ログインDARRENI watched Isabella march downstairs with Margaret leading her to the kitchen.I almost felt sorry for her.She had spirit… a whole lot of it but she was going to fail.If there was anything I knew about my son, it is that he could not be cajoled into doing anything he did not want to do and there was also the fact that hide and seek was his favorite sport and has always been.I followed anyways, to the kitchen were Isabella did a quick look around her eyes landing in a spot.“He is in here” she whispered, pointing.“How do you know that?” Margaret asked.“Oh I just know.” she turned to me.“See how when you stand in that corner, that place is quite hidden from you but visible to whoever is in there? And it also happens at every point where you stand in this kitchen? Any child would hide there. He is invisible to you but he sees you looking for him.”“Why are you whispering?” I asked.“Well, we do not want Eric to know we know exactly where he is. Our intention is to lure him o
ISABELLA“Mr Cross, let me start by saying I am so sorry. I do not know what came over me. I do not normally around drinking things in people’s homes that I have business drinking in.”Darren stood in the doorway of the guest room with his arms crossed, watching me with that same skeptical look he had worn since I opened my eyes. The headache still pulsed behind my temples, but I ignored it. This was my one shot. I could not afford to waste it.He did not say anything. Just kept staring like he was waiting for me to dig myself into a deeper hole.This was it. I knew the job was probably gone after what happened, but I was not leaving without trying one last thing.“Although I do have to say it is totally unacceptable that you would leave something as strong as what had caused me to pass out laying carelessly and in the room you welcome guests in no less.”Darren gaped at me but I pushed on before I lost the nerve that had caused me to take this route.“I am willing to let it all go, M
DARREN“Is she okay?” Margaret rushed forward to peer into the face of the woman that was now collapsed in my arms.I was more concerned with the fact that the woman I was holding in my arms at the moment was the very same woman who had kissed me yesterday.“Get the guestroom open” I ordered.Margaret looked torn between obeying me and panicking.“Mr. Cross…”“I know what she drank.”“Guest room, Margaret.”She finally nodded and hurried away.I looked down at the woman in my arms.Isabella Foster and apparently, the nanny candidate.Life was indeed all shades of fucked up.I carried her upstairs and to the guest bedroom. She weighed almost nothing.Her head lolled slightly against my shoulder and a strand of red hair fell across her face.Without thinking, I brushed it aside then immediately wondered why the hell I had done that.I hadn't voluntarily touched a woman in years at least not beyond a handshake.The guest room door stood open by the time I arrived.I laid her carefully on
ISABELLA“Oh, you have got to be kidding me!”I stared in horror at the muddy water splattered all over my white pants.The car responsible was already halfway down the road.Of course.Of course this would happen today.I had spent twenty minutes deciding what to wear for this interview. Twenty whole minutes standing in front of my mirror debating whether the white pants looked professional enough.It is official.The world is conspiring against me. This is what I get for trying.I grabbed the packet of wet wipes from my bag and attempted to clean the stain.The dirt only smeared further.Wonderful.Absolutely wonderful.I checked the time on my phone and groaned.It did not matter now.I was already running late.There was no point standing around feeling sorry for myself.I shoved the wipes back into my bag and hurried toward the massive black gates looming ahead.The property behind them looked more like a private estate than a house.I pressed the buzzer.A crackling voice immedi
EPILOGUEDARREN“Who would have thought?”Camilla laughed as she adjusted the veil draped over her shoulder.The afternoon sun caught against the diamonds around her neck and for a second, she looked exactly like the little girl who used to follow me around in family gatherings asking impossible questions.Only now she was wearing a wedding dress and she was married."I know," Camilla said, shaking her head. "Trust me, I still can't believe it either."The reception buzzed around us.Music drifted through the air.People laughed and champagne glasses clinked.Nathan stood across the room speaking with Lucien while Jason danced with Elizabeth like they were the only two people in existence.Some things never changed."I am happy for you, Cami."Her smile softened."Thank you for everything. You actually pushed me to go after what I wanted.""That sounds unlike me."She laughed at this. “You know, Uncle… I know you have had the worst luck in women but I cannot wait for you to meet the on
CAMILLAThe drive to Nathan's place was silent,.My hands rested in my lap, fingers laced together, and I could feel my heart beating in my throat, in my wrists, between my thighs.Nathan drove with one hand on the steering wheel, the other reaching across to rest on my knee. His thumb traced lazy circles against the fabric of my dress, and every brush of his skin against mine sent a ripple of heat through my body.I watched his profile in the dim light of the dashboard.The sharp line of his jaw, the way his lips parted slightly when he breathed, the tension in his shoulders that I knew had nothing to do with the road.He pulled into a private driveway and killed the engine.For a moment, neither of us moved.Then he turned to me, and the look in his eyes made my breath catch."Are you sure?" he asked quietly.I reached out and placed my hand over his, still resting on my knee."I have never been more sure of anything in my life."He held my gaze for a long moment, searching my eyes f
FIVECAMILLAI sighed in relief, my knees weak as I sagged into my chair.Okay, today was going well so far except for the…Coffee, I joltedHe had asked for CoffeeI scrambled to my feet, reaching into the drawer and pulling out the special brew he had mentioned. I had not asked him if he liked his coff
FOURTEENDIANAI had considered not ever setting foot in Luca’s restaurant anymore and maybe not ever seeing Dante again. After what had happened and my more than disgraceful walk out of the restaurant that day, I had thought maybe I would bump into him again. I had even gone as far as asking the rece
TENDIANAI admit that being a waitress wasn’t all I thought it would be and not even my excitement could stop the tiredness from sipping through my bones as I hopped from table to table, taking orders. It was wonderful that I did not have to struggle with some of the Italian dishes that were ordered
The letters in front of Alexander’s eyes burned brighter until they were unintelligible, he stared at the smiling face of Lucien Rodrigues and the also smiling face of the woman of his dreams; Mara Sinclair as the words burned even brighterBILLIONAIRE TO WED FASHION GODDESS… REPORTEDLY ENGAGEDLaught







