Page 58 of Loving a Billionaire

Her heart finished thawing. In fact, it started melting again. Austin really did have a kind heart, just as she’d suspected. He should have more reason to hate Kurt than she did, and yet, Austin felt the need to forgive her partner. How could she not forgive Austin, especially now that she had a change of heart?

“And, what about that last thing that you withheld from me?” she asked.

“That I’m a billionaire?”

She nodded.

He shrugged. “I was treated differently growing up because my mother was rich. Most of the women I dated only went out with me because I bought them gifts. When I moved to Honolulu and was buying up resorts and hotels, I didn’t want anyone to know exactly how much money I had. It was bad enough that they knew I was wealthy. But...” He shook his head. “I don’t want people to like me for my money. I want them to like me for myself, and when I met you, that’s what I wanted to happen. I didn’t want you to look at me with dollar-signs in your eyes. I wanted you to look at me as though I was a real man... and interesting man who made you laugh.” He stroked her cheek. “When I’d offered you the job and the opportunity to live in the penthouse suite, and you turned it down, I really felt I’d finally found the woman who likedmeand not my money.”

Blinking rapidly, she fought back the tears building behind her eyes. She was determined not to cry. “Thanks for explaining that to me. Now I feel rotten because I’d judged you so harshly.”

He shook his head. “I should have trusted you sooner. I didn’t know Kurt was your partner until that evening when you confessed everything to me. It was such a shock to me, and I didn’t know who to trust. I should have gone with my heart. After all,” he cupped her chin, “you had believed in my innocence when the other detectives hadn’t. That means the world to me.” He released a sigh. “Is there any way you can find it in your heart to forgive me?”

She laughed uncomfortably. “You probably think I’m a complete idiot now.”

“Actually, I think you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”

Oh, why did he have to say that?The tears she tried to hold back came forth as though a dam had opened. “No, you are the amazing person, Austin Reeder,” she said in a cracked voice.

He bent his head and captured her mouth with his eager lips. This time when the hot electric bursts of flame shot through her, it consumed her whole body. Every inch of her tingled with excitement, and although the kiss wasn’t urgent as she’d experienced with him before, it was such a tender moment, one she never wanted to end.

Suddenly, there was a beeping noise coming from the control panel on the elevator, and then crackling in the speaker. “This is the hotel security. Is there a problem in the elevator?”

Both Talia and Austin broke apart laughing. He pushed another button. “Sorry, Rod. This is Austin Reeder. Everything is fine here.”

“Oh, sorry to disturb you, Mr. Reeder.”

As soon as the crackling sound disappeared, they both laughed harder. She playfully slapped his shoulder. “Austin Reeder? Have you done things on this elevator that are forbidden?” She wagged her eyebrows.

He gathered her back in his arms. “Not yet, I haven’t. But there’s always a first time for everything.”

TWENTY

Austin kept his armaround Talia’s waist as they sat side-by-side and watched the video surveillance from the security footage. His lips still tingled from her sultry kisses in the elevator, but with her standing next to him, the reassurance that everything would work out filled him, and made him feel calm.

Talia instructed the security guard on what day and time frame to look at. The hotel had a security camera at every entry door – four of them – and every hallway, but since they knew the killer would be returning the weapon to his room, that saved them from watching several recordings.