Best Friends With the Billionaire(24)

…

Cassie eyed Kirk over her glass of orange juice. It was Monday morning, and Kirk was dressed for work, looking incredibly fit and sexy in his tailored pants and white business shirt. He whistled as he spread jelly over his toast. He’d been in a good mood since they’d woken up together in his bed.

She eased her position on the stool at the breakfast bar, enjoying the faint throb between her legs from their morning shower together. The last day and a half had passed in a haze of lust, but now Monday had arrived, and she couldn’t help feeling a little down that they had to resume their normal routines. Why couldn’t they hold onto that wonderful passion that had ignited over the weekend? Why couldn’t they draw it out a little longer?

She set down her juice glass. “I have to assemble some welcome baskets today for Lillian’s out of town guests, but if I hurry, I could get them done in an hour, and then I’d be free for the rest of the day. How about you? Anything urgent at work today?”

Kirk looked at her in surprise before comprehension broke. “Are you asking me to play hooky?”

“Well…” She leaned toward him and twirled his tie around her fingers. “The rest of this week is looking pretty busy. I don’t think I’ll get another day free until after the wedding.”

He chewed his toast, eyeing her speculatively. “What do you want to do?”

“Anything. It’s another beautiful day. I wouldn’t mind doing something outdoors.”

She glanced outside at the patio garden drenched in early morning sunshine. The sky was clear blue, and the weather forecast was perfect for an alfresco excursion.

“Okay.” Kirk nodded, shoving the last bit of toast into his mouth. “I’ll reschedule my appointments. Meet me back here at ten, and wear something comfortable. I’ve got an idea where we could go.”

“Where?”

“It’s a surprise.” He stowed his plate in the dishwasher and picked up his briefcase. Before he headed for the door, he leaned over her and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “See you at ten.”

Cassie touched her mouth. She hadn’t expected that kiss, the first kiss he’d given her without being sexually aroused. Did it mean anything? Was he developing tender feelings for her, or was it an absentminded gesture?

She sighed at her irrepressible yearning. She shouldn’t read too much into every little action. Kirk hadn’t meant anything by that kiss—that was the basis on which she should operate. She finished her breakfast and got herself ready to travel to her mom’s apartment.

She’d braced herself for her mom’s inquisition over Kirk’s sudden appearance in Carmel, but when she arrived at Audrey’s home, she quickly discovered that Lillian hadn’t breathed a word about the incident. She didn’t have a chance to ask Lillian why or to thank her, as her mom and sister had to rush off to an urgent meeting with the wedding planner.

Cassie was left at home to assemble the welcome baskets. She had them done in record time, all to Lillian’s specific instructions. She even curled the ribbons and crimped the cellophane as her mom had shown her. When the baskets were completed, she took a cab back to Kirk’s house.

He was already there, waiting for her in the living room. Her heart lifted when she saw him. How handsome he looked in cargo shorts and navy blue polo shirt. He was in the prime of his life, attractive, young, and vigorous. And he was also kind, generous, and thoughtful. She was so lucky to have him as her friend…with benefits.

“Hurry up and get changed,” he said with a grin.

She dashed upstairs and came down a few minutes later dressed in denim shorts, T-shirt, and sneakers. She pulled her cell phone out of her purse and plonked it on the coffee table.

“I’m leaving this here,” she said. “Don’t want to run the risk of my mom or sister thinking up some job for me.”

Maybe that was selfish of her, but something in her sensed the sands of time running out for her and Kirk. She had to grab what opportunities she had with him while she could.

When they were in the car, she turned to him. “Is this like a mystery tour? You’re not going to tell me until we reach our destination?”

“I’m taking you to Yosemite.”

“Yosemite! We’ll never make it there and back in one day.”

“We will if we go by helicopter.”

“Helicopter! Really?”

“Are you going to echo everything I say?” He lifted an eyebrow at her. “Yes, I’ve chartered a helicopter to fly us out to Yosemite. Think you’d like that?”

A gooey feeling gathered in her chest. “Oh, Kirk. I would love that.”

For a moment she couldn’t speak. Sure, Kirk was worth billions, and hiring a helicopter for a day was peanuts for him. But he’d never been one for extravagant displays of his wealth, and this was more than she’d ever expected. Of course she had trouble finding her breath.

Three hours later, she was again puffing for air, but this time because of the hike up to Glacier Point. The helicopter had deposited them at an airport near the border of the park. From there, they’d transferred to an off-road pickup fully equipped with supplies, and Kirk had driven them into the heart of the Yosemite Valley, where they’d decided to take one of the walking trails.

Kirk had already reached the lookout point. When she finally caught up with him, he handed her a water bottle from his backpack with a triumphant grin.

“You’re getting slow, Cooper. You used to keep up with me when we went hiking.”

She downed a gulp of water before speaking. “I’m letting you win so you don’t feel too old.”

“Thanks, but you don’t fool me.”

From their vantage point, the views were spectacular. In winter these mountains would be covered with a thick blanket of snow, but now green pine trees stretched as far as the eye could see. The air was fresh, and the peace was almost complete. In summer the park could be a traffic nightmare, but Monday was a good time to come, and the hiking trail they’d chosen wasn’t at all crowded. The two people already at the lookout point left, leaving the serenity to Cassie and Kirk, and a companionable silence fell over them.

“You know the Ahwahnee Hotel? I’ve always wanted to stay there in winter,” Cassie mused, resting her chin on her palm. “The photos look so cozy with the stone walls and the huge fireplaces and the snow all around.”

“You should come back for Christmas. I know the owner. He’ll give us the best suite available.”

She tensed, not daring to look at Kirk. “Um, come back for Christmas?”

“Yeah, why not? You should come back more often.”

She twisted the water bottle in her hands. “And this hotel suite… Are we going to share it?”

Even with her head turned away, she could feel his keen gaze on her. “Yeah,” he said more slowly. “Unless circumstances change.”

“You mean if you or I get involved with someone.” She forced herself to meet his eyes.

“I won’t get involved with anyone.”

“You sound so sure.”

He shrugged, showing a slight impatience. “I told you before. I don’t want to get involved, a relationship, whatever you want to call it.” He made air quotes with his fingers. “But I like what we have right now. It’s stress-free, guilt-free.” His mouth quirked up at the corners. “And very, very hot.”

She squeezed the water bottle with both hands. “I don’t think I’ll be involved with anyone, either, come Christmas time.”

“So it’s a date, then.”

“No. I doubt I’ll be coming back at Christmas.”

He leaned against a boulder, arms folded, a slight V between his brows. “Why don’t you come back more often? It’s not such a huge plane trip. Is there a reason why you avoid coming home?”

You. You are the reason. Her throat tightened, and she had to look away. “Oh, you know. Family reasons.”

“But that was a while ago. And you’re getting along with them better now. You should visit more often.”

And get her heart tangled up every time she saw him? Especially after what had just happened to them. When she returned to Australia, it was going to take her months to get over the high of this trip.

No, that was untrue. She would never recover. So how could she contemplate repeating the same pleasurable torture?

“I’m settled in Sydney now,” she muttered. “I like it there.”

“If it’s the money I’ll gladly buy you the air ticket.”

She gaped at him in shock. “I don’t want your money!”

“You don’t have to sound like I’m offering you cocaine.” Kirk grimaced. “Look, buying you a ticket is no big deal. The offer stands any time you want.”

They shifted and gazed in opposite directions, tension palpable in the air.

“What about Russell?” Kirk asked after a while. “You over him now?”

It took Cassie a while to figure out what he was talking about. “Yeah, I think so,” she said, drawing circles in the dirt with her foot.

“You don’t sound too sure.”

He had no qualms over interrogating her love life. Why couldn’t she ask him the same questions?