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“I think that’s where we’ll go.” She traced the pattern of the moisture on her glass. “I can’t wait.”
Michael eyed the exquisite beauty for a minute. Alessia was the best friend a person could ever have in their corner, and she’d been there for him more times than he could remember.
He wanted to see her happy and had seen her with Maxwell, probably the only one who had, except Maxwell’s best friend. He thought it was a shame they had to keep their love a secret.
“If you get pregnant, your Dad would be forced to accept him.”
Her dark brown eyes flew to his face before sliding away quickly.
“My God!” He whispered, shaking his head in wonder. “The idea occurred to you?”
“No.” She shook her head firmly. “I could never bring a child into it. That would be very irresponsible.”
“And Alessia Annmarie Vanderweld doesn’t do irresponsible.” He retorted dryly.
“I don’t.” She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “It’ll work itself out. We just need time. Daddy just needs some time before I tell him about Maxwell.”
“In the meantime, you’re depriving yourself and him of something wonderful. You can’t acknowledge each other in public.”
That hurts, she thought dismally. At the last function they’d attended, he’d been with a sleek blonde hanging onto his arm like she was attached. Alessia had torn into him later that night, and he’d coldly informed her there was a solution to the problem.
“Make our relationship public.”
But she was not ready for that yet. She couldn’t do that to her dad.
Chapter 2
He’d arrived an hour before she was expected because he wanted to make certain everything was as it should be. He’d left specific instructions to have the place cleaned from top to bottom, and it was sparkling.
The place was small, a one-bedroom cabin with roughhewn wood making up the structure. It was sitting on a prime piece of land, one that his company had bought with the intention of setting up a rest stop for people traveling along the highway.
It reminded him somewhat of the way he’d lived when he was growing up. The apartment had been tiny – too cold in the winter and too hot during the long summer months.
There’d been only one bedroom and he’d bunked on the sagging sofa with the springs poking into his back. He recalled trying to find a comfortable position so that he could get some sleep.
Shaking his head, he strode over to the fire blazing inside the hearth, a frown on his brow. He’d almost killed himself to get back here. He’d been in a delicate negotiation with a flagging security firm, his company was interested in taking over and there were still loose ends to tie up, but he wanted to spend the time with her.
It pissed him off that they couldn’t see each other in public, but had to hide around like a child sneaking out of their parent’s home. At first, he’d stayed away from her for a long period of time and that showed him it wouldn’t work. He needed her. He was thirty-four years old, and for the first time in his life, he was in love.
He’d spent so many years making his fortune that there’d been little or no time to form anything remotely resembling a relationship. Then, when his fortune was made and he’d built his company, women had started rushing him.
By that time, his cynicism had been so entrenched that all he could offer was physical. They’d swarmed around him like bees because of what he could give them and he told himself he had no intention of falling for their tricks.
Then, he met Alessia. He sucked in a breath as he leaned against the mantle. It’d only taken one look from those laughing, dark-brown eyes to send him spinning out of control. He found himself drawn to her in ways he’d never imagined.
He knew who she was, of course, who didn’t? Alessia Vanderweld was old money and didn’t belong in the same room, let alone the same circle as he did. That didn’t stop the attraction between them. It’d flourished and blazed so quickly; it’d left them both spinning.
His head jerked up when he heard the sound of tires on the loose gravel, signaling her arrival. He’d called her half an hour ago and she told him she was on her way.
Forcing himself not to rush out to meet her, he stood by the fire and awaited her entry. He should probably go and grab her overnight case, but he’d spent the time away deciding that he was going to slow things down a bit. It wouldn’t do for him to appear too eager.
He stiffened when he heard her push the door open and her light footsteps making their way toward him. He’d told himself that he was prepared for her beauty, but that was a lie. As soon as she stepped through the doorway, he felt his heart hammering inside his chest and his knees going weak.
She was wearing a deep aquamarine sweater over snug jeans. Her hair was loose around her face and shoulders. Her dazzling smile with the tiny dimple peeking from the left cheek had his blood boiling.
He had to make a conscious effort not to rush over and scoop her into his arms.
“Hi.” Her cultured voice was like a balm to his tattered soul.
