Fast Love (The Billionaires Club Book 3)

by Zoe Adams

  A server with a silver tray showed up at the table and started replacing glasses.

  She smiled at Indiana. “Did you want to order something?”

  “Yes.” Indiana made one last attempt at the menu.

  She said the first thing that caught her eye. “I would like the Rampage buffalo burger and a Coke.”

  “Good choice.” The attendant walked away with the new set of orders.

  Indiana turned into a wallflower for the billionth time in her life.

  Ellen was in a deep conversation about wine and climate with her friends. Indiana was in deep trouble trying not to stare at the male god across the room.

  She remembered the last time she had seen him all too well. That little island in the tropics had brought them closer together. Indiana’s heart stopped at the memory. Sweat popped out at the memory. Wetness started to roll south and rebel.

  By the time her Coke was set in front of her, a full-blown blush had settled on her face. Indiana’s place at the table was verified by a drink in front of her. The topic of conversation needlessly fell on her.

  “So, dear, how are things at school?” Ellen patted her daughter’s arm.

  “Good.” Indiana pushed her long hair back over her shoulder. “There is only another year.”

  “Good for you,” Jerry said.

  “Good?” Ellen laughed. “My daughter is amazing. She’s graduating college right after her eighteenth birthday,” Ellen bragged.

  Indiana wasn’t used to attention and the blush finally belonged on her face.

  There was a new appreciation from everyone at the table.

  “Is that so?” Jerry looked at her inquisitively. “What is your degree?”

  “Marketing and business,” Indiana replied.

  “Well, that is a good thing to know about. There is a lot of money to be made.” Jerry looked knowingly at his brother. “Have you looked for any jobs yet?”

  Indiana had to be honest. If she had to hold back one more thing she would explode. “I am going to join the racing circuit.”

  “No, she’s not,” Ellen quickly intervened. “My daughter will not be a race car driver.”

  She took a sip of her drink.

  Indiana didn’t verbally argue, but her eyes were set in stone when she looked around the table.

  The others could sense the mother and daughter treading sensitive ground and veered the subject away from it.

  Indiana’s food arrived. It was a welcome distraction. She tried to be normal and took a bite of her burger. The food got stuck in her mouth as she chewed. She wondered if all food tasted like nothing when a different obsession was near.

  She pushed away her half-eaten food and finished her drink.

  “I think I will check into my room,” Indiana said.

  “That’s good.” Ellen set aside her drink. “I’ll come with you.”

  Indiana stood up. She gathered her coat and bag. Ellen wrapped her arm around Indiana’s shoulder and walked her from the bar.

  They stopped at the receptionist’s desk and checked Indiana into her room. She stood waiting for a key, and looked over her shoulder.

  Richard exited the bar with his friends. They saw each other at the same time.

  Indiana turned her body to fully face him. He excused himself from his friends and approached the desk.

  “Hi, Ellen.” Richard gave her a hug. “Congratulations on the wedding.”

  “Oh, Richard. How nice to see you,” Ellen said. “Thank you for coming.”

  He turned to Indiana. A heavy look of recognition hung in his eyes.

  “Hi, Indy.” Richard stood very straight.

  “Hi, Richard. It’s nice to see you,” Indiana said.

  “What do you mean? You can see me on TV every week.” Richard bragged and teased at the same time.

  Indiana flushed and felt more heat than ever. He was absolutely right. She did watch him every week. An awkward moment came and Indiana tried to push it away.

  “Yeah, well, it’s not like it used to be.” There was a moment of silence as they considered what could have been if King Bern-Out-Stein were still alive. Richard looked at Indiana with a heavy sense of recognition in his eyes.

  “I’m so happy for your family. Your mom deserves to be happy and in love again.” Richard tried to put the past to rest.

  “Yes. It’s nice,” Indiana replied. “This is a great venue.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Richard kept looking at Indiana. “How are you doing, Indy?”

  She blanked her expression and hoped her body’s yearnings wouldn’t give her away.

  Thankfully, her mom spoke for her.

  “She’s doing great.” Ellen wrapped her arm around her daughter again.

  A guarded look dropped from Richard’s smooth face.

  “Yes,” he agreed. “I’m impressed.”

  Indiana breathed in the presence of Richard. She wondered how a simple breath could fill her with so much life.

  “Thanks.” Indiana took the compliment fully. There were other ways she wanted to impress him, but she would settle for what she could get.

  She looked deeply into his eyes when she asked, “How are you?”

  “Well,” he flashed his devil grin, “I’ve been keeping busy!”

  Indiana knew that much was true. There wasn’t a tabloid or tweet escaping her attention.

  “That’s good.” Indiana smiled sweetly. “I hope success has brought you happiness.”

  “How could it not?” Richard laughed.

  “I’m living a good life,” he reassured her, but something had dulled in his eyes.

  Ellen interrupted the serious talk. “It’s so nice to run into you here, but you know how busy brides can be.”

  A second of jealousy flashed in his eyes, then Richard smiled lightly. “Don’t let me keep you. I’ll see you lovely ladies later.”

  Richard rejoined his friends without a backwards look.

  Indiana didn’t say goodbye. She would never say goodbye to him. She watched him walk away.

  The desk attendant cleared his throat. Indiana turned around and smiled.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  Indiana picked up her room key and shuffled away from the desk.

  She fumbled with the door and it opened from the inside.

  Ellen had rented a suite of rooms and Frank opened the door. He resumed sitting on the couch and Ellen joined him.

  “Careful when you open your door.” Ellen pointed to Indiana’s room. “My wedding dress is in there and Frank supposedly hasn’t seen it yet.”

  The couple teased each other softly.

  Indiana blushed. “You guys are going to be newlyweds and should have privacy.”

  Ellen raised her eyebrows. “We’re old, and someday you’ll be old with your own husband and daughter.”

  Frank admonished her. “Hey, maybe the girl’s right. I’m not that old yet.”

  Indiana didn’t want to have this conversation, and veered it toward suiting herself. “I think I’ll go check out the ski lodge.”

  “All right,” Ellen conceded, “but be back for dinner. We have early reservations at six. And tomorrow, I get you all day. We are getting ready in the morning, then you carry my purse, lipstick, and mirror all night. ”

  Indiana smiled. “You got it, Mom. I’ll just get ready now.”

  Ellen followed her into her room.

  “Here,” Ellen said opening a shopping bag, “I bought you some extra clothes.”

  She began laying clothes out on the bed. As usual, she had thought of everything.

  “They look nice,” Indiana said softly.

  “They are more than nice,” Ellen retorted. “Here, try these on.”

  Indiana had no choice but to comply. The cashmere sweater was beyond soft, and the jeans fit well.

  “Look at you,” she said proudly. “My daughter is a full-grown woman. Why don’t you always wear sexier clothes?”

  “Because I don’t want the attention,�
�� Indiana replied, and put a flannel shirt over the sweater.

  “You don’t want attention?” Her mother looked dumbfounded. “Don’t you want a boyfriend?”

  “No.” Indiana looked at her seriously. “It will only distract me.”

  Ellen threw her head back and laughed. “You have always been so grown up and serious. I don’t know how I conceived such a serious child.”

  Indiana put on some knee high boots. They instantly made her warmer. She might have to wear them all weekend.

  She stood up and admitted to her mom, “Boys my age aren’t appealing.”

  “Oh I know, Indiana. You like older men. I remember you kissing Richard. But that’s because he’s a man. The boys your age are at the interim part of their life. They don’t own anything yet. You’ll like them soon.” Ellen sat back assuredly.

  “It’s not that, Mom. It’s their complacency with life. Why am I the only one in a hurry to grow up?”

  She felt flustered and didn’t know talking about her peers could get her in this state. She wasn’t jealous of their parties or their sex lives. Pretty soon she would be partying and having sex on her own. Race car drivers knew how to party. Indiana considered college parties child’s play.

  She was saving herself. She would be taught how to party and have sex by someone who loved her.

  Indiana bit her lower lip and stood before the mirror. She turned her face from side to side and studied herself. Her cheekbones had risen and hollowed against her cheeks. Her chin was starting to look less square but her lips were just as full as ever. When she smiled her face evened out and looked much better.

  She did light maintenance to keep herself neat. But whenever she was around her mother the makeup became heavier and clothes became tighter. Indiana felt unsure with the alternate personality. Being away from textbooks provided something new.

  She wrapped a scarf around her neck. “Okay. I’m ready for winter. I’ll be back later.”

  Indiana hugged her mom and left. Luckily, she could spend the afternoon at her leisure.

  Indiana tightened up fur lined boots and walked out the door. She left the hotel and stopped outside the grand entranceway. The air had picked up an afternoon wind. It was cold with clear snowflakes swirling around. Walking to the ski lodge turned her face red.

  She bent into the wind and walked up the sidewalk. Blue signs with white frosty letters pointed her along to the mountain.

  Indiana walked into the ski lodge and a warm burst of heat enveloped her. She looked around for a moment to get her bearings.

  Indiana found the rental desk and signed up for skiing lessons. She bought a few other needed necessities. Gloves, goggles, and ski pants were put in a bag for later.

  She stood in the center of the room and looked around. Couples smiled and children laughed. Someone jabbed her in the back, someone else ripped her belongings from her hand.

  A sudden fire erupted from her belly. She looked around angrily. Her brother was smirking down at her.

  “Hi, Indy,” Tommy said smugly.

  “Oh, hi, Tommy.” Indiana took a heavy breath. “You’re not very welcoming.”

  “Take it easy. You need to relax,” he explained.

  “You are the only person taking things.” Indiana held out her hand for the shopping bag.

  Tommy rolled his eyes and handed back her things. “God. You’re always so serious.”

  She nodded. “I’m not used to someone bugging me. There’s a reason I don’t live with you. Family treats me worse than outsiders.”

  Indiana started to walk away.

  “Where are you going?” Tommy asked.

  “Where do you think?” That was the closest she came to begging her brother to use his brain.

  Tommy took a few steps to keep up with her.

  “Look at you, you’re like a mousy librarian.” He taunted her and pushed out his chest. “Am I being too loud?”

  “Yes.” Indiana smirked. “Actually you are too loud, and being a bully.”

  Indiana had bravely put up a strong front. She was solid, firm, and frozen into place. If she had to move, her slight hold on domination might disappear.

  Something flickered across Tommy’s eyes.

  “You’re right,” he said. “I am being a bully. I’m just trying to get you to lighten up. I know you’re almost done with college and all that, but you don’t even act like a teenager. It’s like my sister is a robot.”

  Indiana heard the plea to her humanity. She kept it carefully controlled below the surface. Her reasons for isolation were running out. Somehow, in her urge to grow up, she had become inhospitable.

  All she could do was acknowledge it.

  “You’re right, Tommy.” Indiana smiled with regret. “It’s just been really hard.”

  “Well, yeah,” Tommy put his hands on his hips, “you do the work of twenty-two-year-old kids.”

  Indiana smirked. “That’s only a compliment because I’m young. Pretty soon I’ll be doing other things.”

  Tommy tilted his head and searched her eyes. After a moment of silence his face cleared. “Don’t tell me you are still planning on racing cars.”

  “Oh yeah,” Indiana confirmed.

  Tommy rolled his eyes. “You know what Mom is going to say about that.”

  Indiana’s eyes flashed. “She is only a problem until I turn eighteen. Why do you think I’m in such a hurry to graduate college?”

  She answered her own question. “Nothing will stop me.”

  “Yeah, well, if you plan on being famous, maybe you should do something about your face. No one is going to watch a nun racing cars.” He looked at her slyly. “I guess you haven’t heard that sex sells, so you better look good. You’re going to need lots of sponsors, especially if you go against Mom.”

  Indiana knew he was right. Her style was something that had been bothering her more and more lately.

  Indiana softened toward her brother. They must be related if he could pick up on things about her that needed addressing.

  “I can’t go against all of my family.” Indiana stood up on her tiptoes and they were the same height. “When did you become the expert on girls?”

  Tommy shook his head and laughed. “I don’t really have a choice. You and Mom are a handful.”

  “Seems like neither of us has a choice.” Indiana shifted her bag in her hands and prepared to walk away. “Next time you see me I’ll look better, and maybe even be nicer to you.”

  He shrugged. “I can’t wait.”

  Indiana walked away from her brother feeling slightly renewed. She spent the rest of the afternoon pampering her body. She would have fun tonight and tomorrow. She had every reason to look her best. Richard was nearby and that alone added an elemental need.

  Indiana showered and made herself up for the night. She dressed in a red sweater dress. It was bulky and warm, but Indiana thought it was sexy where it needed to be.

  The low cut v-neck could only be worn over one of her bras. It came up over her shoulder in single straps. Her shoulders were exposed as long sleeves covered her arms and wrists.

  The dress stopped a few inches above her knees. Red tights covered her white bony knees. They matched her dress and gave an illusion of it being longer.

  Indiana marveled at the genius of her mother. The dress was conservative and sexy. It made Indiana’s arms and legs look long, while drawing attention away from the spaces in between.

  Indiana felt comfortable in it and that was the most important thing.

  Dinner was supposed to be intimate with just family. Indiana didn’t know if it would include Richard or not. She wondered if it would be easier or harder with him there. She mentally prepared herself for the evening.

  Black shoes with wide stripes crisscrossed her ankles. She tightened down the buckles and stood up.

  It was a good thing she was strapped into the high heels. Indiana didn’t know if she could walk in them otherwise. With the shoes on, she had to take smaller steps and
step down on the ground with more weight. It was totally different from her quiet light-footed gait.

  Indiana looked at herself in the mirror and gaped. Her legs seemed extra-long and she liked being taller. It made her feel older. This was a feeling she always chased and she took a moment to revel in it.

  Her reflection was a satisfactory receipt of spending hours on hair, makeup, and clothes. She was almost where she needed to be. She left her room a mess.

  She walked down the hall. She thought about waiting for the elevator but something propelled her past it.

  The lobby had a wide wooden staircase. It was a showpiece for large and small rough-hewn logs. The banister curved down, making an imposing approach.

  Indiana gripped the railing and dropped one step at a time. It was unusual for her to slow down. She looked around the room. There were lots of people milling around the room and open bar, but she did not see the man she wanted to see.

  Her family was sitting at a table and waved at her. Indiana studied their faces. Tommy looked triumphant. Ellen looked ecstatic. Jerry and Laura looked pleased.

  Indiana felt like she had triumphantly come out of her cocoon. She had done it for someone else, but it was done all the same. It gave her strength but it left a long ways to go.

  She joined her loved ones at the table. Indiana looked at her family. She was in for a long dinner. At least it was an interesting dinner.

  Tommy sat across from her. Indiana knew she didn’t have much to talk about with her brother and futile attempts proved it. She also shouldn’t have to sit at the end of a table.

  Drinks turned into dinner. The atmosphere at the lodge was jubilant. Everyone was on vacation. Everyone was beautiful and happy. The gold necklaces and jewelry glimmered.

  Lights were dimmed and the room began to glow. Candles were lit and the fireplace took on its large focal point fire. The wine was flowing and everyone lit up at the thought of romance.

  “I’m going upstairs,” Indiana finally said.

  “Oh? You aren’t staying?” Ellen questioned.

  “No,” Indiana stretched and didn’t need to exaggerate, “I’m pretty tired from traveling.”

  “All right.” Ellen smiled. “Good night, dear.”

  ***