Page 79 of Desperate Desires

The question was, how long would I be able to keep him?

Chapter 23-Ono

I wet my lips with my tongue as I waited for Michelle to come out of the bedroom and onto the attached terrace on this beachfront property.

It was a nice place. I bought it a few years ago and visited infrequently. But right now, it was my favorite place. Because of her.

We were having dinner al fresco tonight, outside overlooking the water. The temperature was a little chilly, but I had two outdoor fireplaces going and it was pleasant enough.

After four days of just being alone together, she’d started getting a little antsy today. I understood.

Michelle was a professional woman with a budding career. She had obligations and wasn’t content to idle around.

That was one of the things I admired about her. One of the reasons we were such a good fit.

We were both goal oriented people. I’d ignored business a little too long, and I had things to see to.

Poor Gio had been fielding calls left and right from her entire adoptive family.

Those Volkovs could be real motherfuckers.

But I had reasons for delaying our going back. I wanted to make sure all the i’s had been dotted and t’s crossed on our marriage license before she could change her mind.

We hadn’t talked about it. Not since that first day here. And even then, it wasn’t much of a conversation.

Tonight was our last night on the island and before we left, I thought it might be nice to dress up a little and enjoy the atmosphere.

I’d had her suitcase packed with dozens of options for her to pick from and was champing at the bit to see what she would pick.

We hadn’t bothered with clothes the last few days. Hell, we hadn’t even gone outside.

Looking down at my suit, I wondered if she’d like the bright white linen shirt paired with gray slacks.

Funny, I never wondered that before. Never hoped my appearance would please anyone else.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

I blew out a quick breath.

Hell, if I knew.

No, that wasn’t true. I did know. I wanted Michelle to like how I looked. Wanted her to be as attracted to me as I was to her.

Because I was in fucking love with her and no, I did not care if that meant I was a sucker. I grinned at the image.

Me? A sucker for a woman.

Stranger things had happened, I supposed. The sound of the sliding doors reached my ears, and I spun to face her.

Goddamn.

She wore the gold silk.

“Is it alright?” she asked, biting her lower lip nervously.

“Alright? It’s fucking perfect,” I said, but what I meant was she was perfect.

Still, she smiled at me and that was all the encouragement I needed. I took her hand and led her to the table my staff had set up for us earlier in the evening.

---