The Teacher's Billionaire (14 page)

Something between a sigh and a groan escaped. She'd never been into casual sex or one night stands. That just wasn't her. She'd been intimate with only two other men, and she'd been in long-term relationships with both.

Callie flipped onto her back and stared at the ceiling. They hadn't discussed any kind of relationship. While she didn't have any proof, she suspected that Dylan didn't have an aversion to one night stands.

Just before he'd kissed her, sending all rational thought from her brain, Dylan questioned her belief that nothing existed between them, that they were just friends. A statement she knew was false as far as she was concerned anyway. His actions indicated it was false for him as well.

Don't read to much into this.
She wasn't an idiot. Callie knew you could be physically attracted to someone without feeling anything emotionally.

She was still running the events of the last few hours through her head when Dylan draped his arm over her indicating that he was awake.

Say something, anything Callie silently ordered him. She certainly couldn't think of anything but at the same time she couldn't stand the silence either.

“Did you decide how you want to spend the day?”

Callie couldn't help it, she burst out laughing. Of all the things he could have said, she hadn't expected that.

Dylan tightened his hold on her. “I didn't think it was that funny.”

Strangely relaxed by his question, she kissed him on the cheek. “Not a clue. Maybe we can just play it by ear.”

“In that case I should go back to my room to shower and change. I want to make sure I'm ready for anything,” he said as he started to sit up.

She didn't want him to leave. If he left Callie feared she'd wake up in a few hours and it would've all been a dream. “Why don't you stay and get another few hours of sleep. Then, I'll make us breakfast.” She said the words quickly before she lost her nerve. “We can go back to your hotel before we go out so you can change.”

Dylan didn't respond right away and for a second she thought he would say no.

Why didn't you keep your mouth shut?

Taking her hand he raised it to his lips. “Another few hours of sleep
and
a homemade breakfast sounds perfect.”

***

After a quick stop at Dylan's hotel they walked over to Faneuil Hall Market Place. It had always been one of Callie's favorite stops in Boston. Not only was it steeped in history, but it was a fun place to hang out. There were all kinds of stores and vendors. And often there were shows performed outside on the cobblestones.

“Do you mind if we stop for a second?” Called asked. They had just passed a vendor selling flowers near the entrance to the main food hall. “I want to see if they have any calla lilies.”

Dylan stopped alongside her. “I pegged you as more of a daisy person myself.”

“Actually, my favorite flowers are roses. I don't really care what color. My mother's favorite were calla lilies. She named me Callie because the name reminded her of the flower.” Quickly, Callie scanned the assortment of flowers. The vendor seemed to have everything from roses and carnations to tulips and daisy, but he didn't have one single calla lily.

“Oh well, maybe some other time.” Callie said as she started walking again.

“How about we grab something quick to eat, and then hit the Freedom Trail. If we see another florist we can stop if you want.” Dylan suggested pulling her close as they entered the main food hall. As usual it was bustling with people.

Callie almost shook her head in amazement. How did he do that? Walking the Freedom Trail was one of her favorite things to do in the city. How did he know that she would enjoy doing that today? He'd done the same thing in Newport. He'd taken her to some of the city's historical sites before a great day on the beach. Granted she told him she loved history, but Callie hadn't really thought he was listening, rather just making polite conversation. Apparently he'd been not only listening but storing away the information.

“Sounds great. I haven't walked the trail in awhile.”

Dylan weaved them through the crowd never once letting his arm leave her shoulders. “Me either. The last time I did I was at Harvard working on my Masters.”

Callie didn't know if he kept his arm on her just so they wouldn't get separated in the mass of people or because he liked the physical contact. Either way she didn't care. She was going to just enjoy the solid weight on her shoulders and how it made her feel. Special. In a way she hadn't felt in a long time.

You've got it bad.
She really needed to get her feelings back into perspective. But not today.
Tomorrow will be soon enough for that.

“This okay for now? Then later we can have dinner in the North End. There is one place there that has the best gelato this side of Italy.” They'd stopped in front of a sub place.

Callie nodded, her mind still on her feelings rather than their lunch choices. “Sounds like a great plan. It'd be wrong to come to Boston and not eat in the North End.”

After placing their orders she immediately whipped out the money to pay. She still didn't like that he'd paid for her that night in Newport. While the bill now didn't come close to the tab that night, Callie figured it was the best she could do.

“What are you doing?” Dylan asked when she handed the teenager behind the counter the twenty.

As she expected it looked like he planned on arguing with her over this. “Selling my soul,” she answered. “What does it look like I am doing?”

Dylan ignored her. “Give her the money back. I'm paying for this,” he ordered the teen, his voice dripping with authority.

The teen, who couldn't have been more than sixteen, paused his hand over the cash draw.

“No. It's my turn.” Callie knew people around them were watching. If it was any other person, she would take the money back and go along with them. But not this time. Not with this man. “You bought dinner in Newport remember? So either I pay now or I don't eat.” She crossed her arms across her chest. Callie knew her reaction was a little over the top but she didn't care. “Don't even think about giving that money back to me,” she told the teen who kept looking back and forth between the two of them.

She thought Dylan was going to argue more. He definitely looked as if he wanted too. Eventually he stuffed his wallet back into his jeans pocket and gave the teen a slight nod letting him know he could proceed.

“Dinner is on me.” His voice was hard and left no room for argument.

Score one for me.

They carried their food to a bench outside not far from a small crowd that had gathered to watch a group of children perform some traditional Irish step dances. She knew by the way his jaw was clenched that Dylan was ticked because she'd insisted on paying, but she didn't really care. Callie wasn't going to let this relationship or whatever it was be one sided when it came to covering costs.

Someone not doing exactly what he says is probably a new experience for him, she thought biting into her turkey sub. Rather than argue with him, she suspected people usually asked how high he wanted them to jump when he gave orders. Most people with money and power seemed to think that way, or at least those she'd dealt with in the past did. Like everyone she'd heard some of the crazy things the rich demanded from those that worked for them on those television reality shows and on the internet.

Both remained silent, content to watch the show as they worked on their lunches. Or at least try to watch the show. Callie found herself paying more attention to the people walking by them. It seemed like every women over the age of fifteen couldn't help but stare and check Dylan out. Not that she could blame them. Still it annoyed her beyond belief. It was like she was invisible.

One woman in particular, a tall curvy red head wearing painted on skinny jeans, seemed to linger near them a little longer than the rest. Callie sent her a look that she hoped said back off he's mine.

At least mine for now
. The night before had been incredible, as had the morning's repeat performance. Memories of the earlier activities brought immediate heat to her face. Without thinking she pressed her cup of iced tea against her cheek. The cold plastic felt wonderful against her flushed skin but did nothing for her racing heart.

Next to her Dylan polished off his sub and tossed his trash in the nearby can without getting up. “You're not always going to win.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders again. “I gave in this time, but don't get used to it.”

His statement made her wonder if he had something long term in mind for them. Was it possible? Or was she just reading to much into his comment? Only time would tell she guessed. “We'll see. I can be pretty stubborn.”

“Ready to do some walking?” Dylan asked when Callie followed suit and tossed the remains of her lunch in the trash.

“You know it,” she replied allowing him to pull her to her feet.

Following the Freedom Trail they went by several key historical landmarks such as the sight of the Boston Massacre and the Old State House. It always amazed Callie how so much key U.S. History could be mixed in among all the modern buildings.

“What do you think he would think of the city if he saw if today?” Callie asked. They'd stopped in front of Paul Revere's house. “Do you think he would even recognize it?”

“I think he would be in awe. Just think of all the changes it's gone through. But he would probably recognize at least some of it.” Dylan began walking again. “Imagine what this place might look like in another few hundred years. We'd probably be in awe too.”

He was right. In a few hundred years would she recognize it? Things seemed to change so quickly. Technology. Landscapes. Life.

Her's certainly had been a whirlwind of change lately. Callie was almost afraid to ask what the next few weeks and months would bring.

Heartache probably
. The awful thought popped into her head. This thing with Dylan would end at some point. Yet Callie wasn't sure she wanted to do anything differently. A man like Dylan didn't come around everyday. Why shouldn't she take the opportunity and enjoy being with him while she could? She wasn't hurting anyone.

Chapter 9

“Warren mentioned that he invited you to his fundraiser in New York,” Dylan said as they headed back to Callie's apartment much later that afternoon.

Nodding she replied, “I talked to him on Wednesday. He asked me to come.” She hadn't thought of her father or his invitation all weekend.

Dylan looked over at her as they waited for the light at the end of her street. “Stay with me instead of at a hotel.”

Taken back by his offer, she didn't immediately respond. “I'm not sure I'm going,” she admitted. While she thought she wanted to get to know her father better she couldn't see herself fitting in at an event like that. She didn't know how much tickets to this fundraiser cost, but she'd read somewhere that people sometimes paid thousands of dollars a ticket to these types of things.

Then there was the fact that the rest of Warren's family would be there. She hadn't meet his son Jake, but his daughter seemed to hate her, and Callie couldn't tell what his wife thought of her. Having her wisdom teeth pulled sounded more enjoyable than a whole night in their company.

“Come. Warren wants you there.” Dylan pulled into her driveway and killed the engine. “I want you there,” he added brushing his hand across her check. “We'll have fun. I promise.”

She didn't respond right away. His offer was so tempting. Another whole weekend with him sounded delightful. Especially if it turned out to be even half as enjoyable as this one. But staying with him at his place seemed like a big step. Then there was the fundraiser. If she agreed to stay with him, she'd have to go. There would be no getting out of it. And Callie was still leaning towards not attending.

“Say yes,” Dylan urged leaning closer so he could kiss her neck just below her ear.

He sounded so sincere that she couldn't resist. “Okay. I'll come.”

A satisfied smile spread across Dylan's face. Pulling her as close as he could considering they were still in the car, he kissed her lips tenderly at first. Soon the kiss turned hotter, more demanding.

The sound of his cell phone filled the car. Breathless Callie watched as Dylan pulled the phone from his pocket and turned it off. “I'll call them back,” he explained tossing the phone onto the dashboard. “Come on, I'll walk you in.”

Callie waited for him to come around and open the car door for her, something he always insisted on doing, and something she was really starting to like.

“I'm heading back to New York tonight, and I have to be in Atlanta on Wednesday. I'll try to get back here on Friday night or Saturday morning.” They stopped at her front door. “I'll call sometime during the week.”

“Okay.” Callie unlocked the apartment door. “Do you have time to come in?” Even though they spent practically the entire weekend together, she was reluctant to see him leave.