Not The Billionaire

by Noorman, Krista

  He wanted Genevieve to know him as Sebastian and be close with his loved ones. He wondered how she would react if he told her the truth. Would she be very angry? Anyone who was lied to would be unhappy about it, but was she the kind of person who held a grudge? Or would she listen to his reasons and understand where he was coming from? He didn’t know her well enough to know that, but he prayed she’d be the latter.

  EIGHTEEN

  Genevieve hadn’t laughed so hard in a long time. Franky was a very funny guy, and she could see why Kurtis liked him. He was constantly joking around, and it was obvious he was the life of the party. She also suspected that Skylar had a thing for him. Maybe Franky didn’t notice the way Skylar looked at him, but Genevieve certainly did.

  Skylar’s car was amazing. Smooth, supple leather seats with that new car smell permeating the space, air conditioning that seemed to immediately cool them—maybe because the outside air was so stifling—and this car had some serious horsepower.

  She continued to wonder about the dynamic between the three of them. They seemed to be good friends. The kind of friends that were comfortable around each other. Kurtis didn’t seem the least bit concerned about class, considering the car they were riding in and the very wealthy woman driving it. She had no idea what Franky’s situation was or how he knew the Schultz family, but their association made her assume he came from money too. Maybe that wasn’t correct, but it was her initial judgment.

  Kurtis had been right when he said his legs were too long for the back seat. The seats were tiny, probably more suitable for children or petite women like Genevieve. His knees were bent way up to his chest, and no matter how much shifting he did, he couldn’t seem to find a comfortable position. He’d taken the seat behind Skylar, and she’d moved forward to make as much room for him as possible, but it didn’t help much. He shifted once more, and his knee leaned across the center console and rested against Genevieve’s.

  She looked over at him.

  “Sorry. It’s a tight fit back here.”

  “I don’t mind.” She could have angled her legs toward the side of the car to give him more room, but she didn’t. She wanted to feel his strong thigh pressed against hers.

  He moved his hand and rested it on his knee, millimeters away from her bare leg. More than anything, she wanted to lay her hand over his. Instead, she placed it on her own knee next to his, giving him the opportunity if he wanted it. She was sure her motive was obvious, and she felt a little foolish for doing it. But then she felt his pinky press against the side of hers. Just the warmth of that simple touch erased her misgivings. She didn’t look at him or their hands. She simply stayed still to see what he’d do next.

  Her eyes fixed on the passing landscape, and she was beginning to think she was being foolish again since he hadn’t moved. She was sure he liked her. They had this flirtatious thing going on between them. And he’d nearly kissed her last week. But was she making more of this than there really was? Maybe he’d accidentally brushed her finger with his.

  Just as she was about to move her hand away, his pinky gently skimmed over the top of hers and on over the back of her hand as the rest of his fingers followed, gently caressing her skin, softly trailing across her hand to her wrist and back again, leaving chills in their wake. As his hand slid over hers, she lifted her fingers, intertwining them with his, and he folded his fingers into her palm, holding onto her hand and gently moving his thumb back and forth along the side.

  She could barely breathe. His hand was so warm atop hers. She turned her eyes away from the window and dared to make eye contact. And when she saw the tender look in his eyes, she knew it wasn’t all her.

  She was falling for Kurtis. Falling hard. And she was certain he was falling for her too.

  The restaurant was not what Genevieve expected. She’d pictured something a little fancier, with more expensive decor and tastes, but when they stopped in front of a little building overlooking the lake, she couldn’t have been more surprised or pleased. Sunset Grill. She loved it already.

  “Have you ever been here?” Kurtis asked her.

  She shook her head. “I didn’t even know it existed.”

  “Be prepared for greatness,” Franky announced as he offered his hand to help Genevieve out of the car. “They have the best fish tacos on the planet.”

  She accepted his assistance and climbed out, looking over the small building with cedar shake siding and a welcoming front porch.

  Kurtis came up beside her. “They have a lot of other menu options too.”

  Franky leaned in and whispered, “Get the fish tacos.”

  “I think she can make up her own mind.” Kurtis rested his hand on her lower back and guided her toward the entrance.

  The atmosphere was quaint and rustic. Booths for four along the sides of the dining room. Tables arranged in the remaining space for more guests. There was also another seating area toward the back with a wall of windows that looked out onto an open deck for more dining options.

  “This place is great,” Genevieve said.

  “It’s our favorite,” Skylar told her.

  “I gathered that.”

  “Come on.” Skylar took her wrist and gave it a soft tug. “I have to powder my nose.”

  Genevieve gave Kurtis a smile over her shoulder as she followed Skylar into the ladies room. She didn’t really have to use the restroom, so she washed her hands and waited.

  When Skylar came out of the stall, she walked to the mirror, washed her hands, then pulled a makeup pouch from her Louis Vuitton purse. She removed a compact from within and began touching up her makeup.

  Genevieve smiled as she watched her. “I didn’t think you actually meant you were going to powder your nose.”

  Skylar laughed. “This heat is melting the makeup off my face.” She glanced over at Genevieve and grunted. “How do you look like that in this humidity?”

  She looked into the mirror then back at Skylar. “Like what?”

  “All fresh-faced and natural. You are seriously perfect.”

  Genevieve blushed. Nobody had ever told her that before. She was much more used to her mother telling her she needed to wear more makeup and cover up imperfections or blemishes.

  “I’m far from perfect. I don’t wear a lot of makeup. Never have.” She watched Skylar apply a lovely warm peach blush to her cheeks. “You look nice.”

  Skylar moved closer, swirled a brush in the compact, and held it toward Genevieve’s cheek. “May I?”

  “Sure.” She’d never really done makeovers growing up. What little experience she had with makeup was from playing around with it or trying to copy Rhonda. It was kind of nice to have someone who knew what they were doing.

  She watched as Skylar gently brushed the smallest hint of color onto her cheeks. “I like it.”

  “Looks good on you.” Skylar snapped the blush closed and tossed it in her bag. “Although, you really didn’t need it. Seriously, you have this natural glow to your skin. I’m totally jealous.”

  “You’re too sweet,” Genevieve told her as she glanced at her reflection again.

  “Here.” Skylar handed her a tube of Chanel lipstick. “Put this on after we eat. He won’t be able to resist.” She winked.

  Flustered, Genevieve nearly dropped the tube when Skylar gave it to her. She was sure the blush in her cheeks was even darker than before. “Kurtis and I are coworkers … and friends.”

  Skylar actually snorted at that. “And I’m the vice president of Disneyland.” She whisked her purse from the counter and headed back toward the table.

  If it was obvious to Skylar that there was something going on with her and Kurtis, it might be obvious to other coworkers, which made her nervous. She didn’t want anything to affect her status at the company, no matter how much she liked this man.

  Skylar led her up a set of stairs into a private room overlooking the lake. The guys were already there, talking and laughing, and both stood when the girls approached. The view from th
e room was beautiful with windows all along the side of the room that faced the water.

  Genevieve walked closer to the windows, and her gaze traveled past the roof that covered the open seating area downstairs and on to Lake Michigan beyond. She felt Kurtis’s presence before he spoke.

  “Do you like it?”

  She nodded. “I didn’t expect a private room with a view like this. It’s beautiful.”

  “We …” He motioned over his shoulder toward Skylar. “The Schultz’s own this restaurant.”

  “Really?” That wasn’t what she was expecting him to say.

  “What? Is that so hard to believe?”

  “It just seems … modest for people who have so much money.”

  He didn’t reply, and when she looked over, his brow was furrowed.

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  “Is that really what you think? That people with a lot of money only buy the most expensive things? Fine dining all the time at high class restaurants or something?”

  “I didn’t mean—”

  “You don’t think they can be real people, like you … and me … and just want to spend their money on a really good burger?”

  “They can spend their money on whatever they want. And I know they’re people too. I’m not saying they’re some otherworldly beings, but their world is a lot different than yours and mine, that’s for sure.”

  “You’re generalizing.”

  He seemed very worked up over this, and she couldn’t quite understand why.

  “You don’t know anything about my financial situation,” he said, “so you can’t make a statement like that, and you shouldn’t judge the Schultz family for being wealthy.”

  “I’m not judging. I was just surprised that a place like this was even on their radar.”

  “That feels like judgment.”

  “Well, it’s not.”

  He walked toward the table, and she followed.

  “Why does it seem like you’re mad at me?” She was more than a little bit confused. So far, she’d felt like she could be honest with him about anything, and she hadn’t held back her thoughts. So, why when she’d told him her reaction to this place had it set him off in this way?

  A waiter arrived at the table at that moment, so she sat down across from Kurtis, who was now staring at his menu. She watched him while the others ordered, and when he didn’t make eye contact, she gave the menu a quick glance so she’d know what to get when the waiter asked her.

  She settled on the fish tacos after all.

  “Yes!” Franky nearly cheered. “You won’t be sorry.”

  Kurtis ordered a burger and was mostly silent during the meal, which saddened her. She had put him in a bad mood, and she wanted to talk more about this and make it right.

  When the meal was over, they walked out to Skylar’s car. But instead of getting in, Skylar tossed the keys to Kurtis.

  “Will you take it back for me?” she asked him.

  “Sure. What are you guys doing?”

  “We’re hanging out at the house for a while. I’ll have Gerard send a car later.”

  “Okay.”

  Genevieve watched as Skylar and Franky began walking along a boardwalk that led through a woodsy path. “Where are they going?”

  “Schultz Cottage on the lake. It’s a short walk from here.”

  She was thinking how nice that must be to have enough money to have a house on Lake Michigan, but she was afraid to say that. She was still unsure of why he’d gotten so upset about her comment earlier, and she didn’t want to upset him further.

  He walked to her side and opened the door for her. At least he was still a gentleman. She climbed in and, remembering the lipstick, pulled out the tube and applied it quickly, glancing in the visor mirror before Kurtis got in to make sure it looked good. She pressed her lips together and put the lipstick away just as he got settled in, and he noticed her putting it away.

  His eyes met hers and then dropped to her lips. His nostrils flared a little before he started the car and the engine revved to life. She expected him to put the car into gear, but he didn’t. He simply turned on the air conditioning and shifted to face her.

  “I’m sorry about before. The Schultz family gets judged unfairly sometimes. Yes, they have a lot of money, but they’re not what you think. They’re good people. Down to earth people.”

  “I never said they weren’t good people. I said I didn’t expect them to own a place like this. I like Skylar. A lot. I can tell she’s down to earth and fun and sweet. I feel like we could be good friends.”

  “You will be.”

  “Sebastian seemed the same. He was nothing but warm and friendly to me. Maybe a little too friendly at times, but—”

  “What does that mean? Did he try something with you?” The muscles in his jaw twitched.

  “He was just flirty, but I wasn’t interested in him.” She looked straight into his eyes. “I’m interested in someone else.”

  “Are you?” He swallowed hard.

  “I like this guy at work. He’s sweet and handsome and a true gentleman.”

  “Oh, yeah?” His lips turned up in the cutest smile.

  “I don’t want a guy with billions of dollars,” she told him. “I wouldn’t know what to do with all that money, anyway. I’m sort of a simple girl, if you hadn’t noticed. I don’t need for much. It’s how I was raised.”

  He grew quiet and distant again. She wasn’t sure what she’d said this time.

  “Can I show you?” she asked.

  He looked at her then. “Show me what?”

  “Where I was raised.”

  NINETEEN

  He hadn’t meant to get so upset with her. She’d just been sharing her honest thoughts, and he loved that she felt comfortable enough with him to do that, but her nonchalant comment about wealthy people had made him feel very defensive of himself and his family. Sure, his reaction was probably confusing to her, considering he was supposed to be living on a public relations salary, but he couldn’t help it.

  And then she’d said she didn’t want a man with money. What was he supposed to do with that? He wanted to see where this relationship was going, but what if she really didn’t want all the negative things that came with a life like his? And there were plenty. It wasn’t all glitz and glamour, though there were moments like that too. But there was also judgment and prejudice on the part of others. There were times when it was impossible to tell someone’s true motives, fear of being taken advantage of, and difficulty making real friends because of it. What if she didn’t want all that?

  He drove along the highway leading south out of Grand Rapids. He was surprised she’d invited him along. It seemed like the kind of thing reserved for someone you were dating, but he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see where she’d grown up.

  After driving through another small town called Hastings, they made a few turns on rural roads, even passing a black horse-drawn buggy, carrying an Amish family to their home. They really were in the middle of nowhere.

  “It’s just up here on the right.” Genevieve’s lovely voice cut through the silence.

  When they pulled into the driveway of her parents’ farm, a short heavy-set woman emerged from inside, smoothing her dark blonde hair back from her face before straightening out the apron she was wearing. Her eyes widened as she clasped her hands together and took in the Porsche they’d arrived in.

  Sebastian got out of the car and walked around to help Genevieve out. She took his hand when offered and gave him a sweet smile when she stood. He wanted to keep holding onto her hand as he had on the way to the restaurant earlier, but she let go and went to hug her mother.

  “Oh, my.” Genevieve’s mom admired the car again. “Fancy.”

  “Yeah, it’s a nice car, Mom.” Genevieve seemed to dismiss it quickly.

  Her mom looked over at him. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

  “Mom, this is Kurtis …” Genevieve looked sudd
enly flabbergasted. “I just realized I don’t know your last name.”

  He thought quickly, and decided to give his mother’s maiden name. “Fraser.”

  “Kurtis Fraser,” she told her mom. “This is my mom, Ida.”

  Sebastian held his hand out to her mother. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Willis.”

  She shook his hand. “Nice to meet you too. It’s been a long time since Genny brought someone home.”

  “Mom.” Genevieve gave her a look. “We work together.”

  “Mhmm.”

  Genevieve rolled her eyes.

  “Why don’t you come in and cool off for a bit before you go see the horses,” Ida suggested. “Can I get you something to drink, Kurtis?”

  “Whatever you’ve got is fine,” he replied.

  Genevieve walked in front of him, following along behind her mother, and he couldn’t help but stare at the wispy hairs sticking to the back of her neck or the pale freckles sprinkled there. He suddenly imagined taking hold of her shoulders and pulling her back against him so he could brush his lips against that spot and taste the saltiness there.

  “I’ve got some cranberry juice …” Ida looked back at Genevieve and lowered her voice. “For my UTI.”

  “Mom,” she whispered.

  That did it. Fantasy over.

  “And there’s water,” Ida declared.

  “Water’s fine,” he said.

  Genevieve glanced back over her shoulder as they entered the house and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head and waved away her concerns.

  They entered through the back door that went through a mud room, and he took in the row of well-worn boots, Carhartt coats hanging on pegs along the wall, and a bin of work gloves.

  Genevieve paused and looked at the same for a few beats before continuing on into the house.

  Noticing a small rug with a few pairs of shoes on it, he asked, “Should I take my shoes off?”

  “Of course not, sweetie,” Ida replied. “Come on in.”

  The mud room opened up into the kitchen, where he noticed a sink filled with soapy water, a pile of unwashed dishes to the left of the sink, and more dishes drying in a rack to the right. A wonderful aroma filled the room, and the timer on the oven went off right then.