Page 61 of All Bets Are Off

“I’m such an idiot. I can’t believe you would bring me around your friends when they were probably all watching to see if I’d take advantage of you.”

“That is not true. And I bet that youwouldn’tbe a gold digger, Vida. I knew you wouldn’t. I knew you better than that after a minute in your presence.”

“But Iam. I’m as bad as he thinks I am,” she wails miserably. “Look at all the things you’ve done for me. And I just l-letyou?—”

“Vida.” I turn her around and shake her by the shoulders, her tear-streaked face flooding me with agony. “I’m sorry I made that bet. I shouldn’t have cheapened what we have by doing that. But I only made it so Calder would stay away from you. I wasn’t as secure in how you felt about me then. I’d justattackedyou in my room. I just…” I manage a wheezing breath. “I wanted to stake my claim on you, and that was the fastest way to do it, but that doesn’t excuse my actions. I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner. I should haveexplained.”

Some of the fight has gone out of her.

I don’t know if that’s better or worse than her trying to get away.

More tears track down her cheeks, and I simply fall to my knees at the sight of them, wrapping my arms around her waist. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

“How can you love me when I’m exactly what they say I am?”

“No, you arenot.” My anger drowns out the ocean. Not anger at Vida. Anger at Calder. At this bullshit notion that he’s put in her head, just when we’ve made so much progress. “If I hadn’t begged you to take what I’m offering, you’d have stayed workingas a maid all summer and attended Dartmouth in the fall. Youneverwould have asked me for those things. I gave them freely because I am compelled to give you the world. A world you deserve. You couldn’t take advantage of me if you tried.”

A heart-wrenching sob shakes her shoulders.

She sways a little, and I catch her, pulling her down into my lap in the sand.

“You know, I’m going to have him killed for making you run from me.” I vow this against her temple, then kiss the spot to seal my promise. “I’ll kill anyone who does that.”

I’m not sure if she clocks the truth of my words, but time will prove I’m serious.

She tips her head back and looks at me, tears clinging to her long lashes. There’s still some lingering doubt in her eyes.

Fix it.

“What else did he say to you?”

She ducks her chin, but I nudge it back up, forcing her to make eye contact.

“He said I’m going to earn what you give me on my knees and back. That I must be incredible in the sack to have bagged the biggest fish in the pond.”

Oh yes. His death is going to be slow. And painful.

“The reason we’re so good in bed together is because we love each other so fucking much. I am the luckiest man alive to have your body, as well as your heart. But there is no earning. Onlysharing. Okay?”

She absorbs that with hopeful eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Am I sure?” I sputter, wiping the tears from her face. “Did you miss the part where I offered to wear a cock cage, Vida? I’ve fucking lost it over you. I’ll be in love with you until the day my life is ripped from my hands. Don’t let this punk put doubts in your head. I love you. And you love me. He’ll never know what this feels like.No onewill.”

Finally, I can see that I’ve gotten through to her and I let myself take my first full breath since I saw her running on the beach.

“I love you, too,” she whispers. “No more bets.”

“All bets are off, angel. I will never,evergamble on you again,” I say fervently, planting kisses all over her face and neck until she starts to giggle, the sound washing over me like a baptism. Standing with my future cradled in my arms, I carry her down the beach toward the resort. “I’m coming with you to quit and then we’re getting on my yacht and sailing out of here.”

She beams up at me, my little ray of sunshine.

“As you wish, Fiancé Daddy.”

Our laughter carries down the beach on the back of the wind.

THE END?