The Russian Billionaire’s Secret(14)

The last word lingered in Amy's mind. All too often becoming part of an 'us' had left her feeling like a very lonely “I” in the end.

“So what's the plan for today?” Cole asked. “If you're not too busy with your book's climax, I thought we could head out on the beach for awhile.”

“Sorry, but my manuscripts and I do not have those sort of relationships.”

“You don't talk about them at all so I figured it was a private love affair,” Cole teased. “But how about it?”

“Okay, but no limo.”

“No, limo,” Cole nodded in agreement. “I think my driver would just feel like a third wheel anyway.”

An hour later, Amy had packed a day bag complete with her newest bikini and flip-flop and some other essentials. She also brought along an outfit just in case she lost the rest of her wits and spent the night, because Amy was quickly learning that Cole had a way of improvising last minute plans and getting her to agree to them. She was giving herself on last look over when the door bell rang.

“You're fifteen minutes early, Cole,” she laughed opening the door.

“Cole?” Chad blinked at her.

Her heart skipped a beat and she swallowed hard backing away from the door.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded.

“Amy, we need to talk. I'm know you don't want to see me and I don't blame you, but we really need to talk.”

“You can't just leave me at the altar and show up a year later wanting to talk!”

“I'm sorry, Amy. Can I come in, please?” Chad said giving her the big brown puppy dog eyes that he had so often used during their relationship to get his way. Amy's stomach twisted in knots as memories came flooding back.

“No, I'm about to leave.”

“Can't it wait? I'm sure Debbie won't mind if you're late. I need to talk to you. I need to explain what happened. I was scared. We jumped in too quickly and I got scared and I ran.”

“Off with another woman!” Amy shouted throwing her hands in the air. “Just go away.”

Hot tears stung her eyes as she moved to shut the door. Chad put his shoulder up stopping it from closing all the way.

“Come on, baby, I still love you!” he shouted.

Several of her neighbors had came out to watch the scene unfold between them.

“Go away!”

“Amy, baby!”

“I'm not your damn baby anymore, Chad!”

Chad gave a hard shove to the door and Amy stumbled backwards. She landed on her butt and looked up at Chad in shock. Before she could speak Cole appeared behind Chad. He easily pushed past the angry man and into the apartment.

“Are you alright?” he said looking from him then back to her.

“Yeah,” she nodded as he pulled her gently back to her feet.

“Your guest seems rather rude,” he said turning to face the other man.

“This is why you won't talk to me?” Chad shouted. “You won't talk to me, because you're hooking up with some white boy? What the hell are you thinking, Amy? A white boy?”

“I'm thinking that you should leave.”

“Man, whatever, you're messed up in the head,” Chad said. “Dating some white boy.”

Amy didn't close the door until Chad got onto the elevator.

“Sorry about that,” Amy sighed. “He's always been a bit...”

“Of an *?”

“I was going to say dramatic, but that too,” she nodded.

“Who was that guy anyway.”

“No one important.”

“An ex then,” Chad arched a brow.

“Yes, but we should get going.”

“I wasn't going to ask anything else about him. I know you don't like questions.”

“There's not much to tell,” she said as they got into the car. “There really isn't. You figured him out pretty quickly. Chad's just an *.”

Amy fastened her seat belt and took a deep breath as Cole started the car. She leaned her head against the window trying and failing to hide the fact she was upset. Cole gave her a soft smile and took her hand. He brought it up to his lips as he done the night before and kissed it gently.

“You don't have to talk about it, but if he comes back around I'm going to kick his ass on principle. I don't like being referred to as a boy by someone who's vocabulary is limited to phrases like 'whatever.”

“That bothered you more than the white part?” she laughed not pulling her hand away from him.

“I am white,” he shrugged, “but if he shows up again he's going to find out that this 'white boy' will kick his ass.”

Amy laughed and Cole kissed her hand again before letting it go. As their fingers slipped apart, she studied the contrast between her dark ebony skin and Cole's lighter skin. Something about it struck her as beautiful.

“I don't think he'll be back. Chad's never reacted well to his pride taking a beating. He doesn't know any of my new neighbors so he can tell his friends whatever he wants.”

The beginning of the drive was silent, but not the uncomfortable silence that had plagued them the night before. This time it was a more comfortable silence. It was hard for Amy to concentrate on being angry at Chad when she could feel Cole stealing glances at her from the corner of his eye.