Page 60 of Royal Shark
Chloe walks me to the door.
I glance at Michael waiting behind her to resume their amorous night, and look back to her, my poker face firmly in place. “So I’ll see you tonight? Or tomorrow for the flight home?”
She smiles. “Probably tomorrow.” She leans close to whisper, “He’smuchbetter than the first Michael. I’ll catch a ride back to the palace with him when he goes to work in the morning.”
I paste on a smile. “Great. See you then.”
I head back to my waiting car. There’s only one person I want to be with right now. I’m ready for what he’s offering, ready to take a leap of faith. I’m betting on us.
Chapter Thirteen
Sara
When I texted Adrian to meet up, he asked me to meet him in the casino restaurant for dinner. He’s already at a table for two when I get there, and waves me over with a warm smile.
A surge of affection rushes through me. My prince, my hero, mylove. I do love him. Maybe I always have.
My heart pounds, a lightness to my limbs as I cross the room. I’m about to expose my most vulnerable self, take a giant leap of faith, and commit to living here with him. It’s the most terrifying thing I’ve ever done in my life, but I’m ready. Only with Adrian would this be possible. Our connection spanned the miles and years and still remained so strong. We were always meant to be.
He gets out of his seat to give me a kiss before guiding me over to a chair and pulling it out for me. I let myself enjoy his special treatment. My Adrian is a prince not just by blood but by his actions. I’m so lucky I met him when we were just kids. In a way, I can thank my parents for giving me this connection. He’s part of me just like I’m part of him.
He smiles at me across the table, his eyes warm on mine. “You’re looking a lot happier than earlier.”
“I am. I was feeling so shitty I figured the hell with it, I may as well take the tour down memory lane, and it really wasn’t what I feared it would be. I mostly remembered being with you and Silvia on the beach, and my memories of the cottage are forever changed by finding Chloe naked with a strange man there.” I hold up a palm before he can go he-man protective. “No worries. It was totally consensual.”
He barks out a laugh. “Michael lives there now, the guard captain. Great guy, I know him well. So him and Chloe?”
“Yes. And I donotwant to talk about that.”
“Understood.”
“Did you know your family owns the cottage now?”
“Yes. Silvia and I grieved the loss of your family here. We asked our parents to buy the cottage after we got back from the funeral so you and Chloe could come back to visit even if you didn’t have the money to rent it for the summer. My parents made the couple who lived there an offer, and they were happy to take it so they could move closer to their daughter.” He leans across the table and takes my hand in his. “Silvia said she asked you to come several times. She told you it was free.”
My jaw goes slack. “I didn’t know she meant it that way. I thought she was offering to pay for us and that’s why it was free.”
He gives my hand a squeeze. “We missed you.”
My eyes well. I have not been near tears so many times in years. Villroy, no,Adrianopened up something inside me I thought was closed forever—my heart. It’s all so new and raw but worth it. So worth it. I can finally let love in.
“I wasn’t ready then,” I manage over the tightness in my throat. “But thank you to you and your wonderful family.”
“Well, as you can see, we let Michael stay there after it seemed like you weren’t coming back. You could always stay with me when you’re here.”
I smile. “I’d like that.” I take a deep breath, about to declare I’m ready to stay, but the words get stuck in my throat. I’m a mess of raw emotions and it’s so hard to express them.
The waitress arrives to take our order, and the moment passes.
Over dinner, Adrian is unusually talkative, filling me in on all the ins and outs of the casino. I get the feeling he’s bringing me up to speed in hopes that I’ll take his job offer. He really wants what I could bring to his casino. I like that he values my potential contribution to the casino that obviously means so much to him.
By the time we finish dinner, I’m ready to make my move. “Let’s go back to your office.”
He raises his brows. “Business or pleasure?”
“Business,” I say on a laugh.
We make the short walk to his office, and I take the chair across from his desk. “Okay, let’s make it official. I’ll sign an employment contract and be your pit boss and right-hand woman.”
