Page 34 of The Enemy's Daughter

Chapter Eight

Over the next week and a half, Alaric spent every single available minute on his life with Bella. He met her after work, or he stayed over, especially during the weekend. So far she hadn’t asked to go to his place, nor find out what he did for work. She would ask him about his day, but never ask him to go into detail. He wasn’t even sure if she cared all that much, or if she was just being polite.

Everything was going to plan, apart from one thing. He was loving every single one of those seconds. At work whenever he heard or saw something, he wished to share it with her. There were even times when he wondered what she was doing, if something bad had happened. Never had he cared so much, and now he was caring a whole lot for his enemy’s daughter.

Standing at her bathroom sink, he stared at his reflection, wondering what the hell he was doing. They had gone shopping together, and he’d even bought her a couple of presents, and he had been the one to pick the presents himself. Shit was really getting crazy right now, and even Rex had to ask him what he was doing.

The truth was he didn’t have a fucking clue what he was doing anymore. Nothing made any sense. His plan was working perfectly. He knew she was starting to have feelings for him. The biggest problem was the fact he was starting to have feelings for her as well. Everything was turning out fucked, and he didn’t like it. Not one bit.

“Are you okay in there?” Bella asked, knocking on the door.

“I’ll be right out.”

“All right.”

He waited until she was far away before taking a deep breath. “This is just a job. You don’t have to worry. This is just a job.”

Even as he spoke the words, he didn’t believe it.

Bella was no longer a job.

He cared way too much.

Exiting the bathroom, he headed out to the kitchen to find her finishing the carrot cake. He’d help her make it by grating the carrots and squeezing out the excess juice.

“Are you okay now?” she asked. “You look a little pale.”

She was covered in the day’s baking, and to him, she looked perfect. He suddenly realized what her father had found in her mother. There was something about having a woman, a real woman, to love.

“Er, I’m a little nervous.”

“Really?” She placed the spatula in the bowl and rounded the kitchen counter. “What is it?”

“I sort of planned ahead, and I’m hoping that you won’t say no.”

“Why don’t you tell me what it is, and I’ll let you know what I think.”

He moved toward his jacket, and handed her out the tickets to the exclusive cabin in an even more exclusive resort. “It’s just for the weekend. I wanted you to myself for the weekend.”

“Wow,” she said, opening the leaflet. “You sure you want to spend the weekend with me?”

“I’ve been spending all of my time with you, Bella. I’d really like this. Next Friday I’ll pick you up from work, and drive us there.” He pointed to the location. “A couple of hours’ driving. It shouldn’t be a problem.”

“This is … wow. You want to go away with me?”

“Yeah, I do.” He meant it. Every single word.

“That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“Baby, I think you need to get out more,” he said, chuckling.

Bella thrust herself into his arms, and he held her close, inhaling her sweet scent. She smelled of everything that was amazing and good to him. Pressing his nose against her neck, he breathed her in, finding her calming.

“This doesn’t mean I’m ready to meet your father,” he said, making her laugh.

“I’m nowhere near ready for you to meet him.” She kissed his cheek, and pulled away. “Thank you.”

He didn’t know what she was thanking him for, and right then he really didn’t want to know. Following her to the kitchen, he swiped his finger in the cream cheese frosting, and tasted it. The icing was sweet but not overly so. “This is so good.”

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