Page 95 of Pride

Her eyebrow arches, as I know she’s still distrustful of me. And naturally, I never trust anyone, so I’m distrustful of her as well. However, it doesn’t stop me from wanting to make her happy. “Is it a good surprise or a bad surprise?”

I laugh. “Stop being ridiculous and come and see.”

She strolls cautiously over to the door and steps inside, her eyes instantly widening. “What is this place?”

“I asked the staff where I could set up an art studio for you and they suggested this had the best views.”

“You did all this for me?” she asks, unable to mask her tone of surprise.

“Well, I sure as hell didn’t do it for me. If you saw how bad I am at painting.”

She laughs softly, walking further into the room. “This place has the most stunning views,” she says, looking out of the window on the far side. “I can definitely get creative here.” Her throat bobs as she swallows. “Thank you,” she breathes, a softness in her voice as she looks at me in a confusing way.

“You’re welcome, love,” I say, unable to take my eyes off of her. She looks like an angel as the light from the windows casts a glow on her olive skin.

She brushes her fingers gently over the canvas. “It’s been so long since I’ve painted.”

I walk over to her and pull out the stool. “Paint now, then.”

Her eyes widen. “Really? Don’t we have to get to dinner?”

“I’ve arranged for them to bring it up here, so we can spend as much time as you need.”

I see excitement ignite in her eyes as she rushes toward the table with the supplies, selecting paints and putting them on a pallet. The mere look on her face makes me fall for her more, and I realize these feelings could jeopardize my quest for revenge.

In this moment, though, I can’t find it in myself to dwell on it further. Instead, I just want to enjoy this time with Bella and watch her in her element.

It’s as if she’s forgotten about everything else around her as she sits and starts to paint with oil paints, depicting the scene in front of the window as the sun begins to dip behind the glistening blue ocean. She works fast and I must admit I’m in awe of her skill.

If I could paint like that, I think I’d enjoy it too.

There’s a notable change in her whole countenance as her shoulders become more relaxed, and I know that I could lose time just watching her paint.

An hour or so later, when she’s almost completed the painting, now working from memory since the sun has set, the food arrives.

“Thank you, Akhil,” I say, smiling at the server from the restaurant, who has been very accommodating. “Can you just set it down there?” I nod at an empty spot on the workbench.

He bows slightly and then does as I say. The arrival of food finally breaks Bella out of her own world, as she glances over at Akhil.

“Hi, Akhil,” she says, beaming at him.

“Hello, Bella.” He bows. “Enjoy your meal. We will collect the empty dishes in the morning.”

With that, he leaves, and Bella finally stands from her stool, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, I’ve been terrible company.”

“No, you haven’t,” I reassure her. “On the contrary, I’ve enjoyed watching you paint.” I walk over to the canvas where her painting is and study it. “You are a talented painter.”

She blushes and shakes her head. “You don’t have to say that.”

“No, but it’s the truth.” I take her hand and lead her onto the porch of the cabin. “Take a seat and I’ll fetch the food.”

She sits and I go back and grab the tray Akhil brought up, setting it on the little table. “This is even more beautiful than the restaurant,” she muses, gazing around the starlit rainforest and sparkling sea further away.

“I agree. If it hadn’t been for me mentioning at breakfast to Akhil that I wanted to find somewhere for you to paint, we never would have found it.”

Bella smiles and our eyes meet, locked together for a little too long as hope flares in my chest. Ridiculous as it may be after the way I’ve treated her only days ago, I hope that she might feel something for me the way I feel for her.

There’s something so intriguing about my wife. She’s a far cry from the people who raised her, intelligent, kindhearted and creative, everything I value in a person and the polar opposite to her father.

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