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She shook her head violently. “No, it was all my fault. I should never have done that. I…don’t know what came over me.”
“It’s okay, honey. I don’t hate you for what you did. We all make mistakes. It’s okay.” For a long while Dare was silent, just holding Erin, rocking her in his arms. Gradually her trembling ceased and her breathing calmed. Only then did he speak. “Robyn knew about this, didn’t she? She used this information against you.”
Her head still resting against his shoulder, Erin nodded. “She threatened to tell you everything. I’m guessing that’s what today’s call was about.”
Dare put a finger under Erin’s chin and lifted her face to his. “Know this, Erin DeSouza. I love you and there is nothing about you or your past that will make me stop.”
Her eyes widened as she stared up at him. “Dare, what are you saying? You’ve never told me you loved me.”
“I know. I was a fool. It was a secret I kept to myself but I’m telling you now. I love you, Erin. You and Soleil are my life. I want you with me forever.”
Her face crumpled and he could see she was struggling to hold back the tears . “Do you mean it, Dare? Don’t play with me.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” His grip tightened round her. “You’re mine and you can keep digging up all the skeletons you want. You’ll never scare me off. You’re never going to get away from me, Erin. You’re trapped with me on this island. I’ll hide your passport if I have to.”
To his relief that got him his first smile from her. “You won’t have to,” she said, smiling through her tears. “You have me for life.”
And when Dare pulled her close and kissed her she responded with a passion that told him, without a doubt, that every word she said was true.
EPILOGUE
“Thank you so much for coming, Dare.” Robyn clasped his hand for a second and her eyes brimmed with tears.
Then she turned to Erin. “And Erin how can I ever thank you?” She took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Erin in a fierce hug. Then she stepped back and dabbed daintily at her eyes with a handkerchief.
“I’m so glad you were able to make it for the funeral. Mom had a special place in her heart for you, Erin. You know that, don’t you?” She dabbed at her nose then tucked her hankie into her purse. “That’s why I was so distressed when I couldn’t reach you. Mom would never have forgiven me.” She looked over at Dare. “Did Erin tell you I was always jealous of her?” She gave a little laugh. “Mom was always comparing the two of us. Erin was the angel and I was the devil.” She shrugged. “It took me a long time to realize what Mom wanted me to learn from Erin - her strength, her determination.” Her eyes took on a faraway look. “During those last days in her battle with cancer we talked…more than we talked all my years growing up in the house. And that’s when I began to understand her and how much she wanted the best for me.”
She took a deep breath then pasted a brave smile on her lips. “I guess it’s time for me to grow up now.” She touched Erin on the shoulder then turned and walked across the churchyard to the limousine where the rest of her family waited patiently for her.
After she climbed into the car and they drove off Erin turned to her husband. “Thanks for coming with me,” she said.
“I wouldn’t have let you come alone,” he said with a smile. “Now let’s get back to the hotel before Princess Soleil drives poor Francine crazy.”
With a chuckle he put his arms around her shoulder and Erin put her arm around his waist knowing that she had the greatest blessing in the world. She was loved.
THE END
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CLICK HERE TO LIKE OR REVIEW: BILLIONAIRE’S ISLAND BRIDE
The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series (click on the links to go to each book):
TAMED by the BILLIONAIRE
MAID in the U.S.A.
BILLIONAIRE’S ISLAND BRIDE
DANGEROUS DECEPTION
BOX SET - BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES COLLECTION, VOLS. 1 - 4
Excerpts follow:
TAMED BY THE BILLIONAIRE
CHAPTER ONE
Roman Steele stared across the boardroom table at his long-time business associate. “So basically you’re telling me she’s a spoiled brat.”
The older man frowned. “Since you put it so bluntly…yes, I guess that’s what I’m saying.” Richard Van Buren laced his fingers across his stomach and leaned back in the chair. “She’s getting me worried, Roman. She’s all grown up now. She can’t keep behaving like this.”
“Don’t you think you’re being melodramatic?” Roman asked, slightly amused. “You said she’s grown now. I would think the realities of life would calm her.”
“That’s the problem. I haven’t exposed her to any of those realities.” Richard shook his head then sighed. “Ever since her mother died when she was six I’ve been spoiling Serena, letting her have her own way. Trying to make up for the loss of her mother, I guess.” His eyes took on a distant look and his voice trailed away.
“But you went overboard?” Roman prompted.
Richard grimaced. “I let her run wild for years. I thought with the supervision of the housekeeper she would be alright. After all, girls are supposed to be easier to raise than boys, right? Guess I was wrong.” Richard smiled ruefully. He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a brown leather wallet from which he took a small photograph. He slid it across the table. “This is my Serena when she was nineteen.” He shrugged. “It’s a couple of years old.”
Roman picked it up and found himself staring at the smiling face of a girl sitting on the back of a shiny black stallion. She was breathtakingly beautiful with long chestnut hair floating around her heart-shaped face and a pretty pout that drew attention to the pink petals of her lips. Her eyes were the exquisite blue of the Pacific Ocean and in them was a bold defiance that spoke of the girl’s confidence and spirit.
Roman raised his eyebrows. “So this is Serena,” he said, almost to himself. “She’s a beauty.”
“That’s the problem,” Richard said grimly. “She’s beautiful and she knows it. And she’s also the daughter of a wealthy man who spoils her.” His face turned sad. “This is not how I want things to be. I want my daughter to be prepared for the world. When I pass on she’s the one who’s going to take charge of the company and right now she’s not prepared for any of that.”
Roman tore his gaze away from the photograph and looked back at Richard. “You talk as if you plan to leave soon,” he said with a chuckle. “You’re as healthy as a horse.”
“Yes, but you never know…” Richard tapped his silver pen on the table, his weathered face thoughtful. “Serena is finishing up college in a week. She’ll be twenty-one with a Bachelor’s degree in art history. She didn’t even do her degree in business like I told her. How prepared can she be to take over the business?” He shook his head then smiled wryly. “I can’t even rely on her to find a suitable husband. She’s shown no interest in the guys who’ve come knocking. She’ll probably keep rejecting them for years to come.”
“So what are you going to do about this?”
Richard shrugged. “Short of forcing her into marriage with a man with some business sense, I have no idea.” Then he grinned at the preposterous idea. “If only we were back in the nineteenth century.”
Roman sat back and looked keenly at Richard. He could see that despite his attempt at humor the older man was distressed. They’d just finished up a business meeting where they’d discussed a possible collaboration between both their companies. They were considering a partnership in the development of a new line of skin care products. Out of the blue Richard started talking about his daughter. The situation was obviously weighing heavily on his mind.
“So let me get this straight,” Roman said, folding his arms across his chest. “You have a daughter who likes to have her own way. She doesn’t listen to you yet you give her whatever she wants. You’ve been doing this for the past twenty-one years and now you want her to settle down and get involved in the business?”
Richard gave a solemn nod. “I know I’ve been a terrible parent. And I know it’s late. I should have been firm with her all those years.” He gave a deep sigh. “She’s not prepared, Roman. My daughter needs a crash course in real life.”
