Page 45 of Selfish Desires

“And, I want you to be in charge of the food. Granted, I know you’re busy with the restaurant, but if you could squeeze this in, I think it would be great. And you would love it, no doubt.” I stepped away from Wendy, spreading my arms wide. “I mean, look at this place. I know you don’t see the potential, but I do. I know I keep asking you to trust me. I feel like it’s all I say to you lately.” I swallowed, my throat clicking. “But I really need you to trust me on this.” In two steps, we were toe-to-toe with each other, and taking her delicate hands in mine, I didn’t want to say I trapped Wendy, but I knew I had her. “Also, I want your name on the deed to this property next to mine.”

“What? But you’re the one investing all the money into this. Vincent, I can’t take on that responsibility.” Her hands squeezed mine as she fought her nerves.

“Wendy, I’d never ask a dime from you. But I am asking for your time because I know this place won’t be a success without you.”

“So, you want to go into business together?” She cocked an eyebrow.

“I want us to build something together. That’s all I’m asking, Wendy.” I brought her left hand to my lips, brushing her knuckles against my mouth.

“What if I let you down?” Another rogue strand of brown hair fell in front of Wendy’s eyes. I brushed it away quickly, remembering how I had her thick locks wrapped around my fist about two hours ago while she moaned my name, making my cock twitch at the thought.

“You could never let me down.”

“Vincent, this is crazy!” Wendy exhaled sharply, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her eyes were wide, filled with shock, excitement, and fear.

“I know it sounds insane,” I admitted, my thumb brushing over the back of her hand. “But then again, is this really the craziest thing I’ve done?”

“So we're just going to dive right into this? Into a partnership?” She seemed excited now; I could see the spark in her eyes that were no longer filled with disbelief but with something else...anticipation perhaps.

“I don't expect you to make a decision right away,” I assured her. “But I am going to make an offer today.”

“Oh, cool. No pressure, right?” Wendy laughed, flashing a perfect set of white teeth.

“Exactly.” I winked, guiding her with me across the expansive space. “It’s a gorgeous day; how about a walk?”

“It’s freezing out,” Wendy pointed out, pulling the zipper of her electric blue down jacket just below her chin.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep you warm.”

As we stepped out into the crisp, frosty air, Wendy nestled closer to me, looping her arm through mine. On one side of us, acres of carefully tailored grounds topped with storybook mansions overlooked the vast ocean we walked against. The unyielding foam-tipped waves of the North Atlantic crashed against the rocky cliffs below. The salty sea breeze carried away the doubts and fears I might have once had, uprooting my life here for Wendy.

“I don’t think this view will ever get old,” I said, pulling Wendy against my body. I dipped my head to catch her eye, noticing how the daylight had accentuated the little specks of green in her brown eyes. “I get why you’d never want to leave Newport. How did you end up choosing this place?”

Wendy’s footsteps slowed, the gravel crunching below her feet. “After you left, I just couldn’t stay in New York. Or any place that reminded me of my life then.”

Her words stung, but I wanted to hear more.

“Newport...it was so different,” she continued, her voice dropping to just above a whisper. “It was peaceful and...safe. When I first arrived, I remember thinking it felt like a place where someone could heal. And then...I stayed. Because it was also a place where I could grow.”

“I see,” I murmured, pulling her closer, hoping to give her warmth. We walked silently for a while, the only sounds being our synchronized footsteps on the gravel and the ever-present roar of the ocean waves. “I’m happy you found this place because I love it. And thank you for sharing it with me.” I kissed the top of her head, breathing in her sweet scent, a mixture of vanilla and roses thanks to a body wash I now registered with Wendy. It was funny how much your love for someone planted their mark in everyday life. And Wendy was everything to me.

“I'm glad you love it here,” Wendy's voice was soft, like the barest whisper of wind against the seashore. She looked up at me then, her eyes a mirror of the sea that spread out to the horizon before us. Wendy opened her mouth, but the crescendoing chime of her ringtone broke any confession she was about to make. She fished the phone from her jacket’s pocket and snorted. “It’s Stephen.”

Internally, I eye rolled, but I only nodded and smiled as she answered his call.

Wendy inched a step away before swiping to answer the call. “Hey, Stephen. What’s up?”

I watched Wendy smile as she spoke to him about some catering orders. Luckily, every grin she produced never reached her eyes. I swore I knew this woman better than I knew myself, and while I could trust Wendy, something about this guy, Stephen, rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it was the fact I knew he liked her. Of course, Wendy reassured me nothing happened, and she even told me how he rejected her, which was straight-up peculiar. He still left a strange suspicion swirling in the pit of my stomach. Maybe it was jealousy. Maybe it was the threat he posed. Or maybe it was something else entirely.

As she laughed at some comment he made, I felt my jaw clench involuntarily. Suddenly, the crashing of waves seemed louder, and the gusts of wind felt colder. There was an empty wooden bench, and I sat on one side of it, waiting for Wendy to wrap up her call. Drumming my fingers against the back of the bench, I thought about what I wanted. What I really wanted, and the answer was clear. I wanted to ask Wendy to marry me. In my coat pocket rested a black velvet box, but it wasn’t for that.

I purchased a gold love bracelet for Wendy the first week I moved to Newport. It was a token of my unwavering commitment and love, a promise that I wouldn't abandon her again. I had been carrying it around for days, waiting for that perfect moment to give it to her based on some fictional idea of romance novels or black-and-white movies. But as I glanced at Wendy, her body slightly turned away from me as she continued her animated discussion with Stephen, it dawned on me.

There would never be a perfect moment.

Wendy wrapped up the call with a soft chuckle and hung up. Turning back toward me, she saw my unsteady gaze and raised an eyebrow. “Sorry about that…” she began, concern lining her voice.

I patted the seat next to me. “Sorry for what? Again, I’m not jealous, but he loves you.”