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Despite her surprise, she doesn’t protest. Her blue eyes haven’t settled, though, telling me she’s still fighting with herself.
“Isabelle, tell me you don’t have feelings for me, and I’ll leave you once and for all. Don’t use Fletcher as an excuse to walk away.”
“I don’t have feelings for you,” she maintains, her chin up. Yet, her hand is still in mine, with not a hint of an intention to remove herself from me.
“You’ve got to do better than that!”
“I don’t. I don’t,” she utters with difficulty as if her tongue is contorting against her.
“I’ve been a fool before, but I know you’re not just another woman.”
“You’ll regret ever asking me.”
“I’ve had a lot of regrets in my life. But I know this won’t be one. Regret, is something that you can taste in your mouth even before it happens, but you play it down. I know what I’m in for. Us—you and me—isn’t going to be easy. But never have I had that taste of regret. Not anywhere within me.”
“What do you want from me, Clayton?”
“Just give me a chance.”
I feel a tiny squeeze on my hand, and it’s not nervousness. Her eyes relax somewhat. Right then, I know she’s let me in.
15
ISABELLE
When life gives you a chance, you seize it.
When a man who’s prepared to risk it all for you asks you for a chance, you give it to him with both hands.
Chances and risks.
Life has taught me that they always go hand-in-hand, and sometimes you don’t know which is which. But with Clayton, when his eyes brim with kindness, you accept whatever is ahead with gladness.
Don’s threat is graver than ever. He still holds all the cards, including Raffi. But thanks to his own plan, time is on my side.
Clayton offered me a bodyguard to watch over Raffi, which I refused. He doesn’t know that I’m dating him with Don’s blessing, and the last thing I want is to stir the peace. The Reaper is desperate for something only I can get, and he will give me time. I will ride this calm for as long as I can. Then, when I’ve figured out my options, I’ll decide on my next move.
Thomas whistles at me as soon as I’m out of my room, taking my hand, so I do a spin for him. I’m wearing a teal see-through evening dress, the low bodice suspended by a couple of spaghetti straps forming an X at the back, with a reasonably snug skirt on the hips. It flows right down to my ankles. The hem is finished with generous lace trim.
“You could convert a gay man with this dress,” he quips. “Let me guess. Prada?”
“Marchesa, pre-loved.” It was a bargain, so I didn’t have to dip into the two-thousand-dollar carrot Don gave me.
Thomas looks closely at my hair which I’ve tied back in a sleek ponytail. “Sexy. Mysterious.”
I play with my earrings, the same ones that inadvertently played matchmaker at the Giraffe Manor. “That’s the idea. You don’t reveal everything on your first date, do you?”
“With Clayton Hartley, I’m not sure you’ll have enough self-control.”
In other words, he thinks I’m too horny.
I dismiss his verdict as I hear Raffi coming down the stairs. My son studies me from head to toe. “You look nice, Mom.”
“Thank you, baby.”
“I’m happy for you. Don’t be so nervous. He likes you,” he encourages me.
I feel my smile gleaming at him. He’s given me his blessing to date another man after what he went through with his father. I wish it were just a normal date, and I could see a clear path ahead for the two of us…well, the three of us. But if everything had been normal, I wouldn’t have met Clayton.
