Page 32 of Sin and Seduction

Camila and Gabriela let out a whoop of happiness and start chatting like school girls while Oscar tells Dante there are business matters they need to tend to. I look at my husband, and he gives me a sheepish smile.

“Duty calls, baby. Go hang out with the ladies. We will catch up later.” He pulls away, and I grab his hand, not ready for him to leave so soon.

“Promise?” I ask, and he nods, giving me a wicked smile that tells me the catching up will be worth waiting for.

He and Oscar leave, and Camila grabs my hand, standing and pulling me up with her as Gabriela rises with us.

“Come, we will have a look in my closet to see if there are any options you’ll like for now,” Camila says and ushers me out of the kitchen and down a long hallway on the main floor.

This house is absolutely massive, and I really haven’t had the time to explore it all yet. I can’t wait for Ricky and his family to come. His parents will fall in love with this place. Which makes me wonder…

“Where will Ricky and his parents be staying?” I ask as we reach the end of the hallway toward Camila's bedroom, I presume.

“In the guest suite in the west wing. This house has ten bedrooms, plenty of room,” she says as we walk into her bedroom.

Her bedroom leaves me speechless, much like everything in this house. It is made completely of stone, both the walls and floors. Her canopy bed sits in the center of the room, with velvet armchairs all throughout. Each table has a fresh vase of flowers, and her bay window opens up to a spectacular view of the cliffs and ocean. I just walked into a daydream, and I have to close my mouth before it catches flies. Gabriela chuckles as we make our way to her mom's walk-in closet.

“You’re like a kid in a candy store,” she says, messing with her long, straight hair. I roll my eyes at her, and she laughs as we take a seat in Camila’s closet, which is actually a dressing room with ample seating and shelving.

“Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll be right back,” she says as she disappears down the small hallway of her closet. Yes, a hallway. In her closet.

“Is this going to be too much for you right now?” I whisper to Gabriela in regards to her sudden pregnancy.

She gives me a sincere smile before she speaks.

“Don’t worry about me, Emmie. Seriously. Plus, the distraction is much needed right now. Ignorance has always been my bliss,” she says, her hand drifting to her stomach.

My eyes travel the distance, and she blushes.

“You’re excited, aren’t you?” I ask, and she smiles slightly.

“Is that bad?” she asks timidly, and I smile and shake my head.

“Of course, not,” I say.

“Excited about what?” Camila asks as she comes in out of nowhere, garment bags in hand.

Gabriela and I sit up straight, and her hand immediately leaves her stomach.

“About the wedding!” she screeches and her mom nods as she unzips the bags before us.

“Now, a couple of these have only been worn once, but I know you don’t mind. Some of these were a part of a collection and had just been sitting in my closet taking up space.”

There’s taken up space in here?

“Take a look and see what you like.” She says as she pours herself a glass of amber liquid from a crystal decanter on a table and sits.

There are five dresses in here, all white and all beautiful. Some are lace with crystal embellishments. Some are simple and elegant. One is giant with a feathered skirt. I make my way around them before settling my eyes on a rack across from us, a long, white silk gown catching my eye.

“What’s that one?” I ask, pointing at the rack.

Camila looks over and smiles, a kind of sad smile before she gets up and pulls it out, looking at it with distant eyes.

“I wore this when my husband and I renewed our vows after ten years together. I couldn’t bear to part with it,” she says sadly, and I immediately feel like an asshole.

“I’m so sorry, Camila. I’ll try a couple of these on—”

“Nonsense,” she stops me, walking over to place the expensive silk in my hands.

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