Passion Abroad – A Billionaire Romance Novel

Chapter 3

Needless to say, Erica was a little keener to detail when she dressed up the next morning. She had initially planned on wearing a sundress but she also wanted to check out the pool later…or maybe the beach.

“Maybe I’ll just wear a swimsuit,” she thought as she picked out a lime green bikini from her suitcase. She oiled herself and put it on before putting on a striped black and white swimwear cover up. She held her hair in a high bun and put on a pair of silver dangling earrings and a pair of black flip flops before she looked at her reflection in the mirror. She put on some light makeup and then looked at her phone and sighed. It was nine o’clock. She didn’t want to look like she was just going there with the intention of bumping into Daniel but she also didn’t want to miss out on seeing him. She bit her lower lip and touched up on her blush and lipstick before she headed out. She didn’t know whether it was the adventurous pink lipstick or the fact that she was almost completely naked under her cover up but she felt a little more confident than usual. But her confidence suddenly vanished when the elevator doors opened and she came face to face with Daniel.

“If I didn’t know any better I would think you are stalking me,” was what she initially wanted to say but when she opened her mouth, she could only mumble. She hated knowing that he could have such an effect on her. “Daniel…hi,” she said as she walked in. She was hoping that he didn’t notice how hot he looked in his neutral pants and dark blue t-shirt. His muscular chest was almost calling out to her. It was then that she knew it was official, the dry spell was getting to her.

“Erica, fancy meeting you here,” Daniel said looking at her. “You look about ready to hit the pool,” he added as he looked at her up and down.

“Maybe after breakfast,” she said with a smile.

“Sleep well?” he asked as she pressed one of the elevator buttons.

She looked at him and nodded. “Like a baby,” she said with a smile.

Daniel nodded as a smile played on his lips.

“You know, I never really understood why people compared a good night’s sleep to a baby since babies wake up every ten minutes,” he said. She looked at him and shrugged. “Guess I don’t blame you. You found the metaphor in use. I guess no one can blame you for continuing the trend,” he added as the elevator door opened. She looked at him before she stepped out with him following closely.

“Do you always make people feel bad about their upbringing?” Erica asked with a smile.

“I’m sorry…I didn’t mean…” he started before she turned around and looked at him.

“Hey, hey. I was just kidding,” she said with a smile. “I was kidding.”

“You almost got me there,” he said grinning. He looked around and pointed at a private table in the corner of the restaurant. “That looks good enough,” he said as he led her to the table.

“Are you always this charming with ladies or are you just doing this for me because you are intrigued?” she asked as she sat down in the chair Daniel had pulled out for her. He took a seat on the opposite end of the table and looked at her.

“Intrigued? Why intrigued?” he asked.

“Well, I could be the first woman who actually knew what your company was,” she said. Daniel raised an eyebrow. “At least I think the geek in me thinks so,” she added quickly.

“Actually, yes. You are the first person who knew almost immediately what the words Quicker Kitchen Me meant. Most people think I am just a weirdo putting random words together,” he said. Erica smiled and then laughed. “Yeah, that’s what I get for having my dad get my cousin to be the face of Quicker Kitchen Me,” he added in a rather cynical tone.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Reese but is that cynicism I hear in your voice?” she asked.

He leaned back in his seat as he toyed with the menu.

“A little,” he said as he looked at the menu. “Apparently Zachary had the charisma the company needed to make the brand pop,” he said putting up air quotes.

“I’m guessing you would have wanted to be part of the advertising campaign at some point?” she asked. He looked up and nodded. “Well, where is your cousin Zachary now?” she asked.

“Last I checked, he was a bouncer at a club in Vegas,” he said almost proudly.

She smiled at him and raised an eyebrow.

“See, you turned out better than he did, right?” she said as Emilio walked up to them. “Hi Emilio, can I have coffee, black with scrambled eggs and pancakes?” she asked.

Daniel looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

“Really? You are away from home and you still want to play it safe with food?” he asked holding his hand up stopping Emilio before he could scribble the order on his notepad.

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“Scrambled eggs and pancakes? How very American of you. Try something different…I don’t know, Mexican maybe?” he asked. She looked up at him and shrugged. “Allow me,” he said before he looked at Emilio. “We’ll have the eggs, black beans, guacamole Pico de Gallo with Greek yogurt,” he said as Emilio jotted it down. “And some coffee for me and…” he looked at Erica.

“Orange juice, thank you,” Erica said as Emilio jotted it down and walked away.

“Before I even ask my next question, is Emilio the only waiter here?” she asked.

“I like him. He is the one who usually serves me plus he kind of gets me,” he said. “So, what do you have in mind? What was your question?”    

“It’s about the food. Do you always eat something local every time you visit a new country?” she asked.

“One time I was in Singapore and one of my business partners ordered me a Sambal stingray dish. It sounds great but when you look at it, it’s like a bunch of ingredients slapped on a banana leaf but it is heavenly,” he said.

“You make it sound like it is some disgusting thing,” she frowned.

“Well, when you look at it, you might be inclined to throw it out but the first taste is truly everything,” he said, a faraway look in his eyes. He almost looked like he was reliving a romantic moment. She smiled and shook her head. “Trust me, Erica Hayes, you need to live a little,” he added in a low voice.

“What makes you think I haven’t lived at all?”

Daniel leaned in and a few strands of his thick mane fell out of place. He looked at her through the hair strands and smiled.

“Something about you tells me that there is more to this trip than you are letting on,” he said.

“Are you a mind reader now, Mr. Reese?” she leaned back in her seat and forced a smile.

He looked at her and smiled. “Maybe,” he said in a low voice.

She looked into his eyes and shrugged.

“Maybe you are reading into the wrong things,” she said as Emilio came back with their order. Daniel smiled at her as Emilio put their food on the table.

“You are going to make me work for the intel, aren’t you?” he asked.

She took a sip of her juice and looked at her plate. She had to admit, it did look inviting. She put the glass down slowly and picked up a fork.

“You have no idea,” she said before she took a bite. “Oh my dear Lord, this is actually really good,” she said taking another bite.

Daniel smiled as he took a bite of his own food.

“Hate to say I told you so, but I told you so,” he said with a cocky smile.

“So,” Erica started as she looked at him. “What is the story with you anyway? I just met you less than twenty four hours ago and all I know is that you run a company of home appliances and that you probably came out here for business and decided to stay on an impromptu extended vacation.” She took another bite and looked up at him.

Daniel looked at her and smiled. “There isn’t much to me really. I run a company my father founded and I have learned the hard way that every so often I have to make a little time for my personal time. And maybe that’s why I decided to take a few extra days after the deal closed,” he said.