Billionaire to Billionaire

Chapter 3.

*Andi's view

I head back to the kitchen as Momma is finishing up breakfast dishes. Cloey has placed the flowers on the counter. I grab out a vase and put them in it with some water. Trying to arrange them so all of the flowers have a chance to be seen. Momma stands next to me waiting. I glance over to her and say "Yesss???" "My love, what happened?" She asks with her brows furrowed. She knows me so well. I tell her about the trip. Starting with the business side of it. Then I tell her about David. I can see the anger flash across her eyes before she lets out an exasperated sigh. She grabs my face between her hands and goes "My love, my highness, my daughter, you deserve better than that. I know it hurts now but you're worth so much more". And she kisses my head. I say "Thank you, Momma" before she lets out a sigh. She smiles and says "We never liked him anyways! Good riddance!" I roll my eyes as I know she's done with it.

Knowing that Momma has heard what she needed, I grab the keys to the four-wheeler and head out to go find Daddy. Winding through the woods feels so good on my skin. My hair is going to be a giant, frizzy, curly mess but I no longer care. I love being out here!

I come back up behind the house and stop at the pole barn. Dad is out there working on his 1970 Chevy Chevelle. Seeing as it's only Thursday, there's not a lot of guests at the B and B so he's spending his free time out here. It's a beautiful car. Cherry red with black stripes down the hood. Mark and I joke that Dad loves this car more than us, but we know it's not the case. Just a very close second!

I pop in and hear him go "Hey kiddo! Back here!" I smile and head back towards him. He slides out from under the car, covered in grease and smiling. He nods towards the other creeper dolly, inviting me under. So I lay down and slide under. "So, we no longer have to bare David, eh?" He quickly asks. Mom's already told him. "No, not anymore." "Hmmm. For the best" he adds while torking with a wrench. "You know, I think so too. I don't think I've been happy for a while. I was just living the routine. I didn't even hesitate when I sold his car to pay for his plane ticket". My Dad gives me a sideways look. "You paid for it?" "YUP! I sold the BMW for the price of his ticket and cleaning fee. Then packed his bags!" "That ‘a girl!" He exclaims. We both change the subject and continue working on the car a little more. Before long, our phones go off together signaling that lunch is ready. We slide out from under the car covered in grease. Dad and Drake head back in to wash while I park the four-wheeler.

I wash up in my cabin and head inside to sandwiches, potato salad, and fresh fruit. Simple but delicious! I grab my plate and go to sit down, noticing that Mr. Brown eyes has joined us. My mother nods to the chair in front of him. That motion does not go unnoted.

"Anthony, thank you for your help making the potato salad! It was so nice to have company in the kitchen today! You're very skilled in the kitchen!" My mother beams. "You're welcome! I love to cook! My mother has always thrown big family dinners. I miss being able to do that with her" Anthony says with a smile. "Well, you’re more than welcome to help anytime. Any big plans for the day?" She quips. Anthony pauses and then says "no, not at the moment. Any suggestions on trails for hiking?" "OH!" She exclaims! "Bill and I love to hike around here. But if you want the really good trails, Andi knows them better!" She beams across at me as I almost choke on my sandwich. Thanks, Mom. Thank you for throwing me in the den with Mr. Brown eyes! "Actually, that’d be really nice, if you don't mind, Andi...?" " Sure!" I add while trying to breathe. "We can leave after lunch".

Since my mother appears to be up to something, I go back out to my cabin and throw my hair up and change my shoes. Don't want to mess up my broken in converse! I head back out as Anthony comes out of the back door and down the porch. I wait for him to catch up and head towards the pole barn. On the way, I ask him if he's ever driven a four-wheeler. He looks at me and slowly says "No". As if only in question. I smile and say "Well, my favorite trails are the ones you have to work to get to. It’s better to take the four wheelers to get there. If you're comfortable, you can drive one. Or you can ride on the back of mine". He considers it a second and says he'll ride on mine.

I pull the big four-wheeler out and he hops on behind me. I’m suddenly VERY aware of how close this puts us. Especially since he's basically straddling me now. I push on the throttle, switching through the gears, in order to put a breeze to my flushed cheeks. In a sort time we arrive at one of my favorite trails. It takes you up the hills and puts you above the waterfall. The view is exceptional. I park the four-wheeler and we hop off. I feel myself blush as he offers his hand as I slide down. I quickly tell him to follow me through the trees ahead. We hike for about 20 mins before the trail widens and we can walk next to each other.

We chit chat about small things and each other. He tells me about his family. His brother, Stephano, lives in New Orleans with his new wife and is an aspiring writer. His sister lives in California with her family and is an engineer for NASA. His mother lives downstate Michigan and is soon to be a retired nurse.

I tell him about Mark. He owns his own construction business and is a structural engineer. His wife Emily is a Speech Therapist up here at the Hospital and school. I tell him about their 3 girls and ask if he has any nieces or nephews. He nods and says his sister has a boy and girl in their teens.

We go back and forth a bit, never touching on the subject of careers. Which I both find intriguing and pleasant. That's usually the first thing people ask about. And I despise it. Before we know it, we come up to the top of the waterfall. I pause and smile at him as I say "This is it! This is the best part!". His smile is gorgeous. Before I get caught in his beard and thick lips, I turn and take him out over the bridge of the waterfall. Every time I'm out here, it takes my breath away. I really wish I could come out here more. I turn to see Anthony looking at me. I blush and ask what he thinks. " He smiles and says "Beautiful" as if in a trance. I tilt my head down and look back out. Before I can even think, I grab his hand and exclaim "Oh! You haven't seen the best BEST part yet!” and lead him down the trail the other way to a thick of trees. I pull back some hanging vines and nod for him to go in. He continues, while still holding my hand, and gasps as we enter in behind the waterfall. I hear him say "Wow!" Before turning to me with the biggest smile I've ever seen. It makes my stomach flutter. Suddenly I notice our hands are still intertwined and pull back, blushing. To cover the awkwardness, I show him through the cave like cover behind the waterfall and take him out to the other side. We come out at the bottom of the waterfall where it smooths out and I take a seat on one of the big flat rocks near the water’s edge. I pull my boots off and roll my jeans up, sticking my feet in the cold water. Anthony sets down beside me and does the same.

I don't know how long we were there as it was so peaceful. But I notice the light in the woods starting to settle and suggest we better head back for dinner. "Don't want Momma sending out the search hounds on us" I exclaim. He chuckles and says "No, I guess not". We start the journey back to the four-wheeler. I tried to encourage him to drive it but he said he wasn't up for it yet. I relent and say "ok, but you will learn" with a teasing smile on my face. Lord, Andi! What are you doing!? Who is this person trying to come out of you!? I've never played like that with a guy before!

We get back to the house and put the four-wheeler away just as my phone goes off for dinner. I swear that woman was watching us come in. And now she messages me! We walk into the house quiet but smiling...but not unnoticed by my darling brother. "And where have you two been!? You've been gone for hours! We thought you'd been eaten by wolves!". I roll my eyes as Momma hands us each a plate. Tonight is her homemade lasagna. I think she's trying to fatten me up!