Page 35 of Good Girl's Bad Lessons

“I know what a great pet owner you’ll be. I trust you, and I can’t keep every dog I meet. Seems like this one’d be a great match.”

She shifted her weight from foot to foot, then glanced at the dog again. “Oh. You’re generous, but I don’t think our hotel allows pets. Besides, don’t dogs need some paperwork to travel internationally?”

Desmorais poured himself some more coffee. “Not a problem. The dog can stay with me until your departure, and I can have our vet prepare whatever paperwork is needed to enter the United States, with rabies certificate and all. Besides, you’re flying in Nico’s personal jet, I assume? So no airline red tape.”

She caressed the dog’s belly again. “That’s true. Well, I mean, he’s so precious…”

“What do you think, Nico?” Desmorais asked. “I know you may not be a fan of lapdogs, but this is a chance for them to prove you wrong.”

Nico swallowed. Shit. Desmorais believed they were together, when that couldn’t be further from the truth. He personally didn’t care about the size of the dog, because he wouldn’t be the one taking care of it. The only living things Nico had owned had been plants, and the task to keep them alive had been directed to his efficient housekeeper.

He peered at Emma. Poor Emma. She maintained the dog on her lap, but shot him a look of pure confusion. “He seems very sweet. Emma?”

“I’ll be honored to be his fur momma.”

“Then it’s settled. It’s a match made in Mauritius,” Desmorais said, a lot more relaxed than when Nico had first set foot on his property.

“Do you want some water?” Emma asked, and strolled several feet away from them to fetch her newly adopted pet some water.

Desmorais enjoyed his coffee and reached for yet another pastry. This was his time.

Nico sat across from him. “I appreciate your hospitality. As you must know, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for some time to talk about buying your house.”

Desmorais slowly finished his coffee, then placed the cup on the saucer. He lifted his eyebrows, perhaps with annoyance, then gestured with his head for him to keep talking. Of course his PA or real estate agent had mentioned it to him. Just because he didn’t enjoy long conversations didn’t mean he didn’t know what happened. “You must know I’m planning on turning this place into an animal sanctuary,” he said, tilting his head in Emma’s direction. Implying he gathered she’d have told him.

“Yes. Emma didn’t mention it when we started our relationship. I learned from other sources.”

Desmorais narrowed his eyes at him. “Have you?”

Nico cleared his throat. Shit. He didn’t want to get Emma or his personal assistant who told it to James in trouble. “Yes. Anyway, it’s nice we’re talking face-to-face, because I can explain how much this means to me. I’m not acting like some self-entitled jerk. I support your idea of a sanctuary and would love to help make it happen at a different location. I’d be happy to make generous donations, too. See, I came here several times a year when I was growing up. My mom, she loved this place.”

Desmorais inched closer, interested. “Your mother married Calogero Giordano, yes?”

“Yes. She suffered from a serious mental illness, and she took her own life in front of my brother,” he said, his heart pumping with every word.

“You have a brother?”

“Marco, my younger brother. Anyway, when she died, my father lost it. He began drinking,” he said, then glanced to make sure Emma remained at a safe distance as he spoke to Desmorais. No one wanted to be around a messed-up guy. She hadn’t asked him for help with her sexual performance in exchange for free therapy services. “He couldn’t deal with coming here anymore; the memories were too raw. So he sold the property to you, who I understand was investing a lot in the area back then.”

“I was.”

“I understand this is your home, and who am I to barge in here and demand you sell it to me? I also understand you have enough money not to worry about the future. I promised my mother to buy this property back, and I promised myself I’d buy it, to honor the place she loved when she was herself. And to selfishly bring some of it into my own life,” he said, feeling his heart drum at the base of his throat. He’d meant to tell him his sob story without experiencing so much pain as the words left his lips.

Silence.

Desmorais scratched the back of his neck, glancing around, no doubt uncomfortable.

“I don’t know what to say, Nico. I’ll be honest, when you walked in here, I knew you’d make an offer I couldn’t refuse, yet I was adamant on saying no. After all, I hate when people don’t listen the first time, and I have been set on turning this place into a sanctuary. My lawyer had warned me about your intentions. But now…” He cleared his throat. “After having spent time with you and Emma, and what you’ve just said, I have a lot to consider.”

A thread of hope expanded in his chest. Maybe was better than no. “Of course.”

Desmorais tapped on the bench and stood. “I need a couple of days to sleep on it. It’s a big decision.”

“I’m grateful for your consideration.”

Desmorais gave him a sad smile, his shoulders dropping a notch. “Also, I’m sorry. For your mom, and your father.”

Emma stepped out of the shower. After the emotional outing, they’d returned to the hotel, and she’d slipped into the restroom while he took a business call. Now, she looked every bit lovely wrapped in a fluffy white robe with the hotel’s monogram on it.

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