Mending Walls With The Billionaire (Artists & Billionaires Book 3)

by Lorin Grace

  Their guide helped them over a stream and around the bend to the last pool. Araceli gasped. “This blue is amazing. It’s turquoise—no, it’s . . . I am not sure I have the proper word in my color vocabulary.”

  “Bassin Clair or Bleu, depending on who you ask.”

  “Such an unimaginative name.”

  “This is where we take off our shoes and extra clothes. Kervens will take our bags back to the last pool.”

  “How will we get back?” She pulled off her shirt. The modest navy one-piece suit she wore underneath fit her personality. She blushed and turned away when she caught him looking.

  Kyle pointed to the end of the pool. “The same way the water does, more or less.”

  The guide readied the rope to help them rappel down a flight of worn steps carved into the stone to the pool. They walked a couple more yards to a spot four feet above the lake, and Kyle offered her his hand. “Jump with me?”

  “How deep is it?”

  “In places about eighty feet, I am told. But it is safe enough to jump here.”

  Araceli linked hands with him and took a deep breath. “I’m trusting you.”

  Kyle had no idea how many times he’d made the same jump, but this time with Araceli it was a leap into something new and exciting.

  And cold.

  “Brrr! You could have warned me.” Araceli shook her head, raining droplets of water around them.

  “I prefer to think of it as refreshing.” Kyle kicked out, leading Araceli across the pool to a large rock island. She followed using a strong sidestroke. Kyle scrambled out and helped Araceli up.

  “Say cheese.” He pointed to their driver across the way. Araceli laughed and waved. Kervens gave them a thumbs up and disappeared over the trail. They got back in the water. The only other group of people there had disappeared over by the waterfall into the pool below.

  Araceli climbed back into the water and swam around the side of the rock, Kyle following. He found her floating on her back.

  “Thanks for bringing me here. It’s a little paradise. After seeing so much desperation, it is nice to see the land has a heart of hope.”

  Kyle joined her, linking his hand with hers as they floated. “I hadn’t thought of this place that way, but you’re right. It’s like the smile on one of the kids’ faces when they give you a hug, and I want to think for that child there is a brighter future.” He changed to treading water and swam for a couple strokes. “Over here.”

  Araceli followed him to a natural underwater wall.

  “Sit.”

  “This is weird. I feel like my legs are dangling over a precipice.”

  “Technically, you are.” He studied her as she soaked in the beauty around them, the grotto-like setting protecting them from the rest of the world. He angled his body so he faced her. “Race you back to the waterfall?”

  Araceli took off. He caught up as they neared the base. “You cheated.”

  She splashed him and swam off, and he chased her into one of the little crannies along the cliff face and splashed her back. She tried to get him, but he caught her hand and drew her close enough to see the flecks in her eyes reflecting the sunlight on the water. Marci’s prompt came unbidden to his lips.

  “Ban m yon ti bo.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Kiss me.”

  For a moment they both froze, then Araceli put her free hand on his chest and pushed herself backward, widening the distance between them. “I am not sure I am ready to learn . . . but . . .” She brought her free hand to his cheek and bit her lip. “I think I want to.”

  The water swirled around him as she kicked herself forward and into his embrace. The meeting of their lips was too brief. Had they even touched? The necessity of treading water made it hard to hold her close and kiss her as he wished. He swam her farther into the crevice until his feet found a place to anchor. Araceli tucked a damp curl behind her ear. He wiped the moisture from her cheek and left his hand cupping her face. Then their eyes met, and Araceli’s fluttered closed. She leaned forward to meet him.

  “Ayyeee!” Splash.

  Kyle pulled back and glanced over his shoulder at the intrusion to their paradise. Araceli said something under her breath he didn’t quite catch above the yells of the boys cheering the diver on. Kyle turned back to her and dropped his hand from the side of her face where it still rested.

  “Are you willing to take a rain check on that lesson in Creole?”

  She blushed and nodded.

  “Come on. It’s time we headed back anyway.”

  The rain started to fall about an hour into the ride back to the guesthouse, slowing traffic. Araceli looked at Kyle’s hand holding hers. It was the same hand that had cupped her face earlier. She hoped she wasn’t blushing. At least her hair was hiding her face from Kyle. What must he think? The kiss she’d given him was no better than the ones her nephew had slobbered on her when he was one. If only those boys hadn’t shown up.

  Sure, she was blushing. She looked out the window to where the storm met the sea.

  “A gourde for your thoughts?” Kyle smoothed the hair away from her face.

  She didn’t dare tell him what she was really thinking about. “I was wondering how many ships lie at the bottom of the ocean out there.”

  “No idea. Someone thought they found the Santa Maria someplace off the coast of Haiti, but it turned out to be another ship. Tortuga, the famous pirate harbor, is on an island off the northern coast, so I am sure any number of ships sailed here. But I bet a gold doubloon that wasn’t what you were really thinking about.”

  Araceli swung around to face him. “Why?” Why do you have to be so close? You could have stayed in the other window seat rather than in the center. Why is my stomach turning little cartwheels? Why do I wish ill on five teenage boys?

  “Because you were blushing, and I find it hard to believe sunken treasure would make you blush.”

  “Oh.”

  “You are blushing again.”

  “And you are flirting.”

  “Yup.”

  Araceli turned back to the window.

  Kyle leaned over until his chin hovered over her shoulder. “I want to spend more days with you. I know long-distance relationships don’t have a good rap, but would you mind trying one with me? Perhaps after you graduate, we can figure out how to close the distance.”

  “You mean me find a job in Dallas?”

  “Do you have a job lined up yet?”

  “Not really. There was a job I applied for at the Boston Museum, but I haven’t heard back from them. I thought I’d try what my roommate Candace does. She graduated and gets commissions to create various works, more on the illustration end, but it pays her bills. Or I could start a mural business. Then there’s getting a job so I can save money for a master’s.”

  “Art therapy?”

  “Or a one-year teaching certification.”

  “If we can keep this working between us, could you look for something in the DFW area?”

  “I think I can leave it as an option, but we haven’t even known each other a week.”

  Kyle sat back in his seat. “Usually I wouldn’t be talking about the future after a week either, but I don’t know when we will get another semiprivate moment, and if our relationship is going to be more than a spring-break thing . . .”

  Araceli pulled out her phone and handed it to Kyle. “I think this is where we exchange phone numbers. If this is going to work, I see a lot of texts and video calls in our future.”

  “I already have your info.” Kyle typed his own contact information into her phone.”

  “How?”

  “I have every volunteer’s contact information in my phone—it’s part of being over the trip.”

  She
took her phone back. “There is nothing under Kyle.”

  “Try menaj. It is Creole for boyfriend.”

  “Really?”

  “You can check your dictionary.”

  “That isn’t what I meant.”

  He squeezed her hand. “It’s your phone. If you think it’s the wrong description, you’re free to change it.”

  She slipped her phone back into her pocket.

  “So, what am I in your phone?”

  Kyle pulled out his phone and handed it to her.

  Celi, ma belle.

  twenty

  Everyone was up early for their last day of work. Kyle was happy to see that most of the volunteers were still excited about being in Haiti and that the rain clouds hadn’t dampened their spirits.

  Tanner sat down with his breakfast. “Araceli, any ideas on what color to paint the cabinets?”

  “The walls in the kitchen are yellow, right?”

  His mouth full of pancake, Tanner nodded.

  Araceli turned to Kyle. “Which would work better—traditional tan, brown, white, or something more fun and colorful, such as blue, red, or green?”

  Marci spoke up. “I think you should go fun.”

  “Traditional makes the most sense,” said Jade.

  Everyone looked to Kyle.

  “Why not something fun, but a lighter color so in the day when they are not using electricity it is easy to see indoors? The difficulty seeing indoors always bothered me about the old ones.” Kyle hoped he was making the right choice. He knew nothing about interior decorating. And, admittedly, he may have chosen opposite Jade because he was still annoyed with her after last night. She’d given him no chance to slip away from the group for a private moment with Araceli, showing him every piece of artwork and every trinket she’d purchased. Then she’d monopolized Araceli by getting her professional opinion on each piece.

  “Do you have enough paint left over from the walls, or do we need more?” asked Boyd.

  “I used a flat paint on the walls. I’d use a semigloss on the cabinets, as that paint cleans up easier.” Araceli took a bite of her muffin.

  “Will it be possible to stop at the lumber supply on the way out?” asked Tanner.

  Kyle checked his phone. “I need to meet with the director. Marci, can you go with that van? Tanner, Boyd, EmilyAnne, and Araceli, come with me. Everyone else go with Marci. Y’all can work on the yard cleanup while we wait. We concluded everyone was available to paint cabinets this morning, right?”

  No one disagreed.

  Outside, the vans honked for the gate to open.

  Marci jumped up from her seat. “Last day! Let’s make it awesome!”

  Araceli wandered through the second-floor hallway. Every single clipboard was stuck firmly to the wall. The art gallery was done. Each child now had their own place to show off their artwork, schoolwork, or even a favorite picture out of one of the donated magazines. She fist pumped the air.

  “Excited?”

  “Kyle, I thought I was alone. Everyone was painting the cabinets or cleaning up.”

  “And how did you end up not doing either?” He stepped into her personal space.

  She didn’t retreat. Instead, she held up two paint brushes. “Supplies. And you?”

  “I noticed you were missing and thought I should come find you.”

  “And now you have found me.”

  Kyle leaned in, but he only touched his lips to hers for a moment before pulling back. “Sadly, we need to go back before—”

  “Kyle? Araceli? Tanner needs you!” The familiar voice carried up the stairs.

  “Jade,” they said in unison.

  “There you two are.” Jade looked from one to another, a frown forming between her eyebrows.

  Araceli held up the brushes. “Apparently everyone needs to check up on me.” She marched passed Jade and down the ramp. It wasn’t hard to act annoyed. One day they would kiss without the fear of discovery.

  Tanner waited on the back porch for the brushes. “Oh, these are perfect!”

  Araceli took a brush and started on one of the unpainted cupboards. Jade and Kyle came out of the building. Kyle spoke to Tanner and left.

  Jade picked up a brush and started painting the same cabinet as Araceli. In broad strokes, she painted the letters F-A-K-E across the wood. “I hope you have enjoyed your week here. We all think we will be different people when we get home. But after a couple of weeks, we’re all the same again.” She brushed more paint over the letters, obliterating them before moving on to a different cabinet.

  “What did she want?” Madison started painting the cabinet to Araceli’s left.

  “To remind me of my place.”

  “Whatever she thinks it is, I suspect you are better off doing the opposite.”

  “True. I’m done with this one. I’m going to work on some doors.” Araceli took her paint and moved to where the doors were laid out.

  Kyle appeared with a paintbrush as she started the second door. “Interesting color choice. Reminds me of Bassin Bleu.”

  “I guess that was on my mind when I chose it.”

  “Any particular reason why?”

  Araceli painted a long stroke down the door. “I don’t know. I guess because it’s pretty.”

  “The only reason?”

  Araceli looked up from her work. How on earth did he paint in a clean T-shirt? “No, it is a color I want to remember.”

  “Me too.”

  “Glad to hear.” She took her brush and tapped it on his shirt near the center of his chest.

  “Hey!”

  “It should be illegal to paint as much as you did this week and not have any on you. And now you can take some home with you.” She grinned in triumph.

  Kyle smiled back.

  Araceli should have seen it coming, but the brush landed on her nose without warning.

  “There. You marked your spot, and I marked mine.”

  Araceli tried to rub the paint off by rubbing her nose on her shoulder. “My spot?”

  “Right over my heart. Even looks heart-shaped, in the biological sense.”

  “And my nose?”

  Kyle leaned closer. “I couldn’t kiss your little impertinent nose out here. And I didn’t dare paint your lips.”

  “Oh.” She scratched her nose with the back of her arm.

  “And now you have smeared my mark all over your face.” His smile was as big as the children’s when they’d opened their Easter eggs.

  Araceli’s burning cheeks had nothing to do with the bright Haitian sun.

  The last coat was finished before the volunteers broke out the protein bars and water for lunch, small groups of them going in search of shade. Several took refuge on the third-floor balcony. The breeze usually blew there, cooling it considerably.

  “So, Marci, what’s left to be done?” Kyle ripped open his protein bar, glad it was the last one he would eat for a while.

  “We have the laminated photos of each child for them to put on their clipboards, and there will be a fashion show of the clothing made this week. After lunch they will install the cabinets and granite countertops Tanner found before the children get home from school. And Marlissa still needs to tell me her secret.”

  “So, what are you doing?”

  “I’m going on baby-snuggling duty. Two of them are teething, and the aides are about worn out. Araceli, do you want to join me? I didn’t drag you in with me earlier because you were so busy.”

  “No dragging necessary. Let me make sure most of this paint is off me.”

  Marci left with EmilyAnne and Araceli in tow.

  Boyd set down his water bottle. “I see you finally got some paint on your shirt. It’s about time. I was wond
ering if you were immune to dirt.”

  “Not immune. My Grandma Evans made me change clothes whenever she saw I was dirty. Then I would have to wash them. I hated doing laundry and became good at avoiding dirt.”

  “Your grandmother made you wash your own clothes? Didn’t y’all have maids?”

  “Mom employed a general cook and housekeeper, but she only worked four hours a day. Enough for Mom to work and stay on top of things. Dad really wanted us to have normal lives, and Mom agreed.”

  Boyd stuffed his trash in one of his pockets. “They did a good job. I’d never know you were born with a silver spoon. Ready guys? Countertops and plumbing await! Kyle, come stay clean helping us.”

  “I’ll be there in a moment.”

  Kyle stopped by the director’s office before going downstairs. “What have you learned?”

  “I just got off the phone with Mrs. Deah. She found a doctor who’s agreed to do Marlissa’s surgery. Now we apply for a medical visa. I hope they give one to my wife, too. It will still be a few months before we can go, as this is a nonemergency procedure. But we will need to stay in the States for eight weeks. I have never left the orphanage for so long.”

  “I am sure Mom and I can come up with something. When do you think you will go?”

  “July 10 is the day your mother set. We will need some help down here for a few months.”

  “Knowing Mom, that will be the day. We have been talking about hiring house parents for quite some time to help you. Maybe now is the time.”

  “Thank you for all your help this week. I am glad you were here so we could go to the doctor appointments.”

  “I assume this is the secret Marlissa has for Marci.”

  The director laughed. “Yes, she is so happy to get to go to America, I think she doesn’t understand that she will be coming back to Haiti.”

  “I’ll make sure Marci helps with that understanding.”

  Kyle hurried down the front stairway, stopping at the door to the nursery, where Araceli sang a French lullaby to the baby nestled on her shoulder. She turned and saw him watching and gave him a smile over the baby’s head. His heart did a funny flip, his chest tightened, and for a moment he couldn’t breathe.