Page 89 of Ruthless Secrets
I blink. “But I thought it was too dangerous for me to leave?”
Marco smirks as his fingers trail a little higher up my inner thigh, making my breath catch in my throat.
“I never said we were going out.”
Chapter Twenty
MARCO
I never thoughtof myself as a particularly romantic person because I didn’t see much point in any of it. Until now.
After I finish up my work for the day, I take over Zoe’s bedtime routine so Clara can get ready for dinner.
Ever since our picnic by the waterfall, I have had so many ideas buzzing around inside my head of places I want to take her and things we could do. But until we take care of Alfonzo Rossi, my plans are being put on hold.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t still pull off a big romantic gesture at home.
Thankfully, Zoe goes to sleep without any issue, leaving me with a few minutes to throw on a fresh shirt and slacks and spray some cologne.
My heart is pounding in my chest from a mixture of nerves and excitement, which I find strange. I am never one to get nervous around a girl.
But Clara isn’t just a girl. She’sthegirl. The one I didn’t know I needed, but the one I can’t bear to be without.
I sneak back inside Clara’s room so as not to wake Zoe,and peer around the door into the bathroom where Clara is putting some finishing touches on her makeup.
When she catches me looking in the mirror, her face breaks out into a huge smile.
I didn’t think anyone would be capable of looking at me like that, like I was their world.
I’m no saint, and it takes a certain type of person to be able to look past the darkness and still see me for who I truly am.
When she came to me this afternoon and asked me about Adam, I feared that would be the end of us. There was no question that she had pieced together the story, but she didn’t run away. If anything, she looked impressed that I would do something like that for her.
My eyes roam over her body. “You look beautiful.”
She’s wearing a strappy, white summer dress which shows off her delicate shoulders and her shapely legs. Her hair cascades down her back like a golden waterfall, and I cannot wait to sink my fingers into it later.
“Thank you.” She blushes. “So, where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
Once she’s kissed Zoe goodnight, I lead her down the stairs and into the kitchen, where we head out the back door that leads us to the patio.
“I thought we could have dinner out here.”
We round the corner, and Clara audibly gasps.
The patio furniture has been moved, and in its place is a single table and chairs, laid up with a white tablecloth and a single red rose in a vase.
The sun is a few hours away from setting but regardless, I had dozens of candles set up along the outskirts of the patio and lights strung up in the trees surrounding us to add some ambiance.
“You did this for me?” Her voice barely comes above a whisper.
“Of course, I did.”
“Marco, I love it!” She wraps her arms around my waist, hugging me tightly. “No one has ever done anything like this for me.”
I kiss the top of her head. “I’m glad you like it.”
