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“No, I don’t think you would,” she agreed.
They lingered over their wine as the afternoon continued to pass by, teasing her about what he as her husband would and would not allow. In truth, she could do whatever she wished, work, not work, wear whatever she chose or pleased her, as long as he was her one and only, he wouldn’t mind. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he withdrew it seeing the message from Xavier then motioned for the bill kissing her hand.
“Demetrius left?” she guessed, and he gave a slight nod as he took out his card to pay for their meal.
“We’ll be well ahead of him, but I want to ensure we stay that way. We don’t want to run into any delays on the roadway,” he explained gathering her to his side as they moved back out to the car.
“When you’re not being serious and in control, you’re not too bad to be around Stefano,” she admitted as the miles between them, and the Cove, slipped past.
“Is that so? Well, when you’re not besotted with Demetrius, you happen to be an excellent companion. I know I was harsh to you that night and it’s likely why you’ve avoided going back to the Cove to stay, date, but I never meant to upset you to the depth I did.”
“I wasn’t nearly as upset with you as I was with myself that night,” she said feeling color hit her cheeks. “I was humiliated but now, seeing what Demetrius truly is like, even more than I did the rest of that summer…I would rather be humiliated by you than what I would have found at his hands.”
“You were quite angry with me,” he said recalling the fire that burnt in her eyes and cheeks, flowing down to her chest and the filmy negligee she wore had barely disguised the rapid rise and fall of her sweet breasts. “I was needlessly cruel. I should have managed that event without making you cry. I felt horrid seeing your tears at my hands. I was trying to help you avoid shedding them over my brother and caused them myself.”
“Is that why you chose this ploy over anything else?” she asked as his finger traced circles on her wrist igniting a fire inside her belly that she wanted to sate but knew better than to attempt.
“I could have moved Demetrius to another firm, another city nearby where I could have kept watch over him, but I didn’t want you to fall for him and have him hurt you again. Your tears are the only thing that I have discovered that makes me feel fully human.”
“I’m no longer a sixteen-year-old girl Stefano, surely my tears wouldn’t affect you so now,” she said although the idea made her happy.
“No, you are now a stunning twenty-four-year-old woman ready to blossom and I believe your tears would now slay me more. I never want to discover if it’s true or not, which is why I will ensure you stay safe, always,” he promised giving her a soft kiss that made her want more and she knew without a doubt that this was love.
Chapter 5
Hailey took a deep breath as they pulled into the driveway at Elena and Nikolas’ home. They’d seen her parents heading in about five minutes ago and Demetrius’ driver had indicated he was likely to be there in another ten, letting them go inside to see everyone first. She slid her hand into Stefano’s and let him help her out of the car.
He walked them into the living room where they heard Elena introducing Olympia to her parents and she felt his hand squeeze hers as he smiled at her. “Ready?”
“Ready,” she agreed, looking up at him in surprise when he paused. “What is it?”
“My grandfather’s here,” he said hearing the man’s voice greet her parents.
“Does that change this any?” she questioned watching him closely. He shook his head no giving her a smile and her heart fluttered inside her chest as he kissed her sweetly.
“Come,” Stefano said knowing with his grandfather in town that he could manage to get her married to him much faster. The man was desperate for him to marry and provide the first grandson of his first grandson. He would be quite willing to work on producing that grandson with Hailey, quite willing.
He kept her just behind him when he reached the doors letting out a, “Well look at this sight.”
“Stefano! Oh, you made it,” Elena gushed turning around spying him. “Thomas and Leann were just saying they hadn’t been over for ages and that it was so good to get your invitation and I fully agree. I’ve been an extremely poor neighbor lately.”
“No one can fault you Mother,” he replied as he looked around at the others. “Thomas, Leann, it’s wonderful to see you and I have a bit of a surprise. Mother, I hope you don’t mind an extra guest at the dinner table.”
“Never my dear,” she said letting out a happy gasp as he stepped fully into the room with Hailey. “Hailey! Oh, my darling, it’s so good to see you.”
“And you Elena,” she replied as her parents got up from their seats to come hug her. She kept the ring hidden, a virtually impossible task considering its size, as she hugged them and Elena.
“What are you doing here?” her mother asked kissing her cheek as Olympia and Stefano’s grandfather stood watching them as Nikolas said his hellos.
“Well, the company Stefano just acquired happens to be where I work,” she said, and her parents smiled happily knowing she was in good hands there.
“Hailey, this is Olympia,” Stefano said as the girl came over to greet him.
“It’s so good to meet you, Stefano’s told me you and Demetrius are getting married. That must be exciting,” she hedged knowing the truth but not wanting the girl to know she knew.
“It is, and it’s good to meet you,” she replied, “Elena told me a lot about you after seeing you in so many pictures of Demetrius and Kyra growing up.”
“Well don’t believe everything you hear,” she said calmly as Stefano greeted his grandfather.
