Page 26 of Sins of the Father
The door cracked open. Gabriella slipped inside, carrying a tray of tea and pastries, her golden-brown eyes bright with mischief. She set it down, gave Mia a quick wink, then darted out again, leaving the scent of honeyed bread in her wake.
Before Mia could make sense of it, Luc filled the doorway. His presence seemed to eclipse the morning light. He studied her for a long beat, then his lips curved in something that wasn’t quite a smile.
“Come with me to the beach,” he said, his tone more invitation than command.
Her heart stumbled. For one foolish, tentative moment, hope pressed inside her chest. Could things truly be different, if only for this one year? She found herself smiling hesitantly, yet genuinely. “Yes,” she murmured. Then her face fell. “But… I have no swimsuit.”
The door burst open again. Gabriella, clearly eavesdropping, swept inside, clapping her hands in delight. “That is no problem at all! I have so many new suits, you must borrow one.” Her grin widened. “It will be fun. I’ll make sure you look perfect.”
Mia flushed, torn between embarrassment and a strange flutter of excitement. For the first time since her world had shattered, she let herself imagine something that almost felt like freedom. An hour later, she slipped into a deep purple, one-piece swimsuit that clung to her curves with indecent precision. The fabric shimmered faintly under the light, molding to every contour of her body as if made for her alone. The high-cut design left her legs impossibly long, the low back baring smooth skin that flushed under her own gaze. Embarrassingly, she’d been forced to shave more than she ever had before.
Mia stood before the mirror, hands twisting nervously at her sides. The convent had taught her modesty, restraint, and the sanctity of concealment. Yet here she was—bare, sensual, and wholly uncertain of how to carry it. She tied a sheer sarong around her hips, the gauzy fabric fluttering uselessly with every breath. It hid nothing. With a final steadying inhale, she descended the stairs.
Luc was waiting at the bottom. The moment his gaze lifted to her, his expression shifted—hunger first, raw and unmistakable, before it was quickly masked by his usual cool composure.
Mia’s pulse jumped. She curled her toes into her slippers to hide the tremor that wanted to shake through her, and when he silently opened the door for her, she managed a small smile and murmured, “Thank you.”
Once outside, she walked toward the waiting jeep, acutely aware of his presence beside her. Without a word, Luc opened the door. Mia slid into the front seat, the faint scent of leather and sea air wrapping around her. She watched him circle to the driver’s side, his stride unhurried, confident. The sunlight caught on the edge of his sunglasses, and for a fleeting moment, she wondered if she would always find him this dangerously compelling.
The air between them thrummed with quiet energy as the engine rumbled to life beneath them. Luc said nothing, his focus fixed ahead, and Mia didn’t dare break the silence. She turned her gaze to the window instead, watching the blur of the passing scenery, her thoughts tangling with each mile they drove.
The ride stretched on, the salty wind whipping through her hair as the open-top jeep rolled along the coast road. Behind them, the shadow of the armored SUV followed at a discreet distance, never too close, never too far.
When they finally turned off, the sign readDitch Plains Beach.The sight of the wide sweep of pale sand and restless bluewaves stole her breath for a moment. She turned her face into the wind, inhaling the clean tang of sea spray.
“I used to sneak here when I was a teenager,” Luc said, as they alighted from the jeep. “To surf.”
Her gaze shot to him. “Why did you have to sneak?”
He glanced at her, the corner of his mouth tilting. “Because nonessential fun wasn’t part of my curriculum.”
Something twisted inside her chest. For a moment, she forgot who he was, seeing instead the boy he must have been—caged, ruthlessly molded into the man he was today. Mia could not imagine what life must have been like for him. “What fun did you have here?”
A rare smile curved his mouth, and God help her, it stole her breath.
“I loved surfing and was determined to learn. I would sneak here as often as I could. I rode a five-foot wave at sixteen and since then, on the odd occasion, I come here to surf.”
She blinked. “You taught yourself?”
“Painstakingly. No one in my family ever knew.”
Warmth tangled inside her chest. “Why are you telling me this?”
His eyes caught hers, and the faint smile deepened into something sharper. “Because I’m trying to make you fall in love with me. For that to happen, you need to know who I am.”
Mia spluttered, staring at him. Then, unexpectedly, a laugh broke from her chest. “Why would you admit that? That is not how it works.”
An arrogant brow lifted. “Oh, you have much experience?”
“No,” she admitted sheepishly. “But I have watched alotof romantic comedies and movies.”
“I read about this love business on the internet,” he said with unnerving seriousness. “One of the foundations is honesty. So, Iresolved to always be honest with you. Whatever you ask, I will be an open book.”
Mia could only stare at him, at once baffled, disbelieving, and far too aware of the power behind that honesty. “Is it so important to you for me to fall for you?” The very idea was astonishing.
For a long moment, he didn’t answer. Then, eyes fixed on the horizon, he said quietly, “I thought it wasn’t. But now… I’m not so sure. I’ll wait and see.”
The waves crashed against the shore, and Mia wrapped her arms around herself, unsure if the chill that passed through her came from the wind or from the man beside her.
