“Not if you’re traveling in a private luxury jet. Trust me, it’s the only way to travel.”
“Snob!” she joked, with a laugh.
“I’m taking you to Monte Carlo for our honeymoon,” he said. “You’ll love it. I promise.”
“Our honeymoon?” Sharleen laughed, as if it were the most outrageous thing she’d ever heard. But inside she was jumping for joy. The thought of being Mrs. Emilio Morretti made her heart swoon. For years, she’d pretended that she didn’t need anyone, that she was content being single, but deep down she’d always wanted to be in a serious, committed relationship with someone who loved her unconditionally. And now the only man she wanted in her life was Emilio Morretti.
“Love is a risk worth taking, and I’m ready to take things to the next level. Are you?”
His words surprised her, so she took a few minutes to gather her thoughts. “Emilio, don’t you think you’re moving too fast? We haven’t known each other long, and you just accepted a job that’s going to take you around the world for months at a time.”
Leaning over, he nuzzled his face against her cheek. “I want you to come with me.”
Convinced he was joking, she laughed. But when she felt his body tense, she realized he was serious. Sharleen took great pride in having a successful career, owning her own home and having money in the bank, and she wouldn’t walk away from everything that was important to her. “I just can’t up and leave my job. I have responsibilities and clients who depend on me.”
“You don’t need to work.”
“But I want to,” Sharleen insisted, making a concerted effort not to raise her voice. Weeks ago, he’d joked about her quitting her job, but she’d assumed he was kidding and laughed it off. Is that what Emilio wants? A docile woman at his beck and call who’ll bend to his wishes, no matter how unreasonable they are?
Her gaze searched his face, tried to figure out what he was thinking, how he was feeling. His expression was blank, but she sensed his disappointment, his frustration. Not wanting to argue with him, she gently caressed his fingers with her own. “My parents raised me to be independent, and I’ll never be happy being a kept woman,” she joked, hoping to lighten the mood. “I have hopes and dreams, just like you, and I plan to fulfill each and every one of them.”
“Let me take care of you and give you the life you’ve always dreamed of.”
“Emilio, I can take care of myself. I don’t need you to baby me. I’m a grown woman.”
“I don’t want to date long-distance. I want you to travel with me.”
“And I want to keep my career.”
A scowl twisted his lips, and there was a hint of anger in his voice. “I can’t believe we’re arguing about this. Most women would kill to be able to stop working.”
“Then I suggest you go find one of those women, because I refuse to be your puppet.”
Emilio flinched, as if he’d been slapped. “We’ll talk about this later.”
What’s there to talk about? I’m not quitting my job, and if you can’t respect my decision then we’ll never have a future together. Sharleen didn’t realize the limousine had stopped until the back door opened, and sunshine flooded the car. She felt the wind on her face and took a deep breath of the sweet-smelling air to calm her nerves.
Emilio stepped out of the limo, helped Sharleen to her feet and draped an arm around her waist. He looked handsome in his red World Series Racing uniform, like the superstar athlete he was, and radiated a potent blend of sensuality and masculinity.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sharleen spotted a silver-haired man smoking at the back door of the convention center. She could feel the stranger looking at them, could feel the heat and intensity of his gaze. Is he staring at Emilio or my scars?
Sharleen thought back to that morning and smiled at the memory of their romantic breakfast. To please Emilio, she’d donned a flirty yellow dress and a pair of ankle-tie pumps. Butterflies had flooded her stomach as she’d entered the kitchen, but when he’d swept her up in his arms for a long, passionate kiss, her fears and insecurities had evaporated into thin air.
“Ready to wow the crowd?”
“I’m not the one with the rabid race-car fans,” she told him. “No one will even notice me.”
His gaze slid ever so slowly down her body and along her hips. “Oh, they’ll notice all right.” Emilio gave her a smile, one that made her forget about their argument minutes earlier. He lowered his mouth to her ear. “You take my breath away.”