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“Emilia is something rare in our world, Maxwell.”
“What’s that?” he asks, and I sigh.
“She’s completely innocent.”
He nods. “I’ll make sure her bodyguards are kept close.”
“I’m going to stay away from her for a while.”
“What on earth for?”
I look at Maxwell and decide to lay my cards on the table. That’s not something that comes naturally to me, but it is how I’ve always dealt with him.Full disclosure.
“Because she’s too young for me, but she’s beautiful and there is an attraction between us. Our attraction and her curiosity are a bad combination. She needs time to grow up and I need to come to terms with what I’ve agreed to.”
I thought my confession would shock Maxwell. I even expected him to rescind his offer when he discovered that there’s a part of me thinking of his daughter as a woman—when I have no right to. Hell, I don’t even understand it myself. How could I expect Maxwell to? He nods.
“Very well. We’ll hold off announcing it to her.”
“Then, I guess we have a deal.”
I reach out my hand as he takes it into his grasp. We shake on it, acknowledging our deal.
Fuck…I’m getting married.
CHAPTER11
Emilia
One Year Later
“I can’t believe you won’t have a milkshake with me.”
“I’m supposed to watch over you, not drink milkshakes with you, Emilia.”
I roll my eyes when I look up at Vic over my straw. The guy really needs to learn how to let his hair down. Since his dark hair is kind of short, that’s a figure of speech. Still, he’s probably one of the coolest guys I’ve met, and he refuses to unwind and be a normal person around me.
“It’s a banana split milkshake, Vic. Do you have any idea how divine that is?”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to take your word for it,” he laughs, shaking his head. His eyes scan the area around us as we walk back to the SUV. He hadn’t wanted to stop at the small diner today. I didn’t want to go home yet. We were at a stalemate, and he let me win. If I’m honest, he usually does.
I take a deep breath enjoying the fresh air. It’s in the eighties today and the humidity is low. That’s a rarity in Florida this time of year. I love living here. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I’ve traveled a lot with my father. I’ve seen beautiful places and yet, they can’t compare to home.
“Were you really planning on walking on the beach in your socks and shoes?” I ask, looking at Vic like he’s insane.
“Only if you kept insisting you wanted to,” he responds.
“You realize you’re a spoilsport, don’t you, Vic?”
“You never fail to tell me that either, Emmie.” I smile. In the past year, Vic has become my constant companion. At first, it annoyed me. But now? Other than Zoe, he is like a best friend. “Emmie, get behind me,” he orders, his mood shifting in the blink of an eye.
“What?” I ask, looking around for the danger that I feel coming off Vic in waves.
“Behind me now, Emmie,” he growls, all but manhandling me and shoving me behind his big, hulking body.
“Vic—”
“Not now.”
