Page 71 of The Boss

“I know. But he loves his wife and they didn’t want to adopt. I never understood why.”

“I keep telling him it’s not too late, but he just won’t do it.”

“I’m sure he has his reasons.”

“We all have reasons why we make the choices we do. Sadly, they’re not always for the right motives.”

I nodded in approval. “Said like someone much older.”

“I feel much older.” She returned her gaze toward the ocean. Another moment of quietness furrowed between us. “When are we getting married?”

“Soon.” She seemed forlorn at the choice she’d made. Not that I could blame her.

“I’m certain our wedding will be in all the papers.”

“Yes.”

“Will it be legal?”

“Of course.” I wasn’t certain why she was asking.

“A prenuptial agreement?”

I hadn’t thought about that. “A contract.”

“Yes, how could I forget. Just a business arrangement. Don’t get me wrong. That’s perfectly fine by me.”

“Is it?”

“That’s the way it must be,” she stated firmly.

“Yes, you’re right.” I took another sip of my drink and backed away from the railing, headed for one of the deck chairs. She was a fascinating dichotomy in that she always preferred to do the right thing, but stoop as low as necessary to achieve a goal she believed in with all her heart. It didn’t take months of getting to know her to realize how strong her convictions were.

She had no idea how much I admired her spirit.

I sat in the shadows, watching her enjoying the evening. I’d yet to tell her that I had no intention of letting her out of the marriage, contract or no contract. She’d already become mine, awoman I doubted I could get out from under my skin even if I wanted to.

It had only happened once before. In accepting my obsession for Willow, I’d also been forced to realize the danger she’d be placed in. It would be constant. The times might have changed, but the ways of dealing with enemies due to turf wars, squabbles over money, or a deal gone bad were exactly the same. Perhaps we were now even more calculated and ruthless.

I should know. I’d watched my father destroy an entire family. He hadn’t known the man’s wife and kids would be on the yacht, their deaths hitting him hard. I’d always believed that had started him on the path to leave the brutal world.

“I must admit this is very romantic. The entire afternoon and evening has been,” she said more in passing than anything.

“You didn’t think I could be romantic?”

“You’re very controlled.”

“I’m curious as to what gives you that idea?”

As she turned around, the moonlight managed to illuminate her lovely face. “Your clothes. Your choice in beverages. The way you talk to your men. Everything about how you carry yourself when walking into a room or even the very precise level of concentration you use when listening to a story or a question. You have two sides, two emotions, rage and hunger. Yet even with those very powerful passions, you barely acknowledge them or provide anyone with a sense of what you’re feeling. You’re extremely guarded.”

“Does that bother you?”

She laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “Your merciless power frightens me. Your lack of raw and easy to see emotions makes me sad. You burn the candle at both ends and eventually, you’ll lose control of it and a fire will start that you won’t be able to put out.”

“Why does my supremacy frighten you?”

It seemed she was having a difficult time answering me. “Because I’ll get burned, but even worse, I think I want to. I wonder what it would be like to taste the same power you have even for a little while, forgetting about everything I’ve been taught. No right versus wrong. No good, only evil. I know that sounds crazy, but with you, anything is possible, and I want a taste of everything.”

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