by Pamela Yaye
“That’s fine with me. As long as I have you by my side, I’ll be happy.”
Touched by his words, Sharleen smiled and snuggled against his shoulder. She wanted to jump into his arms and shower his face with kisses, but she exercised self-control and squeezed his hand instead.
Emilio led Sharleen inside the sunlit atrium and signed an autograph for the manager’s teenage son at the front desk. “I didn’t realize it was four thirty,” he said. “We better head back to the cottage and get ready.”
“For what? I thought we were staying in tonight.” Sharleen gave him a puzzled look, but deep down she was thrilled that he’d planned something special for her and was curious to know exactly what it was. “Where are we going?”
He kissed her on the cheek. “Be patient. You’ll find out soon enough.”
An hour later, Sharleen was showered and dressed. They were sharing the cottage, but they had separate rooms. Wanting to look great for Emilio, she’d taken extra care doing her hair and makeup, but despite her efforts, she still felt frumpy and unattractive. She stared at the walk-in closet, wishing she could wear one of the outfits he’d bought her instead of her boring gray cardigan and floral-print dress. But she feared he’d take one look at her in the white backless dress and bolt from their suite.
Hearing a knock on the door, she grabbed her purse off the bed and hustled across the room. The cottage had all the comforts of home and reminded Sharleen of a property she’d once seen on an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.
“Sharleen, are you ready? The limo just pulled up.”
Her palms were slick with sweat, but she opened the door and strode into the living room. Emilio switched off the TV and turned to face her. Disappointment flickered in his eyes, and his smile looked forced, as if it required every ounce of his strength. Hurt by his reaction, her shoulders sagged, and her spirits fell.
“You don’t like my outfit,” she said quietly, fighting back tears. Crying was completely out of character, but his rejection stung. Emilio was important to her, and she always wanted to look her best for him. “I’ll go change.”
His face softened. “Don’t be silly. You look great. You always do.”
“I’m a big girl. I can handle it, so just spit it out. What’s wrong with my outfit?”
“Nothing, if you’re going to Bible study.”
She didn’t join in his laughter.
“Don’t you like the outfits I bought for you?” he asked.
“Yes, of course, but they’re too revealing for me. I prefer more conservative looks.”
“You have a great figure. You should show it off sometimes.” He winked, and a grin dimpled his cheek. “Especially when you’re in Miami with me.”
“Emilio, I’m not one of your model ex-girlfriends. You can’t expect me to—”
“Thank God for that,” he drawled, with a sigh of relief. “I’ve dated a lot of famous women, but none of them can hold a candle to you. You’re in a league of your own.”
I am? Sharleen found herself lost in the allure of his voice and his piercing gaze. It took all of her effort not to jump into his arms and kiss him all over. The more he spoke, complimenting and praising her, the more she desired him.
“You’re genuine and considerate, and you don’t give a damn about my celebrity status. That’s just one of the many things I love about you. You always have my best interest at heart, and I trust you wholeheartedly.”
Love? The word reverberated in her mind, made her dizzy and weak in the knees. Afraid her legs were going to buckle, she leaned against the mahogany desk for support. Was it true? Did Emilio love her? Or was this just a ploy to get her into bed?
“I want to show you off tonight.” His voice was a low, sensuous whisper, and lust shone in his eyes. “You’re gorgeous, and I want the whole world to know that you’re my girl.”
“Stop saying that. It isn’t true... I’m not like other girls... I’m different.”
Emilio stared at her as if she were speaking a foreign language. “What are you talking about? You’re beautiful inside and out.”
She couldn’t look at him, didn’t dare meet his gaze for fear of bursting into tears.
He clasped her hand, led her over to the leather reading chair in front of the window and pulled her down onto his lap. They sat in silence for several minutes, listening to birds squawk, the soothing sounds of the ocean and the raucous volleyball game happening on the beach.
“You’re shaking.” Emilio wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear, “Tell me what’s bothering you. I want to help.”
I can’t. You won’t understand. No one ever does!
“Who convinced you that you’re unworthy of love? Was it an abusive ex-boyfriend?”
Sharleen dropped her gaze to her lap and tugged at the sleeve of her cardigan.
“I’m not letting you go until we talk, so if you want to have dinner at the best Cajun restaurant in Miami, you better start talking.”
His joke, and the sympathetic expression on his face, eased the tension, lightened the mood. Still, she didn’t speak. Her head hurt, and her stomach was curled into knots. Reluctantly, her heart pounding with fear, she took off her sweater. To her relief, Emilio didn’t gasp or recoil in disgust at the sight of her scars.
“The doctors at Grady Memorial Hospital said it was a miracle I survived the fire, but when I saw the burns on my body, I wanted to die. I felt ugly, and I couldn’t look in the mirror for weeks.”
Anguish filled his eyes. “You were in the house fire that killed your parents?”
“I feel asleep on the couch watching a movie and when I woke up the house was filled with smoke.” Bitter memories crowded her mind, overwhelming her with sadness. A chill whipped through the room, and she hugged her arms to her chest to ward off the cold. “I tried to crawl to the door, but it was hard to breathe, and I couldn’t find my way out. A firefighter found me unconscious in the hallway and carried me outside to the ambulance.”
“You’re the most courageous woman I know, and hearing your story makes me respect and admire you even more.”
Tears pricked her eyes, but she conquered her emotions and spoke openly, without fear or restraint. She told Emilio about the weeks she’d spent in the hospital, her bouts with depression during her recovery and her disastrous dating history. “Men want perfection, and I’m not it,” she said sadly. “I got tired of being disappointed by the opposite sex, so I decided to focus on my career instead of my love life.”
“It sounds like you’ve given up on ever finding Mr. Right. Does that mean I don’t stand a chance?”
This time Sharleen laughed, and it felt good. A weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and now that Emilio knew the truth about her past she didn’t have to hide anymore. Knowing that he cared about her, in spite of her physical imperfections, meant everything to her.
“Have you ever been in love?” he asked.
The question caught her off guard, and several seconds passed before she regained her voice. “Yes, once, a long time ago, but I was young and foolish. It didn’t mean anything.”
“I’d like to hear about it.” His smile was full of sympathy and understanding. “What happened?”
Her heart ached when she remembered her sophomore year at Duke University. She wanted to change the subject, but knew there was no point trying to pull a fast one on Emilio. In the end, he’d persuade her to open up to him, so why bother? He radiated warmth and compassion, and Sharleen felt so at ease with him, so comfortable in his arms.
“I met Jarvis at the campus library, and we immediately hit it off. He was outgoing, from a great family and an old soul like me.”
Emilio leaned into her, tightened his hold around her waist.
“Five months later, we were talking about moving in toget
her and eloping after graduate school. I was blissfully in love and anxious to become Mrs. Jarvis Bell.”
“How nice,” he grunted and clenched his teeth. “Your ex sounds like quite the charmer.”
He was, and if I hadn’t been so gullible and naive I wouldn’t have fallen for his lies. Silencing her inner critic, she swallowed the lump at the back of her throat and willed herself not to cry. “Jarvis showed up unexpectedly at my dorm a few days before winter break, and I answered the door in a tank top and shorts. He looked mortified when he saw my scars and made up an excuse for why he had to leave.”
“Thank God you found out the truth about him before it was too late.”
Sharleen nodded, knew Emilio was right, but the memories of that day, and her ex-boyfriend’s bitter rejection, still stung. “I was supposed to spend the holidays with Jarvis and his family in Maine, but he canceled my airline ticket the next day.” Her voice cracked with emotion, so she faked an everything-is-okay smile for Emilio’s benefit. “He said his parents changed their minds about meeting me and suggested we take a break for a while. Jarvis stopped calling and avoided me like the plague for the rest of the year.”
“Baby, don’t cry. He didn’t deserve you, and you’re better off without him.”
Sharleen gave him a bewildered look. Touching her cheeks, she was shocked to discover they were wet. She wiped her face with the sleeve of her cardigan. “Unfortunately, Jarvis wasn’t the only guy repulsed by my scars, and after being rejected repeatedly, I gave up on ever finding love. It doesn’t exist, and I feel stupid for wasting my time searching for—”
Emilio put a finger to her lips and shook his head. “Don’t talk like that. I think you’re desirable and sexy and that will never change.” He winked and added, “Not even when we’re old and gray!”
Old and gray? You want a future with me? Seriously? Her head was spinning fast, out of control, and she couldn’t stop shaking. Sharleen wanted to dance around the room to the song playing in her heart, but she told herself to relax. Despite her excitement, she sat silently, perfectly still, searching her heart for the courage to tell Emilio her other secret, the one no one knew but Jocelyn. She parted her lips and the truth fell out. “I’m a virgin.”
An amused expression covered his face. “So am I.”
“I’ve been on a lot of dates, but I’ve never met anyone I wanted to be intimate with. And I was too afraid they’d run for the hills after they saw my scars.”
“You’re serious.” His eyes doubled in size, and his jaw dropped. “How is that possible? I see the way other guys look at you. They drool all over themselves!”
They do? Sharleen couldn’t put her feelings into words, didn’t even try.
“I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say...” Emilio’s cell phone rang, but he ignored it. When it started up again seconds later, he took it out of his pocket, turned it off and chucked it on the sofa love seat. “That’s better. Now, where were we?”
“I don’t mind if you answer your phone.”
“I know, but I don’t feel like talking to my sister.”
“It could be important,” she argued.
“Nothing is more important to me than being with you. This is our time alone together, and I don’t want anyone to interrupt us.”
Sharleen couldn’t hide the smile that overwhelmed her lips. Forgetting the pain of her past, she entwined her fingers with his and giggled when he nipped at her earlobe.
“There’s a common misconception that all men care about is sleeping with as many women as possible, but it’s not true. At least not for me,” he said. “I haven’t had sex in years, and it suited me fine until I met you. Now it’s all I can think about.”
Sharleen was stunned, but she wore a blank expression on her face. Deciding to put all of her years of high school drama club to good use, she gasped and made her eyes big. “You’ve been celibate for years? How is that possible? I see the way other women look at you. They drool all over themselves!”
They laughed and held each other close, tighter than ever before. Nothing compared to being in his arms, to having his support.
“This isn’t about sex. This is about us building a life together, and I want it all. Marriage, kids, family vacations to Disney World and romantic getaways to Monte Carlo.”
Emilio spoke in a serious tone, but his gaze was filled with fire and desire. Sharleen ached for him, longed to be in his bed. She wanted him so bad she couldn’t think of anything but making love to him. The problem was, Sharleen didn’t know what to do. Should I take charge? Would he like that? Will I?
“You’re not a one-in-a-million kind of girl, Sharleen. You’re a once-in-a-lifetime kind of woman, and I’m ready to commit to you, mind, body and soul.”
His words were obviously something he’d given serious thought to. Love flowed through her body, but she couldn’t bring herself to say those three magic words. Sharleen felt as if she were dreaming, and she pinched herself to prove she was awake.
“I have one small request...”
I knew this was too good to be true!
“I’m tired of seeing you all covered up. Promise me you’ll wear dresses and shorts and skirts from now on, and colors other than gray and black.”
“I can’t. I don’t want anyone to see my scars.”
“Everyone has something about themselves that they don’t like. Even yours truly.” Emilio pointed a finger at his temple. “Look, I’m cross-eyed!”
Sharleen burst out laughing and playfully swatted him on the shoulder. “Liar!”
“Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s the triumph over it,” he said quietly. “Sharleen, put the past behind you and pursue your destiny with every fiber of your being.”
Her mouth ajar, she stared at Emilio in stunned silence. Gathering herself, she gave him an incredulous look. “I can’t believe it. You read Mrs. Fontaine’s new book. But how? It was only released three days ago.”
“I had no choice. You threatened to stop cooking for me if I didn’t read it, and I can’t live without your seafood gumbo!” Emilio cupped her chin in his hands and brushed his nose against hers, causing her to giggle. “I want you to wear the red Dior dress tonight. It was made for a woman with your curves, and the moment I saw it in the store window I thought of you.”
You did? No way! That’s so sweet!
“I want your outward appearance to reflect your inner beauty, so your Martha Stewart cardigans just aren’t going to cut it anymore.”
“But what if people stare at me?”
“Of course they’re going to stare. You’re a vibrant, exotic beauty. They can’t help themselves.” He kissed her softly on the lips. “And neither can I.”
Chapter 15
“Oh, my gosh, look at the crowd!” Sharleen leaned forward in her seat and pointed through the back window of the limousine. The vehicle crawled to a stop at the entrance of the Miami Convention Center, but Emilio instructed the chauffeur to drive around to the rear of the building. Hundreds of fans, decked out in World Series Racing caps, T-shirts and leather bomber jackets were chanting his name. Their excitement consumed the air. “What a turnout. This is amazing. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“This is nothing compared to the Exotic Car Show in Barcelona. Ten thousand raucous fans show up every year, and they party in the streets until dawn!”
“Will you be traveling more now that you’re Ferrari’s spokesman?”
Emilio nodded. “I have to do TV and radio interviews and photo shoots, and I’ll be required to attend industry events all over the world, especially in my native Italy.”
“I love traveling, and I’ve always dreamed of going overseas, but I couldn’t imagine spending fourteen hours on an airplane. That sounds like torture.”
“Not if you’re traveling i
n a private luxury jet. Trust me, it’s the only way to travel.”
“Snob!” she joked, with a laugh.
“I’m taking you to Monte Carlo for our honeymoon,” he said. “You’ll love it. I promise.”
“Our honeymoon?” Sharleen laughed, as if it were the most outrageous thing she’d ever heard. But inside she was jumping for joy. The thought of being Mrs. Emilio Morretti made her heart swoon. For years, she’d pretended that she didn’t need anyone, that she was content being single, but deep down she’d always wanted to be in a serious, committed relationship with someone who loved her unconditionally. And now the only man she wanted in her life was Emilio Morretti.
“Love is a risk worth taking, and I’m ready to take things to the next level. Are you?”
His words surprised her, so she took a few minutes to gather her thoughts. “Emilio, don’t you think you’re moving too fast? We haven’t known each other long, and you just accepted a job that’s going to take you around the world for months at a time.”
Leaning over, he nuzzled his face against her cheek. “I want you to come with me.”
Convinced he was joking, she laughed. But when she felt his body tense, she realized he was serious. Sharleen took great pride in having a successful career, owning her own home and having money in the bank, and she wouldn’t walk away from everything that was important to her. “I just can’t up and leave my job. I have responsibilities and clients who depend on me.”
“You don’t need to work.”
“But I want to,” Sharleen insisted, making a concerted effort not to raise her voice. Weeks ago, he’d joked about her quitting her job, but she’d assumed he was kidding and laughed it off. Is that what Emilio wants? A docile woman at his beck and call who’ll bend to his wishes, no matter how unreasonable they are?
Her gaze searched his face, tried to figure out what he was thinking, how he was feeling. His expression was blank, but she sensed his disappointment, his frustration. Not wanting to argue with him, she gently caressed his fingers with her own. “My parents raised me to be independent, and I’ll never be happy being a kept woman,” she joked, hoping to lighten the mood. “I have hopes and dreams, just like you, and I plan to fulfill each and every one of them.”
