One Weekend with the Billionaire Chapter 40

*Julia*

I awake to a sobering realization. This is my last full day here. Tomorrow morning, I’ll wake up in Braxton’s arms, and then, I’ll have to tell him goodbye. He’ll take me back to my old apartment, to my old life, to my old husband, and all of this will fade away, like a wonderful dream, one that couldn’t last.

I am somber as we eat breakfast. Braxton had paid attention the day before and just asked the chefs to prepare my favorites, so there isn’t quite so much waste, though I could never eat all of the food that he’s had spread before me. We chatt, and he makes me laugh, but in the back of my mind, I can’t shake the idea that this will all be coming to an end far too soon.

Then, we walk along hand in hand through the stables. He is introducing me to all of his beautiful horses. I am petting them and running my hands through their manes. They are wonderous creatures, and I would love to ride one of them one day, but I have turned Braxton down each time he’s offered to have a pair saddled up this morning. As much fun as it sounds like, I am not an accomplished rider and would need lessons before I tried climbing onto one of them. Braxton assures me he’d find me a gentle steed, but my heart isn’t in it, so we walk along, petting the animals and listening to birds calling to one another from the trees outside of the stables.

“What’s the matter, Julia?” Braxton asks me as we reach the end of the large white barn that houses his horses.

It isn’t the first time he’s asked the question today. I’ve shrugged him off the last few times, but now, I feel compelled to answer. He leads me over to a beautiful garden, and we find a bench to sit on. The flowers are blooming all around us. Beautiful floral scents fill my lungs from rose bushes of pink, white, yellow, and red. Tulips in every shade spring up from grassy mounds. Lilac, lavender, and all shades of purple dance before my eyes. It is a gorgeous setting, and off to our side, there is a koi pond with a fountain in the middle displaying an angelic child dancing as springs of water shoot out around her, falling into a deep basin that flows into the pond.

I have no direct answer for him, only a sentiment. “I… don’t want this weekend to end,” I tell him, not touching on the heart of the matter, the why. He has told me that he loves me, and I want to believe him, though I don’t know how it’s possible. He may have met me months ago, but he has only gotten to know me over the last couple of days, and I’m not sure how a person can fall in love so quickly. But then… when I consider my feelings for him, I think it’s possible that I love him, too. How can I say that, though? I am a married woman. I’ve pledged my love and my life already to someone else. Even if that man isn’t the same as he was when we made that promise, does that negate the pledge? I am torn. Confused. Bewildered. Grief stricken that I have to go.

Braxton puts his arm around me and holds me close, his face in my hair. He holds me like that for a long moment, breathing me in as I inhale the scents of the garden around us. A butterfly whispers by on a breeze, it’s blue and black wings catching the sunlight and giving it a twinkle. A few more in various sizes and colors follow. To be that free, like the butterflies or the birds, to take off and fly wherever I want… any time I want… wouldn’t that be heavenly?

“You don’t have to go, Julia.” His voice is as soft as the flutter of a butterfly’s wings. “You can stay here as long as you’d like.”

I turn to look at him, stare into his eyes for a long time, before I remind him, “Jeff signed a contract for this weekend, Braxton. After that… I am still his wife.”

He nods in understanding, even though I can tell that my words hurt him. “But… you don’t have to be.”

I sigh. “It’s not that simple.” I don’t know how to explain to him about my family, about how my parents love Jeff and will blame me indefinitely if our marriage doesn’t last. I don’t know how to tell him the guilt I would feel at being the one to walk out on this marriage. If I stay, if I give myself to Braxton beyond what the contract my husband has signed calls for, I will be a cheater, an adulteress, and I don’t want to be that. I can forgive myself for what has happened between Braxton and I because Jeff gave his blessing before I even knew of the proposition. But beyond that… I’d need his permission again. Or a divorce. And I’m not sure he would give that to me, not easily anyway. Jeff thinks of me as his property, and I’m fairly certain I’m not for sale. But then, isn’t everything for sale at the right price?

“Let’s not talk about it now, Julia,” Braxton says, his thumb on my chin as he supports my face with the rest of his fist, holding me in place so he can look into my eyes. I nod. I will do my best not to worry about tomorrow and concentrate on today.

Braxton leans down, and his lips brush against mine. I open my mouth and welcome his tongue into mine. He taps against me at first, exploring, before he kisses me deeply, and I melt into his arms. My worries haven’t faded away, but for now, they are in the background, and I am reminded that I belong to Braxton Merriweather for the moment, and for now, this is the only moment that matters.