Page 73 of Resolute

“So is everything taken care of? Do you still need to pay her even though she’s not going to take care of Ava?”

“Of course I will. I can’t do that to Mrs. Evans.”

My eyes go wide. “You mean Mrs. Evans, my former assistant?”

Camila nods, and I bark out a laugh.

“What? What’s so funny?” she asks as I try to calm down so I can speak again.

“That old lady,” I say, taking a calming breath.

Camila smacks me on the chest, an admonishing look on her face. I love seeing her inmom mode.

“What? I’m not lying. She’s old. And now I understand why she was so adamant about hiring you.”

Camila’s eyebrows form a thin line as she speaks. “I hope you’re not thinking all this was a set up, because never in my wildest dreams did I imagine fake-marrying my boss.”

For some reason, that rubs me the wrong way. I clench my teeth tightly before I can say something hurtful.

Am I so undesirable? And why does she keep referring to this as fake? The fact that it’s mutually beneficial for the both of usdoesn’t mean it’s fake. I meant it when I told her I was going to take care of her and Ava.

“No, of course not. There’s no way she knew my father was going to change the stipulations for me to inherit the vineyard,” I say. Camila visibly relaxes, as do I. “I just know that she clearly wanted us to meet.”

She smiles and turns to face me on the sofa. “So, you think Mrs. Evans played matchmaker?” she says, leaning closer to me.

My body reacts instantly, tension pooling low as my pulse quickens.

“Yeah. I don’t think she thought it was going to be so fast, but I’m sure she knew what she was doing.”

I follow Camila’s lead, draping my arm across the back of the sofa. She immediately relaxes her head against my forearm like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Camila, look at you,” I whisper. “You’re stunning.”

She chuckles, and her cheeks warm, but there is a hint of disbelief in her eyes.

“What? You don’t believe me?” I tease.

She bites her lip before shaking her head.

I lean in, voice low and steady. “Do you think if I were lying, I would be this hard for you?”

Before she can answer, I guide her hand to my undeniable bulge. To my surprise, Camila doesn’t flinch. Instead, she squeezes, making me groan.

“Is this really because of me?” she whispers, her face just millimeters away from my lips.

Instead of answering, I close the gap to kiss her, claiming her lips in a slow, deliberate kiss. My hands cradle her face, and in one fluid motion, she straddles me

The moment her core aligns with mine, heats coils in my stomach, and it takes everything in me not to lose control. The feel of her against me—soft, yet urgent—sets every nerve endingon fire. My instinct screams at me to pound into her right here, against the massive windows overlooking the city. To tell her how beautiful she is in every way I can.

But if this is her first time in over five years, she deserves to set the pace.

Her hands explore my chest, while mine go directly to her arse—that damn arse I’ve been ogling for weeks now. She’s fucking perfect, and I can’t wait to taste her. To make her mine. I slowly start to pull up her dress, and she lets me.

“Camila, let me look at you.”

I break the kiss, and when I look at her, she’s smiling—radiant, breathtaking. I help her to her feet, andholy fuck, she’s a vision.

Lace bra and panty set. Black. Delicate and barely there.

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