Forgetting the Billionaire (A Clean Billionaire Romance Book 1) Page 10

  “What’s going on?” he asked. Questions never hurt anyone.

  Charlie looked up. “What do you mean?”

  “You look sad.”

  Sighing, she glanced at her watch. “I was hoping when she recognized the bakery that it would lead to something. But I guess not. When she wakes up we’ll be right back to where we’ve always been.” Her gaze flicked over to him before it rested on the window at the end of the hall. “It just gets draining, you know?”

  He nodded. “Yeah. I don’t know how you do it. Most people would have given up.”

  She chewed her lip. He smiled. He was beginning to love the little quirks she did when she was nervous.

  “What?” She furrowed her brow when she glanced over at him.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You’re grinning at me,” she said.

  Mitchell couldn’t help it. She was adorable. “You chew your lip when you’re nervous or worried.”

  She straightened her face. “No I don’t.”

  He shrugged. “Okay.”

  “I don’t.”

  Mitchell raised his hands. “Okay. You don’t.”

  She glared at him, but it slowly turned into a smile. “What are your plans for the rest of the evening?”

  Pulling out his phone, he glanced at the time. “One o’clock. Hmm, don’t have a lot going on.”

  “I was thinking about going to the music festival today. Want to join me?”

  Perhaps it was just his desire for her to want to spend time with him, but he swore she blushed.

  He rubbed his chin. He couldn’t accept right away. She’d sense how desperate he was. “What does one do at this festival?”

  “Normal carnival things. Games, loads of food. Oh, and listening to bands play.”

  “I don’t know…”

  Her face fell as she studied him. “It’s okay, I unders—”

  Mitchell laughed. “No. It’s not that. I just don’t know if you can handle getting whooped by me. I’m a champion when it comes to carnival games.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “Oh, really.”

  Mitchell pushed off the wall and flexed his arms. “Do you think I have these babies for no reason?” He leaned over and kissed a bicep.

  She giggled and rolled her eyes. “We’ll just see about that.” She started making her way down the hall. “I’m gonna go change. I’ll meet you in the kitchen in fifteen?”

  “It’s a date,” he said. Just to watch her squirm.

  She paused and glanced over at him.

  “Joking.” But deep down, he wasn’t.

  She smiled and disappeared down the stairs.

  As he walked into his room, his phone rang. Pulling it out of his pocket he hit talk. “Hello?”

  “Mr. Kingsley?”

  “Yep?”

  “This is Thomas McMillan with Royal Yacht rentals.”

  “Oh, yeah. Hi.”

  “I’m returning your phone call. You were inquiring about one of our boats for an upcoming wedding?”

  Mitchell sat down on his bed. One of Victoria’s stipulations for getting married in Alaska was that they at least had the reception on a yacht. He’d called this morning hoping there was something available. “Yes. We’re getting married on Tuesday.”

  Thomas sputtered then coughed to cover it up. “Wow. That’s soon.”

  “Yeah. Listen, money isn’t a problem. I’ll pay what’s needed to get this done.”

  “Sounds good. We actually have a yacht docking this evening. Do you have some time to come aboard and take a look?”

  Mitchell gritted his teeth. Truth was, he really didn’t. He wanted to spend the whole day with Charlie. “Can I get back to you?”

  “Sure. You can call me or just head down to Old Sitka dock when you get a chance. The boat is called King of the Court. I’ll let them know you might be coming.”

  “Thanks.” He hung up and shoved his phone back into his pocket. Slipping off his shirt, he dug through his clean clothes. His thoughts returned to Charlie. One thing was for sure, he wanted to look good tonight.

  13

  Charlie

  Charlie stood in front of her closet, staring at her clothes. Nothing seemed good enough for the festival. Sighing, she grabbed her yellow sundress from its hanger. She was acting ridiculous. This was Mitchell— the guy she couldn’t have.

  Pulling off her jeans and t-shirt, she slipped the dress on. It helped highlight the little bit of color she’d managed to get during the small bursts of sunlight. She released her hair from its bun. The curls fell to the middle of her back.

  The gash on her forehead was starting to bruise so she focused her efforts on covering it up. After a few brushes of foundation and mascara she was ready. Just as she stepped out of her room, her phone rang.

  It was Alex.

  “Hello?”

  “Charlie?”

  “Yep.”

  “Hey. I stopped by earlier, and you weren’t home. Penny said you were out wedding shopping?”

  Charlie leaned against the door frame. “Yeah. I’m helping Rose’s grandson plan his wedding.”

  “The guy from yesterday?”

  “Yep.”

  “Huh.”

  Charlie wasn’t sure, but she thought that she detected a hint of jealousy in Alex’s tone. “He’s getting married on Tuesday, so I was showing him around.”

  “Oh. Are you free now?”

  She chewed her bottom lip. “We were about to head out to the music festival.”

  “We meaning, you and this guy?”

  “It’s not like that,” she said. “You’re free to come.”

  “Well, I don’t want to get in the way.”

  Why was he acting like this? “You won’t be in the way. Please, it’ll be fun.”

  “Okay.”

  “See you there?”

  “Sure.”

  Charlie hung up. She couldn’t ignore how the conversation had left a sour feeling in her stomach. What did he have to be jealous about? Mitchell was spoken for. It wasn’t like anything could happen. Right?

  She pushed the kitchen door open and inwardly groaned. Why did Mitchell have to look so good all of the time? He had on a navy button-up shirt and light jeans. His hair was gelled. She sighed. Maybe Alex did have a reason to be jealous.

  His gaze ran over her and there was a look of approval in his eyes. Heat raced to her cheeks. She should have just worn a potato sack. Now what would Alex think? That she was trying to impress Mitchell?

  “Ready?” she asked as she made her way past him to the backdoor. As she neared, she caught a whiff of his cologne. It made her insides turn to mush. This was too much. Maybe she could feign sickness and stay in bed.

  He followed after her, blocking the retreat to her room. “Yep. Ready to get whooped by me?”

  Must not flirt. Must not flirt, she chanted in her mind.

  “Alex is coming,” she blurted out. Maybe that would help them keep their distance from each other.

  Mitchell was silent. “Really? Why?”

  She grabbed her sandals from the entryway and bent down to slip them on. She teetered on one foot while she shoved the other one into a shoe. A warm hand rested on her lower back.

  “Whoa,” he said, his voice lower than normal.

  Startled, she glanced over to see Mitchell staring down at her. His look and the sensation of his hand on her back was too much, so she straightened. “I’m okay.” She shot her hand out and rested it on the wall to help her balance.

  “I’m sorry. Just didn’t want you to fall over.” He shoved his hands into his front pockets.

  “No. It’s okay.” Why did her voice have to sound so squeaky?

  He peered over at her then nodded. “So Alex is coming?”

  She pulled open the door and stepped out. The sun was shining against the dark clouds that loomed in the east. “My boyfriend, Alex, is coming.” She wasn’t sure if she was reminding Mitchell or herself.

  He followed behind
her. “Got it.”

  They walked across the parking lot to Mitchell’s car. They still hadn’t gone back for hers. The memory of him coming to her rescue yesterday flooded her mind.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  His gaze met hers. “For what?”

  “Coming to find me yesterday.”

  He pulled open her door and smiled. “Of course. We’re friends. We look out for each other.”

  She slipped onto the seat. “Yes…friends,” she said as she pulled the door shut.

  Mitchell jogged around the front of the car and got in. “I’ll take you to get your car if you want.”

  “It’s okay. We can get it tonight.”

  He peered over to her as he turned the key. “You sure?”

  She nodded. As much as she wanted to have a vehicle close in case she needed a quick getaway, she kind of liked the idea that she had to ride back home with him. She enjoyed his company.

  As he pulled onto the main road, he rested his wrist on the wheel. “So, what’s the story about you and Alex? Last time I’d heard, you were single.”

  She brushed down her skirt and stared outside. “He was my boyfriend for three years.”

  “Three? Wow. What happened?”

  Her stomach twisted at the memory. “I caught him making out with another girl.”

  For a split second, she thought she saw his knuckles whiten as he gripped the steering wheel.

  “And you want him back?” he asked.

  Charlie sighed. She wasn’t sure at all. All she knew was, this was a small town. If she didn’t take him, who else would want her? Certainly not the handsome visitor sitting next to her.

  “He’s changed. I’ve changed. I want to believe we can make it work.”

  He flicked on his blinker and pulled into the grassy field that had been turned into a parking lot. After shutting off his car, he faced her. “Do you love him?”

  She almost choked from his direct question. “Yes,” she squeaked out.

  Mitchell’s brows furrowed as he stared at her. “I’m happy for you,” he said as pulled on his door handle.

  Charlie did the same. She rounded the front of the car as he hit the button and the doors locked. “Thank you. I’m happy for you, too.” She smiled.

  They walked in silence. The music that blared from the speakers next to the stage helped lessen the awkwardness she felt.

  Her phone dinged. She pulled it out of her purse and glanced down at it.

  “Alex is by the ring toss.” She nodded in the direction of the game booths.

  “Okay,” Mitchell said, following after her.

  She walked until she saw Alex waving.

  “Hey,” she said, as she approached him.

  He grinned, wrapped his arm around her waist, and kissed her cheek.

  Charlie let her gaze fall to Mitchell. His jaw flexed as he stared a bit too hard at the game behind them.

  “Mitchell, glad you could join us,” Alex said, pulling her even closer.

  Mitchell turned his attention to Alex. He had a frustrated look. “Well, she invited me before you so, thanks for joining us.”

  Alex let out a laugh. “Okay.”

  Charlie needed to change the subject. “Are you gonna play?” She nodded to the set of rings around Alex’s free hand.

  “Yep. I was about to win you that stuffed bear.” He motioned to the oversized polar bear that hung from the booth.

  “Really?” Charlie tried to hide her excitement. Polar bears were her favorite animal. “You remembered.”

  Alex leaned over and gave her another kiss on the cheek. “Of course, I remembered. They’re your favorite.”

  He unwrapped his arm and began tossing the rings toward the bottles. Five clinked as they bounced off the glass and fell to the ground. He only managed to get three on.

  “Oh, no. Better luck next time,” the pimply teenager who ran the booth said.

  “It’s okay.” Charlie smiled over at Alex.

  He looked frustrated, but shrugged. “Let’s try another game.”

  “Hang on. Let me try,” Mitchell said, stepping up to the attendant and pulling out his wallet.

  Charlie forced a giggle. “It’s okay. I really don’t need it.” What was he doing?

  “If they’re your favorite animal, let me try.” He grabbed the rings that the attendant had dropped on the counter.

  “Really, it’s okay.” Charlie stepped forward. Alex was a really competitive guy. Things wouldn’t go over well if he lost.

  But Mitchell ignored her and began throwing the rings. As the fifth one sailed through the air and spun as it landed on the bottle, Charlie’s stomach plummeted. She could feel Alex tense. Once all eight were tossed, the attendant counted them up and declared Mitchell a winner.

  “Which toy do you want?” he asked through his bubblegum.

  Mitchell grinned at Charlie. She glared at him.

  “The polar bear,” he said, nodding toward the white animal.

  The attendant pulled it down and handed it to him then headed off to help a family.

  “Here,” Mitchell said, holding out the bear.

  “I’m gonna get a drink,” Alex said. His voice was flat.

  Once he was gone, Charlie whipped around. “What was that?” Heat raced up her spine as she did her best to stare him down.

  Mitchell just shrugged which angered her more. “What was what?” he asked.

  “Why did you have to do that? Show Alex up.”

  Mitchell sighed. “Will you just take the bear?”

  Charlie folded her arms. “No.”

  He leaned in. “I won it for you.”

  “Yeah. Well, I didn’t ask you to.”

  Mitchell scrubbed his stubble with his free hand. “I know you didn’t, but it wasn’t like Alex was going to be able to win it.”

  “So? He’s my boyfriend.” She turned. With the way she was feeling, she needed some ice cream.

  “Why? If he cheated on you, why would you take him back?” Mitchell asked, following after her.

  Now he was giving her relationship advice? “Who are you to ask? It’s not like there are a ton of guys on this island. All of them are either taken or recently engaged.” She dropped her gaze. She hadn’t meant for that to slip out.

  When he didn’t respond, she glanced up. He was studying her. She wished she could read his thoughts.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for you.” She swallowed, hoping she sounded sincere. “And it has been amazing seeing Rose come back. There’s nothing I want more than to see you get married. It’s bringing her so much happiness.”

  Mitchell rubbed his neck as he glanced around. “Yeah, it is.”

  Charlie gave him a smile. She didn’t want to fight. “If helping you with this wedding is going to bring her back, then I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She nodded toward the stuffed animal. “Give it to Victoria. I’m sure she’ll love it.”

  He glanced down at the bear as if he’d forgotten it was in his hand. He paused then smiled up at her. “I’m sorry for being such a jerk. I can be a hot head sometimes. It’s just that…” His gaze deepened. “I care about you. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  Charlie’s stomach leapt to her throat at his words. She swallowed, forcing herself to calm down. He probably only cared about her like he would a little sister. “I care about you, too. I’m happy you’ve found Victoria. She suits you.”

  Her gaze fell behind him to Alex who was approaching with two drinks in hand. She smiled at him. It seemed to help him lighten up a bit. When he joined them, he handed her a glass.

  “I got one for you,” he said, leaning over and giving her a kiss.

  “Hey, man, I want to say I’m sorry. I can get a little competitive sometimes. I’m going to keep this bear for my fiancée, so if Charlie wants one, you’re going to have to win it for her.” He shoved the bear under his arm.

  Alex nodded, but then a familiar look flitted across his face. “If you like competiti
on so much, my buddies and I like to compete in the lumberjack competition. We’re practicing tomorrow. What do you think?” He leaned forward.

  “Alex.” Charlie shook her head. “Mitchell doesn’t want to do that.”

  Mitchell’s eyebrows shot up. “What’s a lumberjack competition?”

  “It’s where we use axes and chainsaws to compete. Just like loggers used to do.”

  Charlie needed to intervene. “It’s silly. Don’t feel like you have to do it. These guys practice all the time. It can get dangerous.” Why was Alex doing this?

  Mitchell stared at her then back to Alex. “I’ll do it. I’m a quick learner.”

  Alex broke out into a grin. “Awesome. We’ll come get you tomorrow.” He turned to Charlie. “Let’s do the bean bag toss. I’ll win you a bear there. I’m better at that anyway.” He started for the booth.

  Charlie followed after him, and Mitchell fell into step with her. “You don’t have to do this you know,” she said, turning to look at him.

  His jaw flexed as he focused on the ground ahead. “I know,” he said as he stepped up to the booth and bought a bucket of beanbags.

  Charlie folded her arms. This was not what she wanted. The lumberjack competition could get dangerous, and she didn’t know what she’d do if something happened to Mitche—Alex. She meant Alex.

  14

  Mitchell

  Mitchell didn’t like Alex. What did Charlie see in him anyway? There was nothing redeeming about him. And it wasn’t just because he’d had his arm wrapped around Charlie’s waist for the last hour. Or the fact that’d he was on his fifth drink, and his speech was starting to slur. It took all of Mitchell’s strength not to deck the guy.

  The three of them played every carnival game at the festival. It wasn’t until the last one that Alex finally won Charlie a stuffed animal. It wasn’t a bear as they’d run out of those already.

  Mitchell tried not to huff as Alex handed her a gorilla. She gave him a shy smile and kissed his cheek. Mitchell stared at the bear he’d won her. Great. Now he was stuck with this constant reminder that he couldn’t have the intoxicating girl who was giggling next to him.