Loving The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport) (3 page)

“I’m down here all weekend, and I like Helen,” Warren said before she responded. “If you don’t want me to, that’s okay.”

Didn’t want him too? Maybe he was the one who needed his head checked. “Are you sure? What if the media finds out or something?”

“All they’ll learn is that I took an old friend to a wedding.” He leaned back and stretched his long legs.

“That would be great.”

He looked back over at her and gave her another one of his real smiles. This time her heart not only flipped but also started to disco dance in her chest. Afraid he might see her true feelings, she looked at the television. “We can put on something else if you want. You probably don’t like this show.”

“This is fine. There isn’t much on Thursday nights anyway. I didn’t know you liked this show.”

It was one of the few television shows she enjoyed. “I read the books when I was younger and loved them. If I’m home, I watch it every week.”

Over the next few minutes they sat in silence watching television while Ruth finished her dinner. When the show went to another commercial break, she spoke again. “I’m going to make some hot chocolate; would you like some?” She knew Warren loved chocolate. When she’d worked in the convenience store, he’d often stop in for chocolate bars and soda. Warren had a thing for sugar.

“With whip cream?”

“You’re out of luck. I only have marshmallows.”

Warren sighed as if it was the end of the world. “I guess that’ll do,” he said, following her into the kitchen.

The skin on the back of her neck tingled as she poured milk into a saucepan.
It’s my imagination. Warren’s not watching me
. Her silent lecture didn’t help her shake the feeling, so rather than think about it, she started up another conversation. “What are you doing down here? You don’t normally come to Newport in the winter. Is your grandmother okay?”

“She’s better than ever. Her cardiologist has her on a strict diet, and it seems to be working.” Warren snagged a mini marshmallow from the bag on the table and popped it in his mouth. “I thought I’d give my brother and his girlfriend some privacy for the weekend, since Sunday is Valentine’s Day.” Damn, why was he finding this so difficult? He might not have his younger cousin’s playboy reputation, but he could meet a woman and ask her out without blinking an eye. What was his problem tonight?

“I forgot that you and Mark were living together now. Is he graduating this year?”

“Yes, but he won’t be going far. He starts Harvard Law in the fall, so I’m stuck with him for a little longer,” Warren joked. Actually, he liked having his brother as a roommate. Well, he liked it most of the time. “Are you going to get a new roommate since Helen’s moving out?”

Ruth set down two steaming mugs and shrugged. “I don’t think so. At least not right away. I can swing the rent on my own. And I can’t imagine living with any of my other friends. My parents keep trying to change my mind. They don’t think it’s safe for a single woman to live alone.” She reached for the marshmallows and dropped several into her mug. “They didn’t want us to get an apartment in the first place. My parents think a woman should live at home until she gets married. That’s what my mother and aunt did.”

“Women are doing a lot of things their mothers didn’t do. I think if you want to live alone you should.” Had he just said that? He sounded like a poster written in support of women’s lib or something. Whether he sounded stupid or not, Ruth just nodded.

“That’s true. I’m the first woman in my family to go to college. Actually, I’m the first person in my family to graduate college.”

Before their conversation could continue down that path, highlighting the differences between them, Warren focused on his real reason for being there. “Do you have any plans for Sunday night?”

With a mouth full of hot chocolate, she shook her head.

He leaned forward, prepared to take the plunge. “Neither do I. Will you have dinner with me?”

Ruth erupted into a coughing fit. “Did you suddenly forget Sunday is Valentine’s Day, Warren?” she asked once she regained control.

“I know that.” When he asked women out they usually came back with a yes and what time will you pick me up. They didn’t come back with smart-ass replies. Then again this was Ruth Taylor, not the usual society debutantes he dated.

Ruth pointed at him. “You want to have dinner with me on Valentine’s Day?” she asked, pointing to herself.

Maybe asking had been a bad idea. Perhaps the little jolt he’d felt when they shared that kiss ringing in the New Year had been one-sided. “Yes. You. Me. Dinner. Sunday night.”

She bit down on her bottom lip and looked at him. “Okay.”

The tension in his shoulders disappeared. She’d agreed. “Good. What time should I pick you up?” He reached for his own mug of hot chocolate.

“I’m working Sunday so maybe around six-thirty.”

He’d not considered that she might be working, but he should have. After all, hospitals didn’t close. “Works for me. Do you need a ride to the church on Saturday?” When his cousin had gotten married the summer before, she and her bridal party arrived at the church in a couple of Rolls Royces. He had no idea how other people did things.

“No. I’m getting ready with Helen at her parents’ house. They rented a limo to pick everyone up and take us to the church. A ride to the reception and home afterward would be great. But if you can’t pick me up at the church that’s fine. I can catch a ride with someone else and meet you at the hotel.”

“I can meet you at the church. Where is the wedding?”

“Trinity Church and the reception is at The Sherbrooke Hotel on America’s Cup Avenue. Helen checked out a few other places, but as soon as she saw the view of Newport Harbor from the ballroom there, no other place would do.” Ruth mixed her hot chocolate. “Helen and Will are staying at the hotel for the night, too. They leave for their honeymoon Sunday morning.”

He couldn’t deny that the hotel had a spectacular view of the entire harbor.

“That’s why she’s getting married now instead of in the summer. She wanted to get married in July, but it would have cost her parents twice as much to have the reception then. Getting married in February during the off season was the only way they could swing the cost.”

That particular Sherbrooke Hotel was the most expensive hotel in Newport, and it had stunning views and three magnificent ballrooms.

“Can’t say I disagree with her. The hotel has one hell of a view. What time should I get to the church?”

“Ceremonies there last about an hour, so the wedding should be over around one o’clock.”

“Then I’ll see you there. Do you have the wedding rehearsal tomorrow night?”

Ruth nodded. “I’ll have to rush home from work and change. I didn’t want to take the whole day off, though.” She took another sip from her mug. “Do you mind if we finish our drinks in the other room?”

Warren pushed back his chair. He’d accomplished his goal for the night. Now he could relax a bit and enjoy Ruth’s company. “You want to finish watching
Little House
?”

“If you don’t mind. It’s almost over anyway.”

“Not at all.” Warren dropped a few more marshmallows in his mug. “I might be asking for another cup of this soon.” He picked up both their mugs and followed Ruth back to the couch.

Chapter 3

Ruth peeked out the door. She wasn’t sure who looked happier, Helen, who at the moment was having her picture taken with her mother and grandmother, or Will standing at the altar with his best man, Mitch.

“I think everyone is here. The church is packed.” Ruth closed the door and turned around.

“How many people did you invite again?” Carla, Helen’s cousin and bridesmaid, opened the door again so she could take a look.

“She invited two hundred.” It had seemed liked two thousand the night they wrote out the envelopes. Ruth’s hand had ached for the rest of the evening.

“Only one hundred fifty said they were coming.” Helen walked over to them when the photographer put down his camera and tried to look out.

One hundred fifty guests was still a huge number. Unless she married a man with a large family, her own wedding would be much smaller. Both her mom and dad came from small families, and she only had one brother.

Helen’s aunt, who’d acted as an unofficial wedding planner for the past year, entered the room. “Okay, everyone, it is time to line up.”

A seasoned pro at wedding proceedings, Ruth took her place in line. Then as they’d been instructed the night before, each bridesmaid crossed the threshold into the historic church and passed by the filled pews. Once Carla, the last of the three bridesmaids, reached the halfway mark of the aisle, Ruth began her own march toward the front, and the doors behind her closed, preventing anyone from seeing the bride. She’d only passed by the first two rows of pews when she spotted someone who shouldn’t be in the church seated alone. Pausing for half a second, she stared at Warren who gave her a smile and small wave. He said he’d meet her at the church. She’d assumed that meant once the ceremony ended not for the ceremony itself.

Glancing away from Warren’s distracting smile, she spotted Will and his brother with the reverend, and her brain went back into play.
Keep walking
. With her eyes focused on Helen’s soon-to-be husband, she made it to the front and turned as the “Wedding March” began, and the doors opened again.

Two of her other friends had married at Trinity Church the previous summer, and the same reverend had performed those ceremonies. Since she’d heard the entire script before, Ruth let her thoughts wander back to Warren’s unexpected visit. True, it was not unheard of for Warren to stop in if he was in the area. However, she couldn’t recall the last time he’d been in Newport during the winter. His offer to accompany her today had surprised but not shocked her. They’d been friends for a long time, and the Warren she’d come to know was kind and helpful. But that didn’t explain his presence right now.

Warren’s invitation to dinner tomorrow was the thing that bothered her the most. Sure they’d had meals together before. On several occasions they’d eaten lunch on the beach or stopped at Pirate’s Cove for ice cream. None of those outings had taken place on Valentine’s Day, the most romantic day of the year. Should she take that as some kind of sign? He had left his own family’s party on New Year’s Eve to spend time with her last month. Maybe Helen was right about the differences in their social standings not bothering him. Not once had he ever treated her as anything but his equal. And it had been his idea to come with her today. She hadn’t mentioned her lack of a date because she hoped he’d step up.

Ruth looked away from Helen and back at Warren as the couple exchanged vows. Their eyes met, and he smiled at her. For half a second the crowded church disappeared. He became the only other person there. Before she looked away, he winked at her, and her stomach went into its own version of the twist.
What is going on?
Man, she wanted to know. Before she could contemplate the situation any further, the reverend gave Will and Helen permission to kiss.

With her arm through Mitch’s, she followed the bride and groom down the aisle. “Where’s the fire?”

“What?” Ruth looked away from the back of Helen’s head and at Mitch. She’d locked her eyes on Helen to keep from looking at Warren again.

“If you walk any faster you’ll be jogging down the aisle. What’s the rush? It’s not like anyone is running off.”

The bride and groom were not rushing off to their limo, but she was in a hurry to reach Warren. She wanted to catch him before the photographer started snapping more photos. Once he did, there would be no escape.

“I want to use the ladies’ room before the photographer gets a hold of us again. He was brutal this morning. I didn’t think he’d ever finish.” She didn’t lie. The photographer had taken endless pictures.

They passed by the final row of pews. “His assistant was just as bad. The restrooms are to the left of the front door. If anyone asks where you went, I’ll let them know.”

Thanks to the previous weddings she’d attended there, she didn’t need directions to the ladies’ room. “Thanks. I’ll be quick.”

Mitch released her arm and headed in one direction while Ruth made a beeline back the way she’d come. Guests had started filing out, but she’d not seen Warren exit. Inside she scanned the pews as some of the guests mingled. Unable to see well over all the standing guests, she moved farther inside. When she saw him still seated, she stepped around one of her high school friends with nothing more than a wave.

“Hi, Warren.” She slipped into the pew and sat down. “What are you doing here?”

“I was coming to pick you up anyway, and I didn’t think Helen would mind if I came to the ceremony.”

The tiny bubble of hope in her chest burst. She’d known it was a long shot, but she hoped he’d say something like ‘I came to see you’ or ‘I missed you and couldn’t wait to see you again’.

“You’re right.” She didn’t add that more than likely Helen had not even noticed Warren. When Helen walked down the aisle, she’d only had eyes for Will. And on the off chance she had noticed, Ruth knew Helen wouldn’t mind. In fact, Helen would probably start pressuring her to ask him out again the second she saw her, like she had done after Ruth told her Warren was her date for the reception.

“You look beautiful today.”

She could have said the same thing about him. Warren looked good no matter what he wore. He was fortunate that way. Most people, herself included, had certain colors or styles they should avoid no matter what the fashion magazines said was in style. Not him. In all the years she’d known him, he’d never looked anything but amazing.

“Thanks. I’m glad Helen picked this color and not her original choice. When she planned on a summer wedding, she wanted us all to wear sunflower yellow. That would’ve been only slightly better than the peach gown I wore to my friend Rhonda’s wedding in June.” Ruth doubted anything would ever look worse on her than the peach gown and white sunhat she’d worn to Rhonda’s wedding. And she hoped she never found out.