Her heart skipped a beat, then a second later resumed its work, about to pop from her mouth. Throbbing. “What?” she managed to ask.
He flashed her a gorgeous smile. A smile that was as comforting as homemade chocolate chip cookies and movies in bed. A smile that was…home. “I love you,” he said, louder this time, as if he challenged her to believe it. “A year ago, when I met you, I fell for you. Then you left. And ever since you came back into my life, I’ve been doing a really lousy job convincing myself that I don’t love you, but I can’t keep on lying to myself anymore.”
“But you have…you said all these things about your parents’ marriage. Made me feel like I wasn’t worthy of being your wife. Are you saying this just because I saved your life?” she asked. She didn’t want his charity.
“No. If you don’t believe me, I can show you the email I sent my assistant to draw me a different kind of contract before we even met Clemonte.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want to marry you. I will always be grateful for you saving my life last night, but what you don’t know is you saved it long before. When we met, I was depressed coming to terms with my father’s diagnosis, and you brought sunshine and happiness. Even if only for a weekend. Then I found you, and you told me I had a daughter. What better gift can I ask for? And, when you told me a couple weeks ago that you’d be willing to stay under my conditions…to make it better for our daughter… I may have lied to myself then, too, but that night opened my eyes.”
Could this really be happening? Her heart leaped up her throat. Tingles of happiness swept over her. Yes. Yes, it could. “Oh, Leonardo…”
He cupped her face. “My father always talked about my mother even after she was long gone. They shared this beautiful love story that was the only thing I clung to during my childhood. I don’t need to do it anymore, because we have our own. I fell for a woman who’s brave, kind, and always puts others first. I don’t want to live in a world where you’re not part of my life, Satyanna.”
“I love you, too,” she said.
He kissed her. A long, passionate kiss that made her lift her arm to link her arms around him. Soreness pinched her, and she realized her shoulder still hurt. Damn it. She forgot she was damaged goods. “My shoulder hurts.”
He kissed her nose. “Until you feel better, I will tell you a story.”
“What story?”
“It started in a land far, far away…” he whispered in her ear, and she smiled into his skin. She just knew how that story would end.
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Acknowledgments
I’m extremely grateful for Alethea Spiridon for helping me develop this idea and turn it into a promising series. Thank you for your professionalism, feedback and all-around awesomeness!
Entangled Publishing is a wonderful place to be, and the entire team has been amazing to work with. I’m talking about editors, publicists, cover artists. Everyone! I’m truly blessed.
Thanks to Evelyn Berry, Carol La Gatta and Charlene Whitehouse for the wonderful brainstorming and your fabulous suggestions. Hope I did you proud.
I would be nowhere without the support of my friends, family and readers. I have to mention Carmen’s Crew, my ruthless Facebook street team. You make my heart happy.
I truly appreciate Dina Bushrod: my friend, support system, PA, and so much more. Thank you for believing in me and reminding me to do the same.
About the Author
Carmen Falcone learned at an early age that fantasizing about fictional characters beats doing math homework any day. Brazilian by birth and traveler by nature, she moved to Central Texas after college and met her broody Swiss husband—living proof that opposites attract. She found in writing her deepest passion and the best excuse to avoid the healthy lifestyle everyone keeps bragging about. When she’s not lost in the world of romance, she enjoys spending time with her two kids, being walked by her three crazy pugs, reading, catching up with friends, and chatting with random people in the checkout line.
She loves to procrastinate, so please indulge her and drop her a line at [email protected]. For more info, visit her website: carmenfalcone.com
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Also by Carmen Falcone…
A Night of Misbehaving
A Weekend of Misbehaving
A Vengeful Affair
Kidnapping the Brazilian Tycoon
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Brazilian Revenge (The Brazilians) Page 16