“You don’t like my outfit,” she said quietly, fighting back tears. Crying was completely out of character, but his rejection stung. Emilio was important to her, and she always wanted to look her best for him. “I’ll go change.”
His face softened. “Don’t be silly. You look great. You always do.”
“I’m a big girl. I can handle it, so just spit it out. What’s wrong with my outfit?”
“Nothing, if you’re going to Bible study.”
She didn’t join in his laughter.
“Don’t you like the outfits I bought for you?” he asked.
“Yes, of course, but they’re too revealing for me. I prefer more conservative looks.”
“You have a great figure. You should show it off sometimes.” He winked, and a grin dimpled his cheek. “Especially when you’re in Miami with me.”
“Emilio, I’m not one of your model ex-girlfriends. You can’t expect me to—”
“Thank God for that,” he drawled, with a sigh of relief. “I’ve dated a lot of famous women, but none of them can hold a candle to you. You’re in a league of your own.”
I am? Sharleen found herself lost in the allure of his voice and his piercing gaze. It took all of her effort not to jump into his arms and kiss him all over. The more he spoke, complimenting and praising her, the more she desired him.
“You’re genuine and considerate, and you don’t give a damn about my celebrity status. That’s just one of the many things I love about you. You always have my best interest at heart, and I trust you wholeheartedly.”
Love? The word reverberated in her mind, made her dizzy and weak in the knees. Afraid her legs were going to buckle, she leaned against the mahogany desk for support. Was it true? Did Emilio love her? Or was this just a ploy to get her into bed?
“I want to show you off tonight.” His voice was a low, sensuous whisper, and lust shone in his eyes. “You’re gorgeous, and I want the whole world to know that you’re my girl.”
“Stop saying that. It isn’t true... I’m not like other girls... I’m different.”
Emilio stared at her as if she were speaking a foreign language. “What are you talking about? You’re beautiful inside and out.”
She couldn’t look at him, didn’t dare meet his gaze for fear of bursting into tears.
He clasped her hand, led her over to the leather reading chair in front of the window and pulled her down onto his lap. They sat in silence for several minutes, listening to birds squawk, the soothing sounds of the ocean and the raucous volleyball game happening on the beach.
“You’re shaking.” Emilio wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear, “Tell me what’s bothering you. I want to help.”
I can’t. You won’t understand. No one ever does!
“Who convinced you that you’re unworthy of love? Was it an abusive ex-boyfriend?”
Sharleen dropped her gaze to her lap and tugged at the sleeve of her cardigan.
“I’m not letting you go until we talk, so if you want to have dinner at the best Cajun restaurant in Miami, you better start talking.”
His joke, and the sympathetic expression on his face, eased the tension, lightened the mood. Still, she didn’t speak. Her head hurt, and her stomach was curled into knots. Reluctantly, her heart pounding with fear, she took off her sweater. To her relief, Emilio didn’t gasp or recoil in disgust at the sight of her scars.
“The doctors at Grady Memorial Hospital said it was a miracle I survived the fire, but when I saw the burns on my body, I wanted to die. I felt ugly, and I couldn’t look in the mirror for weeks.”
Anguish filled his eyes. “You were in the house fire that killed your parents?”
“I feel asleep on the couch watching a movie and when I woke up the house was filled with smoke.” Bitter memories crowded her mind, overwhelming her with sadness. A chill whipped through the room, and she hugged her arms to her chest to ward off the cold. “I tried to crawl to the door, but it was hard to breathe, and I couldn’t find my way out. A firefighter found me unconscious in the hallway and carried me outside to the ambulance.”
“You’re the most courageous woman I know, and hearing your story makes me respect and admire you even more.”
Tears pricked her eyes, but she conquered her emotions and spoke openly, without fear or restraint. She told Emilio about the weeks she’d spent in the hospital, her bouts with depression during her recovery and her disastrous dating history. “Men want perfection, and I’m not it,” she said sadly. “I got tired of being disappointed by the opposite sex, so I decided to focus on my career instead of my love life.”