across the table, reaching over my head as he grabbed the orange juice
and collapsed on the seat beside me as he drained the entire glass.
“Did you see the wedding announcement in
today’s paper?” I asked, skimming the front page.
“Ah huh…”
His hair was still very wet and his complexion
pallid from strenuous exercise. I closed my robe, where it had fallen open like
there was something to hide.
“What time is our flight to Aruba?” I asked.
I reached for a slice of fruit and Ethan
reached for it at the same time, the side of his hand grazing mine. I withdrew
from his touch like it burned and pushed away from the table.
“I canceled our flight.”
“Why?”
“Your father told me you hated the beach. You
should have said something.”
“I didn’t think it mattered,” I shrugged.
Wasn’t like anything else did…or like I had any
say-so in the events concerning our wedding…
“Of course it matters,” Ethan replied, a
surprised look on his face. He spun his chair around and leaned towards me, gripping
my shoulders with firm hands.
“I know this marriage isn’t what you wanted,
but I’ll do my best to make life as easy for you as possible. If you want
something, just ask.”
“I don’t need anything from you. I have my own
money.”
He gave me a dour look. “I’m not talking about
money, Elizabeth. I’m talking about happiness. I’m sorry about what happened
this morning. It won’t happen again.”
“Oh, but I want it to,” I replied, smiling
mischievously. “Speaking of favors, I think we both know what I want,” I
teased.
I bit my bottom lip and gave him my best ‘ come
hither ’ look.
“Then you should be prepared to accept
everything that goes along with it.”
Ethan released me then leaned back in his seat again,
quickly changing the subject. “We should go to Paris. Your father said you’d
like that.”
“Thanks,” I replied somewhat sheepishly. “I would like that, actually. I haven’t been in years. I’ve been far too busy with work.
The budget committee will be out to look at your designs today. I know we’re
supposed to go on our bogus honeymoon, but there’s a bit of a time crunch.”
“Where?’
“I booked conference room L454. Why?”
Ethan strolled across the living room and
flipped his laptop open. “You mind if I sit in?”
I studied his movements. I was really attracted to this man. He turned, piercing dark eyes peering quizzically into
mine.
“Negative. The meeting is only for the
budget committee,” I answered, circling the sofa to meet him on the other side
of the room. “I’ll go over it with you after we draft a preliminary budget
proposal. You have nothing to worry about… I handpicked the committee
personally. Your designs are beautiful, but…”
I let my fingers slide across the back of the
sofa, seductively.
“We need to think about how much it will cost
to implement.”
“We’ll worry about that when you prove we can’t
do it on a thirty million dollar budget,” Ethan said, cutting me off.
I gave him a hopeless look.
“I’ve seen your work, Ethan…it’s brilliant.
It’s eccentric, it’s grand…some of the best architecture I’ve ever seen...it’s art .
I was very very impressed. But I think
our focus should be the interior. Like I said, we’ll go over the budget this
afternoon and get back to you with estimated costs.”
“You should have invited me to the meeting,” he
said, pointing his finger. I need to be a part of the process.”
“And you are!” I answered, sweetly. “You’re
designing a multi-million dollar luxury hotel.”
“I’m also a major investor. Or did you forget
that? I need to know where my money is going. You work for me, not the other
way around.”
I slid my fingernails up his arm seductively.
“Correction. I work for my father.”
Ethan caught my wrist before my hand crawled up
his chest. We locked eyes, like bulls about to lock horns.
Ethan
vowed to resist a
and collapsed on the seat beside me as he drained the entire glass.
“Did you see the wedding announcement in
today’s paper?” I asked, skimming the front page.
“Ah huh…”
His hair was still very wet and his complexion
pallid from strenuous exercise. I closed my robe, where it had fallen open like
there was something to hide.
“What time is our flight to Aruba?” I asked.
I reached for a slice of fruit and Ethan
reached for it at the same time, the side of his hand grazing mine. I withdrew
from his touch like it burned and pushed away from the table.
“I canceled our flight.”
“Why?”
“Your father told me you hated the beach. You
should have said something.”
“I didn’t think it mattered,” I shrugged.
Wasn’t like anything else did…or like I had any
say-so in the events concerning our wedding…
“Of course it matters,” Ethan replied, a
surprised look on his face. He spun his chair around and leaned towards me, gripping
my shoulders with firm hands.
“I know this marriage isn’t what you wanted,
but I’ll do my best to make life as easy for you as possible. If you want
something, just ask.”
“I don’t need anything from you. I have my own
money.”
He gave me a dour look. “I’m not talking about
money, Elizabeth. I’m talking about happiness. I’m sorry about what happened
this morning. It won’t happen again.”
“Oh, but I want it to,” I replied, smiling
mischievously. “Speaking of favors, I think we both know what I want,” I
teased.
I bit my bottom lip and gave him my best ‘ come
hither ’ look.
“Then you should be prepared to accept
everything that goes along with it.”
Ethan released me then leaned back in his seat again,
quickly changing the subject. “We should go to Paris. Your father said you’d
like that.”
“Thanks,” I replied somewhat sheepishly. “I would like that, actually. I haven’t been in years. I’ve been far too busy with work.
The budget committee will be out to look at your designs today. I know we’re
supposed to go on our bogus honeymoon, but there’s a bit of a time crunch.”
“Where?’
“I booked conference room L454. Why?”
Ethan strolled across the living room and
flipped his laptop open. “You mind if I sit in?”
I studied his movements. I was really attracted to this man. He turned, piercing dark eyes peering quizzically into
mine.
“Negative. The meeting is only for the
budget committee,” I answered, circling the sofa to meet him on the other side
of the room. “I’ll go over it with you after we draft a preliminary budget
proposal. You have nothing to worry about… I handpicked the committee
personally. Your designs are beautiful, but…”
I let my fingers slide across the back of the
sofa, seductively.
“We need to think about how much it will cost
to implement.”
“We’ll worry about that when you prove we can’t
do it on a thirty million dollar budget,” Ethan said, cutting me off.
I gave him a hopeless look.
“I’ve seen your work, Ethan…it’s brilliant.
It’s eccentric, it’s grand…some of the best architecture I’ve ever seen...it’s art .
I was very very impressed. But I think
our focus should be the interior. Like I said, we’ll go over the budget this
afternoon and get back to you with estimated costs.”
“You should have invited me to the meeting,” he
said, pointing his finger. I need to be a part of the process.”
“And you are!” I answered, sweetly. “You’re
designing a multi-million dollar luxury hotel.”
“I’m also a major investor. Or did you forget
that? I need to know where my money is going. You work for me, not the other
way around.”
I slid my fingernails up his arm seductively.
“Correction. I work for my father.”
Ethan caught my wrist before my hand crawled up
his chest. We locked eyes, like bulls about to lock horns.
Ethan
vowed to resist a
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