The Billionaire and the Cleaner Read online

  “Next time, you make your way to the parking lot beneath the building. You know where the parking lot is, don’t you?” he asked.

  “Yes. I know where it is. You don’t need to worry about me getting home. I’m safe.” She tried to argue with him. Kent held his hand up stopping her from saying anything.

  “No, I’ll be the judge of whether you need help or not. It’s night, dark, and anyone could hurt you.”

  His hands tightened on the steering wheel. Lana never thought her first conversation with Kent would be about her safety.

  ****

  The woman was driving him crazy. He’d hoped on some light flirting and sweet seduction, and instead he was telling her off like a child.

  Get your shit together.

  Tightening his hands on the steering wheel Kent counted to ten and then twenty until he’d calmed down enough. Didn’t she have any idea how unsafe the world was at night time? There he went again, getting mad at something he couldn’t control.

  “I didn’t mean to make you mad,” she said, whispering from where she sat.

  “You didn’t make me mad.”

  “Seriously, because from where I’m sitting you look kind of angry.”

  He looked over at her to find her smiling. Releasing his death grip on the steering wheel Kent shot her his best smile.

  She turned away. He spotted the blush filling her cheeks. Cute, his woman still blushed. “I’m sorry for getting angry with you. This is not a great place to be walking home alone,” he said.

  “I think you watch too many movies. This place is fine to walk around. Nothing is going to happen to me.”

  He saw her rub her hands down her legs. Was he making her nervous?

  “Having that kind of attitude is not going to help you,” he said.

  “What do you mean?”

  Kent stopped at a red light. He took the free moment to turn to her. She had the nicest brown eyes he’d ever seen. They were so dark, and every time he looked at her, he got the sense she was always thinking something thoughtful. Her skin looked silky soft. He kept his grip on the steering wheel so he didn’t reach out and touch her.

  “I sense you have the attitude that nothing will ever happen to you. Nothing bad and nothing good. Be careful, Lana. You always have to be prepared in life.”

  Her gaze captured him as he stared at her. Her lips were nice and plump. A vision of those lips wrapped around his cock filled his mind. The image alone tempted him to turn the car around and take her back to his apartment. He could have her screaming in a matter of moments. Kent prided himself in keeping his woman happy.

  “Green,” she said.

  Was she giving him the go ahead to take her home? Did his woman read minds?

  “What?”

  “The light is green. You need to go.” She smiled at him before pointing to the light change.

  Feeling like a dick, he put the car in gear and raced toward the next light. This wasn’t his night. All the lights he arrived at were red.

  “I see what you mean. Nothing important or bad happens to me, but I’ll take your advice. I’ll be careful,” she said.

  “Why don’t you have a car? It would be a lot easier if you had your own car.” Her stomach growled interrupting her answer. “You’re hungry?” He thought he’d heard her stomach growling earlier. When she didn’t mention food or anything he’d figured he imagined it.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll eat when I get home.”

  He spotted a diner up the street about twenty minutes from her home. It wasn’t the one she worked in. He’d visited the diner she worked in to get a sense of the place and for the woman filling his mind on a daily basis.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “You’re hungry. I’m going to feed you.” He unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed out. Lana climbed out her side.

  “You don’t have to do this. I understand what you’re saying about safety. I’ll be extra careful,” she said.

  “Good. We’ll finish this conversation in the diner.” Kent didn’t want their time to end. He liked being in her company. She was fun, fresh, and he enjoyed being around her.

  Together they walked in and found a booth next to the window. Their reflections stared back at them.

  Sitting closer to her, Kent saw her impressive cleavage as the uniform settled around her. Her tits were large. He wondered what they’d feel like in his hands.

  She picked up the menu, and another growl came from her stomach. Her cheeks were red with embarrassment.

  “When was the last time you ate?” he asked, picking up his menu.

  “I ate at breakfast. I didn’t have time to get anything else,” she said.

  A woman walked over to their table.

  “What can I get you?” she asked.

  “I’ll have a coffee, black with one sugar.” Kent took a quick glance through the menu. “I’ll have a cheeseburger with chilli cheese fries and lots of sauce. For dessert I’ll have the brownie with the extra whipped cream,” Kent said. He’d not eaten since lunch, and he’d not eaten a cheeseburger since he was a kid.

  “A man who likes to eat and works out,” the woman said with approval.

  “I’ll have the milkshake instead of the coffee and the same as him with the food.” Lana folded the menu.

  “Coming right up.” The woman left them alone.

  He watched as Lana tucked strands of her hair into her bun.

  “Take your hair down,” he said.

  “What?” Her gaze jerked to him.

  “Take your hair down. It’s clearly irritating you. You’re not on office hours or anything like that. Take your hair down.” He wanted to see the long strands free from the tight restraint.

  She didn’t put up any argument as she reached behind her. The ponytail fell down. Her hair was much longer than he had thought. The glossy length fell around her shoulders in waves.

  His dick tightened at the sight. He wanted her hair across his pillow and to wrap it around his fist as he slammed inside her pussy.

  The woman came back handing him a black coffee and Lana a milkshake.

  Chapter Three

  When had she stepped into an alternative reality where Kent Anderson was eating dinner with her in a diner? Lana ran fingers through her hair, easing out the length. She kept her hair tied up when she worked as the strands got in her way. Getting it cut was not an option. She liked her hair long and intended to keep it that way. Spotting a dirty cup ring, she picked up some paper towels and wiped the mess away.

  “You don’t like mess, do you?” he asked.

  She shook her head. Putting the towel underneath her milkshake, she took a quick suck to test. The milkshake was creamy and tasted right with just the hint of chocolate.

  “No, I don’t like mess.”

  He reached over the table to take her hand. “Relax, Lana. We’re having dinner, and afterwards I’ll take you home.”

  “How do you know my name?” she asked.

  “You work for me. You know my name, and I know yours.”

  Smiling, she drank some more of her milkshake. Kent didn’t let her hand go. His fingers stroked her own. Licking her lips, she checked the clock to see it was after one. They’d spent an hour together.

  “I’m sorry. I’m not used to this,” she said.

  “Not used to what?”

  “Dinner, talking, and spending time with someone.” Lana lived in her routine. She liked her routine, but she liked talking with Kent.

  He opened his mouth to say something else, but the woman came back to put their food on the table. The scent of fatty burgers and chilli scented the air. Her stomach rumbled again. She wanted the floor to open up and eat her. When would her stomach give it a rest? She was about to eat.

  The woman left them.

  “This looks pretty tasty,” he said.

  She nodded, picking up her burger and taking a bite. Unable to contain her moan of pleasure, Lana closed her eyes enjoying the succulent m
eat.

  “I love a woman who enjoys her food.”

  When she opened her eyes, she saw Kent watching her.

  Smiling, she took another bite of her burger.

  “How do you know where I live?” she asked, trying to fill the silence with something other than her moans of approval.

  “It was on your employment record. I have everyone checked who works for me.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m a wealthy man, and I’ve made enemies.”

  He didn’t elaborate, and she didn’t ask for more information. She knew all about keeping certain things close to her chest.

  “You’re not going to ask to know more?”

  She shook her head. “No, you’re not wanting to talk about it. We’ve not known each other very long, and I don’t expect anything to change between us.”

  Kent sat back observing her.

  “What?” she asked, feeling self-conscious under his questioning gaze.

  “You’re not like other women.”

  “Is that a bad thing?”

  He remained silent as she ate her food. Kent ate as well, but the silence remained while she waited for him to answer her question.

  “It’s not a bad thing. I’m just not used to it.”

  “You date supermodels and actresses. They know what to talk to you about. I’m a cleaner and a waitress, Kent. I’m not exactly in the know when it comes to you and the company you keep,” she said.

  Kent smiled. The action lit up his whole face. He looked so handsome when he smiled. Her throat became dry. Taking a sip of her milkshake, Lana averted her gaze.

  “You’ve taken notice in the glossy magazines about me,” he said.

  “I’ve seen the stories passing several newspaper stands. You’re a well-known guy.” She shrugged finishing up her food. Kent ordered another coffee and a milkshake for her.

  “Yes, I know. Don’t read all the newspapers. The stories are made-up crap,” he said.

  His face darkened. Swallowing past the sudden lump in her throat, Lana looked at him. “Which stories?”

  “All of them.”

  “So, you haven’t slept with porn stars?” she asked, smiling.

  “Well, there wasn’t a lot of sleeping involved.”

  Lana burst out laughing at his joke. His wicked smile sent tingles throughout her smile.

  Another hour later they were ready to leave.

  “Come on, I’ll take you home.”

  She climbed into his car and strapped herself in waiting for him to start the car. Kent wouldn’t allow her to pay for their meal. She’d enjoyed every second with him talking. He wasn’t dark or brooding but fun.

  He parked outside her apartment. She turned to him, grabbing a key out of her bag.

  “Thank you so much for tonight. I really do appreciate the lift and the food.”

  “I’m glad. I enjoyed spending time with you.”

  Lana climbed out of the car as Kent leaned in close. She didn’t want to know what he was about to do. Men were off limits and especially him. Kent was a player. She’d read enough about him to know he loved women. Lana had also seen an interview where he’d spoken quite clearly about never being in a long term relationship.

  She waved at his car from the door before making her way up to the third floor where her apartment was. Once inside, she slid the locks into place then made her way straight for the bathroom. The scent of lemon permeated the air.

  After a quick shower, she set her alarm for nine and then eased down under the blankets. Her mind playing over the night, Lana wondered what had happened. His attention didn’t make any sense. She wasn’t pretty like his models, and she was sure he’d leaned in to kiss her.

  Thinking about his lips made her shiver. Her pussy melted as heat swept through her. Frank never left her feeling so passionate even after a night together.

  Running her fingers through her hair, Lana cut off all of her thoughts. Her imagination was running wild. Kent wasn’t going to kiss her or try to do anything with her. She wasn’t worth his time.

  ****

  Kent drove home feeling like he’d missed out on a kiss. He’d leaned in close intending to kiss her sweet, plump lips, and she’d moved away from him. Why had she moved away from him?

  Going back the way he came, Kent ignored the passing scenery. His only intention was making it home. There were many nights he’d gone without sleep. Since his obsession with the lovely Lana, his sleeping patterns had changed to match hers.

  He didn’t like her being in an apartment in an area of the city he didn’t trust. There were a lot of things he didn’t like about his woman’s current lifestyle. The fact she’d skipped lunch and dinner annoyed him. He liked her appetite. Dating women who ordered salads or soup irritated him. Kent remembered a time when he’d loved the slenderness of a woman. Now, he found their eating habits and their neurotic obsession with weight annoying. On several dates they’d talked non-stop about other actresses and models with fatter figures or slimmer figures. He was tired of hearing about weight, food, and the damn celebrity business.

  Parking his car into the parking lot of the apartment complex, Kent made his way up to the penthouse suite. The large windows overlooked the city. He walked over to them the instant he closed the door behind him. Pulling at the tie around his neck, Kent threw the tie away and loosened a couple of buttons.

  His life was changing. Being in the public eye was losing its appeal, and if he was honest with himself, a family started to look more appealing every day. Several of his friends were settled down with a couple of kids while he remained single, living the bachelor lifestyle. He recalled the conversation he’d had with John at their garden party the other month. The last of the summer rays had been dying away, and the guests were gone. He’d watched John reading to his little girl before she went to bed. John’s wife had come out to the garden to take their daughter into the house.

  “You look happy,” Kent said.

  John smiled at him. “I am. Having a family is amazing. I’m a husband and father.”

  Sipping his beer, Kent looked out toward the garden. “Don’t you ever miss it?”

  “No,” John said.

  “Do you know what I’m talking about?”

  John laughed. “You’re talking about women. Do I miss women and having a new woman in my bed every night?”

  Kent nodded. His friend let out a sigh.

  “You’re sleeping with the same woman, John. I remember a time when you’d never settle down. Sleeping with different women was your thing.”

  “Exactly, it was my thing. Not anymore.”

  He waited for his friend to elaborate. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?” John asked.

  “No.”

  After several seconds, John sat forward. “Sleeping with lots of women wasn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. Yeah, it was fun. I didn’t know the women I was fucking, and I didn’t care. When I’m with Samantha, I care. There is a connection between us. When I’m with her, I do everything I can to please her. There is not some quick release and then leaving her alone. I love watching her come apart. When I go to work every day, I know I’ve got someone to come home to. I love my family, and my life is a hell of a lot fuller for being with them. I don’t envy your bachelor lifestyle, Kent, and I wouldn’t go back to one either.”

  John’s words came back to Kent. Since that night he’d not been able to stop thinking about Lana. She’d been in his thoughts but never as bad as it was now. He stayed behind at work to see her and waited for her to leave. Waiting for her to speak to him was new for him. Women spoke to him all the time trying to gain his attention. Lana did nothing. Even in the car she hadn’t tried to instigate a kiss; she’d run from him.

  Closing the blinds, Kent shut out the world. Tomorrow was Thursday, and he looked forward to the end of the day more than he did the beginning. Going to the fridge, he grabbed a glass of milk before heading to bed. He checked his phone to see several calls and me
ssages from the women he’d been seeing in the last month.

  Call one of them and fuck Lana right out of your system.

  He didn’t want to. Cancelling all of the messages and calls, Kent climbed into bed alone. He’d not been to bed alone in years.

  His aversion to relationships stemmed from when he was a teenager. The girl he’d given his heart to had crushed him by dating his brother instead. Kent thought about Tonya. She was his age and had been his best friend. Tonya was now married to his brother, and they had three children. His brother, Seth, adored Tonya, and their relationship was strong.

  Kent’s parents were still married and their love stronger than ever. He loved his family even though he avoided them. Family occasions annoyed him as his parents were always trying to set him up on dates. His parents didn’t approve of his lifestyle.

  He recalled his father’s comment last Christmas.

  “Son, watching you parade a load of women around on the television is not what I wanted for my boy. I’m proud of what you’ve done with yourself. I know you didn’t want to be anything other than your own businessman. However, you’re going to regret your life if you continue with this. You’re breaking your mother’s heart. You deserve a good girl to settle down with.”

  At the time he’d thought his father was nagging him again. He wasn’t made the way his parents or his brother were. Closing his eyes, Kent tried to forget about Lana. She wasn’t like his other women, but she wasn’t in his future either.

  Chapter Four

  Thursday was busier than usual at the diner. Lana struggled to keep up with the orders and the customers. Her late night was wearing her down. She’d settled herself into a system with her two jobs, and going out to dinner with Kent had disrupted that.

  By four she was exhausted and ready to go home. Instead, she finished her shift at the diner before making her way across the city to the Anderson Corporation building. Her feet ached, but she refused to give in. Her hair was tied in pigtails down either side of her shoulders. It was seven at night when she got inside. She’d missed lunch and was hungry. Ignoring the pangs, she grabbed the cleaning trolley, smiled at the security guard before making her way over to the elevator. She pushed the trolley inside, pressed the button for her floor and waited. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, she pulled the trolley onto the floor. The light inside Kent’s office was on.