Page 34 of The Strength Of A Woman

“I’ll have someone inside the house report to me. Someone other than Nona. It’s better that way.”

His scent enters me along with his warmth, and they link hands and dance over my heart’s grave as he pulls away from me.

I touch him one more time, and he doesn’t retreat.

“Are you coming to that party? Seriously, now.”

He’s all business again.

“Most likely not, as I just said. I’ll have my men gather more information and then make a final decision.”

My hand falls off him.

“What about Italy? How long are you going to be here? It looks like my grandparents want to spend all this time with me.”

“I should fly back in a few days.”

The thought that he’ll be away and I’ll be stuck with them here, plotting against me, ties my stomach in knots.

I touch his forearm again.

“Is there any way you can take me back with you?” I say softly, smiling, sad.

“Not now.”

His words. Oh, his words. A flicker of hope warms my soul. It’s like my heart explodes in my chest, the amazing swirl of energy looking for an outlet.

I don’t know how to control the burst of emotions.

How to hold them back.

All I can do is nod my head like a little girl, and then, as he’s about to leave, I step toward him, wrap my arm around his neck, push up on my toes, and kiss his cheek, almost touching his lips.

He doesn’t react, and it feels like I’m kissing one of the antique statues that never comes to life, only serves as a historical artifact.

Yet he does come to life.

A statue made of warm blood and suppressed passion.

He does.

He takes my hand and presses it against his lips, and that does to me more than any man’s gesture has ever done for me.

My tears have dried up as sunshine blooms in my heart.

“Go in peace now. You won’t be alone,” he says.

With that, he gives me a barely there soft wink, fastens the only button on his suit jacket, spins around, and returns to his table, where his female company seems enthralled with a piece of cake.

7

LEILANI

The sun fadesinto the sea as the man I most admire walks away, giving me hope.

His words feel like arms pulling me into a warm hug.

As much as I’d love to linger a little longer, I know I have to leave.