A Billionaire Donor Page 4

  “We’re here,” Kian said making her jump.

  “Oh, we are.” She glanced around before she smiled.

  Kian purchased tickets before they drove into the lot. There was a tall screen up, still blank for the moment, but it would soon be playing a movie. The smell of popcorn filled the air. Melanie suddenly had a craving for buttery popcorn, covered in salt. As she glanced around, she stopped.

  “Hey, where’s everybody else?” She asked as she looked around the empty parking lot. There’s was the only car around, except for two vehicles parked farther away.

  “Oh, well technically this place is closed right now. They won’t open back up until the spring, but I was able to call in a favor with some old friends. It’s kind of nice though, isn’t it? Now, we’ll get to enjoy a movie by ourselves. We even get to pick which one.”

  Melanie laughed. “Okay, this is a pretty cool idea.”

  Kian leaned closer to her and wiggled his eyebrows. “I’m more than good looks.”

  “Well aren’t you confidant,” she said, trying not to giggle at the silly expression that he was making.

  Both of them settled on a classic instead of something new. A Walk in the Park, a black and white romantic comedy played on the screen as Kian returned with popcorn and drinks. Melanie thanked him, before she was absorbed into what was going on in the movie.

  It had been so long since she’d just been able to have fun, that Melanie didn’t want it to stop. Of course, it stopped several times when she had to race to the bathroom. When she returned the last time, Kian was looking at her closely. Her throat tightened. She didn’t want him to think anything was going on with her, it wasn’t time yet.

  Her worry was for nothing, however, as they returned to watching the film. The credits rolled finally, making Melanie clap happily. As the film went off to be replaced with a white screen, Kian turned to her.

  “The next part is up to you. DO you want to watch another movie or go find some food? I’m okay with either.”

  Melanie tapped her chin. “One more movie and then...something covered in chili. Chili dogs, no! Chili cheese fries. Mmmm,” she moaned.

  Kian laughed. “You’re the boss.”

  The next movie was newer, but this one was filled with wisecracking cops and exploding cars. Melanie didn’t mind the change of pace. Besides, she was too busy stealing glances at Kian for most of it. His smile kept drawing her in, making her feel more relaxed than she had in a long time.

  “I can’t believe that ridiculous explosion,” Kian said as he started the car.

  “It was so cheesy,” Melanie added.

  “You’re just thinking about cheese,” he teased.

  “I am though.”

  She said it so seriously that they both burst into a fit of laughter. Melanie loved the sound of his laugh, deep and melodic almost. She shook her head quickly. No. No, she could not be falling for him. Not even a little. She forbade herself from it, but there was a part of her that knew it was too late.

  10

  “I can’t believe you ate that many fries.”

  Melanie shrugged as she unlocked her apartment. “Hey, you either keep up or I eat all of the fries. This is life.”

  Kian shook his head. “You’re insane.”

  “I’ve been called worse.”

  Once her door was unlocked she turned back to him. Both of them stood there, shifting their weight from foot to foot as if they didn’t quite know what to do. Their night had been amazing, fun, special. It was everything Kian had been missing in life for some time.

  “Melanie,” he started.

  “Yes?” Melanie asked when the pause began to drag out into silence.

  “I had a really good time.”

  “I did too,” she said, looking back at him.

  At that moment, Kian wanted nothing more than to tell Melanie that he knew. It felt wrong hiding it from her, but he also didn’t know how to bring it up. He hadn’t expected any of this to happen, but here they were.

  Kian leaned forward and placed a kiss on her cheek. When he started to pull back, Melanie ran her fingers over his cheeks before she kissed him. It was all of the signal Kian needed. He kissed her back, his lips slipping against hers with building passon.

  “Do you want to come in?” Melanie asked, her voice thick.

  Kian wanted to. More than anything in the world, Kian wanted to go into her apartment right at that moment. He wanted to slide the dress off of her shoulders, place kisses on every inch of her skin and spend the rest of the night discovering every curve and dip of her body.

  “I can’t,” was what he found himself saying instead. At the look of disappointment in her eyes, he quickly cleared his throat. “It’s not that I don’t want to. Believe me, I really really do. I just...can’t. Not tonight.”

  Not when he was feeling guilty. Not when he was hiding something from her. Briefly, he wondered if she felt the same way. However, the only look on her face was disappointment with a touch of acceptance.

  Melanie nodded. “That’s fine. Maybe some other time,” she said as she placed the smile back on her lips.

  “Definitely another time.” Kian lightly took her hand, lifted it to his lips and kissed. “Would you let me take you on another date?”

  “Of course.” Melanie grinned.

  They wished each other goodnight before they parted ways. Kian waited to make sure she was safely inside, before he disappeared towards the elevators. One part of him was happy and relieved, but another part knew that things couldn’t go on the way they were. Kian really liked her, but he knew eventually that they’d both have to come clean.

  “I’ll think of something.”

  Kian didn’t think of something right away. Instead, he spent the next four weeks going out with Melanie every chance that he got. He visited her at the office during her lunch breaks, she met him for dinner after he was done for the day. Kian showed her restaurants she’d never heard of and food she’d never discovered, while she always led him to the most down to earth, but exciting places.

  “I can’t keep up with you,” he complained as he sat on a red, velvet couch.

  “Come on,” Melanie called over the sound of Jazz music and laughter. “I want to dance some more!”

  Kian waved her off. “You’re on your own.”

  Melanie grinned at him. Leaning over, she placed a kiss to his cheek before she bounced back to the dance floor. He sighed. How the hell did she have so much energy? He watched her shake her hips, laughing as she danced with a few of her friends.

  Her belly was for the most part still flat, but Kian was beginning to see and feel the bump. He knew that was only because he knew what to look for, but pretty soon he wouldn’t be able to pretend that he didn’t know. Kian almost wondered if it would be a good idea to just continue not to say anything. One day, she’d start showing, she’d tell him about the baby and he’d tell her that he wanted to be with her regardless.

  Kian shook his head, disgusted at himself for even thinking it. No way would that be okay. And if Melanie ever found out, that would be the end of them. Besides, he was beginning to wonder what it would be like to have a baby.

  The thought hadn’t entered his mind at first. However, as the weeks slowly went by, he found himself wondering what it would be like to be called dad. He wondered and often imagined now, how the baby would look. Would it have her eyes or his smile?

  Kian quickly realized that he was grinning like a fool. He picked his drink up off of the table, drained it and stood up. At that moment, he had made up his mind. He was going to tell her, tonight. What was the worst that could happen?

  The moment that thought entered his brain, Kian wanted to take it back. Whenever someone asked what was the worst that could happen, it always seemed to make the situation ten times worse. He swallowed thickly as he looked at Melanie dancing. He just hoped she could forgive him and that she wouldn’t think of him as being too weird for having known and kept it all a secret for so long.


  “Everything’s going to be fine,” he reassured himself.

  He just wished he could actually believe that.

  11

  Melanie couldn’t remember the last time that she’d enjoyed spending time with someone as much as she did with Kian. He was considerate, funny, spontaneous and he could discuss in detail just about every subject that she brought up. So, why did it feel as though he was hiding something from her?

  No matter how much she tried to push the notion away, it kept roaring back. Maybe it was just because she was hiding something, she pondered. Whether it was real or imagined, Kian had been very close to telling her something the night after they’d danced in the jazz club together. However, he’d simply left her with a kiss and that was the end of that.

  Now, another month had passed. With only five months left to go, Melanie was beginning to panic. She was supposed to be looking for new places to live, getting her birth plan together, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Kian and the fact that soon she wouldn’t be able to hide anymore.

  The realization hit her like a truck when she rolled out of bed and slipped into a favorite cream blouse of hers. Her breasts had stretched the buttons, her belly protruding out. It had taken everything she had not to burst into tears. Without hesitation, she yanked the blouse off went back to going through her closet.

  It was becoming a trend. Every piece of clothing that she tried on was too tight, too restrictive. Melanie had been prepared for this, or at least she thought that she had, but she was beginning to panic. She grabbed her phone, dialed in the number and tapped her foot impatiently as the other line rang.

  “Hello?” A groggy voice answered.

  “Tara, I’m busting out of all my clothes. I need to go shopping, it needs to be now and I need your help.”

  There was a long moment of silence, punctuated by a deep sigh. “You really get on my nerves.”

  “I love you too.”

  “I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

  Tara came through her door an hour later looking refreshed as she sipped on a cup of coffee. Melanie narrowed her eyes first at her sister, then at the cup. Tara gave her a mischievous grin.

  “I hate you and you’re late.”

  “It’s not my fault you can’t have coffee. Besides, you’re the one who woke me up so early.”

  “It’s almost noon!”

  “That’s besides the point.”

  Melanie rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Are you ready to go?”

  “Let’s do it. I’ll drive.”

  Melanie was more than fine with that. She was already tired, the energy she had when she woke up already turning into a desperate need of a nap. As Tara started driving, she wondered where she was going.

  “The mall is the other way,” Melanie said quickly.

  “Yes, but we’re not going to the mall.”

  Melanie cocked her brow. “Where are we going?”

  “The maternity store.”

  “What? No! Tara, turn this car around, I am not going in there.” Tara sighed, but she kept driving. “Look, I know you don’t want to go in there because it means two things. This pregnancy becomes very, very real and it means there’s less time to keep lying to Kian. You can’t escape either of that though. You are pregnant and you need to tell him.”

  Melanie folded her arms across her chest. “He doesn’t need to know.”

  “Yes, he does.” Tara said pointedly. “Look, how would you feel if someone was just wasting your time for months and months? That’s what you’re doing to Kian. At least let him make an informed decision instead of dumping it all on him at once.”

  Melanie deflated. “I know. Okay? I know, I really do. I just...everytime I start to say something, I clam up. I don’t want to lose him. He’s been the best part of my life.”

  “So tell him that. If he wants to break up after that, fine he wasn’t the one for you. Then again, who’s to say that he won’t still want to be with you? I’ve been around you guys. The way he looks at you is not something to be taken lightly. Do what you got to do, but know that I’ll be here for you no matter what.”

  Melanie smiled at her sister before she wiped at her eyes. “This is going to suck,” she said with a laugh.

  Tara patted her leg. “You’ll be alright. I promise.”

  One part of Melanie felt better, the other part was even more nervous. She couldn't hide it anymore. Soon, very soon, she was going to have to tell Kian everything. The only thing pushing her to go forward with it was the fact that she wanted them to work. She’d never felt about anyone the way that she felt about Kian.

  Shopping seemed to take forever, but Tara was a genius at anticipating her needs. They stopped for lunch halfway through, Tara kept bottles of water nearby for her and she was brutally honest about the clothes that they picked out. By the time they were done, Melanie was satisfied with the clothes she carried out with her.

  “See? Whole new wardrobe in one quick and painless trip,” Tara said, slamming the trunk.

  “Thanks.” Melanie buckled herself into the passenger seat. “I really do appreciate it.”

  Tara waved her off. “It’s what big sisters are for. Besides, the day isn’t over yet. Let’s go get you some shoes that don’t put you five inches off of the ground. Then we can talk about your plans to tell Kian.”

  Melanie gave her a small smile. “Sounds like a plan.”

  12

  The time had finally come. Melanie had cleaned her house so many times that there wasn’t a speck of dirt anywhere. For the first time in a long time, she’d even cooked dinner, with Tara’s help of course.

  Melanie ran her hands down the front of her clothes. She’d gone for jeans and a comfortable sweater and her hair was pulled up into a ponytail. A stray strand kept escaping onto her cheek, which she tucked behind her ear.

  Setting the table, she was deep in thought. Melanie had no idea how Kian was going to react, but she hoped it wouldn’t be that big of a deal for him. Just as she was bringing the plates out to the table, there was a knock on the door. She set the plates down carefully, took a deep breath and opened the door.

  Kian gave her a small wave before he placed a kiss on her lips. Melanie wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers running through his hair as she kissed him back. She could have stayed like that all night, kissing him, their bodies pressed together. Melanie contemplated skipping the chat and pulling him towards the bedroom.

  The last few months, the only thing Kian had done was kiss her. It wasn’t like she hadn’t been putting out the signals at every turn, but Kian always found an excuse. For a while, it had stung. She thought she was undesirable, some part of her played up every insecurity she’d ever had. The more she was around him though, the more she knew that wasn’t it. She wondered if he was afraid to get her pregnant? Well, at least that would change.

  When they finally pulled away from each other, Melanie’s face was warm. She slipped her hand inside of Kian’s before she pulled him inside of the apartment. Melanie locked the door before she led him over to the table.

  “What’s on the menu tonight?” Kian asked. “Chinese, Thai, Italian?”

  Melanie chuckled as she shook her head. “Well, it is Italian, but I made it.”

  Kian’s eyes widened. “You cooked?”

  “Don’t be so shocked! I can do things.”

  “I think you forgot that time you tried to boil water and almost burned down your kitchen.”

  Melanie slapped his arm. “It was one time.”

  “I so doubt that.”

  Kian pulled her chair out for her. Once Melanie was sitting down, she sighed. Beneath the table, she placed her hand on her belly gently. A slight fluttering made her smile.

  “This is amazing,” Kian said as he began to eat the pasta covered with white sauce. “I take it all back.”

  “That’s what I thought,” Melanie said quickly, dropping her hand from her belly before she began to eat.

  Kian k
ept up most of the conversation through dinner. He was telling her about some technical problem his company was having, but she was a million miles away. Normally, she loved hearing him talk, but she couldn’t seem to focus.

  “And I told Bill that his mother was a bitch. I quit my job and burned the building down.”

  “What?” Melanie asked, confusion on her face.

  Kian sighed. “That’s what I thought. Where are you tonight? You’re a million miles away. What’s wrong?”

  Melanie gave him a tight smile. “I’m okay. Maybe a little tired.”

  “Well, you relax,” he said as he stood up and began gathering their now empty plates. “I’ll clean everything up.”

  She nodded. As he walked into the kitchen, she gazed after him. It was now or never. She was more than aware that if she continued to stall, she would never do it. The night would end with a kiss, he’d go home and she’d be left to wonder about how much time she had left with him.

  Pushing herself up, she walked into the kitchen. Kian was rinsing off the plates before he picked up a towel and began to dry them off. She fidgeted, twisting her fingers as she cleared her throat.

  “Kian.”

  He turned to her with a smile. “Yes, Melanie?”

  “I have something to tell you.”

  Something on her face must have made him realize that she was being very serious. He wiped his hands dry before he took her hand. Melanie couldn’t look at him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ve been hiding something from you.”

  “Oh?”

  “I’m pregnant. I have been since the day that we met. I’m almost five months now.”

  There was a deep silence between them. Melanie’s heart was pounding against her chest. What was he thinking? Slowly, she looked up for him afraid to see his reaction. To her surprise, he didn’t look upset, horrified or even shocked for that matter.