Dangerously Yours
Page 25
“But I’m not from Africa,” Bodie pointed out.
“No,” Mark agreed, “but your ancestors were. Probably brought to Brazil as slaves centuries ago and assimilated into the general population over time.”
Victor appeared at the courtyard door. “We’re ready to move out.”
“Load up. We’ll be there in a couple minutes,” Mark replied. When Victor was gone, he turned to Bodie. “We’ll take the laser to DT in L.A. Come with us.”
“An order?”
“An invitation.”
“I’ve got no money and no boat, so I guess I don’t have a choice.”
“Actually you have a substantial balance in a Swiss account—royalties and profits from your share in DT.”
“My share?”
“A small share of an extremely profitable company.”
It was Lex’s turn to feel outrage on Bodie’s behalf. “When were you going to tell him?”
Bodie put his hand on her shoulder and addressed Mark. “Doesn’t matter. I’m done with DT and with you.”
Mark frowned. “Really? I was going to offer you a job. You’d make a damned good Protector—which I’d insist on if you’re in a relationship with my sister.”
She cringed. “Mark!” Her cheeks warmed with embarrassment.
Bodie turned to her. “Are those his conditions or yours?”
Her heart began to pound. Gathering her courage, she searched his face for some clue to what he was thinking. The vulnerability she saw there lifted her heart and gave her hope. This might be her only shot with him. It was no time to be a coward.
“I have no conditions,” she said. “I love you but I won’t turn my back on my family or my duty so you can have revenge on Mark.”
Hurt filled his eyes. “Is that what you think of me? That I’d use you to hurt him?”
How to answer? She studied the handsome face so dear to her. He had hated Mark for so long and yet something seemed to be changing. Did he really care for her? She had to take a leap of faith.
“No,” she said. “I know you wouldn’t hurt me.”
He took both her hands in his and gazed into her eyes. “Out on the hill I saw you try to revive me. My soul was ready to go but I couldn’t leave you. I don’t know what love feels like, Lex, but I know I want to be with you, to cherish and protect you. I’ve never cared about anyone before. Will you teach me how it’s done?”
Tears filled her eyes and she blinked them back. “Absolutely.”
He gathered her in his arms and kissed her. His lips were warm and soft, gentle at first, then firm, hungry, possessive. The sweet invasion filled her with love and desire and the warm happiness of unlimited possibilities. This was the man she wanted to be with forever and ever, and by some miracle he wanted her, too.
Chapter Thirty-One
Bodie settled into the beach chair to watch Lex and his former assistant Josh in the shallow water of Little Harbor, Earl curled up next to him in the shade. She held the windsurfer board while Josh absorbed her instructions. In the past two weeks the pair had become fast friends.
Josh pulled the sail of the windsurfer out of the water, tilted it to catch the wind and the board began to move. Lex turned and waved at Bodie then gave him two thumbs up. He flashed the okay sign in reply. Grinning, she plowed through the shallow water toward the beach, wet orange bikini clinging deliciously to her curves.
She grabbed the towel on the chair next to his and began to dry off. “Did you see him? It won’t be long until he’s as good a windsurfer as you are.”
“In your dreams, woman.”
She pressed a salty kiss on his lips and he wrapped a hand around the back of her neck to hold her in place while he leisurely explored her mouth. He loved the honeysuckle taste of her, the fresh scent of the sea on her skin.
“Want to get a room?” she asked huskily.
He grinned at what had become a running joke since Josh had joined them. “Always.”
She dropped into the other beach chair. “I can’t believe we’re flying to Paris tomorrow.”
“Hard to believe we’ve been here for ten days.”
Her tone sobered. “Are you sure you’re cool with Mark and Adrien?”
After a dozen discussions with the Sentier and his Field General, Bodie had come to terms with the reality of his new life. Most of it, anyhow. He took her hand and squeezed it, savoring the slim femininity that had given him so much pleasure. “Yeah. I wouldn’t have signed on for Durand boot camp otherwise. Sure you won’t do a refresher course?”
She slipped on her Ray-Bans. “You know I can’t. I’ve taken off enough time and need to get back to work. Besides, it’ll do you good to miss me.”
And he would miss her. Four weeks was a long time, even if she promised to visit mid-semester. The possibility that he could ever lose her froze him to his soul. He knew what he wanted. The words were harder to find. He drew a deep breath. “I think it’s time you made an honest man of me.”
Her mouth dropped and she peered at him over the top of the shades. “Excuse me?”
His heart pounded in his chest and he steeled to plunge on. “I was raised Southern Baptist. You don’t expect me to continue living in sin.”
A slim eyebrow cocked. “Sin? Since when do you care about sin?”
“Since you told me I’m going to meet your family under the Sentier’s roof.”
She poked him in the arm with her pointer finger. “Do not tell me you’re backing out of this trip.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. Your parents, aunts, uncles, cousins. That’s a lot of Durands in one place. What do you say we get married while we’re there?”
She stared at him mouth open, then threw herself into his arms. They tumbled onto the sand, just missing poor startled Earl.
“Yes!” She kissed him fast and hard. “Of course I’ll marry you, Bodie Flynn. Paris, L.A., Fat Dog Island. Doesn’t matter where.”
He ran a hand down her back and over her bottom. “Paris, then.” His chest felt like it would burst with his love for her. “I love you, princess.”
“And I love you.”
Acknowledgements
So many people have supported and encouraged me on this writing journey and I thank you all. Special thanks to Sarita Oertling and Cheryl Stoy who read that first tome and still wanted to read the second. To my critique partner and literary midwife, Sarah Andre, and all my wonderful friends at West Houston RWA—especially Sharie, Tera, Shane, Kim, Susan, Colleen, Jo Anne and Kay. I’ve learned so much from you all and treasure your friendship.
I also want to thank my brilliant agent, Becca Stumpf, for helping me create the Durand world and finding it a home. And my editor, Randall Klein, who performed his own special brand of magic, and the wonderfully talented Diversion team.
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