Jamal took her by the hand and headed straight for the front desk, booking a night’s stay at the Biltmore.
As soon as they entered their room, he took her lips in a kiss that resonated throughout his entire body. Within moments of closing the door to the suite, he had her naked and spread out over the bed. With one goal in mind, Jamal proceeded to turn her body inside out.
Before the night was over, this woman would know that she belonged to him in every single way.
“I still cannot believe how beautiful this place is,” Phil said, gazing out the passenger window of the rental car. “Makes me sad to think about leaving.”
“Just say the word and I’ll change our flights. We can tack on a couple of days.”
“No, we can’t,” she said. “We need to get Belle Maison finished before Thursday, because I am not spending my Thanksgiving working.”
“Let me guess, you want to spend it watching all the football games.”
“Shut up.” She swatted his arm. “The furniture is arriving tomorrow, and your first guests will check in next week. Oh!” She twisted in her seat to face him. “I completely forgot to tell you this. Mya left a voice mail last night while we were at the wedding. She said thatGulfscapes Magazinehas agreed to feature Gauthier, and they’re going to come down for the Christmas in Gauthier celebration to take photos.”
“Whoa, that’s pretty huge. I’m surprised news like that didn’t send her into labor,” Jamal said with a chuckle.
“Maybe if we can convince them to stay at Belle Maison, they’ll throw a little extra advertising our way,” she said.
A warm smile traveled across his lips. “I like the way you include yourself when you talk about the bed-and-breakfast.”
She hesitated a moment. “I guess it’s because we’ve been working so closely together on it.”
“Is that the only reason?” he asked. He reached across the center console and captured her hand. “I was hoping it was because you were starting to see yourself as a part of it, and not just someone I hired to help. Because you mean a lot more to Belle Maison, Phylicia. And to me.”
His words caused a maelstrom of giddiness, excitement, and downright panic to swirl in the pit of her stomach. He caressed the back of her hand with his thumb, rubbing it back and forth.
“I meant what I said last night,” he continued. “I’m in love with you. And it’s not going to go away once we’re done working on the house. I’m in this. Completely.”
Her throat tightened with emotion. “What are you saying?”
“What do you think I’m saying? I’m asking if you’re in this too. Do you see the two of us running Belle Maison together? Living our lives together? Maybe even getting married, having children?”
Oh, God, she could absolutely see it. All of it.
Phil’s free hand shook as she brought it up to her trembling lips. After everything she had been through over these past few years, a part of her was afraid to acknowledge what appeared to be true happiness within her reach.
“I can see it,” she said. “And Idowant all of it. With you.”
Jamal let out a deep breath she had no idea he had been holding. An enormous smile broke out over his face. He leaned over and kissed her for so long that Phil was sure he would veer off the road. He drove one-handed for the remainder of the drive, his other hand never letting go of hers.
Phil had been afraid to even imagine that she could ever feel this kind of contentment again. Even though the burdens were still there—the pressure from the bank, dealing with her mother’s illness and the rising cost of her care—the peace that settled over her made them all seem inconsequential. With Jamal at her side, giving her his love and support, she knew she would get through it all.
They turned off the highway and onto the road leading to the Creekside Bed-and-Breakfast. As the house came into view, Jamal’s grip loosened on her hand.
“What the hell?” he asked.
Phil spotted what had caught his attention. A shiny black Bentley was parked in front of the inn’s entrance.
He slammed on the brakes and threw the car into park. “How in the hell did he know we were here?”
Her heart pounding, Phil sucked in a deep breath. “I told him,” she admitted.
His head whipped around, his usually soft eyes shooting daggers at her.
“I told you that we spoke at the reception yesterday,” she explained. “All he could talk about was how much he regrets what happened between the two of you.”
“Dammit, Phylicia.” A muscle jumped in his jaw. “I told you to stay out of it.”
