by Pamela Yaye
His tongue was tied, but he managed to speak. “Zoe, what are you doing here?”
“You invited me to spend the holidays with you and your family, remember?”
“That was before we broke up. We’re not together anymore. You shouldn’t be here.”
Francesca raised a hand in the air. “I picked her up an hour ago, and I’m glad I did. Zoe did nothing wrong.”
Glancing around the living room, Romeo saw the sympathetic expressions on the faces of his family members and sighed heavily. Was he missing something? Why weren’t his relatives on his side? Was he the only one who had a problem with what Zoe had done?
Shrieks, giggles and cheers erupted around the room as his nieces and nephews ripped wrapping paper to shreds, tossed it in the air as if it were confetti, then ran around in circles.
“Romeo, can we go somewhere quiet to talk?”
He shook his head, refused to consider her request. “Whatever you have to say to me you can say right here. What you did not only affected me, it affected my entire family, and they deserve to know the truth just as much as I do.”
“Baby, I didn’t do it. I swear. I love you, and I would never do anything to hurt you,” she said, meeting his gaze. “You mean the world to me, and all I want is for you to be healthy and happy. I would never, ever do anything to jeopardize the incredible bond we have.”
Romeo stared into her eyes. She’d said those words before, when they were arguing at the Wonderland Ball, but this time was different. Her voice was strong, convincing, the expression on her face one of fierce determination. Romeo believed her. Sensed in his gut that she was telling the truth. But if she didn’t betray him, then who did?
“I went to Casa Di Moda yesterday to resign, because I thought Aurora and Davide were behind the story, but I found Jiovanni in my office snooping through my things. I quickly put two and two together.” Water filled her eyes, and her lips trembled.
“Go on. I’m listening.”
“Jiovanni must have read my journal, photocopied the entries I wrote about our weekend at your villa, then gave them to his girlfriend, Alessandra. They paid someone to blackmail you, and when that didn’t work they sold the information to the media. I never had anything to do with it...”
Joy, sadness and anger flooded his heart in equal measures. Disgusted by what Jiovanni had done, Romeo felt his eyes narrow and his hands curls into fists. Wasn’t he supposed to be Zoe’s best friend? How could he betray someone he claimed to love and respect? Romeo had never liked the associate designer and suspected he’d been plotting to break them up from day one. Thankfully, his evil scheme didn’t work. “Jiovanni must have also tipped off the paparazzi about the Il Divo concert and the location of my villa as well,” he said, thinking out loud. “That’s how they knew where to find us.”
“He must have, because I didn’t tell a soul. We agreed to keep our relationship quiet, and since I was determined to keep my promise to you I had stopped confiding in Jiovanni about my personal life. I never imagined he’d snoop through my things though.”
Hope surged through his body, filling his heart to the brim. A feeling of elation came over him, but Romeo didn’t sweep Zoe into his arms and dance around the living room. He wanted to hear everything, though, didn’t want to miss anything she said.
“Baby, I’m so sorry about what Jiovanni did. I wish I could have stopped him, but—”
He interrupted her, couldn’t stand to hear her apologize on Jiovanni’s behalf, and pressed a finger to her mouth to stop her from saying another word. “Don’t apologize for him. What happened is not your fault, it’s his.”
“I know, but I still feel horrible about it.”
Romeo wore a sad smile. “And, I feel like an ass for the way I treated you.”
“You do?” she asked, her eyes wide.
“Yes, I do. I jumped to conclusions instead of listening to your side of the story. I’m sorry. I was angry and upset after my run-in with that scumbag in the men’s room and I lost my temper. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
“Of course, I forgive you. You’re the man I love.”
Zoe threw her arms around his neck and held him tight. Closing her eyes, she pressed her lips to his mouth. She kissed him slowly, tenderly, as if they had all the time in the world to please each other, and they did. Romeo wasn’t going anywhere, would gladly spend the rest of the day making out with the woman he loved.
“I love you so much, and I can’t live another day without you.”
“Bellissima, you won’t have to. I’m man enough to admit I made a mistake. I promise I’ll never hurt you again or doubt your love. You have my word.”
His family cheered as if they were watching a football game on TV, and Romeo laughed. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” Zoe whispered, caressing the back of his head. “The last five days have been torture without you, and if not for Francesca, I never would have survived.”
Romeo kissed the tip of her nose. “Bellissima, it sounds like you could use some R and R. How do you feel about spending New Year’s Eve in Trinidad?”
“Trinidad? Really? Baby, that would be amazing!”
“You can say that again. We’re going to have a blast on the island.”
“I can see it now. Eating juicy mangoes, strolling along Mayaro Beach hand in hand, dirty dancing to calypso and soca music.”
“Don’t forget making love,” Romeo added, caressing her cheeks with his thumb.
Closing her eyes, she gave him a sweet, soft kiss on the lips. “Can we leave tonight?”
“No,” he whispered, against her mouth, “but when the coast is clear we can tiptoe upstairs for a Christmas Day quickie.”
“Diavolo Sexy strikes again!” she joked. “Romeo, your family’s here, and they have tons of activities planned this afternoon. We can’t spend the rest of the day in bed—”
“Like hell we can’t! My house, my rules, and all I want for Christmas is you.”
Chuckling, Romeo sat down on his favorite chair, pulled Zoe down onto his lap, kissed her lips. The living room was crowded and noisy, filled with excitement as his family members sipped champagne and opened their presents. Romeo had everything he needed in Zoe, and didn’t care what was under the tree. She was the center of his world, his one true love, and he’d never get tired of being with her. They shared the same hobbies and interests, and were a hundred percent committed to each other. Zoe understood him, appreciated him, and more than anything, made him feel loved and accepted. And it had nothing to do with his net worth.
Romeo took her hand to his, raised it to his mouth and kissed her palm. In a playful mood, he couldn’t resist teasing her and flashed a toothy smile. “I’ve lived a lot and experienced the best of everything, but you are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me, bellissima. Thanks for crashing your bike into my Lambo that fateful November morning.”
“No, thank you,” she insisted. An amused expression covered her face. “I can’t take all of the credit. After all, you caused the accident, not me!”
Romeo gave an unrestrained laugh. His heart was full of love and happiness, and his smart, beautiful girlfriend was the reason why. Holding the woman he loved in his arms, surrounded by his relatives, was the best Christmas gift Romeo had ever received. He was in such a good mood he knew he’d never be able to wipe the smile off his face.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from A LOVE LIKE THIS by Kianna Alexander.
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A Love Like This
by Kianna Alexander
Chapter 1
Hadley Monroe leaned against the window seat in the living room of rental unit seven, a clipboard in hand. Her eyes swept the room as she took in the flurry of activity going on around her. As office manager and resident jill-of-all-trades at her family’s real estate company, Monroe Holdings, she often oversaw the preparation of a vacation property for a client. Today, however, was a bit different.
She glanced over her shoulder briefly, taking in the scenery outside. The bright sunlight streaming through the sheer white curtains gave no clue to the mid-December chill hanging in the air. Less than a half mile from the grassy lawn fronting the two-story town house the frothy waves of the Atlantic lapped at the sandy shore. She smiled as she turned back to the work at hand, reminded once again why she’d chosen to remain in Sapphire Shores after graduation. Her small island hometown just off the coast of North Carolina possessed gorgeous scenery and a close-knit community she doubted she’d find elsewhere.
Stifling a yawn, Hadley shifted her weight and scanned the room for the familiar face of her friend.
Belinda Quick, owner of Quick Transformations, rushed around the room with a clipboard of her own. Dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a red T-shirt emblazoned with her logo, she stood out among the purple T-shirts worn by her employees. It was Belinda’s staff that tackled the responsibility of readying MHI’s rental properties between clients. Belinda’s business handled a bevy of tasks, from general cleaning to decorating, and their efficiency had proven a godsend for Hadley on more than one occasion. Having known Belinda since high school, Hadley placed the utmost trust in her.
Her sneakers squeaking against the recently polished hardwood floor, Belinda sidled up to Hadley. “What do you think? Are we almost there?”
Hadley drew a deep breath as she looked around again, taking in the meticulously placed Christmas decorations put up by Belinda and her staff. The seven-foot Fraser fir occupying the corner by the staircase leading to the second floor was festooned in red and gold ornaments. The color scheme carried through to the tree skirt, the tablecloth and place mats on the dining room table, and the red and gold velvet bows adorning the balsam garland fastened to the fireplace mantel. “It looks fantastic, B. You’ve done it again, girl.”
Belinda winked. “You know QT never slacks on a job. Got a few lights strung outside, too.”
Hadley’s brow wrinkled. “You remembered to only use white lights, right? Because...”
“I know, I know. Mr. Granger doesn’t like colored lights.” Belinda rolled her eyes playfully. “It’s all good, girl. We only used white lights. On the tree, outside, the whole nine. And no decor on the second floor, just like you asked.”
Hadley felt a shiver go down her spine, and it wasn’t due to lack of insulation in the rental unit, either. It was the shiver that always moved through her when anyone mentioned Devon Granger’s name. Devon Granger. Her tongue darted out to moisten her bottom lip as she thought of him. That man had a body so solid and a face so handsome, it was if he’d been hewn from a block of marble. She was sure she wasn’t the only woman who found the actor, famous for his performances in action films and Westerns, irresistibly sexy. She was, however, the only woman who’d spent the last four Christmases making sure his every need was met to his satisfaction. Well, his rental property needs, anyhow. Given the chance, though, Hadley knew she’d happily fulfill just about any request he could throw her way...
“Hadley. Hadley!” Belinda snapped her fingers several times. “Are you still with me, girl?”
Blinking a few times until her friend’s face came into focus, Hadley smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, B. What did you say?”
“I said, I’m telling my staff to clear out so you and I can make our final walk-through.”
“Great. I think we’re done here. He likes his decorations to be pretty low-key.” Hadley hoped if she steered the conversation right back to the business at hand, her friend wouldn’t call her out for daydreaming. Honestly, it’s her fault for bringing up his name.
No such luck. Belinda’s brow hitched upward, as it was apt to do before she commenced grilling someone for information. “You were fantasizing about him again, weren’t you.” It was a question, yet she posed it as a statement, as if there weren’t any doubt in her mind about the answer.
Hadley sucked in a breath. Oh, the things I could tell her. She knew there was no point in trying to conceal her plans from Belinda, but that didn’t mean she wanted all eight of her friend’s employees to know her personal business. “Go clear out the staff, B.”
She shrugged. “Fair enough. But once they leave, I want the dirt, Hadley.”
Shaking her head, Hadley watched her friend walk away and begin the process of rounding up her employees. She plopped down on the cushion of the window seat, waiting until the last of the staff members had left and watched as Belinda strode back over.
“Let’s get this walk-through knocked out.” Belinda gestured for Hadley to get up. “And while we do it, you can tell me what you’re plotting.”
Hadley shook her head as the two of them began walking the property. “You know me too well.”
“Yep. So you may as well let the tiger out of the sack.”
Hadley sighed. “Well, you know I’ve had a thing for Devon ever since he first rented from us several years ago.”
Belinda scoffed. “A thing for him? Girl, please. You’ve been pining after that man like you’re a woman in a desert and he’s the oasis.”
She pursed her lips. “Thanks for that colorful description, B. Anyway, I’ve stayed away from him because I knew he was grieving, and I respected that. But I think five years is more than reasonable, don’t you?” Around town, it was common knowledge that escaping to the vacation house had been part of Devon’s way of coping with the loss of his wife. Regardless of her strong feelings for him, Hadley could never bring herself to infringe on his grief.
Belinda nodded as they rounded the corner, passing the tree to head upstairs. “Yes, Hadley. Five years is very respectable. You’ve been very patient, considering how obsessed you are with him.”
On the landing, Hadley gave Belinda a playful punch on the shoulder. “Shut up, B. It’s not an obsession. It’s not like I have an altar to him or something.”
A chuckling Belinda cracked open the door to the master bedroom. “You know I’m just playing with you. But you have to admit, you’ve got it pretty bad.”
Hadley could feel her face relaxing, and she could see her softening expression reflected at her in the bedroom mirror. “Yeah, you’re right. And this year, I’m going to do something about it. It’s my Christmas gift
to myself.”
She looked around the space. Belinda’s crew had done a great job, and she admired the freshly made four-poster, king-size bed. The bed, along with the matching nightstands and dresser, were all fashioned of polished oak and adorned with an etched ivy-leaf pattern. The soft grey carpet felt like a cloud beneath her feet.
They left the bedroom and continued through the upper floor.
“More power to you. Get your man, girl.” Belinda peeked into the bathroom. “Do you have a plan for how you’re going to approach him?”
Hadley answered as they finished checking the upstairs room and descended the stairs. “I’ve got a start. I’m going to meet him at arrival and give him a gift to thank him for renting from us for the past five years. That will get me in, at least.” It was something the company did all the time for repeat clients, and making the delivery herself gave her a perfect excuse to spend time in Devon’s company.
Back in the living room, Belinda turned to Hadley and tossed her the keys. “That will get you in, true enough. But once you’re alone, what are you going to say to him?”
Hadley imagined his face and shook her head. “I don’t have the faintest idea. I guess I’m winging it.” After all these years of denying herself this particular piece of dark chocolate, she just hoped she’d be coherent enough to get her point across.
The two women left the unit laughing, and Hadley locked the door behind them.
* * *
Devon Granger moved around the master bedroom of his Los Angeles home, tossing things into the open suitcase lying on his bed. His flight to North Carolina would depart in a few hours, and he needed to get it together if he expected to make it in time to board the plane. Flying out of LAX was one of his least favorite things to do—the place never seemed to have a time when it wasn’t crowded. Still, it was the closest airport to his Silver Lake home. Going a little early meant he wouldn’t have to rush.