The Billionaire's Lost Love

Chapter4

Andrea’s POV

I walked into my office on Wednesday to see a flower and chocolate delivery on my desk with a note which indicated that Gabe was the sender.

“Someone is swooning” Lucia said as she walked in on her gushing as she read the note.

“I’m not swooning” I replied hastily, “his note is just so cheesy, and I never pegged him as cheesy.”

“When you’re attracted to someone, even the most basic thing evokes mushy feelings”, Lucia said to me.

Thursday and Friday weren’t any different. Flowers, a different kind each day, were delivered to the office. I couldn’t hold back my excitement as I anticipated dinner with Gabe tomorrow. He even crossed my thoughts at random while I was working, something akin to a rare occurrence in my previously stale love life. The entire attention and texts were probably getting to me. I had no explanation as to why I started smiling in the middle of a review just because the thought of him crossed my mind.

Saturday was quite slow in coming. I was gingerly looking forward to my date with Gabe. Besides the daily streams of gifts making it to my office since our coffee date, he had made it a point of duty to serenade me with texts and mushy pick-up lines. My heart was in a perpetual state of fluttering.

I woke up feeling giddy. D-day. I have never been this excited about going on a date with a guy before.

Ping!!!!!

My phone chirped as messages from Gabe poured in. First was a very mushy text that made my insides tingle. The next was one informing me to drop my address that he’d decided to have his chauffeur come pick me up instead, to which I replied immediately. Another popped up twenty minutes later asking if I had any allergies and preferences. “No allergies. I prefer surprises”, came my prompt response.

****

I adjusted my emerald drop-style earrings with diamond accents. I had gotten them as a gift from my brother on my 26th birthday and while I loved them, I rarely wore them. They weren’t something you put on to run to the grocery store.

But the dinner was different- I knew better than to be under-dressed, especially jewelry wise.

I studied myself in my bathroom mirror, not sure if my low-cut bodice green gown, chignon hairstyle, and heavier-than-usual makeup made me look like I was trying too hard. Tonight, I just want to look good.

I slipped on my silver Steve Madden heels and told myself that I’d done the best with what I had. As I stepped out into the hallway, my doorbell buzzed, and I rode the elevator down to meet Gabe’s chauffeur.

When we arrived at Gabe’s apartment building, the chauffeur walked me to the building door, the security guard opened the door and ushered me into the elevator, pushing the button for the penthouse. The elevator door opened up into the foyer, Gabe met me there, a charming and rather welcoming smile plastered on his face. “Hi. You look great.”

“So do you.”

He was putting on jeans and a cashmere shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders and lean build. My heart rate ticked up a little and I felt tingles down to my toes. When he put his hands on my shoulder, leaned in, and kissed my cheeks, there was a distinctive flutter low in my belly. His mouth was warm, the rich scent of his cologne, a delicious mix of clove and musk, drifted into my nostrils.

He drew back. “Ready to get your taste buds sizzling?”

Yes, I wanted dinner, but could we just skip to the good part? What if we spent the evening together, locked up in a room, made love slowly, like the intention of being together was all that mattered? I had to give myself a mental shake. I have never been one to fantasize about making out. What was wrong with my body today?

He grabbed her hand. “Come. You’d like what I made. I had the help of my housekeeper though.”

It was a candlelight dinner setting. Long Island steak and Yukon gold mashed potatoes topped off with a bottle of red wine. We had strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Being with him was so effortlessly easy if you removed the s****l tension that hung in the air on my own part. Soon, it was time to go.

“I had a lovely evening” I said.

“Me too.” Gabe’s hands settled on my upper arms, the flesh soft and giving under his fingers. Hoarsely he asked, “I’ve been wanting to taste you all night. Are you as sweet as the strawberry cheesecake?” “Or would it be as sweet as the wine we had?”

He gave me a moment to object. Time stood still. I didn’t move or say anything. His hands slid around me, and he pulled me to himself. I could see his nostrils flare as the warm, feminine, seductive scent of vanilla I use enfolded him. He took my clutch purse and set it down on the island where we had our dessert. Then he kissed me.

My lips remained closed as he kissed me, not accepting but not rejecting him either. Gabe raised his head and looked into my eyes. I had a feeling he could see the molten fire of passion in my eyes. I started to say something, and, in a flash, he bent his head and took advantage of my parted lips. His tongue sank in, and he plundered my warm mouth. He tasted sweeter than sin. Of rich red wine, strawberry, and seduction. My tongue swirled around his, and I gave a moan of satisfaction.

Instantly I felt my body soften against his, melting into him. Heat swept over me. His hands pressed into the small of my back, drawing me against blatant evidence of his arousal. I pulled in closer, and it became almost as if our bodies were meshed together.

He drew back. “Tonight was fun,” he said. “Thanks for spending it with me.”

What? “You don’t expect me to sleep with you?” I blurted, unable to stop the words.

He looked at me. “Nope.”

“Why not?”

“Because I kinda like you Andrea, and I have no interest in using you to get off.” With that, he escorted me to his waiting car and asked his chauffeur to drive me home, and he was gone.

His words kept on ringing in my head on the drive home. The chauffeur pulled up in front of my apartment complex and opened the door for me. I stepped down with a spring in my steps, said my thanks, and he bade me farewell.