Longing For The Beach Billionaire Daddy
Chapter 17

*Shelby*

“Get your a*s to bed before I throw you off my ship.”

I fumbled for the doorknob at my back, and the door swung open behind me, almost causing me to trip backward inside. Michael followed me into the room a few seconds later, leaving Todd out in the hall.

I thought that this was probably for the best because Michael looked like he really might throw Todd over the side of the ship.

Michael locked the door behind him, and I made my way to the bed and sat down, trying to catch my breath. I felt safer with Michale here.

He came over to me and placed his hands on each side of my face looking into my eyes. Worry swam in his, and I nearly pulled his mouth to mine.

“Did he hurt you? Shelby, you have to tell me if he hurt you.”

“I’m fine, really. I’m just a little shaken up, but I will be okay.”

He continued to hold my face in his hands as if he were inspecting it to reassure himself that I wasn’t hurt. I had to keep my eyes focused on his so they wouldn’t drift down to his perfect lips. Michael leaned in closer, and I closed my eyes, waiting….

Cool air hit my cheeks, replacing the warmth where Michael’s hands had been. My eyes burst open, and Michael’s back was to me as he made his way to the sofa.

Heat burned through my entire body, and I wished Michael hadn’t pulled away. I swore under my breath; I had feelings for my friend’s dad.

“Shelby, I need you to tell me the truth.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, still breathless.

“I saw your face when that piece of cheesecake with the engagement ring was set in front of you. You weren’t surprised; you looked almost…heartbroken. Then at dinner tonight, Todd said something that made it sound as though he has known you for a lot longer than just this week. Then, I came up here to check on you, and he has you cornered.”

“Michael, he was just drunk. I don’t think he knew what he was doing,” I said, looking down at my feet.

“Is he the reason you wanted to leave?” Michael asked bluntly; I couldn’t understand his anger. Was it possible that he was jealous of Todd?

“Not him specifically,” I said, quickly bending the truth. “A lot of the group makes me feel like I don’t belong. I don’t come from money like the rest of them, and it is very obvious to me that I don’t fit in with them.”

In all actuality, I did feel like the odd one out a lot of the time. I imagined it felt similar to following an older sibling and their friends around. No one really wanted you to come, but they put up with you so they wouldn’t get in trouble. It was, however, still a lie about the reason I wanted to leave.

Michael looked at me with a hint of sympathy in his eyes.

“I didn’t know you felt that way.”

“I don’t feel that way when I’m with you. Sometimes it feels like you are the only one who wants me on this ship.” I stood and made my way across the room to sit on the sofa opposite him.

“I do want you here,” Michael said softly.

I thought back to the maid, Charlotte, talking about how Marmie had run off all of the women that ever got serious with Michael. I realized that he wasn’t the playboy Lauren had always made her father out to be. It wasn’t his intention that none of the women he dated ever stayed around for long.

“I came up here to make sure you were feeling alright.”

“I am feeling a lot better,” I said, feeling guilty about getting out of dinner with an excuse of being seasick. It seemed like it was for the best, though, since I was apparently a topic of conversation at dinner.

I wondered what Todd had said about me to Michael but knew it was best not to ask, or he would start asking questions I didn’t want to answer.

“Did you get anything to eat?”

“No, I didn’t want to bug anyone.”

I thought back to the few handfuls of popcorn I had eaten while playing cards. I could definitely use something more substantial. Michael stood and walked to the intercom on the wall of my room.

“Can you please send some dinner up for Miss Shelby and a whiskey for me?”

***

“Is there anything else I can get you, sir?” Brenna said as she set down the tray on the coffee table between Michael and me. She turned and winked at me, and I tried my best to hide a smile.

“No, that’s everything. Thank you, Brenna; I know it’s rather late.”

“I was up anyway, sir, and the night chef was in the kitchen making preparations for tomorrow, so it was really no trouble.”

Brenna turned and walked out the door, clicking it closed behind her. I could see myself becoming close friends with her. I planned to head down to the bottom deck in times when I needed an escape from the rest of the group.

“I like that you call all of your staff by name,” I said, impressed that he cared so much about his staff despite his wealth.

“One of the few valuable things I learned from my father was to respect the people who work for you. Without them, I would not be able to do the work that I do or enjoy my limited free time. My father always made it a point to call each employee by their name. In that way alone, I followed in his footsteps.”

Michael took the cover off of my plate for me. It was a bowl of chicken pesto pasta and a side of garlic bread. The smell of the garlic hit my nose instantly, and I could feel my stomach urging me to grab the plate.

“Your father sounds like he was a very harsh man?” I asked, hoping I wasn’t overstepping. I grabbed the bowl of pasta off the tray and took a bite. The cheese melted in my mouth perfectly, complemented by the pesto.

“He was very harsh, and strict. He had high expectations for me, and he made it known when I disappointed him.”

“That must have been hard.”

“It was, but it made me who I am today. I don’t take the wealth, or the work it takes to maintain it, for granted. But I do try to be a kinder man than he was.”

I stayed quiet and worked on the rest of my pasta, slowly savoring each bite. I also knew Michael would probably leave as soon as I was done, so I took my time.

“I forgot to tell you I got in contact with a law firm I’ve worked with in the past. They would like to bring you in for an interview for a secretary position.”

I nearly dropped my fork.

“Are you serious?”

Michael smiled at my response. He nodded and took a swig from his whiskey glass.

“I’ll get you their information. They are ready to bring you in as soon as you get settled.”

“I can’t thank you enough, Michael. You don’t understand how life-changing this is for me,” I said, setting down the bowl of pasta on the table. I wished I could stand up and hug him.

“I’m just glad you decided to stay. You are the only one making this trip bearable,” Michael said, meeting my eyes. The look in his eyes made my heart flutter.

A loud vibration against the leather of the sofa broke the moment, and Michael pulled out his phone. His face fell as soon as he read the notification on his home screen.

“I am so sorry, but I have something I have to deal with. I’m glad to see that you are feeling better, Shelby. If you need anything, let me know.”

I stood and said, “Thank you for everything, Michael, truly everything.”

He smiled and quickly made his way to the door; without looking back, he closed the door behind him.

The room suddenly felt empty with Michael gone. I slumped back onto the leather sofa and grabbed the garlic bread off the plate, dipping it in the remaining pesto at the bottom of my bowl.

My phone screen illuminated the dark corner where my bed sat, so I hesitantly got up to check my notifications.

At the top were a few messages in the group text between my friends, and just below that was a friend request from Michael. I smiled to myself and accepted it, then opened my group chat.

Lin: What amazing thing did you get to do today? I am bored of packing for the move. I need to live vicariously through you.

Aubrey: Lin, keep packing; you only have a few more weeks. Shelby was packed forever ago!

Lin: Don’t sound too sad to have us go, lol!

Aubrey: You know I am going to miss you two like crazy, but I know you will panic pack at the last minute and forget half your underwear drawer. I am not shipping your panties to you, Lin!

Lin: You know me too well, Aubs.

Shelby: I love that every time I check my phone, I have messages like these! Nothing exciting today. We have been at sea all day on our way to Lauren’s dad’s mansion in the Bahamas. I went down to the employee’s quarters and played cards and got a lot of dirt on Lauren’s mom.

Lin: Okay, I’m going to need pictures of this Bahama’s Mansion and details on her mom!

Shelby: Lauren’s mom left her dad for another man because she thought it would help her climb the social ladder. Turned out he wasn’t as rich or well off socially as she thought, and when he died, she did a paternity test, and here we are.

Shelby: We are going to her dad’s mansion for Lauren and Todd’s engagement party…

Lin: It sounds like Lauren is the spitting image of her mother.

Aubrey: Not only did you have to witness their engagement, but now you have to go to their engagement party too?

Lin: I swear, Shelby, you have the absolute worst luck on the planet.

Shelby: You don’t even know the half of my bad luck on this trip.

Lin: What do you mean? What else has happened?

Shelby: Well, I don’t really fit in with the rest of the group.

Aubrey: But I thought you said you were making other friends? Michael right?

Shelby: I am.

Lin: So, what do you mean by bad luck?

Shelby: Michael is Lauren’s dad.

Aubrey: Why is that a problem? I have a lot of friends in my classes who are like double my age.

Shelby: It’s a problem because I’m falling for him. Absolutely head over heels falling for him.