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“You’re always welcome to interrupt,pethi mou,” Stefano said coming around the desk to meet her. He slid his hand onto her waist and gave her a lingering kiss that sent her heart fluttering and her hand up to rest on the back of his neck letting her fingers slide through his dark hair.
“I believe that’s the cue to wrap up this meeting,” Nathan said standing giving them smiles. “Hailey, enjoy your weekend.”
“I’m sure we will,” she stated as Stefano turned her to rest against his chest. “I know our mothers will be ecstatic to hear the news.”
“Dare we say a formal announcement will be going out to staff next week then?” Christian asked looking between them. “I’ve heard a few rumors trickle over into HR.”
“It will be going out after we’ve had brunch with our parents tomorrow,” Stefano answered, and she understood why he’d insisted they have a photo taken Monday night. He was going to include it on the announcement.
“Excellent,” Christian said giving them a nod as they moved out the door.
“Is there anything else you need for me to handle this afternoon Stefano?” Xavier questioned once the two were gone.
“Keep an eye on my brother if you will. He knows he is to stay until five this evening despite his desire to go see his own fiancée. Should he leave before then I want to be notified immediately,” Stefano stated, and he nodded closing the door behind him as he slipped out of the room. “You’re ten minutes early Hailey, what did he do?”
“What hasn’t he done other than blatantly try to kiss or grope me?” She sighed before explaining about Demetrius’ antics yesterday and then today before she’d left. “I don’t know if this will work Stefano. If anything, it’s goading him further.”
“Once we tell Mother and your parents he will settle down, right now he thinks it’s still a joke,” he said running his hands down her arms and back soothingly. “He will see that it’s pointless to try to flirt with you once they know. He will, as everyone else is, fully believe that we are in love and planning to marry.”
“I didn’t mean he didn’t buy our engagement. I meant I don’t think working in the same section with him is going to work. He looks at the ring and it’s a challenge rather than a deterrent.”
“Until this weekend,” he said trying to avoid discussing anything deeper about his plans for the weekend until they were with their parents. He knew his mother would insist on setting a wedding date and he intended to let her have her way. Once Hailey was married to him, he could get her to fall for him, until then, he could be patient. “Come; let’s go get you packed and head up the coast.”
“Fooling Demetrius into thinking we’re not going until the morning while we stop in to see them tonight before he gets there?” she guessed, and he nodded.
“I’ve told Mother I would be coming this weekend and she has a large dinner planned for tonight at the house hoping I’ll make it there tonight. I’ve had Berta ask your parents to join them, a dinner party to welcome me home, and I’ve arranged for them to arrive just before Demetrius should get there.”
“Hence the request for Xavier to call if he leaves early?”
“Yes, if Demetrius slips out and will arrive before your parents, then we will call and have everyone meet us early. I will not let Demetrius make the announcement for us.”
“My bags are mostly packed, I just wasn’t sure what all to bring, if you had plans whilst we were there,” she admitted, and he slid his arm around her waist leading her to the door and down to the waiting car.
Stefano looked over her items when they reached her place and nodded before looking towards the closet to see her dresses. “We’ll likely want to dress up tonight so perhaps the purple dress for dinner and we’ll travel in what we’re wearing.”
“This one?” she said taking out the high neck open back floor length dress he’d chosen that weekend for her. He nodded taking it to hang up for the drive.
“Yes, it makes your skin appear luminescent. Do you still ride?” he added spying riding boots in the closet.
“Whenever I can,” she said giving him a smile. “It was the only thing I was ever better than Kyra at and she detested that.”
“She did,” he agreed. “Bring your riding gear and we’ll take a ride in the morning.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” She grabbed her bag for her riding clothes and boots to fit in for the trip. Stefano slid his arm around her waist carrying her things to the car putting a smile on her lips as they pulled away from the curb.
They stopped mid-way during the hour and a half drive for a late lunch and she enjoyed sitting with him, smelling the salt air the city kept hidden. She closed her eyes listening to the surf letting the peace surround her before they continued on their journey and she was forced to see Demetrius again.
“You look exquisite sitting there Hailey,” Stefano said, his voice low and she opened her eyes, meeting his stormy gaze.
His eyes weren’t angry, rather filled with an almost hungry look and she lowered her chin turning towards the window a bit as her heart fluttered sharply inside her chest. She spied the reflection of a tall statuesque woman in the window, she was sitting directly behind her and Hailey understood his hungry look. She wasn’t the one he wanted she was simply the person standing in the way.
She lifted her face back to him determined not to let him see how it hurt her and gave him a smile. “I love this right here. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy living in the city, but this is what I would choose for myself if I could live anywhere while still having my job.”
“Right here in the restaurant?” he teased wondering what she would think of the estate he owned not ten minutes down the road towards the city. He purchased it five years ago and began the renovations, wanting a spot where she could ride, close to the sea, and close to town for work. He would take her there when they left his mother’s this weekend, a stop in to see how the new barn was coming along, a way to entice her into agreeing to marry him if the nudge from their mothers didn’t inspire her to give into it.
“Yes, I mean I love showering and dressing for all to see Stefano.” She gave him a wide cheeky grin that aroused him instantly.
“Then I’m sorry but I can’t allow you to live here,” he said lifting her hand into his with a smile in return. “I’m a very jealous man and anyone else gazing at my wife’s naked body will be murdered, and I don’t think I would like prison very well, my sweet Hailey.”
