Ensnared (The Accidental Billionaires #1)(36)

“That’s one perk of letting him finish his grooming before he got here,” Eli said as he handed me down my coffee. “He doesn’t stink.”

One Splenda and lots of cream!

I knew he’d gotten it right the moment I took my first sip.

Eli Stone was definitely a detail guy.

I’d always wondered if he’d had his assistant arrange our outings, but I was beginning to think that he played a significant role in planning everything.

“You’re pretty lucky,” Eli observed as he sat down half-naked on the sofa with his coffee. “There are very few people that Charlie really likes.”

“I guess I have a way with animals,” I told him as I stood up. “They know I love them, so they usually love me back. And I feel honored that Charlie gives me love. It’s really hard for any creature that has been abused to trust a human again. Really, animals are amazing that way.”

“Yet you don’t have a pet of your own,” Eli commented.

“I had a hamster when I was a kid,” I said with mock defensiveness. “And we couldn’t afford to feed a dog. My brothers were working too hard just to keep us together. But I’ve been thinking about getting a dog. I’m just not sure where I’ll end up working. If I take a job in the field, I could end up somewhere a dog doesn’t really want to be, like a sweltering hot jungle. So I’m waiting to see what happens first.”

“I don’t think you should be anywhere dangerous,” he rumbled.

“Now you sound like one of my brothers,” I teased.

“I like your brothers.”

“I love them,” I admitted. “But they can be a little too protective sometimes.”

“I noticed,” he answered. “They grilled me pretty thoroughly in the café.”

“I guess I was too busy talking to Skye to notice anything except their inquisition at the end. I’m sorry. They’ve made invading my privacy into an art form.”

“I don’t mind,” he remarked. “I could tell that their questions were coming from a good place. They love you, too. They don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“But I’d really like them to see that I’m all grown up. It’s not that I don’t need them anymore, but it would be nice if they could see me as a responsible adult.”

“That’s never going to happen, Butterfly. You didn’t grow up together. They raised you, and I’m willing to bet that they feel more of a parental responsibility toward you.” He handed me another small brochure. “Check this out and let me know what’s on the agenda for today.”

I took the small booklet from his hand and started looking carefully over the multitude of activities offered. Unlike the general brochure, this booklet had dates and times.

“I have no idea what you’d like to do,” I muttered as I looked over the large list of things to do while residing in the world’s biggest “tent” that was climate controlled and offered every available luxury. “I’d love to go horseback riding.”

“I can ride,” he answered.

I looked up and met his eyes. “I’m not very good. I traveled by horse a few times to complete some wildlife studies. But this would probably be a lot better.”

“We can go today,” he answered. “Do you want to hike tomorrow?”

“You know I do,” I said enthusiastically.

“This trip is for you, Jade. It’s not about me. Pick whatever you like.”

My heart ached from his words.

I was his priority.

And all he wanted was for me to have a good time.

While I thought he was being sweet, I didn’t want to decide alone and leave him stuck doing things he wouldn’t like.

“But I want you to have fun, too. You never get time to take a vacation, Eli. This has to be about you, too.”

“Like I said, I’ve been here before. A couple of times, actually, so I’ve done a lot of those things,” he informed me, nodding his head toward the brochure.

I picked out a few activities from the list, and we planned the next couple of days together before we ordered breakfast in our luxury tent.

When we’d finished eating, I rummaged through the suitcases.

“How did you know what size I wore?” I asked curiously as I took out a pair of jeans that were my exact size from the suitcase, and then removed a sweatshirt.

I stopped as I saw all of the matching lingerie sets.

I noticed that they, too, were my size.

“I might have looked in your bedroom while you were in the kitchen at your house,” he confessed, not sounding the least bit sorry.

“If you were poking into my underwear to keep this a surprise, you probably noticed I’m not really all that into nice lingerie.”

“I know,” he rumbled. “But I wasn’t about to buy you anything a billionaire wouldn’t wear. I’d look like a cheap bastard.”

I sighed as I picked up a black bra with matching panties. They were lacy, silken, and beautiful. “I guess they’ll have to do,” I teased as I added them to my pile and picked everything up.

“Look in the zippered area of the big suitcase,” he said. “I brought you back something that belongs to you.”

As he requested, I felt around in the pocket once I’d gotten it open.