Page 65 of Beautiful Dangerous

“He is.”

“You’ll have dinner with him. As he requested. Sort out the details. You don’t need me there.”

I frown, because I’m still slightly confused. “You said you want you and I to run this cartel together?”

“I did. And that’s what we’re going to do. Together, we can achieve so much more, Olivia. Why would I want to side-line you now?”

That had been his intention, initially, I’m sure of it. And, for some reason, something still doesn’t feel quite right about all of this, and I think I need to be on my guard.

“I thought Icouldjust come back and pick up the reins, I’ll admit that. I underestimated you. And even though Lucca was keeping me updated, on everything this side of the border, not being there with you, I couldn’t see for myself how you were really doing. How you were finding your own methods of doing business, coping with everything in a way I have only extreme admiration for.”

I still get the feeling he’s patronizing me slightly, but I keep quiet. Sometimes actions speak louder than words. Even though I don’t feel like I have to prove anything to him, not anymore.

“I love you, Olivia. So much.”

There had once been a time when I wouldn’t have even drawn breath before I told him I loved him too, and yet, now, I’m hesitating.

Because you love someone else…

“I love you, too.”

I have to say the words even if I’m not sure how much I actually mean them. And maybe I do still love him, I just don’t know if it’s the same kind of love I felt before. I don’t know if I feel that anymore. And that realization is like a kick to the gut, but it’s one I can’t ignore.

He gets up; sits down beside me and I breathe him in – the lime shower gel, the musk-scented shampoo he always used to use; still uses. He takes my hand and I watch as his fingers interlace with mine. He’s still wearing his wedding ring. I’m still wearing mine.

“You never took it off,” he murmurs as he runs his thumb over the thin platinum band on my finger.

“I never had any intention of doing that.”

A lie.

The second I’d started to feel something for Lucca, I’d been working up to that moment when I’d remove Javier’s ring. And that moment had been close. So close…

He smiles; reaches out and presses his palm lightly against my cheek. “I missed you so much, Olivia.”

Did he, though? Did he miss me at all? Did he stop missing me like I, eventually, stopped missing him…?

“I missed you too.”

Again, I’m saying words I’m not sure I still mean, but they’re words he needs to hear. And I close my eyes as his mouth touches mine, and I feel my stomach dip and dance, but it isn’t because a million tiny butterflies are suddenly flying around in there, it’s because I’m scared. Of him. Of this. Of what’s going on in my head, the things I’ve done; what I was so close to doing.

What you still wish youcoulddo…?

“This is a new beginning for us, Olivia. For the cartel. For the family. We have so much to look forward to.”

I smile and squeeze his hand, just to remind myself that he’s real. That he’s alive.

“We should go downstairs. Guests will be arriving soon.”

He presses his hand firmly against my cheek as he kisses me again, and for a moment I lose myself in that kiss; in him. A man I have put my life on the line for, so many times.

“Come,mi amor. Let’s go and greet our guests.”

He smiles and pulls me up with him, his hand still clinging tightly onto mine.

A new beginning.

We have so much to look forward to.

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