The Billionaire From San Diego

by Susan Westwood

  “How much is the overage?” she asked, digging in her wallet for her card.

  “Fifty dollars,” the woman said.

  “For less than two pounds?”

  “Fifty dollars per bag.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Kelissa said, hand on hip, scowling at the woman.

  The woman stopped, looking up at Kelissa with obvious disdain. Kelissa’s ID was facedown and the woman hadn’t even started typing in her name yet. She was too busy giving her crap about her luggage.

  Someone in the line behind her shifted and grumbled under their breath, but Kelissa had been waiting in the line long enough and she wasn’t about to hurry up because someone else was impatient.

  “Have you found my ticket yet? Maybe I have an extra suitcase paid for already and we can just average the weight out as if it were three suitcases.”

  “That’s not how it works.”

  “Have you found my ticket?”

  “Have you redistributed the weight in your suitcases yet?”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “They’re full and I have nowhere else to put the stuff. It’s under two pounds.”

  “It’s above the limit.”

  Kelissa scowled.

  “Did you find my ticket yet?”

  “We’re dealing with your luggage right now.”

  “I’m dealing with my luggage right now. Your job is to find my ticket and I don’t see you doing your job. I would like to get my ticket and move to the side so I can see if I can pull something out and fit it in my purse. Maybe a bra or something.”

  “Does it have an underwire?”

  “Of course, they do.”

  “Then you can’t carry it on.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “There’s heightened security this week, and there’s no metal allowed.”

  Kelissa was trembling now. The woman at the desk still hadn’t typed in her information and she was running out of time. It was almost as if she was enjoying it, which infuriated Kelissa. She wasn’t going to stand there and let some bleached blonde, spray tanned, miserable woman who hated her job ruin her trip.

  Don’t let her get under your skin, you’re better than that, she thought.

  She took a deep breath, smiled and nodded toward her ID.

  “Don’t you need my ticket up on your computer so you can apply the payment to my account?” she asked sweetly.

  The woman looked startled, then annoyed. Kelissa was right, but the woman had assumed that Kelissa wasn’t going to pay, and if Kelissa was to bet, she was sure the woman was hoping Kelissa would throw a fit and get kicked out of the Des Moines Airport. It would be a bit of excitement in the woman’s boring existence, but Kelissa wasn’t playing. She was calm, cool, and under control. Airport Barbie couldn’t say the same.

  “Are you paying for both bags?” the woman snickered, typing Kelissa’s name with exaggerated slowness as if “Kelissa” was too exotic to spell on the first try.

  Kelissa clenched her fist at her side but didn’t let the smile on her face falter.

  “I’m paying for both bags,” she said.

  She was loath to let that hundred go when she wouldn’t have any money until the next day, but she still had a little over two hundred left. It wasn’t much, but it would get her a hotel for the night if David flaked on her. Then she could use her deposit to buy a ticket home Tuesday morning.

  But she hoped he didn’t flake. She was counting on him and his connections to help her launch her career. She trusted him, as silly as her friends thought that was.

  The woman stopped typing suddenly, looking at Kelissa’s ID, then double checking what she’d put in the computer.

  “Are you going to San Diego?” the woman asked.

  “Yes.”

  “And you’re Kelissa Knight, correct?”

  “That’s what my ID says,” Kelissa said, tilting her head and watching the woman’s demeanor change.

  “I’m sorry, Miss Knight. There is no checked bag limit. You don’t have to remove anything and I’m sorry for the confusion.”

  “Really?”

  The woman nodded. Gone was the fake smile and the haughty air. If Kelissa didn’t know better, she would swear the woman was worried.

  “What’s going on?”

  “I apologize, Miss Knight. I didn’t realize that you were in Premium Class.”

  “What the heck is that?”

  “It’s First Class with certain amenities.”

  The slender woman stepped over the scale, retrieving Kelissa’s bags for her and tagging them, then hopping back over the scale and behind her desk.

  “You’ll go through that door to the lounge. They’ll call your name when it’s time to board. If you’ll leave your carry-on here, they’ll load that for you as well.”

  “What about security?”

  “You’re pre-screened.”

  “So, that’s it? I’m done?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the woman said, handing Kelissa her boarding pass and a laminated card. “That keycard will get you into the lounge. Just give it to your flight attendant once you board.”

  Kelissa smiled, not even trying to hide the smugness as she left her carry-on bag where she stood and walked off to go to the lounge. The woman had been horrible to her until she’d seen that Kelissa held the proverbial golden ticket. After that, the woman had changed her attitude completely. It didn’t excuse her behavior before, and Kelissa wasn’t about to make things easy on the woman.

  She swiped the card and walked into the lounge, the soft music instantly soothing her frayed nerves. A woman came forward, her warm smile genuine and bright. She took Kelissa’s boarding pass and scanned it, making sure her reader showed the right information.

  “San Diego, Premium Class Plus?”

  “Plus?”

  “Yes. It’s an eight-hour flight and comes with a fully reclining, heated massage chair, noise-canceling headphones with satellite radio, a warm blanket, a pillow and satin sleep mask. We also provide two hot meals, unlimited drinks and mini spa services.”

  Kelissa stared at the woman, shocked by so much luxury.

  “They’re giving out manicures in First Class now?” she joked.

  “Not in First Class. Only in Premium Plus.”

  “I’ll pass,” she said. “But I’m going to take you up on the massage chair and the sleep mask.”

  She hadn’t slept the night before because she’d been so excited. Even though the flight didn’t leave until almost noon and would land at six local time, it had taken her over an hour to drive to the airport, and then thirty minutes to get through the ridiculous line at the counter, which had been served by only two people despite the busy airport.

  “I’ll make sure that they know not to disturb you. You don’t board for almost an hour, would you like to eat now?”

  “I thought boarding started in twenty minutes.”

  “For the others. Premium Plus boards last and leaves the plane first.”

  “I could get used to this,” Kelissa said, taking the menu the woman offered and ordering a half sandwich and salad.

  Her meal was ready a few moments after she sat down in a soft chair with a personal table beside it. She thanked the woman, who brought her a sparkling water without being asked, then ate her lunch while she watched the large screen scroll from one breathtaking scene to another from every country the airline served.

  Kelissa took a mental note of all the places she wanted to visit, hoping that she could book gigs in those cities rather than paying for the trip herself. Maybe she could convince David to take her to Europe while she was working for him.

  That would be the life, she thought, finishing the last bite and leaning back. A beautiful mountain scene with a cute little cabin beside a crystal-clear lake popped up on the screen, and Kelissa was surprised to see that the text beneath the picture claimed that the scene was part of San Diego County. When she thought o
f San Diego, she envisioned the ocean, skyscrapers and Mexico nearby. What she didn’t think of was the thousands of acres of pristine wilderness that offered a break from the hustle and bustle of city life.

  These were places only locals knew about, and Kelissa decided to mention to David that she’d love to see some of these places. David always had a nice, deep tan, and Kelissa was sure that he spent time outdoors. She wanted to see the entire city, and she hoped that David would be up for playing tour guide.

  “The plane is ready to board,” the woman said softly, picking up Kelissa’s purse for her.

  “I can carry that,” Kelissa said.

  “Nonsense. You have your water.”

  Kelissa shook her head, following the woman to her gate, then to her seat as the woman stowed her purse in a recessed cubby that already held her carry-on bag.

  “Enjoy your flight,” the woman said, then she left and the flight attendant took her place, bringing a pillow and a blanket and waiting for Kelissa to make herself comfortable.

  “We have a few minutes before takeoff,” he said. “Would you like me to show you how to work the chair?”

  She looked at the controls and shook her head.

  “I can manage, thank you.”

  “Do you want me to wake you for lunch?”

  “No, I’ve already had lunch. I’d like to wake up before we land so I can freshen up.”

  “I’ll make sure you wake up thirty minutes before we start our descent.”

  “Thank you.”

  “My pleasure.”

  He waited a moment, and when she was settled in the chair, he smiled and left.

  The area they were in was large and could have easily held four rows of chairs. Unlike First Class, where there were two chairs on each side of the aisle per row, there was only one large reclining chair on each side of the aisle. A small partition shielded her nearest neighbor in front of her from view, and her own partition offered her quite a bit of privacy.

  The chair was deep and wide, reclined at the perfect angle for her to sleep comfortably. The leg rest was divided in two and wrapped around each leg. When Kelissa turned on the full body massage, the leg rest went to work on her legs, while the rest of her body received the best chair massage of her life.

  This is unreal, she thought, putting the headphones on and scrolling through the stations until she found a classical station. She put the sleeping mask on and pulled the covers around her, sighing when she found the perfect position and the gentle heat from the seat began warming her up.

  David was going to have a hard time topping this plane ride. She’d seen commercials for luxury airlines like this one, but this was beyond what she expected. Everything was so comfortable that she slept soundly and was surprised when the attendant gently shook her awake what felt like minutes later.

  “We’re going to land soon, miss,” the man said, handing her a small leather bag.

  “What’s this?”

  “Complimentary Refresh-Kit,” he said. “There’s everything from toothpaste and mouthwash in there as well as a toothbrush, and there’s also hair oils and face moisturizer.”

  He directed her to a door in the front of the Premium Class area, and when she opened it, she couldn’t help but gasp. She was expecting a small, cramped bathroom with the standard stainless-steel toilet and blue water. This bathroom was just like the one in her house, and even included a small shower.

  She opened the bag, shocked to see that it was indeed stocked with everything that she could possibly need to refresh herself after what was basically a full night’s sleep. She got ready quickly, brushing her teeth and tossing the toothbrush but keeping the large samples, then using her fingers to run leave-in conditioner into her tight curls that reached just to her shoulders.

  By the time she left the bathroom, she felt completely rested and refreshed, though she didn’t take a shower. She felt like a million bucks and she was ready to see David.

  She hoped he was ready for her.

  Chapter2

  When the plane landed, another hostess from the Premium Plus club was there to greet her, taking her carry-on and her purse for her and leading her through a side door that bypassed the crush of bodies flowing off planes from three separate gates and all trying to go down the same hallway to the checked baggage gate.

  When the door closed behind her, there was blessed silence. The room in front of her was almost identical to the one in Iowa, and at the other end was a door that she was sure led straight out to the ticket counter area and the exits without having to wade through the masses.

  “I believe your car is already here,” the man said with a huge smile on his face. “But, if you’d like to wait here until we confirm that, you can make yourself comfortable.”

  “What about my luggage?”

  “That is being hand-delivered to your car.”

  “Wow. Alright. I’d like to see if my ride is here.”

  The man nodded, leading the way out the door and holding it for her despite the bags he carried.

  A girl could get used to this, she thought, letting him lead the way to the waiting area.

  She saw him at the same instant that he noticed her and when he stood to greet her with a warm smile on his face, her breath caught. He was even more handsome in person than he was online, the essence of what made him gorgeous uncaptured by the camera.

  She almost ran to him, but she didn’t want to seem too eager. His long stride closed the distance and he opened his arms, his eyes shining. She hugged him, breathing in the scent of him and sighing heavily.

  “Long flight?” he joked, still holding her against his chest.

  “No.”

  When she offered no further explanation he chuckled softly, then released her and handed her a single, perfect rose.

  “I seem to remember you saying that you loved peach roses.”

  “I do,” she said, admiring the thornless stem and taking a deep breath with her nose buried in the delicate petals. “It’s beautiful, thank you.”

  “You are even more beautiful than your pictures,” he said. “I think the first thing we’re going to do is get you a phone with a better camera.”

  “My five has a great camera.”

  “The seven is already out.”

  He slipped his arm around her shoulder and walked beside her, the attendants already returning from putting all her bags in the car.

  “Did they take good care of you?” he asked as they came back into the airport side by side.

  “They were amazing.”

  David reached into his pocket, and as the pair walked their way, he handed them each a stack of folded bills. When Kelissa saw that they were one hundred-dollar bills, she was shocked. She couldn’t tell how many he’d given them, but she was sure he’d just tipped them each at least four hundred dollars.

  “Are you hungry? Should we stop for dinner first, or get the phone right away?”

  “I don’t need a phone right now,” she said, leaning her head against his shoulder as they walked unhurried to the car waiting by the curb. “I’m holding out for the eight, anyway.”

  “Even better. Do you care what color?”

  “Silver, with a purple case.”

  “That’s easy enough. What about dinner?”

  “I was hoping that we could spend some time just getting to know each other before we step out in public.”

  “Are you worried that you don’t want to stay?” He stopped her next to the car, giving the driver a look when he got out to open the door. The man got back in the car and David looked at Kelissa, his brow furrowed slightly. “You don’t have to stay. You can leave any time and I’m not going to hold it against you. In fact, I have an appointment for you at the end of the week to go over the contract with a lawyer that isn’t on my payroll, so you can be sure your interests are being taken care of. I’m not trying to take advantage of you at all.”

  “It’s not that at all. I’m really happy to be here, and that fl
ight was amazing. I know that I can leave any time and I’m not worried about that. It’s just—” she trailed off, searching for the words. “It’s just that we’ve been friends online for months, and I haven’t shared that with anyone. Your friendship is something special, just for me. I don’t feel like going out right now because I want to keep you and this arrangement to myself for a couple days while we get to know each other. I hope I’m making sense.”

  He smiled. A single dimple appeared and Kelissa’s heart skipped a beat.

  Did he have any idea how handsome he was?

  “You make complete sense. I’d like to keep you to myself for a little while as well. Maybe we could order takeout, skip the mansion and head to my beach cottage in La Jolla and enjoy my private beach and dinner on the deck.”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  “Excellent.” He opened the door to the back of the limo and held it with one hand while he helped her in. “Go ahead and look through the menu and the food will be there when we arrive or shortly after.”

  “Must be nice,” she said, taking the menu he offered and picking a few items before handing it back.

  He took a picture with his phone and circled the things she’d indicated with his finger on the screen, then sent it off in a matter of seconds. She was in awe of how easily he seemed to command life, even in just the few minutes that she’d been in his presence. He was bold, yet tender. Self-assured, but somehow almost humble. He was a man who didn’t need anyone to tell him that he was important, but he would listen to her if she ever voiced concerns.

  She’d never met a man like him.

  “Being wealthy has its perks. Meeting a beautiful woman online and treating her like the queen she is comes to mind right about now.”

  He was smiling at her, his brown eyes locked with hers, his affection genuine. She almost didn’t notice his hand on her knee, or the subtle way he leaned in just a little. When she did, she decided to go for it, closing the distance between them and kissing him boldly. He returned her kiss, then pulled back, his hand still on her knee, a second dimple appearing when his smile widened.