The Teacher's Billionaire

hit a ticklish spot,” she answered thinking fast. She couldn’t take his hands on her anymore. “Thanks. I’m good now.” Callie pulled away putting some much needed space between them. Picking up her book again, she tried to find the page where she had left off since the bookmark she normally used was gone.
    Dylan leaned back and used his arms to prop himself up. “What are you reading?”
    “Emma.” Callie shrugged. “It’s one of my favorites.”
    “I could never get into Jane Austin. Prefer Dickens myself.”
    For some reason she couldn’t picture Dylan reading anything but the Wall Street journal or some other business related publication.
    Don’t prejudge, Callie reminded herself. She’d been the victim of that enough times to know how unfair it could be. “I like some of his stories, but I’ll take a copy of Pride and Prejudice first any day. Austin is probably my favorite classical author.”
    “My mother really likes Austin too.” Dylan slipped on a pair of dark sunglasses. “She has a few first editions of her work.”
    Though she had yet to meet the woman, she couldn’t imagine having anything in common with Elizabeth Sherbrooke. From the little she’d read about the woman she knew Elizabeth was the epitome of elegance and wealth. In fact if Callie looked the word elegance up in a dictionary she wouldn’t be shocked to see a picture of Elizabeth Sherbrooke smiling back up at her. Callie was more likely to find a picture of herself near the words unsophisticated and working middle class.
    “What other authors do you like to read?” Dylan asked.
    Although she’d been reluctant to spend the day with Dylan, Callie wasn’t eager for their time together to end. Yet, when he walked her back to her motel room later that evening, she knew that was it. Tomorrow her father would arrive and Dylan would no longer feel obligated to play host.
    And that’s what he’d been doing all day, Callie reminded herself. It might have seemed like a date, but it wasn’t. He was only standing in as host for her father. Nothing more.
    Pulling her room card out of her purse, she waited for Dylan to say goodnight and leave. They’d already finalized what time she would arrive at Cliff House the next morning so there wasn’t really anything left for them to say except goodnight. Regardless, neither of them moved.
    “Thanks again. I had a lot fun today,” Callie said to fill the silence between them. It wasn’t necessarily a bad silence. Rather it felt like the awkward stage at the end of a first date when you’re trying to decide if a goodnight kiss would be appropriate. Although it would’ve been unlike her, she might have made the first move and kissed him if it had been a date. Since it wasn’t she remained rooted in place.
    “Me too. I haven’t just relaxed on the beach in a long time. I forgot how much I like it. I’m going to try to do it more often.”
    His reply surprised her. While it appeared as if he’d been having fun, she’d assumed it’d mostly been an act. After all he had been the one to insist they spend the day together. It wouldn’t have looked right if he looked miserable all day.
    Perhaps she’d been wrong though. Not that it really mattered. The day was over. It wasn’t as if they’d ever spend the day alone together again.
    Since it didn’t seem as if he would say it first, Callie decided she better. “Goodnight, Dylan. Thanks again.”
    Why couldn’t she seem to turn and open the door? She’d said goodnight. Now she just needed to turn and slip the key card into the slot. Simple. Yet somehow her brain couldn’t get the message to her feet. And he wasn’t helping matters. Instead of leaving he stood there looking down at her as if she was the only other person in the world.
    “Are you sure you don’t want me to send a car tomorrow to pick you up? It’s not a problem.” He’d already asked her that question on the ride back to her motel. “Or if you’d be more comfortable, I can come by in the morning to get you,” he offered taking a step closer to her.
    Callie smiled and shook her head. “Really, I’d rather drive myself. I remember how to get there.” She didn’t want to inconvenience him anymore than she already had that weekend.
    In slow motion Callie saw Dylan lower his head and lean toward her as if he intended to give her a goodnight kiss. Instantly her heart started hammering against her chest. Anticipation gathered in the pit of her stomach