Page 12 of Billionaire's Sins
Summer grips my shoulder and I snap open my eyes.
"So, what are you going to do about it?" Her forehead is furrowed.
"What can I do?" I slink down further into my seat, "He’s a priest, end of…"
"Is it?" Isla frowns. "Do you actually believe that?"
"Yes…No." I slide off the stool and begin to pace. "I don’t know. I mean, a part of me wants to walk away. The other part insists that there’s a reason that he’s called Edward, right?"
There’s silence, then the two of them look at each other. "You’re talking aboutTwilight?" Isla leans back in her seat. "Tell me you’re not… Not that I don’t have a thing for Edward."
I shoot her a dirty look, and she holds up her hands. "I meant the character, not your Edward."
"He’s not my Edward." I fold my arms about my waist. "And he probably never will be." I turn on them, "But…the fact that he's named after my favorite character ever; that has to be the only reason I am so strongly attracted to him… Right? And yet… There’s this barrier between us, one which can’t be overcome."
"Why can’t it be overcome?" Isla scowls, "I know he’s a priest, but men have given up a lot more for true love."
True love. Is it love? Or just lust?I wrap my arms about my waist, "I only just met the man."
"I wish I could tell you to walk away, but when you feel that connection," Summer thumps her chest, "it’s not something you can easily ignore."
"What would you have me do?" I lean a hip against the island. "It’s not like the challenge is easy to surmount."Although I’d certainly like to try to mount him, I think with a smirk.
"It never is," Isla retorts.
"I know… I know, but this situation... It’s crazy. I mean, am I supposed to seduce him away from his calling?"
"Maybe," Isla concedes, "maybe not."
"What do you mean?"
"I understand your reticence in not doing anything to sway him from his path… It takes a special kind of person to follow his calling," she says slowly.
"That’s what I mean. Who am I to stand between him…and…his…" I bite the inside of my cheek, "his loyalty, his devotion to the path he’s decided on? I just met him… Hell, I don’t even know how he feels about me…except…"
"Except?" Isla prompts me.
"He did apologize to me, in case he’d given me the wrong impression."
"Ah," Summer cups her chin in her hand, "so he’s aware of the chemistry between the two of you."
I wince, "Should we even be using adjectives like chemistry? Somehow, it seems so wrong, given the context, you know?"
Isla pushes back from the table. "Woman, you are making my head ache, the way you are over analyzing this. I think you are putting too much emphasis on the fact that he’s called Edward. Not that I have anything against the story, but this is real life, and it doesn’t always follow a predictable storyline, know what I mean?"
"You’re telling me?" I snort. "So what? I should ignore it completely?"
"Or just give it time, let it breathe, see how things develop," Isla offers. "Maybe the attraction will fizzle out—?"
Umm, I don’t think so, but okay, I am willing to wait and see.
"Maybe he’ll decide you’re worth it?" Summer points out. "If his feelings develop further, maybe he’ll do something about it?"
"Is that what you told Karma as well?" Karma, Summer's sister has been holed up in Sicily with her new hottie and Summer hasn’t heard from her in a few months, except for text messages.
Summer's brow furrows, "I never did get a chance to share that advice with Karma. She just up and left one day, which is out of character for her. And I confess, I am worried about what she's up to, but each time I tell her that I am coming to Sicily to hunt her down, she insists that it won't be long before she returns."
"Has she kept in touch with you?"
