by Amber Heart
She caught her breath, staring up at him.
“I can’t imagine my life without you in it,” he went on, his voice going rough. “But I want to know that you’re mine. I want to love someone who loves me back. And if you’re not ready for that, then maybe we’re not in the same place.”
Riley stood up and walked out. Eli sank back down to the chair, his heart aching and his throat tight. For all he knew, that would be the last time he saw her.
Close to midnight, he was still sitting there, even though he knew that he needed to go inside and go to bed. He had to be at work in the morning and there was no reason to keep sitting where he was. He was just standing up when a small figure appeared in the doorway.
“Riley?”
When she stepped out onto the porch, he could tell that she’d been crying. He couldn’t help but reach for her. She shook her head and stepped back. His heart sank.
“I have to say something,” Riley said, swallowing hard.
Eli braced himself and nodded.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
“Wait, what?”
“I love you too.” This time she started to cry as she said it and she flung herself into his arms.
He wrapped her into an embrace and let her cry.
“You really do?” he asked when she finally stopped.
Riley nodded. “I never would have been happy with him. Not waiting for him to get tired and trade me in again. You...you’ve been everything that I ever wanted in a relationship. You’ve been patient and sweet and funny and you...you love me.” She sounded amazed by that, but she didn’t give him time to address it before she hurried on.
“And I thought that making it official would make it like things were with Mike and I didn’t want that. I never really wanted him, Eli, I swear. I just...I only talked to him because of the way things ended and because of how long we’d been together. One conversation was enough to know that it wasn’t ever going to be good between us again. And I know that I’m rambling and I’m scared that if I stop, you’ll tell me to go and I love you and I don’t want to lose you.” She stopped and took a shaky breath, wiping tears off of her cheeks as he looked down at the deck.
Eli put his hand under her chin, tilting her face up to his. “Of course I love you,” he said with a grin of pure relief. “I only have one question.”
Riley nodded, but she still looked nervous. “Go ahead.”
“Does this make us official now?”
She didn’t answer, but he considered the kiss...and what followed it...a yes.
The Singer
A Billionaire Romance Story
By Amber Heart
Chapter 1
Nina
I took my position up on the stage, with Jake, my guitarist standing behind me as usual. The wedding venue was gorgeous, and one I’d never performed in before. It was at the waterfront, with the stage flanked by tall palm trees swaying in the night breeze. Facing us was a stage for the dance, where the beautiful happy couple had already taken up their place, hand in each other’s hand. The entire venue was decorated with fairy lights and red roses. It must have cost them a fortune. A venue like this in Las Vegas! I didn’t even want to imagine what something like this could cost.
Either way, I had a job to do and I unhooked the microphone from its stand and brought it closer to my lips.
“Ladies and gentlemen…our couple’s first dance!” I announced and the guests clapped and cheered as I readied myself for the song I was about to sing. I heard the guitar’s first chord strike and I closed my eyes. Van Morrison’s Have I told you Lately…a common first dance pick. I sang it with my eyes closed, allowing the music to engulf me and everyone who was in attendance.
No matter how many times I sang at weddings, a romantic moment like this always gave me goosebumps. I concentrated on the feelings, the ambiance and how much in love the couple looked as they stared into each others’ eyes and swayed slowly to my singing.
Towards the end of the song, other guests had joined in on the dance floor as well and my songs transitioned into the couple’s other picks for the evening. Four romantic songs back to back, had filled me to the brim with yearning and mild hysteria. So, when I did eventually stop after the first set, I felt slightly breathless with emotion. In my head I was always planning my own fairytale wedding.
“I need a drink,” I whispered to Jake, when I hinged the microphone back and I promptly stepped off stage. Recorded music started playing in the background, as I walked swiftly towards the open bar on one side of the venue. Some people graciously smiled at me and I smiled back. All the women here was well dressed in designer outfits, carrying expensive purses and with glittering jewels at their necks.
I felt slightly out of place in their presence, in my simple black satin cocktail dress, with my blond curls messily held up in a bun at the side. I weaved through the throngs, till I finally reached the bar.
“A gin and tonic, please, barman,” I said, who nodded and turned to pour me one.
“You should help yourself to the champagne,” I heard a voice beside me and I whipped around to find a man grinning at me. I hadn’t noticed him before, but he looked like the perfect guest for a wedding like this one. In a sharp undoubtedly bespoke tuxedo, with a bow tie at his neck, I noticed that he had the most steely gray eyes I had ever seen on anyone before. His face exuded sophistication and wealth, with high cheekbones and a sharply chiseled jaw. He looked like he had been freshly carved out of a piece of marble. A dark one-day stubble covered his jaw and chin, to match the dark wavy hair on his head that was neatly brushed to the side.
“Excuse me?” I said, realizing that I had been gawking at him silently for several moments.
“You should have asked for champagne, it’s on the house,” he repeated himself and I felt my cheeks flush severely. I didn’t need his permission to make use of handouts!
“I’m at work, not here to celebrate,” I said and took a sip of my drink, allowing the fresh taste to overpower my senses momentarily. The man had turned sideways to study me. I could see his eyes drinking in the shape of my body, his gaze lingering for a few moments on my breasts and suddenly I felt very self conscious.
“I know. I heard you singing,” he said in a deep low voice. I noticed now that he had an immensely powerful voice. “You’re very good,” he added and I blushed some more.
“Thank you, now if you’ll excuse me,” I said and made to walk away from him.
He had grabbed my wrist suddenly, twisting me around to face him before finally letting go of my hand.
“You deserve a break,” he said, with a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. I had my brows furrowed and could feel my breasts rising and falling. Wasn’t it good enough that just with his sudden appearance, he had managed to make me uncomfortable? I drew away from him, and my back hit against someone else behind me.
“I’m so sorry, I’m sorry,” I apologized profusely when I noticed that I had knocked over that man’s drink. He gave me the evil eye before walking over to the bar to ask for a tissue paper.
“Looks like I should give you my arm, you need the support,” the handsome stranger said when I turned to him again. This was his fault and he had the audacity to mock me!
“I’m fine. I can walk on my own impressively,” I snapped and jutted my chin out towards him, and he laughed.
“Looks like your guitarist is trying to catch your attention,” he said and I whipped around again, to see that Jake was silently indicating to me to join him on the stage. I held the glass of gin and tonic to my lips, threw my head back and gulped most of it down in one go and then turned and thrust the glass back towards the man.
“You can have this,” I said and started walking away from him.
“I’ll keep it safe for you,” I heard him call out to me as I hurried away, and despite myself a gushing smile appeared on my face.
Weddings were always full of surprises, I thought.
Chapter 2<
br />
Nina
I kept a look out on the dance floor for him as I sang the second set of songs, expecting him to ask one of the many attractive girls at the party for a dance. But he was conspicuous by his absence, and when I got off the stage again, I saw him in a corner, leaning in towards a girl, whispering something in her ear.
My jaw clenched instinctively. I should have known he was a player. I tried not to look as I weaved my way through the crowd towards the bar again, but I had noticed the flushed look on the girl’s face. She was enjoying the attention.
Just as I ordered my second gin and tonic, he caught my eye. I saw the hand he placed on the girl’s waist, he mouthed a quick apology to her and then took his leave. I felt my back stiffen, and my neck start to burn up because I could sense that he was walking towards me.
I didn’t turn to look at him, not even when he leaned over the counter and spoke to the barman directly.
“Forget the gin. Champagne for the lady,” he said and then slowly turned to me, thrusting a hand into the pocket of his tailored pants. I arched an eyebrow and looked at him, keeping my lips firmly pressed together.
“I don’t drink champagne,” I said, as his gaze dropped to my breasts momentarily again. He was the kind of man who didn’t apologize for admiring a woman’s body. He was confident in his own good looks and charm. He knew the intense physical reaction that women had towards him, and I was determined to prove him wrong.
“That’s a lie,” he said, just as my glass of champagne was served to me. It came in a fancy crystal flute and I cradled it gingerly in my hands, afraid of breaking it.
“I’m sure you have better things to do than forcing champagne on the band,” I said and he raised an eyebrow.
“No, in fact, I have nothing better to do,” he said and took a large sip of his own champagne.
“You don’t seem to be enjoying it,” I said and took a small sip myself. He gulped the drink and threw me a half smile.
“I usually drink whiskey,” he replied and I noticed the way he edged closer to me with every word he spoke. My body tensed up from our proximity.
“Then neither of us should be drinking this champagne right now,” I said and he laughed. A small hearty laugh that made his shoulders shake. Then he nodded his head slowly and took another large gulp.
“Your name is Nina Philips,” he told me rather than asked, and I glared at him.
“Yes,” I replied, not sure whether I should have asked him how he knew that. Although, it wouldn’t have been hard for him to find out, if he was friends with the bride and groom.
“I’m Cole, Cole Emery,” he said and stuck his hand out to me. Even his name sounded like it was made of platinum and money. A good solid name, I could totally picture him in a gold bath tub, eating caviar out of a silver plate.
I hesitated, before I finally shook his hand and noted the way his gray eyes narrowed when our hands touched. My fingers seemed thin and wiry, my palm too small, as he grasped me with his own large hands. I felt a pang in the pit of my stomach, and couldn’t stop the instinctive fantasy that arose in my head. I was imagining him without his shirt on, picturing a solid chiseled torso.
“Friend of the groom’s?” I asked and Cole smirked, then shook his head.
“I used to date the bride,” he replied and my brows rose in surprise.
“And she invited you to the wedding?” I asked and another small laugh escaped Cole’s lips. He was standing dangerously close to me now and I felt goosebumps erupt on my arms.
“She’s still bitter, thinks that her wedding would affect me, maybe make me change my mind. We only dated for a few weeks,” he said and I got a whiff of his heady masculine cologne that made me slightly unsteady on my feet.
“She got married to teach you a lesson?” I asked, my mouth hanging open now and Cole shrugged his shoulders.
“I hope not, for her sake,” he replied and I stared at him, our gazes locked.
“Why did you come?” I asked in a softer voice. Even though he didn’t care who could hear our conversation, I got a feeling that this was a sensitive topic that shouldn’t be discussed publicly.
“The groom is my cousin,” he said matter-of-factly and my mouth dropped open again.
“She married your cousin to teach you a lesson?” I’d forgotten about the drink in my hand now. This conversation was way more interesting. Cole shrugged his shoulders again, then threw back his head and finished the rest of the champagne in his glass.
“C’mon, let’s go find whiskey somewhere,” he said and before I could reply, he had caught me by my wrist and was leading me away. I bit down on my lip as I allowed him to tug me in the direction that he wanted to go. I was done with the singing, so I had no other commitments, but even then I felt a dangerous tingling at the tips of my fingers. Like a premonition that I should have stayed away from Cole Emery.
It was too late now though, he had already led me away from the wedding party and into the hotel lobby. And come to think of it, I could do with some whiskey myself. Weddings always left me feeling depressed and alone, at least this time I would have some company.
Chapter 3
Nina
We were sitting on high stools, facing each other, at the hotel bar. The lights were dim, and I was already two fingers of Single Malt in, but I could still see Cole’s face clearly in front of me. A sharp jaw, protruding eyebrows, high cheekbones…I had a sudden uncontrollable urge to reach out and feel the angles of his face. It took all the strength in me to resist doing that.
“Why did you tell me about your ex…the bride?” I asked him, licking my lips. Cole smiled, studying my eyes, my chin… He had a strange elusive way of looking, like he was trying to figure me out just from my face. Like he was already making judgements on my personality. I felt naked under his gaze. I could feel my nipples beginning to stiffen under his steady watchful eyes. Thank God for padded bras!
“There was no reason to hide it from you. You asked me how I knew the bride and groom, so I told you the truth,” Cole said and swirled the remnants of his whiskey in his glass. I watched him silently for a few moments. This was not how I imagined the night to progress, and I gulped. The last thing I expected was to be sitting at a bar, sitting dangerously close to the hottest guy I had ever personally met. I had already seen the bulge in his pants as he sat in front of me. I looked away, but I couldn’t un-see it now. When was the last time I had ever objectified a man like this?
“How long have you been singing at weddings?” he asked, snapping me out of my fantasies of him.
“Since I dropped out of college, three years ago. I had to find a way to make money. It took me a few months to realize that nobody wanted to produce my songs,” I told him, suddenly realizing that my knees felt a little weak and that I was talking too much.
“You write songs?” he asked, and again, I got a whiff of that cologne.
“I wrote songs,” I corrected him and he didn’t smile.
“And what, you’ve just given up on writing them now?” he asked and I jutted my chin out proudly towards him.
“I’m not interested in a pep talk,” I told him and our gazes locked. I kept mine narrowed and focused on his face, resisting the temptation to tuck in some stray golden curls behind my ears. That would only be a show of weakness and nervousness, and I didn’t want him to know how I was feeling.
“Fair enough. So, Nina, what are you interested in then?” he asked and I watched in horror as he reached out and brushed his finger against the curl that was lying annoyingly on my nose. He smoothly moved it over my cheeks and then tucked it in behind my ear.
I realized that I was holding my breath the whole time that he did that. I didn’t move or say a word, just watched him in terror. My body was frozen to the spot.
I couldn’t reply to what he had just asked. I didn’t have the courage to say it in words. What I actually wanted. My fear of rejection was too strong.
He waited for me to say something for a fe
w more moments, and I admired the width of his shoulders in the meantime.
“Do you want me to get to the point?” he asked and I felt my body reel. I still said nothing, just sat on the stool in front of him, with my back straight and my nostrils flaring in anticipation.
Cole had already ordered another round of whiskeys and the bartender brought it for us, placing it on tissue papers on the counter. He was quick to pick up his glass and take a large sip. I did the same, because I could do with as much courage as I could gather right then.
“You seem like a straight shooter, Nina. Let me lay it out for you in simple terms,” he said and I gulped. I had no idea what he was going to say, but I knew what I wanted him to.
“From the moment I saw you on the stage, singing, I knew I wanted you,” he said, exuding self confidence. He said it matter of factly again, like he didn’t expect a response that would disappoint him. Every instinct in my bones told me that I should have just got off the stool and walked away. That nothing good could come from sleeping with a man like Cole Emery.
I wasn’t someone who enjoyed one night stands. I had only ever been with two guys before, and both of them had been long-term boyfriends. I still craved for romance, for a meaningful committed relationship. I was well aware of what one-night stands led to…to nothing.
Sleeping with Cole that night would be just for the moment, he had made it very clear. I had to give him credits for honesty, but right then, I didn’t feel like saying anything. I only stared at him.
