The Virgin and the Billionaires: The Complete Series (19 page)

William laughed. “I probably have everything you’d need to
cook whatever you would order at Millie’s. And someone to cook it, too.” He
caught himself. “I’m sorry – I don’t mean to brag –“

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just your life.” Dana smiled.
“Let’s go. I’ll drive.”

“Good,” William replied. “I took a car here anyway.” He
winked.
 
They both climbed into
Dana’s car.

“It’s not quite what you’re used to, I know.” Dana blushed.

“Nonsense. Believe it or not, I’m not terribly picky.”

Dana was taken aback for a moment. Surely he was only
talking about cars.

“
Except
when it
comes to women –“ William smirked wittily.

Relieved, Dana backed out of her parking spot and zoomed
down Broadway. She realized that William didn’t know that she knew where he
lived.

“Tell me where we’re going,” she lied.

“I live in Malibu,” William replied. “I’ll guide you there.
Just head toward the PCH for now.”

Dana had driven to Malibu often enough by then to know that
it was going to take them almost an hour to get there. With William in the car,
she was okay with this. She was taking more of a shine to William and his
graces with every passing minute in his presence. She laughed silently when she
realized that the idea of being stuck in a car with him was actually appealing.

I hope he’s feeling
the same way right now,
she thought.
I
feel like I just made a total fool of myself.

“I want to know more about you.” William snapped Dana out of
her thoughts.

“That’s such a broad question.” Dana fumbled for words.
“What, exactly, do you want to know?” She stared straight out the windshield.

“I don’t know. Tell me about your life before you moved to
LA.”

Dana thought for a moment.

“It was pretty…um…boring, to be honest. I grew up in a small
city in central California. I lived in a house on a cul-de-sac. I wasn’t
popular in high school and I kept my nose in my schoolwork when I went to
college...then I moved to LA, and now we’re sitting in the same car, talking
about my life. That’s it in a nutshell, I guess.”

William chuckled.

“But you’re a photographer. You’re creative and you’re
amazing at what you do. Most boring girls don’t become successful photographers
right out of college.”

Dana’s blushing cheeks were visible even in the darkness of
her car.

“There’s clearly something very special about you.”

“I can’t imagine what that might be,” Dana replied, a hint
of despondence in her voice. She had always had difficulty taking such sincere
compliments.

Silence washed over Dana and William for a moment.

“Did I tell you I got a raise today?” Dana chirped. “My boss
wants to promote me in a few months.”

“That’s what I mean!” William exclaimed. “You’re so good at
what you do – everybody else sees it too.”

Dana froze, unable to acknowledge William’s compliment.

William looked at her, a note of surprise on his brow. “Do
you not
believe
that you’re as
amazing as everybody else sees you?”

“I guess I just do what I do and try not to think about
myself so much.”

“A sophisticated, intelligent, charming, graceful, talented,
beautiful girl like you should know that she’s a complete catch. Any guy is
lucky to be with you.”

Dana’s face, which had been progressively reddening in the
darkness, was now as red as a beet.

“I suppose I could say the same of you,” Dana replied
meekly.

“We’re just two very lucky people right now. Lucky to be
sitting in this car with each other.”

“You can say that again.” Dana smiled, not averting her gaze
from the windshield. William ran a hand through her hair as she drove. She
paused.

“Maybe I should get better at taking compliments.”

“If you do, I’ll compliment you all the time.” William
looked at her and smiled, still entangling his strong, warm fingers in her
hair.

“I would like that,” Dana replied. “What about you? Tell me
about your life.”

“I’ve lived here all my life. I’ll probably die here too.
‘Living and dying in LA.’”

“Fair enough,” Dana replied. “What were you like when you
were a kid?”

“Let’s see…” he scratched his chin, thinking. “I followed
the rules and did what I was told most of the time. I worked hard in school
even though I could have skated by and still made out okay. I spent most of my
childhood working to gain the trust of my father so that I could have his
support in starting my company.” He paused again.

“My upbringing was far from normal, but I’m pretty boring. I
admit it. It doesn’t shame me. I’m a boring guy who works hard. But I make an
effort to play hard, too…anyway, it seems like we both think that we’re boring
people with boring stories.”

“But I don’t think you’re a boring guy at all, William. I
find you utterly fascinating.” Dana’s voice conveyed yearning sincerity.

“Nor do I think you’re boring, and I also find you
fascinating.” William smiled and looked admiringly at Dana as he continued to
play with her hair. They both laughed.

They hit a small snarl of traffic once they hit the Pacific
Coast Highway, but Dana could not have been happier than she was in that
moment, stuck in her car with a man who thought she was as amazing and
interesting as she found him.

***

The ‘Malibu City Limits’ sign shone brightly, illuminated by
Dana’s headlights. William directed her off of the Pacific Coast Highway and
onto a winding side road that turned gradually up the height of one of Malibu’s
many tall hills. It looked vaguely familiar to Dana because she had seen it the
night she stayed at Alexander’s house, but she pretended to be completely
unfamiliar with the roads in William’s presence.

They eventually made their way to the top of a hill, where
the gates to William’s driveway stood adjacent to several other houses.

“I didn’t think you’d have neighbors,” Dana remarked.

William chuckled. “I don’t like being alone. I guess you
could say I’m an extrovert.” He opened the car door and ran to punch in the
gate code.

The wrought brass gate doors slowly swung wide open. Once
William was back in the passenger seat, Dana hit the gas and crept along the
winding driveway. William guided her to a large paved area, where she parked
her car.

William’s estate was nestled into the western side of the
hill on which it sat. Even from the driveway, the view was breathtaking. Yet
Dana was taken aback by how modest William’s house was.

“I thought you’d have a huge house,” she blurted, only
realizing what she had said after it had already been spoken.

William laughed again. “I prefer to be comfortable and cozy.
Besides, I have 15 other houses.”

Dana gasped.

“All over the world. I’ve got to be a ‘typical’ billionaire
somehow.” William laughed. “Come on in. I’ll have my cook fix us something.”

Dana smiled and headed toward the house’s brightly
illuminated entry. They had to walk through a winding path of exotic plants and
trees to reach the door. William put his arm around Dana as he popped open his
front door. Dana sauntered inside and took off her heels in the den. A
scratched up surfboard leaned against the warm wood paneling of the den wall.
William noticed Dana looking at it.

“I try to surf a few times a week.”

When they escaped the den, Dana couldn’t help but notice
that William’s house looked remarkably lived-in and – shockingly –
modest.
 
It was immaculate and
beautifully appointed, but retained a homey and welcoming feel that Alexander’s
house had lacked. It was airy and beachy, with warm wood floors and brightly
colored walls and ceilings.

As they walked through the narrow hallway to the kitchen,
Dana caught glimpses of the family photos on the walls. Mixed with the staged
studio portraits of William and what looked to be his brothers, were candid
photos – a very young William and his mother wearing paint-splattered
aprons, young William at the beach with friends, William and his father smiling
behind a large model airplane – that further gave the undeniably
luxurious home a sense of realness and humanity.

William’s kitchen - with its beautiful tiled counters,
barstools, and prominent wine cellar – looked like it was always ready to
entertain. Sitting in the cozy breakfast nook that occupied the far corner of
the room was a middle-aged woman with a squat paper hat covering a curly red
ponytail. She peered over the top of her copy of
Town and Country
when William and Dana entered.

“Welcome back,” she said warmly, but not getting up.

“Hi, Elizabeth,” William said, tossing his keys on the
counter and opening his refrigerator. “We’re hungry.” Dana noticed the
beautiful definition of William’s back and shoulders through his t-shirt.

Elizabeth set down her magazine and joined William over at
the fridge.

“What would you like?” she asked.

William looked at Dana. “What would you like, Dana?”

“Uh…” Dana thought out loud for a moment, and then suddenly
realized exactly what she was craving. “I’m in the mood for some soup.”

“I have some white bean soup from the other night that I
could heat up. I’ll add some fresh herbs to it. It’ll taste as good as new,”
Elizabeth replied, looking at Dana warmly but without altering her expression.

“That will be great,” William said. “Can you heat up some
toast for us as well?”

“Certainly.”

William gestured toward the breakfast nook, allowing Dana to
slide into the cushioned booth before he joined her.

“Anything to drink?” he asked. “Some wine to celebrate your
promotion?”

“It’s just a raise,” Dana reminded him. “But that sounds
great.”

“You’re so modest.” William smiled. He got back up from his
seat and uncorked a bottle of wine that he brought back to the table with two
glasses. After he had filled them, he raised his glass.

“To new adventures,” he toasted.

“To new adventures.” Dana clinked her glass against
William’s. She could barely contain her happiness. The drama of the night had
melted away the moment they had gotten in her car, but she only realized how
relaxed she felt as she sat and unwound with William.

Elizabeth set down two bowls of soup and a plate of
crackers. Dana and William dug in.

“I haven’t eaten since lunch,” Dana said. “I went straight
to the show from work.”

“Me too,” William replied. “I’m starving.”

They sipped their soup in tandem, sitting only a few inches
away from each other and holding each other’s free hand under the table. Dana
thought she had seen Elizabeth glance over at them and smirk.

After they’d finished eating, William offered to show Dana
around his house.

“Let me show you the back patio first. The views are
amazing,” he said.

Dana nodded and followed him through a doorway out of the
kitchen that led outside. The massive stone patio wrapped around most of the
house, seeming as though it jutted right out of the mountain it sat atop. The
endless view of the water was breathtaking, even when it was only illuminated
by the light of the houses and cars along the coast.

A few feet in front of Dana was an illuminated swimming pool
with an invisible edge, making it look like the pool extended right into the
distant ocean. On the opposite side of the pool was a curtained off cabana that
Dana couldn’t see into. William took her hand and led her past the pool (“We
can jump in later if you’d like,” he had said) and to the structure. He opened
the drape with his arm and motioned Dana inside.

A giant canvas covered chaise, easily the size of a king
bed, sat low to the ground on a teak frame. It was stacked high with dozens of
pillows. As the curtain closed behind them, only the glow of the pool, creeping
under the bottom of the curtains, illuminated the inside.

“It’s a great place to take a break when you’re trying to
get a tan,” William smiled. He left Dana’s side to light a candle in the
corner, then returned and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Because getting a tan is such hard work,” Dana laughed.
William laughed too.

“Sit down with me,” he said.

“Okay,” Dana agreed. She could feel the wine beginning to go
to her head. “Gosh, it’s just incredible here,” she blurted, unaware that she
was speaking.

William smiled. “I put a lot of thought into this home. I’m
glad you like it.” He placed a hand on Dana’s lap.

Dana’s heart leapt when William’s hand grazed her supple
thigh. Her skin tingled and goose bumps rose through the fabric of her dress.
She looked at William and saw that he was looking at her, too. They smiled at
each other.

“Dana…” William sighed with passion right before he brought
his lips toward hers. Her lips were pulled to his as if by a magnetic force.
When they met, Dana felt her whole body come alive. William’s lips were the
softest she had ever felt. He maneuvered around her mouth so skillfully and
sensuously that she thought she would faint.

Dana flung her arms around William’s strong, broad
shoulders. She delighted in feeling his muscular frame through the back of his
thin cotton shirt. Every muscle in his back was well defined and strong to the
touch, and yet Dana could feel the tenderness with which William touched her.
She ran her hands up to his neck, combing her fingers through his soft, blonde
hair. William breathed heavily as Dana gently scratched his scalp.

William playfully began running his hands up Dana’s torso.
He paused at her waist, where he playfully grabbed the soft rolls of her
stomach, making a satisfied growling sound as he did. He parted his lips from
Dana’s with a soft ‘smack’.

“I could do this all day,” he whispered in her ear.
“Touching you is like…”