by Sara Orwig
“I’m glad you had somebody.”
“Jess is all for this marriage and bringing Noah into our lives.”
“You just never know what problems other people carry around,” she said quietly. “I’ve been fortunate.”
“When we get back, we’ll get your things, Ashley’s and Noah’s moved to the ranch.”
“Noah growing up a little cowboy—that seems impossible.”
“It’s possible. I’ll get a horse for you. You can ride with me early in the mornings if you’d like. This time of year it’s beautiful out.”
She laughed. “I don’t know one thing about horses, but I would love to learn. That sounds fun, Marek.”
“Life’s a blast for you, isn’t it?”
“A lot of the time. It’s a lot of work and sometimes scary, too.”
Finally, she said she would turn in.
“Before you do, let’s walk on the beach. The moon is out and I think you’ll like a stroll. You can’t do that at home.”
With his arm draped casually across her shoulders, they walked along the sandy beach, where flickering torches cast yellow-and-orange reflections over the dark waters and highlighted whitecaps. When he walked with her to her bedroom door, she turned to face him.
“This is a weird wedding night, Camille. You’re getting shortchanged here.”
“No, I’m not. I’m getting a lot from this marriage. I expect a lot.”
One dark eyebrow arched. “How’s that? Don’t expect me to fall in love. I’m coming out of my grief, I’ll admit, but I’ll never be in—” She placed her finger on his mouth.
“That wasn’t what I was talking about, but that, too. You don’t know what lies ahead. I expect you to be a father for Noah. A good father. You’ve given us a fortune. Because of this marriage, I’m wealthy and my family has options and can do things they could not have done otherwise.”
“You see the world through rose-colored glasses.”
“Maybe, but that makes for a pretty world,” she said, smiling at him. She stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arm around his neck and kissed him on the mouth. She wanted to shake him out of his insulated world. Marek’s arm circled her waist and he returned her kiss, holding her tightly while he wound his other hand in her hair. Her pulse roared in her ears and her heartbeat raced as she kissed him, pouring herself into the kiss, wanting to break through the barriers around his heart. She had started the kiss, but then Marek dominated, burning away caution, causing wild responses from her.
When he picked her up to carry her into her bedroom, she realized they were headed for a real wedding night. “Wait, Marek—” she whispered.
“You started this,” he said in a voice that was as deep as a growl. Giving her a searching look, he set her on her feet. Her heart pounded, part desire, part exhilaration that she had shaken him out of his remote numbness as she had intended.
“We stop now,” she said. “Weird wedding night or not, it’s been more than either of us expected. Far more than I ever expected. I still don’t want to rush complications.”
“I think complications are barreling down on us,” he said. “You have to take some of the blame. You’re filled with a zest for life that’s irresistible. I believe you started this tonight.”
“I don’t have any regrets,” she whispered and saw a flicker in the depths of his dark eyes. “I’ve had a wonderful wedding day. It’s not what either of us would have if we could have whatever we want, but under the circumstances, for a paper marriage, it was a great day.”
“I agree. I wondered how I would get through it. Thanks. You got me through this one and it’s been good.”
“Will you be all right tonight?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Want to come hold my hand and make sure I am?” he replied, a faint smile hovering on his mouth.
She laughed. “Good try, but not this night. You’ll be okay. Let’s have a sunrise swim.”
“Sure. Want me to come get you out of bed?”
“Another good try, but, no, I don’t. I’ll be up early. And I’m sure, as a rancher, you get up early every morning. If not, I’ll go on without you.”
“And me miss the sight of you in your swimsuit? I think not. I’ll be there.”
She laughed. “Good night, Marek.” He caught her up, holding her tightly to kiss her hard. Just as abruptly he released her.
“Some night, Camille, you won’t tell me to wait.”
“Just make sure that’s what you want,” she whispered as her heart raced.
“I can give you the same warning.” He left, closing the door behind him.
Staring at the door, she gave herself over to memories of the whole evening. Whether it would complicate her life horribly or not, she was going to fall in love with her husband. Or maybe she was already in love with him.
When she was ready for bed, she stepped onto the veranda outside her bedroom. Moonlight spilled across the water in one long, white beam. She was married to a Rangel now. Mrs. Marek Rangel. This was never how she had dreamed she would have her wedding night. It could have been different tonight. Was she ready for that big a change?
“It will work out,” she told herself, thinking how Marek seemed now compared to the day she had walked into his office. She thought about their kisses, escalating in intensity. She combed her hair back from her face with her fingers, thinking about being in Marek’s arms today, dancing with him, the moment he had swept her up to carry her over the threshold. Just when she thought she had him figured out, he surprised her. She finally fell asleep in a chair, dozing and then waking to crawl into bed to sleep.
The next two days they spent swimming, eating, dancing and getting to know each other better, yet all the while, she felt sparks and tension growing between them.
The last night they went into town to a show and afterward they went to a popular bar. The steamy bar was raucous, the dancing frenzied, strobe lights flashing. Marek unbuttoned his short-sleeve island shirt, letting go after the past month filled with tension and a strained wedding filled with painful memories.
Relaxed, he enjoyed dancing. Afterward, when the floor was cleared for limbo, they watched as a few patrons tried it. The crowd got into it, cheering on the dancers.
Marek had his arm around her shoulder, but he stepped out to participate. The music was deafening, and he concentrated on trying to get down. After the first easy try, they lowered the bar. Again, he made it to cheers and clapping. He grinned at Camille. They lowered the bar and he tried once again to louder cheers. He laughed as Camille gave him a thumbs-up.
Feeling sweat pour off himself, he motioned for another try, getting lower than any of the amateurs so far until he felt his balance going. He put down his hand to wiggle under the bar and bounced to his feet to cheers and applause as he bowed.
Laughing, he caught her around her waist.
“I didn’t know you were so talented,” she yelled over the noise of the crowd. He led her back to the bar and the bartender gave him a cold beer and congratulations.
“Hey, man, beer’s on the house,” he said, grinning.
As Marek took a long drink, Camille laughed. They walked back into the crowd to watch the dancers until the professional dancer returned to outdo everyone else.
When they stopped the limbo, a samba began, and Marek took her hand to dance. He already knew she was an excellent dancer. As she followed his moves across the dance floor, he realized they were in perfect step. Her red dress with a halter top had a skirt that was fitted over her hips and then flared fully below. With every turn her legs were revealed, drawing an audience quickly.
With his gaze locked with hers they danced in unison as if they had practiced for weeks. The fast, sexy dance sent his heart racing. Every move felt even more exhilarating. He watched her twist her hips while dancing in perfect step with him. She was taunting and sexy, and he wanted her. Desire burned hotly, more than the scorching air in the bar. He wished he had her alone, far away from a crowd.
The growing audience began to circle and watch, cheering them on, whistling and clapping until the end when they got resounding cheers. Exhilarated, filled with energy, he laughed as he pulled her to him. “Let’s give them a thrill,” he said and kissed her, dipping with her so she had to put her arms around his neck. Dimly, above his roaring pulse, he heard the crowd go wild with yells.
Wanting to take her home and to bed now, he swung her up to audience applause. “Take your bow. You’re a great dancer. How you did that and stayed as cool as you look, I don’t know.” They bowed and walked away while the band took a break. Marek wiped his sweat-covered forehead and pushed back tangled locks of his black hair.
*
Camille caught her long hair to braid it swiftly. “I need a clip or rubber band for this hair.”
He took her hand and they crossed to the bar to get one. As soon as she fastened her braid, he held her arm and they went outside, where welcome cool air hit her. He spun her around. Her eyes widened and she placed her hands against his chest.
While Camille’s heart pounded, he pulled her to him to kiss her possessively. She wrapped her arms around him to kiss him in return. His body was hot, damp from the dance, flat planes and hard muscles. His hand ran down her back and over her bottom and she was thankful they were at the bar and not at the villa with privacy and bedrooms. She still didn’t want to get into an intimate relationship and complicate their lives and do something that he would take as lightly as he had the dancing tonight.
His kisses stirred passion to a storm that buffeted her. In spite of her caution, she wanted him. She ran her hands over his back, wanting to tug his shirt out of his chinos but resisting.
His tongue went deep, a demanding kiss that shook her. He was not steeped in grief tonight. Far from it. He had been losing the past swiftly, and tonight his body was hot with desire.
Relishing their kisses, she didn’t want to stop, either, aware their location would eventually end their lovemaking before it went too far. Momentarily letting go of her caution, she kissed him eagerly, sliding her hands over his chest to feel the solid muscles. He was aroused, sexy. Knowing she shouldn’t, she couldn’t keep from wanting him. In spite of knowing he was a threat to her career, she wanted him, but she wanted more of him than just his body. Even when she shouldn’t, she wanted his heart.
His hand went to her throat and then slipped lower, over her breast, and she gasped with pleasure as he caressed her. She closed her hand around his wrist.
“Marek, we’re in a very public place.”
“There’s no one paying any attention to us. They’re all inside. You’re a fabulous dancer,” he replied in a muffled voice as he continued to shower kisses on her throat, moving lower. He shoved the neck of her dress lower to kiss her. She wriggled and stepped back, straightening her dress.
“We can go back and dance or go to the villa, but we need to stop the lovemaking out here in public.”
He gave her a long steady look before he finally nodded. “Which is it? What do you want to do? Dance more or go back?”
“Go back and walk on the beach. It’s our last night.”
“The last night of our honeymoon. We could make it real, Camille,” he said in a husky voice.
“You mean we could make love. It would not be real love between us, and you know that. You said you didn’t mind having a relationship without sex for now.”
“I didn’t think I wanted one. You’re making me want things I didn’t think I would. This past week—maybe even before—for the first time since I lost Jillian and Kern, I feel like life is good again.”
“Frankly, I’m glad. I want some kind of caring between us if we have a physical relationship. You agreed to that.”
“So I did,” he said. “We’ll have some kind of caring, Camille. I already do care,” he said, his dark eyes holding her spellbound. He leaned close to kiss her, his mouth firm, demanding on hers until three men burst outside, noisily spilling past them.
Marek leaned away and smiled at her. “All right, we’ll go back to the villa. I’ll get the car,” he said, sending a text message.
“It was fun to dance. We did well together,” she said when he finished sending the text.
“Amazingly well. I’ll bet people who watched thought we had danced a samba together dozens of times. Frankly, it surprised me.”
“I had years of dance lessons when I was growing up. Someday we’ll come back maybe and try and see if it happens again.”
“That sounds good—someday we’ll come back. This is a good marriage.”
“I think you’ve had too much to drink tonight.”
He shook his head. “Hardly. I had two beers all evening long. I didn’t finish the last one, so it wasn’t even two. For a paper marriage it’s a good marriage.”
“There. That description is far more accurate. Let’s go.”
As soon as they reached the villa, they went outside for the walk along the beach that she had wanted. Kicking off her shoes, she listened to waves lap against the shore.
“I’ve finally cooled off. The bar was hot, dancing even hotter,” she said.
“Kissing you was the hottest of all,” he added, and she smiled.
“I could have added that but didn’t. This has been wonderful. Thank you for finding this place and the villa—it has fulfilled a dream I’ve had for a long time.”
“I’m glad you’re pleased. I’m glad you’re here for the first time with me. Tomorrow we’ll return home, and next week we’ll go to the ranch and plan the changes you want to make.”
“I need to get back the following week. It’s getting closer to performance time, and I have to practice. My time will be more deeply involved with my profession.”
“I understand. I may stay at the ranch some of the time and keep out of your way.”
She nodded, wondering how well they would work out their time and if he would accept the demands of her career. She suspected he was unaccustomed to having to give up anything he wanted in daily living.
“Stephanie is not interested in ranch life. Right now, she’s delighted to be going back to Saint Louis. I think she’ll open an office and work from there. She’ll do my accounting, but I’m going to hire another manager because she wants to go home and settle down. Remember, Ashley is going to Saint Louis for the week when we return to Dallas. They’ll both be gone and I’ll take care of Noah.”
“That’s when you’ll need to let me or Ginny help take care of him.”
“At this point, I feel better about Ginny. She’s accustomed to caring for a baby. You’re not.”
He smiled, and her heartbeat quickened. Her response to him was increasing instead of diminishing with familiarity.
After they walked along the beach, they sat on the veranda, sipping iced tea and talking until she realized the time. “Do you know how early we’ve planned to leave? It’s three in the morning.”
“With a phone call I can change tomorrow’s flight.”
Thinking about the week ahead, she shook her head. “We should get back. We have plans made and everyone will be expecting us.”
They walked to her bedroom door, where they stopped as they had each night. “It’s been good, Marek,” she said, aware of his disheveled state, his shirt unbuttoned, revealing his muscled chest, his tangled hair falling partially on his forehead. His shirttail was out of his chinos. He looked sexy, ready for love.
“Thanks to you, this trip has been a good one. Tonight was a blast and a relief to just let go in every way.”
She smiled at him. “I’m glad. Good night,” she said, reaching up to put her hand on his shoulder and kiss him lightly. The kiss changed into a passionate one that had them both gasping for breath when they stopped.
“Sometime, Camille, you won’t say no.”
“I imagine you’re right,” she whispered. She stepped into her room and closed the door, her heart pounding. “I didn’t want to tonight,” she whispered, touching her tingli
ng lips lightly with the back of her fingers. She looked at the ring on her hand, watching the diamond sparkle. “Mrs. Marek Rangel. I want it all. I want your love, and then this ring will hold meaning,” she whispered, wondering whether he could ever let go and love again. She mulled over his remark earlier—I already do care. How much did he care? Tiny changes had happened, and maybe they were making a difference in him. Would he ever fall in love or forever be holding a memory in his heart?
And what if he did fall in love? Would she wreck her life and the career she had guarded and given all her effort to for her lifetime? She couldn’t imagine living in isolation on his ranch. Voice and language lessons would be an impossibility. If he ever fell in love, was she willing to sacrifice what she had achieved?
Seven
The trip to Dallas seemed short, and she felt a rush of joy as Noah held out his arms and kicked his legs at the sight of her. She scooped him up to hug him, looking over his head at Ashley, who smiled happily.
Marek stood beside her and she handed Noah to him. “Thank you, Ashley.”
“Ma-ma,” Noah said. Startled, Camille looked at him and then at Ashley, who laughed and shrugged.
“He’s beginning to talk. He has a two-word vocabulary—ma-ma and bah for bottle.”
“I missed his first word,” Camille said, shaking her head.
“I did videotape it for you. I wanted to surprise you when you returned and heard him. Also, I’m going shortly if that’s all right with you,” Ashley replied. “I’ll stay with my friend Patty Collins tonight and be back early because I’m going to Saint Louis tomorrow.”
“Of course, run along. We’re fine, and we’ll see you in the morning.”
“Great to have you back,” she said. “I’ll see you later, Camille. Bye, Marek.”
“Goodbye, Ashley,” he replied, making noises at Noah that made the baby laugh.
