Only a Date with a Billionaire (The Only Us Billionaire Romance Series Book 5)

by Ellie Hall

  “No, I said you don’t have anything to worry about. No worrying about anything. It’s a waste of time and energy. Instead, pray for the things you do want or in gratitude for what you already have.”

  He squeezed her hand, hoping he had her.

  “Okay,” he said, once more lost in her eyes and the sound of her voice. “I suppose then I’ll be seeing you tomorrow afternoon for the wedding.”

  “Looking forward to it.” At that, she lifted onto her toes, kissed him on the cheek, and got off the elevator.

  He stood there for a minute, dumbstruck until the elevator dinged and prompted him to exit to his floor. His head spun. One kiss. TKO.

  To say Teagh woke up on the wrong side of the bed was an understatement.

  It seemed like his to-do list had doubled, but he had to put it off until after the wedding. The grand opening of the gym was only a few days off.

  Teresa’s very presence was antagonizing him.

  Plus, a wedding was the last place he wanted to go except that his family would be there and that meant a lot to him.

  And Sophie. He couldn’t stop thinking of her. Had he still been a sixteen-year-old lad, he wouldn’t have washed his cheek for a week where she’d kissed him. He felt a jolt, a fluttering, and a burst inside all at once. No way had he ever imagined something as simple as a peck on the check could be so strong, so perfect.

  Nonetheless, he showered, shaved, splashed on some aftershave, and pulled on his dress pants, vest, and tweed jacket.

  Although he was a boxer and usually wore workout attire, when he wanted to get dressed up, he had a guy back in Scotland who ensured that he looked dapper. Back in the day, he had to attend loads of high-profile events and always looked striking with his rugged features contrasting with a finely tailored suit.

  Picking Sophie up was simply a matter of riding the elevator down a few floors and knocking on her door.

  He was jittery and it wasn’t because he didn’t like elevators all that much. It was her. She meant something to him.

  He straightened his tie, drew a breath, and knocked.

  When she opened the door, she dazzled him with a smile. She wore a cream-colored chiffon dress that reached just below her knees. It was fitted at the waist and had delicate, three-dimensional puffs that looked like tiny flower buds dotted all over it. Around her neck, she had a chunky necklace with amber and cornflower colored gems that reminded him of autumn leaves.

  “You look lovely,” he said.

  She scrunched up her nose and bit her lip. “Could you please try again?” she asked.

  “What do you mean?” His heart thudded. Was that the wrong thing to say? He had a flashback of how tenuous conversations with Teresa could be, the way one word would set her off, leading to lengthily arguments.

  “Um, I’m usually okay at taking compliments, but if there’s another adjective you could use...”

  His eyes crinkled. Oh, there were loads more. “How about stunning, radiant, bonny...?”

  “Bonny?”

  “A Scottish way of saying beautiful.”

  The apples of her cheeks lifted into a smile and then she blurted, “I love the way you talk.”

  Teagh almost choked on a laugh. She had no idea how deeply mutual that sentiment was.

  They took a limo service to the church on Riverside Drive and chatted the entire way there—mostly about the bakery and the gym, catching each other up on news.

  However, the moment he set foot on the sidewalk his mood soured.

  Family greeted him and he made the rounds, introducing everyone to Sophie, but he’d rather be anywhere but there: on the subway, shopping in a crowded market, or in the ring with one of his toughest opponents.

  Well, not anywhere. Being in Teresa’s presence would’ve been worse. But being at a wedding when his marriage had failed so miserably was as unpleasant as being socked in the jaw. It brought up regret and feelings of failure that sunk him into an unpleasant mental space.

  During the ceremony, he managed to breathe a little, but it was when everyone gathered for the reception that he felt pulled toward the door.

  Sure, the speeches were inspired, the father-daughter dance heartwarming, and the meal delicious, but the weight of failure cast shadows into the parts of Teagh that hadn’t been a good enough husband and illuminated other parts that indicated that he should’ve recognized Teresa’s true colors before everything went so wrong.

  All the while, Sophie remained beside him, pleasant, smiling, and charming everyone. He owed her more than his bad mood.

  When the DJ started playing dance music and everyone moved to the parquet floor, he held out his hand. “Care to dance?”

  “I care very much,” she said, at least he thought so but the music and chatter were loud so it was hard to hear.

  They boogied to a popular dance song. Sophie tossed her head back and sang along. His ears caught the melody of her voice over the cacophony. However, apart from watching her shake and shimmy and sing, his heart wasn’t in it. Then the song changed. The DJ announced, “Everyone up here for the chicken dance.”

  Everyone seemed to know the steps, complete with arm motions. He tried to keep up, but fell woefully behind, making a beak with his hand when he should’ve been flapping his wings.

  Her expression creased with laughter and then she dragged him off the dance floor. “You’re coming with me, mister.”

  Sophie led him to an alcove with a cushioned seat in the long hallway of the venue. It was quieter, but Teagh couldn’t help but feel annoyed at the happy exchanges as people passed.

  “Okay, out with it,” she said as they sat down.

  “Out with what?”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Are you wondering where I learned my stellar dance moves?”

  Her eyes lit with amusement. “The chicken dance notwithstanding, I’d dance with you anytime.” She angled so she was facing him. Their knees were touching and a thrill rushed through him.

  Her voice softened. “Out with why you turned from my swoon-worthy date to a Mr. Grumpy Pants.”

  The corners of his lips lifted at her choice of words. “What do you mean? Never mind. I know what you mean, but what does it matter?”

  “I said I care and I meant it. Over the course of the afternoon and evening, your mood slid into a rain puddle. Want to talk about why?”

  He let out a long-held breath and leaned back, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “I’d rather not be here.”

  “But you’re with me.”

  He had a full-on smile at that. She was quietly confident, so pretty, and if only they were anywhere else...

  As if reading his thoughts, she extended her hand and said, “Come on.”

  She led them back through the crowd, bidding various people goodnight.

  The reception was in full swing, but she was probably exhausted after getting up at three a.m. Not only that, but he ought to get up at that hour if he was going to pull off all the tasks on his to-do list left to complete before the gym opening.

  His parents were on the dancefloor. They waved.

  Sophie returned the gesture and then leaned into Teagh. “We can call or text them later.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Commence operation extract Teagh from the wedding.”

  His lips quirked.

  “Apart from prayer, usually, a cookie or cupcake is my solution for what ails the spirit, but I think you need fresh air.”

  They strolled down the street and toward the river. A boat putted along in the darkness with only its red and green lights lit.

  She caught Teagh’s hand in hers and they remained quiet a while.

  His shoulders relaxed and he breathed the cool night air. At last, he said, “The truth is, I’m not too fond of weddings.”

  “Care to unpack that? Explain why?”

  Teagh wasn’t the kind of guy to discuss his emotions, but talking with Sophie was so easy and she had the ability to draw things out of him.


  “Mostly the whole Teresa thing. Whatever. It’s in the past.”

  She remained quiet as though waiting for him to go on. When he didn’t, she said, “My dream wedding is in the spring because it’s a time of new beginnings. Apt for marriage, right? The ceremony would be in a church during the afternoon. I realize I have no say in the matter, but the day would start out rainy then the clouds would part and the sun would shine on us as we walked out of the church and among our friends and family.”

  Teagh caught on the words us and our. Did she mean our as in the general use with her future husband or our as in the two of them? The inner jolt rocketed through him, but his steps didn’t falter. There was a surety there that surprised him. He liked the idea of an our with her. But not a wedding. No way.

  Sophie went on. “They’d toss blush pink and white rose petals at us. Those are the theme colors plus a muted green. I always imagined the reception would be outdoors. Maybe by a river or in a rural area. Somewhere wide open.”

  It almost sounded like she was describing his parents’ farm.

  “Oh, and the food and dessert. Don’t even get me started. I’m still too full from dinner. But the cake would be, well, I’ll have to show you. Sometimes I draw the things I’m going to bake. We’d have a plant-nature-flower theme captured by the concept ‘Let love grow.’ If I know anything about relationships it’s that the couple always has to be growing as individuals as well as together.”

  “Why’s that?” he asked.

  “Because if you’re not growing, you’re dying.” She went on. “We’d give out sprouted flowers in clay pots as favors, and I’m thinking maybe some gold accents.”

  He interrupted. “You’ll make a beautiful bride. Your future husband will be a very lucky man.”

  “We both will be. But remember when you asked me if there was anyone else? The answer is still a firm no, but I should tell you that I was once engaged.”

  “As you know I was once married.”

  “Which I suspect accounts for your less than enthusiastic mood.”

  He nodded. She already knew him so well.

  “Hayden and I broke up ten months ago. We’d been together for about four years, during college and after. He popped the question then it turned out his parents pushed him into ending things with me to marry someone else. Someone more sophisticated, connected, wealthy. I think I was a worthy candidate in the beginning because I’d basically do anything for him. But I started to realize I didn’t want to live my life or have a marriage as anything less than an equal. On top of that, he had a few dalliances with other women.”

  Teagh’s jaw tensed. He already despised the guy.

  “Initially, I had a slight ‘I’m not good enough’ complex, compounded by the fact that my mother growing up relatively poor, and my father was Upper Eastside wealthy. She never let that go. We didn’t have much either, but it was always a comparison. My mother really believed I was marrying well, into a high society southern family. She didn’t understand that it was the wrong match.”

  “In that case, good thing it ended. You only deserve the best.”

  “Trust me when I say that I’m acquainted with your mood I’ve been there myself. Also, my mother was really pestering and pressuring me. So when I got the inheritance, I took it as a sign to start over, to follow my dreams, and they’d lead me to love.” Her voice was almost as soft as the lapping water as they continued to walk along the river.

  “All that difficulty doesn’t put you off from that dream wedding you described?” Teagh asked.

  “Nope. Seeing Hayden’s true character just revealed that he wasn’t the one for me.”

  “I guess I’ve been there too.”

  “To me, a wedding is the starting point to a lasting partnership with someone I love and trust, who makes me laugh, who I get excited to see smile...to bake for, to pray with, to live in the glory of creation. That’s what I want more than anything—a marriage. If I didn’t get my dream wedding but got the right person, that would be okay too.” Her grip on his hand tightened as they turned back into the central part of the city.

  Everything Sophie said made him question his mood, his beliefs about marriage, and about his old hurts. As the wind gusted off the river, it seemed to carry much of the past away and Teagh felt lighter than ever.

  When they reached the stone and brick building, Teagh paused, still hand in hand with Sophie, before going inside.

  Again, they were standing face to face. Had it been possible, a spark would’ve lit between them, lighting up the night. He tilted his head, gazing into her eyes. He could no longer resist the urge to kiss her.

  He leaned close, tracing his thumbs slowly over her lips.

  Her breath caught.

  “You are beautiful, Sophie. You are amazing, special, and smart. I might be a boxer, but I can no longer fight it...I can’t stop thinking about you...about us. I’m wondering if I can kiss you now.”

  She nodded and then tipped her head back in answer. The space closed between them.

  Her lips were as soft as rose petals and as perfect as anything found in nature yet had a force behind them that told him she wanted that moment as much as he did.

  He unlaced his hands from hers and they traveled to her low back, pulling her closer.

  He never wanted to let that moment or her go.

  He’d been fighting all his life and at last, had found peace. It wasn’t just the way she felt so close to him, but the way she made him feel: safe, at ease. He hoped he provided the same for her. Could he really trust her? Right then, the answer was aye.

  As the kiss deepened, they moved together in perfect rhythm, almost like a song, like a harmony that was distinctly theirs. He loved the sound of her voice and her kiss even more.

  He followed the curve of her jaw with his hands as though not sure where to put them except everywhere, as though memorizing the feel of her soft skin under his touch.

  Her hands pressed against the back of his neck as though she didn’t want the moment to end.

  And it didn’t, at least not yet.

  Chapter 11

  Sophie

  It had been a long day and the last place she expected to end up was in the arms of the grouchy boxer next door. And the kiss was something she didn’t want to end. She wanted time with him and the promise of more to last forever.

  As his lips pressed against hers, there was affection there, but also an undeniable desire.

  Teagh was a big, strong man and his kiss seared her, scorched her, caught her on fire with a feeling she’d never experienced.

  She grew hot despite the cool evening.

  She saw stars despite the urban light cloaking the night sky.

  She saw a future with him wrapped up at that moment despite all of her fears and trepidations.

  As they moved together, her hands pressed against the back of his head, neck, shoulders and she felt a gradual release of tension like he was giving into something he’d been fighting against. She replied by curling closer.

  His fingers tangled in her hair as the kiss continued until he let out a puff of breath, still holding her close, lingering there on the sidewalk together.

  Once again, their fingers laced together, holding tight. Hers felt so small twined with his, but safe too. He was solid muscle, a rock, but also an anchor. In the past, she always felt like she was in uncertain waters when it came to dating and relationships. There was pressure, expectation, and at least with Hayden, demands. With Teagh it was different. Being with him was easy, fun, and although sometimes a bit frustrating because he was closed off, the challenge was worth it because it wasn’t about thinking about her every move, second-guessing herself, or questioning his intentions. They were pure.

  He wanted to see her smile, hear her voice and laughter. Keep her safe. That was all. That was enough. More than enough.

  They remained on the sidewalk a few moments longer before going inside. The doorman nodded politely and they quietly wal
ked hand in hand up the carpeted wrought-iron staircase and to the elevator.

  When they’d left earlier, she felt slightly like a princess arm in arm with her date to the ball.

  Upon returning, she felt like a queen because she was with a man she really, really liked.

  Fuzzy warmth still tingled through her at the feel their kiss left on her lips.

  When they got on the elevator he asked, “What are you smiling about?” His lips quirked like he knew.

  She lifted onto her toes, planted a smooch on his lips, and got out of the elevator just as it dinged the doors open. She walked backward down the hall a moment before biting her lip, then waving. She stopped just short of blowing him a kiss.

  She fumbled with her keys when opening her door, tripped over the entry rug, and then practically swooned as she dropped onto the antique swan style chaise lounge as she dramatically flung her arm over her eyes.

  “Oh, Sophie. I think...I think you’re in...” she whispered, feeling the word on her lips as the somehow still-present sensation of Teagh’s lips blazed on hers.

  Could a person fall in love after only knowing someone for a week? According to Teagh’s parents, the answer was aye. In fact, it had been love at first sight.

  Was it a chemical reaction?

  A great mystery of life that brought to people together in that way?

  Did the Coyle men have programming in their DNA that made the right woman fall for them instantaneously?

  She didn’t have answers but knew the truth. She more than liked Teagh and after the kiss that they’d shared, she was sure he did too.

  The next morning, Sophie slept through her alarm and ended up having to attend a later worship service at church than usual.

  She’d set the clothing out for Tony and hoped he’d attended one of several times the church offered through the day on Sunday.