“I have to go to him,” Aimee whispered, feeling the tug of compassion for her father that seemed to take priority over everything else—even her deep lust and happiness with Enrico.
Enrico gestured forth, allowing her a moment of privacy, and Aimee raised her chin, feeling chills of sadness at her father’s state overtake her.
The moment she reached his side, her father sensed her presence. He eyed her with a little more focus than he had days before, when she’d ensured he ate breakfast.
His eyes opened wider. “You know, every day you look more and more like your mother,” he told her, his voice sloppy. “I fell head over heels for her here.”
“I know the story, Dad,” Aimee whispered, bringing her hand over his shoulder, easing it over his tense muscles. “She was young and beautiful, you were a suave businessman. It seemed like you were a match made in heaven.”
“But when she dragged me to Seattle—that’s when I saw the man I truly am,” her father continued, his eyes growing dark. “I took up gambling there. And years later, after we came back here, the darkness turned me to drink.” He cleared his throat. “I don’t blame your mother for my addictions. I only blame myself. I lost her because of it. And now, I’ll be losing you. I’ll lose the hotel. I’ll lose my entire livelihood. How the hell am I going to keep chugging along after that? How am I going to survive without you?”
This honesty, so often obscured by Max’s desire to pretend that everything was all right, shot Aimee to the bone. She wrapped her father in a hug, feeling his quivering muscles. She whispered in his ear, knowing that the rest of the bar couldn’t be privy to the information she was about to share with him.
“It’s all going to be okay, Dad,” she said, her voice soothing. “I can’t tell you why right now, and I can’t tell you precisely when it’ll all unfold. But the hotel is going to be okay. We’re going to be okay. And we’re going to get you some help. You can’t do this on your own anymore.”
“Just as practical as your mother, as well,” her father said, smiling affectionately.
Sensing someone else’s gaze, he jerked his head to the left, grunting. There, by the door, stood Enrico. His strong forearms were wrapped at his chest, and he was eyeing them both with dark, hawk-like eyes.
“I don’t suppose he’s the reason everything’s going to be all right?” Max asked, surprising Aimee with the way he could tap into her psyche.
Aimee chuckled softly. She kissed her father on the cheek, slicing a finger over her throat to signal that it was time to call it a night. “Take it easy on the drinking, Dad. We can talk more about this tomorrow.”
As she strode away from him, her heart pounding in her chest, she turned back one final time. He caught her, giving her a small wink and a jagged smile. And, a moment later, Enrico wrapped his strong arm around her shoulders, easing her through the doors and out onto the sand. She felt she was saying goodbye to an old world, an old time, and embracing a new one, wholly.
Aimee exhaled, allowing herself to laugh once more. She eased her nose toward Enrico, tipping it against his. They heard the crashing waves as they strode along the shore and allowed their hands to fall between them, to link together as they walked.
“How do you think things will change, now?” Aimee asked him, looking out across the horizon. She could see boat lights twinkling again in the distance. She wondered what it was like out there, in the darkness, the deep water rushing around you.
“Well, let’s see,” Enrico began, his voice teasing. “First of all, I think you’ll be spending a lot less time behind the reception desk.”
Aimee rolled her eyes slightly at that. “Ever considered that I actually like my work?” She was preparing to defend her job, but as she turned her eyes toward Enrico’s, she saw that he was just teasing her—that he was playing. “Imagine what Christopher would say if I just upped and left.”
“I’ve heard he’s not too happy with you these days,” Enrico said.
“Who told you that?” Aimee asked, shocked.
“You forgot that I have eyes everywhere,” Enrico said, putting on his best Duchamp accent.
Aimee laughed, turning back toward the city, loose strands of her hair dancing in the breeze. She sighed evenly, closing her eyes.
“I’m so grateful not to be going back to America,” she whispered. “I can’t imagine leaving this beautiful, crazy place behind.”
As if on cue, a hotel down the beach began their nightly firework celebration—shooting greens, purples, blues and reds through the air. The pops and hisses echoed over the casino and hotel roofs. As the performance swept on, the vacationers of Monte Carlo ducked away from their poker and blackjack tables. They held tight to their loved ones, their eyes toward the sky. And they gasped with wonder at the wonder of the spectacle.
As they stood together, Enrico wrapped his arms around Aimee’s waist, kissing her cheek and neck from behind. She giggled, feeling goosebumps rise up on her skin. She knew that somewhere, across the city, Duchamp was living with the delirious thought that he’d won everything—completely unaware that she and Enrico had beaten him at his own game.
As soon as the firework show was over, Enrico led Aimee back to his penthouse. They kissed in the elevator, Enrico lifting her into his arms, and he carried her through the hallway, before dropping her upon his cloud-like mattress. She giggled with happiness before wrapping her legs around his waist and easing him over her, in a kiss that seemed to last for hours.
Their naked bodies joined for a night of passion, of unbridled lust—and assurance that they were falling deeply in love.
They fell asleep in each other’s arms just before dawn, their bodies tired and sweating, their minds filled with thoughts of the future. Duchamp would be ruined. And Enrico and Aimee would rise from the ashes, reborn and renewed.
The End
Holly Rayner
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Other books by Holly Rayner:
Sheikhs and Princes:
Bought By The Sheikh
Stealing From The Sheikh
The Sheikh’s Captive Woman
Marrying The Sheikh
The Sheikh’s Make-Believe Fiancée
The Sheikh’s Accidental Bride
The Sheikh’s Irresistible Proposal
The Sheikh’s Secret Princess
The Sheikh’s Illicit Affair
The Sheikh’s Purchased Bride
The Sheikh’s Tempted Protectress
The Sheikh’s Captive Love
The Sheikh’s Green Card Bride
Bought For One Night: The Sheikh’s Offer
Wifed By The Sheikh
The Sheikh’s Online Bride
Secret Baby Romance:
The Tycoon’s Triplet Baby Surprise
The Sheikh’s Quadruplet Baby Surprise
The Sheikh’s Triplet Baby Surprise
The Sheikh’s Quintuplet Baby Surprise
The Sheikh’s Secret Love Child
The Prince’s Scandalous Baby
Hassan: The Bad Boy Sheikh’s Baby
The Sheikh’s Twin Baby Surprise
The Sheikh’s American Baby
Merry Christmas Romance:
The Billionaire’s First Christmas
The Sheikh’s First Christmas
The Billionaire’s Christmas Bundle of Joy
The Billionaire’s Lessons in Christmas
European Billionaire Romance:
An Heir For Alexandros: The Greek Billionaire’s Baby
A Baby For Kristos
The Greek Billionaire’s Marriage Matchmaker
Poker Face
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Baby Maker - A Secret Baby Sports Star Romance Page 33