Eligible Billionaires: Running From Love Part 2

Trevor opened his eyes. His head throbbed. Thank G.o.d Poppy had agreed to wait two more days so that they could go to Hong Kong together. He rolled to his left and stretched out his arm.

Empty. Bed.

The sheets were cold. He sat up and looked about the room. Army green backpack? Gone. Red rolling carry-on? Gone.

His heart careened through his chest. She wouldnt. She couldnt. Trevor stood. He wrapped the sheet around his hips. How? After last night? How could she leave him? Finally after all these months, after never committing, after he chased her with words and love notes and coaxed her along as though she were a scared rabbit, shed agreed to be his. To try. To let him go with her, if only for a while. He strode across the small s.p.a.ce and opened the bathroom door. He had one final hope that the fear in his chest was unfounded.

No Poppy.

Shed run just like that scared rabbit hed imagined her to be. Hed known if they traveled together, if she stayed with him, if only for a while and not at Mesquale, that shed never be able to deny their love. She did love him and he loved her. Poppys fear prevented her from committing.

He picked up his phone. No message. No call. He sat at his desk chair and his head dropped into his hands. He closed his eyes. His heart might split in two. Shattered. Shed absolutely and unequivocally shredded him. He turned and looked at his desk.

There. Lying on top of his journal was an envelope with his name. He lifted the flap and pulled out the paper. How very dramatic. How very Poppy. Anger started to burn through him. Anger that masked his pain.

Trevor, You knew it couldnt last. Thats me. Its been well ... more than I could ever expect.

Your 6-month lover, xPoppy He crumpled the note in his hands. How droll. How charming. How nonchalant. He tossed the paper toward the trash can. It bounced against the rim and landed on the floor. She fooled him even less than she fooled herself. What did she think she would get by leaving him? An unscarred heart? An effortless existence? Freedom from the possibility of pain?

She would get none of those things. Those things didnt exist in a world with the absence of love. Only when you embraced the scar, the effort, the pain could you feel the full experience of life. His writers heart crumpled under the weight of what hed just lost. Of all that Poppy had just tossed aside due to fear. Of what they wouldnt share together, simply because Poppy was afraid and she was running from love.

Trevor stood and tossed the sheet onto his bed. Well, he wouldnt let her run away from him. Hed find her and bring her back, no matter the time or the effort it took. He had two more days on his contract at Mesquale, but he couldnt give her that big a head start. Hed buy his way out of his contract if he had to. Find other staff to cover his s.h.i.+fts. Surely Ryan and even Charla would help him, wouldnt they? He had to find out. He had to try, because Poppy made his world spin.

"Where the h.e.l.l is she?"

Ryan stood just inside the door of his Mesquale penthouse and Charla, Poppys former roommate at Mesquale, sat on the couch on the far side of the living room.

"Good to see you too." While a hint of sarcasm dripped through Ryans voice, his face showed only concern.

Trevor ran his fingers through his hair and then planted both hands on his hips. "Sorry." If anyone could understand the sea of pain that Trevor was currently wading through, it would be Ryan. Hadnt he just recovered the love of his life, Charla, after three long months of no communication?

Charla and Ryan exchanged a look. Trevors gaze slid away. So difficult to be in the presence of love. His heart ached. d.a.m.n, why had Poppy left?

"Trevor, come in. Have some coffee." Charla lifted the carafe and poured a cup. Only then did Trevor notice that Charla wore a robe and Ryan had on some sort of shorts that he most likely slept in. Of course. Theyd just reconnected after three months and here he was, busting in on their morning after.

"No, Im sorry ... I should have called ... you guys-"

"Trevor," Ryan said, his voice firm but soft. "Come in. We were just talking about Poppy."

Her name on Ryans lips again caused Trevors heart to careen around his ribcage. He walked to the couch and took the cup of coffee that Charla held out to him. After a long drink, he sat beside Charla. "Have you heard from her? Is she on her way to Hong Kong?"

Charlas eyebrow lifted, and again she sent a look toward Ryan. "Shed kill me if I told you. I definitely shouldnt be telling you this."

"You have to." Ryan walked to a chair beside next to the couch where Charla sat and sat beside her. "You know what shes doing, right? She admitted to you that she loves Trevor."

"She did? She told you that?" Excitement thrummed through Trevors body. Of course he knew that Poppy loved him, and shed occasionally tossed out her feelings when drunk or right after s.e.x, but for her to actually tell Charla that she loved him? That sealed the deal.

"Not those exact words, but I know she does." Charla leaned forward and picked up her phone. "So heres the thing." She took a deep breath. "She didnt go to Hong Kong."

Trevors lips curled into a smile. That meant shed changed her mind. That she was here on Mesquale, that she was waiting for him and they were going together.

"She went to California."

His eyebrows lifted. "California?"

Charla nodded. "Therese is in the hospital and Mimi needed her help."

"Who is Therese and who is Mimi?"

Charlas lips thinned. "Her mother and her older sister."

d.a.m.n, Poppy had secret layered upon secret. How did he not know the names of anyone in her family? But he did know some of the details.

"She doesnt speak to her mother. Hasnt since, what-"

"She was five and Mimi was twelve. Mimi reconciled with Therese and it seems Mimi needed Poppys help."

"So she went to California?"

Charla nodded. "Los Angeles."

Trevor jumped up. "I have to go now." He locked eyes with Ryan. "Can I get my last two s.h.i.+fts covered? Is that okay?"

"Trevor, I can get your last two s.h.i.+fts covered. You dont have to worry about that. But do you think this is the best idea?"

"I love her."

Charla clasped her hands in her lap. "I know that, Trevor, and I think she loves you, but Im just asking, we all know Poppy. Do you think if you chase her to L.A. and corner her at her sisters house when her mother is in the hospital that sh.e.l.l react well?"

"I dont know how the h.e.l.l sh.e.l.l react. I cant stay here ... I cant wait for her to reach out to me. Shes stubborn and afraid and ..." Trevor sat back down. "What the h.e.l.l am I going to do? I thought I had her convinced. If shed waited for me and wed gone to Hong Kong together, shed never be able to run from our love again."

"I think she knew that too," Charla said. "And I think thats exactly why she couldnt stay."

Trevor took a long breath to clear his head. His overwhelming impulse was to rush to the airport and go after Poppy, but here was her best friend telling him that doing what he wanted might make her run again.

"Im going after her." Trevor jumped to his feet. "Maybe not today, but I am going after her."

"You know about her parents and her childhood ... feeling safe is important to Poppy. She pretends its not by chasing around the globe, but for her to really settle down, I think she wants to know that shes secure."

Trevor looked toward Ryan. Ryan c.o.c.ked an eyebrow. "You still going to let that deadline go by?"

Confusion slipped across Charlas face. "Deadline?" She looked from Ryan to Trevor. "What deadline?"

"My deadline," Trevor sighed. "I have an inheritance, but I have to return home and work in the family business to collect it."

"And you dont want to?"

"Its this burger place and-"

"Ha!" Ryan said. "A burger place? You call Up Side Burger, the biggest privately held chain of burger restaurants, a 'burger place? Come on, Trevor, get real." The look Trevor shot Ryan showed his irritation.

"Your family owns Up Side Burger?" Charla tilted her head to the side. "I love Up Side Burger, everyone loves Up Side Burger. Theyre the best burgers on the planet."

Yes, hed heard all this before. Whenever someone discovered his family owned Up Side Burger, they raved about it. "My grandparents started the first restaurant and built the business. Now my mom runs it all. She wants me to come back and run the company."

"And you dont want to?"

"Im a writer. My mom? She wants me to be a businessman."

"Cant you be both?" Charla asked.

Trevor shook his head. "I dont know how exactly. Up Side Burger is a full-time gig. I watched my grandparents build it, and then my parents run it, and now she wants me to do the same. I dont want it."

"But theres a couple billion dollars that go along with him taking the job," Ryan said.

The muscle in Trevors jaw tightened. "As long as I give up the rest of my life to the company, yes, theres a lot of money."

"Or nothing?" Charla asked.

Trevor nodded. "Nada. Cut off."

"Thats some choice," Charla said.

"What choice?" Ryan held out his hand. "Are you kidding me? There is no choice. You take the gig and write in the evenings and on the weekends. Its security for you and your family. The opportunity of a lifetime. How could you possibly turn your back on this job? Not only is it a ton of money, but youre working for one of the most widely respected companies on the planet. Trev? Really? Youd rather be scratching out words for pennies and bartending the rest of your life?"

Charlas eyes softened and she smiled toward Trevor. "Forgive him. He just wants everyone to be secure."

"Its not just that," Trevor said. "You got to build your own life and choose what you wanted to do. Im not immune to the security that kind of money can provide, but Id be giving up my right to choose my life by signing on to the family business." He glanced toward Charla. "And I think we all know the one thing that money, no matter how much you have, cant ever buy."

"Happiness," Charla whispered.

Trevor nodded. Even Ryan, believing that there could be no other choice for Trevor, understood the fleeting happiness in life. His own life had been brushstroked with pain and tragedy, and all his billons hadnt saved the woman, who at that time, had been his beloved.

"We both know what youre talking about." Charla clasped Ryans hand. "Not an easy choice. You have to make it soon?"

"A few months." Trevor stood and stretched his arms over his head. "By my next birthday, I either take the job or lose my share."

"So Hong Kong?"

"Was a way out," Trevor said. "A way to make a decision without deciding. It would have been worth it to be with Poppy."

"Wow!" Ryan said. "Thats some love affair youve got going. Give up billions of dollars for the Popster?"

Charla furrowed her brow at Ryan, even though a smile curled over her lips. "You wouldnt make the same trade for me?"

"Well, of course, but thankfully no one is asking me to." Ryan squeezed Charlas hand.

"Im going home. Tomorrow. Since Poppy is already in Los Angeles, Ill give her some s.p.a.ce." He looked at Charla. "Will you give me her sisters address?"

"Sh.e.l.l kill me," Charla said.

"Or thank you when she comes to her senses," Ryan countered.

Charla scrolled through the contacts on her phone. "Okay. "I only have a landline number." Sent." She glanced up at Trevor. "Didnt come from me until shes in a white dress and youre kissing her in front of a gazillion friends."

"From your lips to G.o.ds ears."

Charla stood and pulled Trevor into a hug. "Well come to L.A. soon to see you and Poppy." She looked into Trevors eyes. "I know you love her, and I think deep down she knows that too. Thats whats scaring her."

Trevor nodded. Now he just had to convince Poppy to let go of her fears.

Ryan grabbed Trevors hand and slapped him on the back. "Go get the girl."

"I plan on it." Trevor headed toward the door. He had a flight to book, suitcases to pack, and a girl to find.

Chapter 5.

Mimi waited in arrivals, just past all the drivers in dark suits holding signs with names. A stroller stood beside her, and a four-year-old girl spun circles around her. Mimi was round and full-faced, her hair falling in wild strands from the loose bun on her head. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. "Thank G.o.d youre here." Mimi reached out her arms and wrapped them around Poppy. She smelled of oatmeal and milk. Her shoulders started to tremble.

"Mimi, dont cry." Poppy pulled back and her gaze searched her sisters face. Her strong older sister, whod always been so steadfast and courageous, was fraying at the edges.

"Mama, up!" cried the little girl. She jumped up and down, her brown curls bouncing around her face, and tugged at Mimis skirt.

"Hi, Laura! Come give me a hug." Poppy reached out her arms toward her niece, trying to divert her attention from Mimi, who was obviously at her wits end and completely exhausted.

Lauras eyes widened, and she shrank back behind her mothers skirt. "Its Aunt Poppy." Mimi placed her hand on top of Lauras curls. "You remember Aunt Poppy? She was here for your birthday, just before Hazel was born."

Laura wore a skeptics gaze, but she stepped forward and examined Poppy.

"Ive brought you a gift." Poppy pulled a plush purple elephant from her bag and presented it to Laura. A smile spread over her nieces face and with that, the skeptic was won over. She grabbed for the toy and crushed it to her chest.

"Love elephants!"

"I thought you might." Poppy leaned over the stroller and peeked in at the second cherub. When last Poppy had seen her sister, Hazel had still been coc.o.o.ned inside her mother and Mimi had been nearly ready to burst.