The Billionaire Scoop: A BWWM Romance (Secrets & Deception Book 1) by Mia Caldwell Page B

witnessed in college that seemed to have the real thing. I’d have to look it up and see how things went. But I’ve heard about this true love phenomenon here and there. As far as I can tell, you can grow to love almost anyone, and that’s the kind that needs to be fed. But I do believe there are game-changing people out there—those you couldn’t stop loving if you tried. We just don’t all get to meet them, hence the non-believers. In the case of true love—romantic or familial, you can run, but you can’t hide. No matter what you put between yourself and the one your heart chose or your soul connected with, that love goes nowhere. So if your sister truly loved you, I guarantee she still thinks about you. She might have even taken off with you in mind—to make sure she had no bad influence on you.”
    Mari almost halted her steps.
    “Holy cow. I never even thought of that.”
    “Maybe someday she’ll be ready to talk to you again. She might even be embarrassed, dreading the words I told you so from the family if things didn’t work out as she thought. Anyway, don’t be too hard on her. Give her a chance if she ever asks for it—directly or indirectly.”
    Mari stared at Jim as if seeing him for the first time.
    “You are not at all like what I initially thought. You’re not what I’d expect some multimillionaire to be. You actually have a heart. Compassion.”
    His eyebrows raised, then he chuckled.
    “Yeah, I suppose I don’t have an Apple watch for a heart, Mari. Spoiler alert: my blood’s not actually blue.”
    She laughed while his hand went to his stomach as it growled.
    “Also, I eat real food, not diamonds. You hungry yet? There’s this place I’d like you to try. Anything that catches your eye, really—I need to feed the beast.”
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    M aribel still felt sort of bathed in a golden glow as they sat waiting for their dessert.
    She felt like she had learned so much more about Jim—like her brain was still catching up with her heart.
    He worried her tremendously because he felt exactly like the thing he’d mentioned earlier: a game-changer.
    “Stay right here,” he suddenly said, getting up and disappearing out of the restaurant’s doors.
    She watched him go, wondering what the heck he was up to.
    Five minutes later, he returned, smiling.
    “What on earth was that? They have a bathroom in here, don’t they?”
    “You’ll see,” he said, looking incredibly proud of himself.
    Once they were done eating and left, he led the way to a florist.
    Maribel smiled when she saw it, figuring out what he was up to.
    He let her hand go as he said, “be right back,” before darting into the shop.
    He emerged with a gorgeous bouquet, dominated by peaches and cream.
    “Oh, my god,” she almost whispered, her voice choked.
    She was too touched by the gesture to be embarrassed that her eyes had watered as she took in the beautiful bouquet.
    She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gotten flowers—probably a corsage for the prom.
    “They’re beautiful,” she said, finally aware enough to be mildly ashamed that she was practically in tears over such a simple thing.
    “These are my favorite colors—how did you know?”
    He shrugged. “I didn’t. Just guessed. Somehow I knew exactly what I wanted the bouquet to look like, and when the florist was done with it, it was better than I imagined. To be honest, I think I saw something like it somewhere—can’t remember where—but it came to mind while I had the arrangement made. The colors seem to suit you. Anyway, I’m so glad you like it.”
    “I love it. I can’t wait to take them home and have them brighten up my place a bit. I wish I could keep them for months and months.”
    She saddened at the thought of them dying—sometime after Jim came to his senses and was long gone.
    “I’ll send you new ones if you’d like—every week, fresh flowers to decorate your home.”
    Her heart squeezed, her throat tightening again to the point