Being together was going to be a tall order. Clara had her own company, and if it ever comes down to it, Sebastian would probably need to move in with her to San Jose just to convince her his intentions were for real. There will be challenges when it comes to their long-distance relationship, but he was willing to work as hard for it, just like he had been working hard in the company his father built. And just like working diligently for several years, he knows that his perseverance with Clara will pay off, too. ‘I’m dropping you off later, and you cannot say no, okay?’ he said as they walked into a gift shop. He had a surprise waiting for her, and he could barely contain his excitement. ‘Oh yeah, definitely I wouldn’t have it any other way. Why would I say no?’ she wondered about his comment but shrugged it off as she got some cute earrings from this jewelry

   -=- This chapter is R18. If you are not over 18, please skip this chapter and proceed to Chapter 74. -=- Clara stirred awake when his hands caressed her body on top of her dress. She snuggled closer and sighed. Her body was humming to his touch. ‘I want you again,’ he whispered in her ear, his tongue licking her earlobe. ‘Mmmmm... Stop it,’ She said huskily, her eyes sleepy with desire, she kissed and sucked on his lips to appease him while he ran his hand up her thighs, but they got interrupted when the pilot announced they were touching down and they should buckle up.  Their relationship was getting too intense, too fast, and she didn’t k

-=- Start reading this chapter if you read Chapters 72 and 73. -=- Max was busy in the kitchen, preparing dinner, while Jere was in the living room playing video games. ‘That’s odd,’ Clara thought, ‘Max is making dinner, which meant he probably got home early. He shouldn’t be here until later. I wonder what happened to his date? ’  She grinned to herself, ‘I know what happened with my date.’  Max had to cut his visit with Celine short because he d

‘No, it’s fine. I usually have friends over, so they’re used to it. Until recently they wouldn’t even let me go out alone with friends. I just think they’re too cautious.’ Celine wanted to tell him about her sister being kidnapped but thought it was not the right time, it might sour their mood. She did not want Max to pity her like everybody else she tried to date. They thought of her as someone who needed fixing because of the tragedy which happened years ago. The reason she felt attracted to Max, was that he knew nothing about her past, and he did not treat her like a fragile porcelain doll. He pushed and pulled at her, tested her patience, and challenged her like one would a person who was not considered damaged as she was. And she liked it, because for once in her life, he treated her like a regular person. She was Celine, the daring woman he met at the bar, and she had her own identity, not the girl

Clara ignored all the warning bells in her head and made up her mind to be brave. She might just be reading too much into the situation, and Rowan might turn out to be an okay guy. ‘Sure, Max and I will take you up on your offer. Do you want us to meet you there?’ Clara asks as she helps Max clear up the conference room. ‘I heard everything around here is walking distance. Is that true?’ ‘It’s true. It would be a nightmare to drive anywhere around here, especially if you are not used to the area. Lots of one-way streets. Come, let’s walk to the restaurant,’ Rowan says as he takes the laptop from Clara’s hand. She was so used to the men around her carrying her bags that she forgot for a moment that he was not Baz or one of her brothers. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, you don’t need to carry the laptop for me,’ she says to Rowan.