Page 72 of Daring to Love You
“Dad? Where are you?” Marisela called out.
“I’m in the study,” her father said, and they all stood. Mr. Baldwin remained behind his desk, and Lynix and his father stood to the side.
“All right, Dad, I’m here. What’s so imp…” Her words trailed off when she walked farther into the office dressed in a tennis outfit, and her eyes met Lynix’s.
“I told you what would happen if you came near me again,” he said, his words cold and unyielding.
Marisela looked frantically between all of them, but her eyes settled on her father. By his expression, Lynix was sure she could tell he knew everything.
“Daddy, I can explain.”
Lynix held up a contract that he’d had drawn up to ensure Marisela never came near him or Dorian again. Not only that, but she was never to speak of him or the incident in college. She also had to agree to live in another country. That last part might not be a hardship since she often traveled the world, but she wouldn’t see her father as often.
“Since a verbal agreement didn’t work,” Lynix said, “I took the liberty of having a contract drawn up. Your father has already approved it.”
“Daddy, you have to let me explain.”
“Sign the papers, Marisela,” Mr. Baldwin said, and there was no room in his tone for an argument.
Once the document was signed and she received her copy, Lynix and his father headed to the door. As he was leaving, he heard Mr. Baldwin say to Marisela, “Sit your ass down.”
As he walked out of their home, Lynix felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He only wished he had done thisyears ago, but at least now he could move on with his life… with Dorian.
Epilogue
Dorian snuggled against Lynix as they rode in the horse-drawn carriage around Central Park. As promised, Lynix had whisked her away to New York City and had given her everything he had promised from the picnic in the park to shopping on 5thAvenue. Visiting The Big Apple had been on her bucket list of places to visit since she had binged watched Sex and The City years ago. She could honestly say the city had been everything she imagined and more.
It was their last day in New York, and the perfect evening. The setting of the sun, the city noises, and theclick-clackingof the horse’s hooves hitting the concrete had lulled her into a peaceful state. Dorian couldn’t ask for a more perfect ending to a fabulous trip.
She squeezed Lynix’s arm. “This has been the best weekend I’ve ever had, and I’ve had more firsts with you—which is the best part.”
He smiled down at her and kissed her forehead. “I’m planning on us having a ton of firsts, and I’m glad you enjoyed the weekend. Since this is our last night here, is there anything else you want to do that we haven’t done?”
They’d done several tours and hit all the major attractions, and they’d even walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. And something Dorian thought she’d never do—buy a hot dog from one of the street vendors. It had been so good, even though she did pray over it a few times between bites.
“Nothing I can think of,” she finally said. “What about you? Anything else you want to do?”
“Nah, I think I’m good, except now that you mentioned it, there is one more thing. Jack,” Lynix called out to the coachman.
“Yes, sir, Mr. Mathews?”
“Can you stop at that flower stand on the next corner?”
“Of course.”
When they got close, Lynix waved over one of the older women who was selling the flowers. He requested three dozen red, yellow, and white roses, and he wanted them in a crystal vase.
When the woman hurried away to fill the order, Dorian said, “Why are you buying flowers? We won’t be able to take them on the plane with us.”
“I’m buying them because my woman loves flowers, and she hasn’t received enough of them over the last thirty-plus years. So, I’m making up for lost time.”
Dorian smiled and shook her head. He was always doing sweet gestures like that, and it warmed her heart.
“And once you’re done enjoying them, before we fly out tomorrow, we’ll leave them at the front desk of the hotel for other guests to enjoy.”
“Dang, you are the most thoughtful man I’ve ever met.”
“Yeah, and don’t you forget it,” he cracked, and they both laughed.
