to see, nothing would please me more than to return there and spend time with the children at the mission.”
“I can’t blame you. I’ve been to a lot of places and had many opportunities to travel, but that’s where I’d want to go, too.”
“I wish I could do more work there. When I think back to my time at the mission, I realise now how much more I could have done,” Phoebe admitted.
Nick shifted in his seat and turned to her. “Well, I have a surprise for you.”
Phoebe met his gaze and waited. His eyes twinkled, and she grew curious.
“Your school year is almost over, right?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied cautiously.
“Good. Because I think we should go back, but not on our own.” His face grew animated. “Let’s take a team from church. Fully funded, of course. I’m sure they’ll love it.”
“A team from church? Fully funded?” Phoebe repeated.
“Yes. It would be my pleasure.”
“Nick, that’s amazing!” She threw her arms around him, almost causing the recliners to fall over.
He laughed. “It’s my honour, Phoebe. I’m gl
ad to do it.”
“I’m speechless, Nick. I can hardly believe it! You’d really pay for a team from church to go to Bangkok?”
“Yes. And invite your mum to come as well.”
“Really?”
Nodding, he raised his hand to her cheek and gently pulled her face towards his. With his lips lightly brushing hers, and the sound of waves lapping the shore, Phoebe thought she was in heaven.
Later, they strolled along the shoreline arm in arm, and then, when the time came to leave, he drove her home, and although he hadn’t proposed, she felt entirely satisfied with the evening.
Chapter 20
It took two months to prepare for the trip to Thailand, but Nick was beyond excited when the team of thirteen boarded the plane for Bangkok. Susan, Phoebe’s mum, was among the group, and he knew she’d love the country as much as her daughter did. It would be exciting for them to be on this journey together.
Ten hours later, Thomas and Judy met the group at the airport. Nick was overjoyed to see them again.
“Great to see you, Nick! Hopefully this time we can meet the real you!” Thomas winked as he clapped Nick on the back. “I hope it wasn’t too hard to take time off?”
Nick let out a small chuckle. “Thankfully, everything is finally sorted.” He was actually very relieved that they’d been able to rectify the situation and the client was happy. The business had made itself a media target, but by bringing the issue into the open and dealing with it promptly, they’d avoided the worst, and they’d even been praised for their ethical approach.
“I’m glad to hear it. I wish I could say we have plenty for you to do, but it’s the strangest thing. After your visit, we suddenly had a major spike in donor activity and now we have a full-time handy-man,” Thomas said, winking again. When Nick had contacted Thomas about this trip, Thomas had confessed that he’d known from the beginning who he was but had decided to honour Nick’s desire for anonymity.
“Well, I’m still Nick. Same man, just a few details are different. I hope no one treats me any differently than they did before.”
“They won’t. Everyone’s excited to see you again, and aside from Judy and myself, no one will have any clue about the difference between the bearded Nick and the billionaire Nicholas. They’re just excited to see you.”
Nick smiled. “And I’ll be glad to see them.”
“Now, are you going to introduce us to everyone?” Thomas asked.
“Sure. You obviously remember Phoebe.” Nick placed his hand on the small of her back, his heart warming as she smiled at him.
“How could we forget?” Thomas leaned in and gave her a hug. Judy followed suit.
“And this is Susan, her mum.”
They both smiled and shook hands with her. Nick then introduced the rest of the team before they boarded the mini bus and were driven to the hostel Nick had booked for them. He’d been tempted to book a five-star hotel, but finally decided on a hostel near the mission. It was still comfortable and better suited the purpose of the trip than a fancy hotel that would be considered extravagant under the circumstances.
That night, the team, along with Thomas and Judy, enjoyed a meal at a nearby Thai restaurant. Being back in this vibrant city was beyond wonderful, and being there with Phoebe made it even more special. Nick was so pleased that this trip had come to fruition, not just to work at the mission, but to share the experience with Phoebe. He thanked God every day for bringing her into his life; he couldn’t deny the fact that he was falling head over in heels in love with her. She was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman—bright, bubbly and humble, and she didn’t care one iota about his money. But more than that, she lived her faith, and that fact alone made her the beautiful person she was.
The next day, after an early breakfast at the hostel, the team arrived at the mission ready for work. Following an introductory meeting presented by Thomas, they were allocated various duties. Some of the men were sent to the centre where ‘Regenerate the Nations’ worked to build relationships with the pimps, while most of the women went to different classrooms and spent time with the children.
Phoebe was excited to be assigned her old classroom with the younger children she’d worked with on her previous trip, and Susan was assigned to work with her. Nick accompanied Thomas to the boys’ centre. During his previous trip to Thailand, he’d only visited a few times, and then it had been mainly to do odd jobs. Today he’d have the opportunity to help in the classroom.
He was directed to a class of ten to twelve-year-olds. There were only six boys, but they each welcomed him with wide smiles. He helped them with their English, and then, when they moved to the computer lab, he helped them to create and work with spreadsheets, skills that would be invaluable in the future as they sought employment, ensuring they would never be vulnerable again.
It was exciting to see the boys so enthusiastic about learning, but he’d only scratched the surface. He determined there and then to return at least once a year to help out, but that wasn’t enough. They needed full-time, skilled teachers, and that would take money. Just as well he had some.
Walking back to the main centre later that day, Thomas chatted easily with Nick. “Judy and I were so pleased to hear that you gave your life to Jesus after you left here.”
Nick smiled. “Yes, it all started here at the mission. I wasn’t ready then, but God didn’t give up on me. He kept prodding me, and one day at church with Phoebe, my eyes were finally opened and I understood that not only is Jesus God’s solution for mankind’s brokenness, He’s the only way to find true peace and meaning in life, and I gave my heart to Him.”
“That’s wonderful, Nick. I can see a change in you already, and I think He has good things planned for you.” Thomas clapped him on the back, and this time, Nick didn’t mind. Thomas was not only a good friend, but a mentor, and he didn’t seem phased at all that Nick was a billionaire. He was just an ordinary man in need of a Saviour.
Arriving at the main centre, most of the children had already left and what few remained were with the classroom helpers. When the team met together in the cafeteria for a debriefing session, everyone had amazing stories to tell, and it was only day one. They couldn’t wait for day two.
Afterwards, as they made their way to dinner, Nick walked beside Susan and asked how she was enjoying the experience so far.
She smiled. “It’s been wonderful, Nick. Thanks for allowing me to come on this journey and to experience this amazing place.”
He returned her smile. “It’s been my pleasure, Susan. I’m so glad you’re enjoying it.” He cleared his throat and glanced down before lifting his gaze again. “You know, there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about…”
Chuckling, she moved closer.
After dinner, the team returned to the hostel, exhausted but happy. Nick reluctantly left Phoebe to go to the room she was sharing with her mum and a few other women, while he went to the room he was sharing with three of the men. By the time he’d prepared for bed, they were snoring.
Despite the busy day, he wasn’t tired and knew he wouldn’t sleep, so he grabbed the small box he’d brought with him and walked outside onto the balcony. The air was balmy and humid after the air-conditioning inside, but it was more real. Just like the city itself.
Bangkok, a visual feast by day, was a hive of activity at night, but its vibrancy after dark signalled both thrill and tragedy. Under the cover of entertainment, human trafficking was carried on and was very real. Not just in Thailand, but in Guatemala, the United States, Spain, and even Sydney. It was all over the world, and it was heartbreaking.
But right now, Nick’s mind was on Phoebe. Opening the box, he asked God for clarity. He wanted to be certain it was right. The right time. The right way. All of it. He needed peace about this decision. A decision that would change his life forever.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up and smiled. Phoebe had walked around the corner but hadn’t seen him. The moment she did, she jumped an
d let out a small squeak, while lifting a hand to her chest. “Nick! What are you doing out here?”
He chuckled. “I could ask you the same question. I couldn’t sleep.”
“Me either,” she said, sidling beside him.
He subtly tucked the box back into his pocket and slipped an arm around her shoulders. As she nestled against him, he pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.
“It’s amazing having my mum here. Thank you for inviting her.” Her voice was soft and sincere.
“It was my pleasure. She seems to be enjoying it so far.”
Gazing out at the city lights, Nick realised his prayer was being answered. This was the time. This was the place. He took a deep breath and turned to face her. With her eyes shining and wisps of hair framing her face, she looked ethereal in the half-light. His heart pounded. “Phoebe…”
She gazed at him, her expression puzzled.
Gazing into her eyes, he was entranced by her. He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek. “I’ve never truly loved a woman before. But Phoebe, I’ve come to love you like I never imagined was possible.” His chest rose and fell as the emotion of the moment swept through him.
Her eyes glistened, her gaze remained steady. “And I love you, Nick.” Her voice was soft, quiet, sincere.
He lifted her hand and kissed her palm gently before moving deftly onto one knee and retrieving the small box from his pocket. Opening it, he held it out. “Phoebe, I love you with all my heart and I want to share the rest of my life with you.” He swallowed hard as he peered into her eyes. “Will you marry me?” Holding his breath, he removed the ring and held it out.
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t look at the ring. Her gaze was fixed on him. She nodded as tears pooled in her eyes. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you!”
He slowly slipped the ring onto her finger and then wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight while he let her response sink in. She’d said yes! She wanted to marry him! He was the happiest man alive! He pulled back and palmed her cheek before lowering his face and showering kisses around her lips. Then, his mouth found hers, and pressing hard, he kissed her passionately, her eager response surprising but pleasing him. When they finally parted, they were both breathless.
Billionaires with Heart Boxset: Christian Romance Series Page 11
