by Lauren Asher
“Let me explain the whole thing before you interrupt okay? Please?”
Her frown becomes more pronounced. “Don’t skimp on one detail, or else I swear to God...”
Okay, I can work with that. “So, I called her after Noah told me that she spoke to his personal assistant. She threatened to release some story about you and an assault charge because of Ralph. The whole phone call was disgusting. I didn’t expect her to be obvious about how little she cares about you. After that, I paid her off because I just wanted her out of your life permanently. And to be clear, I didn’t do it because I was afraid of what something like that could do for my reputation. Any decision I made about her was solely to save you from any additional pain. I want you to know that first and foremost.”
Chloe nods but doesn’t say anything.
My heart beats faster in my chest. Is she pissed I withheld this too?
Of course she is. You keep fucking up over and over against with her. I ramble on, desperate for her to understand. “The story…I was afraid how it could hurt you if it got out. She was threatening to take your story to the reporters, and if I’ve learned anything, it’s that they love drama like that. And she only wanted money, and I have plenty of it, so I didn’t think she was worth it. I’ve been broken by the media, and I didn’t want the same for you.”
“You paid her off because you wanted to make sure I wasn’t hurt in the process?”
I nod my head up and down. “I swear. The kind of money she was asking for has such little value to me. It’s laughable how she could’ve asked for way more, and I wouldn’t have hesitated because you’re more important. I was trying to free you of ever having to deal with her again. After everything you shared, I was only trying to help. If that’s what you want, that is.”
“Right,” she mumbles under her breath.
What is she thinking? Her blank face reveals nothing, and I’m not sure how to gauge her reaction.
I cup her chin and force her to look at me. “God, I don’t know how you came out pure-hearted after being raised by someone like her.”
“Because she didn’t raise me to begin with. Locking me in rooms and forcing me to fend for myself year after year barely counts as being human, let alone a parent.”
My chest tightens at her words. I’d do anything to replace all her memories with new ones. No child deserves to have gone through what she did. While I can’t change Chloe’s past, I can be part of a better future. One that includes endless laughs and the best adventures.
She runs her hand down my chest. Heat rushes down my spine from her touch.
Her hand stops, lingering over my beating heart. “You had the choice to keep this from me and I wouldn’t have found out—if what you said is true about paying her off forever. You risked me getting upset again and potentially leaving you for good. Why would you do that?”
“Because I made a promise to you earlier to always tell the truth, and I plan on keeping it. Forever.”
“Forever?” Her lips part as she sucks in a breath.
“Forever.” I pull her body against mine.
I kiss her with everything I have in me. Every unspoken promise I plan on holding myself to as long as I’m with her.
Chloe didn’t just bring back a part of me that was missing. She helped me grow into someone better than ever before, and for that, she has my loyalty and love.
48
Chloe
“Keep your eyes closed.”
I spread my fingers apart a fraction of an inch, only for Santiago to smack them lightly.
“Do you ever listen?”
“I don’t know. I listened pretty well last night.” I smirk.
I’m not naming names, but someone is mighty confident in the bedroom now. And with his boosted self-esteem comes a lot of new experiences. And I mean new. Things Cosmo magazine would blush about. Hell, I’m blushing just thinking about it.
“If you keep this up, you’ll never see your surprise.”
I groan. “Surprise? I thought we agreed those are the worst! Right up there with gender reveal parties still being a thing.”
His breath tickles my ear as he releases a hoarse laugh. “But I promise you’ll like this one. Trust me.”
A door creaks open, and Santiago shuffles me inside. I keep my fingers secured over my eyes. Deep down I don’t want to ruin whatever he’s planned, even if it is a surprise.
“Did you finally add a Red Room of Pain to this creepy castle?”
“No. And Mr. Grey will not see you now or ever.” He halts, forcing me to stop.
“You’re kind of sexy when you get jealous.”
His lips press against mine. It’s brief, and I yearn for more the moment he pulls away.
“Do you ever stop talking?”
“Only when your cock is in my mouth.”
He lets out a howl of laughter.
I drop my hands, wanting to see his smile. What I find is so much better.
“Oh my God.” I stare wide-eyed at the room.
Can someone please scoop my jaw up off the floor and return it back to its rightful place?
Santiago remains silent as I take it all in.
Huge bay windows allow for the afternoon sun to light the room. A massive white table and comfy chair is set up in the middle. Empty embroidery hoops of every size line one wall, making a pretty cool design. Clear drawers filled with supplies line another wall.
I walk toward one of the drawers and pull it open. T-shirts of every color and material are lined up perfectly. The next drawer reveals threads from the entire rainbow. Other drawers house jeans of all sizes, hats, and sweaters. You name it, he bought it.
It’s a crafting paradise. I couldn’t have dreamed up this design even if I wanted to.
I turn toward the man who made this all possible and run into his arms.
He lifts me up and spins me in a circle. “Do you like it?”
I cradle his face and place a bunch of kisses all over it. “Do I like it? I love it!”
“Now you have no excuse not to chase after your dream. There’s an Etsy shop waiting for you.”
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I say between kisses.
“No. Thank you for reminding me what it means to have a passion. This is only the start of returning that favor.”
“Is this your way of getting me to come over every single day once I get my own apartment in town?”
He smirks. “No. This is my way of getting you to stay. Permanently. I don’t want you to move out.”
“We can’t live together. We’re not even married!”
He laughs. “Is that a necessity? Because I can amend that problem very fast.”
I smack his arm. “Don’t joke.”
“Who said anything about joking?”
“You want me to move in with you? Like forever?”
“Unless you have somewhere else to go, I think that’s what permanently means.”
I roll my eyes. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am.”
“You’re crazy.”
“So are you.”
“I don’t cook.”
He laughs. “I do.”
I tick off another finger on my hand. “I don’t clean very much.”
“There’s a maid for that.”
“I leave my makeup all over the counter, and my clothes never make it into the hamper.”
“I’ve yet to hear a real negative in all this rambling of yours.”
I grin up at him. “You really want this?”
“More than anything else.”
“That can’t be true. There has to be something else you want.”
“There is. But some things take time and even you aren’t ready for that.”
What on Earth does that mean?!
He leans down and kisses me. It’s an electric storm growing between us, morphing into something uncontrollable. Like lightning could be crashing down around us and we wouldn’t even notice.
I�
��d be a fool to say no after a declaration of love like that. It looks like I’m staying in Italy after all.
“I have somewhere I want to take you.” Santiago grabs my hand and pulls me up from the couch.
“Is it an art store?”
“No.”
“The grocery store?”
“God, no. Why would I want to take you there?”
“Because I ate the last couple of Oreos last night after you fell asleep.”
“Seriously? You didn’t bother saving one?”
I shrug. “Do crumbs count?”
He shakes his head as if he can’t believe he was lucky enough to score someone as thoughtful as me. I know. I’m such a catch, even the Oreos couldn’t resist me.
An idea hits me. “Oh, I know! We’re going to the junk yard to search for your next restoration job.”
He grunts. “No. I’m taking you on our first official date as a real couple. Are you happy now?”
“Even better!” I bounce off the couch and into his arms.
He cradles my face and places a soft kiss on my lips.
I lean into his touch, silently begging for more.
“If you keep this up, we will never leave.”
“Is that the worst thing?”
He sighs. “I’d say no, but I put a little something together and I don’t want it to go to waste.”
Aw, how sweet. I step away, stopping my torture.
I look down at my T-shirt and skirt full of tiny daisies. “Am I dressed okay?”
“You look beautiful.”
“That was the best evasion technique I’ve ever heard.”
He laughs under his breath. “We better get going. It’s getting late.”
“It’s ten in the morning.”
“If you’re not early…”
“You’re late. Ugh. You’re getting predictable.”
“You won’t be saying that in an hour.”
Oh, shit.
“What are we doing in the middle of nowhere?”
Santiago parks the car off to the side of the dirt road we traveled down.
“I thought it was a good place for no one to hear your screams.”
A cold chill spreads across my skin. “Back to plotting my murder? I thought we moved past that plan once we started fake dating.”
“To be fair, you did eat the last Oreos.” He exits the car and grabs something from the trunk.
I clutch onto the door handle to open the door, but Santiago beats me to it. Whoever said chivalry was dead clearly hasn’t met the right man.
My eyes drop to the basket and the backpack Santiago carries in his hand. “A picnic?”
“Hmm.”
I squeal like a freaking schoolgirl because my boyfriend went out of his way to plan a picnic for me. “Oh my God. You’re such a softy.”
“My abs beg to differ.”
I snort. “You planned a picnic! That’s romantic. I thought that was only a thing in movies.”
“I’m committed to recreating some of the movies you love and making them better.”
I almost fall out of my seat from swooning too hard.
Santiago ushers me out of the car. He puts on the backpack and transfers the basket to one hand so he can grab onto mine.
We hike together through a short trail. It’s something out of a fairy tale, with a little creek and trees as far as the eye can see. The trail spits us out into a field.
“Whoa,” I whisper under my breath.
A field of wildflowers stretches on forever. Flowers of every color dance in the wind, swaying together in perfect harmony. There’s not a single soul nearby except for the birds chirping in the distance.
It’s absolutely stunning, and all I want to do is run through them. I resist the urge. “How did you find this place?”
“I have my ways.”
“It’s gorgeous.”
“It’s how I see you.” He looks down at me, his eyes reflecting an array of emotions.
Tears prick my eyes. Never in my life have I felt this loved and cherished. It’s a blessing to feel so damn important to someone, to the point that they make sure I know it every single day. Santiago Alatorre loves me in a way that most people spend their whole lives chasing. And I love him equally as much.
Santiago taught me how there’s a difference between want and need. I need him. Like the trees need sunlight or the ocean needs the tide. Being around him is becoming something fundamental for me.
He plucks a dandelion from the field and holds it up to me. “It might not be your journal, but the wish works just the same.”
My smile wobbles.
I shut my eyes and suck in a breath.
I wish Santiago achieves all his dreams because no one deserves it more than him.
I blow and open my eyes to find the hundreds of dandelion parts floating away. It’s a beautiful sight, like magic spreading across the land.
“Is it illegal for me to ask what you wished for?”
I laugh. “Yes, and don’t bother trying. Did you pack a blanket in that bag?”
He nods his head up and down. “It wouldn’t be a picnic without one according to my friends.”
If he continues to shock me, he might need to nail my jaw shut.
“You asked your friends about what supplies to bring?” I ask incredulously.
“No. They wouldn’t shut up when I told them what my plan was for today. Liam—you haven’t met him yet—was especially vocal, going off about all the supplies to make it special.”
I’m so proud of him for branching out again and talking more with his family and friends. He seems happier—lighter even.
Santiago sets everything up. He moves to grab our lunch out of the basket, but I place my hand over his.
“What is it?” He looks up at me.
I lean over and place a kiss on his pouty lips. “I want to show you something.”
“What?” His voice takes on a husky tone.
“It’s time I repaid a favor you did a while ago.”
His brows dart up. “You’ve got my attention. What do you want to show me?”
“How much I love you.” I push at his shoulders.
He follows my lead and lays down. I crawl over his body and cup one of his cheeks with my hand.
I kiss him with everything in me. Every emotion. Every memory of us. Every ounce of love I feel towards him. I’m desperate to show him how I feel like he did.
I sit up. His erection presses into my ass. With desperate hands and his help, I tug his shirt over his head and throw it toward the edge of the blanket. My clothing and underwear meet the same discarded fate. Santiago makes quick work of unbuttoning his shorts and tugging them down his legs.
Our lips crash together again, the need between us growing as our hands memorize each other’s bodies again. His touch is tender and adoring as his hands run down my back. They heat my skin like a brand.
I brush my hand across his throbbing cock. Santiago hisses at the touch, and his kiss becomes more punishing as I wrap a hand around him and pump.
My desperation pushes him over the edge. His touch becomes more purposeful as he strokes the place between my legs begging for his attention. A sky of shooting stars bursts behind my eyelids as his touch brings me alive.
I cherish every minute, our kisses saying things words can’t.
Santiago grabs a condom from the backpack pocket and passes it to me. I roll it over his thick erection and line our bodies together.
I place a soft kiss against his lips and lean back again. “Loving you is like the first day of spring after a harsh winter.”
He smiles up at me, clearly recognizing my attempt to recreate the moment he shared with me all those weeks ago when I asked him about love.
“Loving you is like the ocean. Infinite. Fierce. Breathtaking.”
He sits up on his elbows and cups my face.
I lean into his touch, allowing his warmth to seep through my body. “Loving you feels like seeing a rainbo
w for the first time. It’s so amazing, you can’t help wondering if it was created by magic.” I slide down his shaft, connecting us in more ways than one.
There is an understated beauty in intimacy. It binds us together, making a wonderful blend of lust and love. With Santiago, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.
I place my hands against his chest and rise, only to slide back down.
He groans at the motion, and I grin from ear to ear. Everything about him makes me happy. From the sweet things he says to the devious look he gets in his eyes when we make love.
I lean over and press a soft kiss against his lips. I whisper low, our breaths mingling together, “And most of all, loving you is realizing I don’t have to make a wish ever again because I already have everything I could ever want.”
49
Santiago
Chloe and I walk hand in hand into the boardroom, following Noah and Maya. It reminds me of a law courtroom with the panelists sitting in a row of seats where a judge usually resides.
I halt, and Chloe stumbles from the momentum of being pulled back. She looks back over her shoulder. I can barely focus on her because of the sight in front of me.
Every seat in the room is filled with people of my racing past. Maya takes a seat beside Sophie and Liam, who both wave at me from the front row. Beside Liam sits Jax, who has his arm wrapped around Elena. He offers me a chin tip before turning his attention back to Elena and Elías.
Countless Bandini crew members sit in the rows behind them, all chatting or smiling at one another. There isn’t one face I don’t recognize. The sight assaults me, forcing ragged breaths from my lungs.
All these people are here for me?
James waves me over from the table in the front meant for lawyers.
Chloe squeezes my hand, gaining my attention. “Ready?”
I swallow back the lump in my throat. “I’d say no, but I’m supposed to act calm, cool, and collected according to Noah, or else he’ll kick my ass.”
She laughs under her breath. “You’ve got this. No one has prepared more than you have for something like this.”
“It’s hard to compete against no one. It’s not like many racers have been in this position before.”