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I glanced up at the painting he’d done of me covered in vibrant hues and tingled. It was our little secret, impossible to tell I was the model.
Laughing, I considered darting out, but knew he’d only find me. Then the dress would be ruined. When he brought a small box, I wrinkled my nose. “I have enough jewelry to start a small store.”
“Maybe you need to have faith in me.” He waited until I took the box from his hand before shoving his into his pockets. I had to say he looked incredible in his dark silk shirt and trousers, the white jacket at my request. Then again, I was wearing red.
“I do have faith in you. More than you know.” As soon as I opened the box, I was confused. “You’re giving me a key to your house?”
“No. I’m giving you a key toyourhouse.”
“I don’t understand.”
He rubbed his jaw, refusing to shave off the three-day stubble. I thought it was sexy. He was trying to be a rogue. “It would seem my friend was in the mood to sell his house and buy another one.”
“Do you mean…” My stomach suddenly had knots.
“Yes, in New Orleans. You know, the one with the deliciously kinky room? He’s agreed to sell all the equipment to me as well.” His grin gave me another series of tremors all the way into my pussy. “Now, I do hope you don’t mind having company there.”
“Why are you doing this? Your business is here.”
“Well, the family business is expanding.” He laughed seeing my look of horror. “As I said, have a little faith. I’m funding several arts programs in New Orleans as well as throughout Louisiana for underprivileged children. In addition, the Montenegro Corporation is gifting the local college money for improving and expanding their arts department. I’ve also taken the liberty of purchasing the building where your gallery is located, which will allow you to expand when you believe the time is right. And I might be involved in a few other artistic endeavors myself.” He grinned, lifting an eyebrow when I didn’t respond instantly.
“You did that for me?”
“I did it for us, Eden. It was time I stopped wallowing in self-pity and learn to live my life. You showed me what I was missing, and I don’t plan on allowing that to happen any longer.”
I wrapped my fingers around the key, my heart racing. Then I threw my arms around him. “I love you, Cruz. More today than I did yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.”
“That sounds like a song.”
I laughed, although a single tear slipped down my face. “It is.”
When I was a little girl, I believed in monsters, ugly creatures that fed off small children. That’s why I’d always slept with a nightlight on. When I was older, I learned there were bad people in the world, those who ignored the rules. While I’d known my father was in that category, I’d seen him as a hero, a man who would always protect me.
When he was no longer there, I knew evil existed, vile and treacherous, sucking the life out of anyone who came into the demon’s path.
I’d believed that Cruz fell into one of the last two categories, wanting to tear me apart. Maybe he had at one point, but we’d both learned that our parents had told us the truth.
That love could conquer all evils.
Love was messy and often confusing, burdensome and haunting. But it was also delightful and passionate. And it could mean salvation.
Even for those who believed they didn’t deserve it.
When I walked down an aisle, thousands of roses on either side, petals scattered across the floor, I knew my mother and father were watching over me, giving their approval.
As I eased the two dozen crystal roses into my new sister-in-law’s hands, able to finally face the man who would be my husband, I knew that all the anger and sadness had been put to rest.
The two of us were about to become one.
And if the devil sent his demons to attempt to destroy us, we would slay them together.
The End
