Page 37 of Dare to Surrender (NY Dares 1)
But the truth of this trip settled over me, dulling the good feelings. “So the job? I can’t imagine Lucy really needs me. She’s put together every club you already own.” So why had I come here?
He shook his head. “Lucy’s in charge of the décor in the clubs. She looked at the portfolio of the things you’ve done with Lisa, and along with my recommendation, she wanted to give you a chance.”
I blinked. “The opportunity is real?” I asked warily.
“As real as you want it to be.”
“In other words, if I want to come back home with you and play house, you’d prefer it.”
“Not prefer. I want whatever makes you happy.”
Lance had said the same thing, and yet slowly, subtly, he’d taken away everything I’d ever loved.
I realized he’d pulled me into his arms, and I was wrapped in him, just the way he liked things. I felt so safe, so wanted. How, when he’d manipulated the situation to get me here? My heart and my sense of self-worth warred with each other.
“I want you happy, but make no mistake. I want you with me. And this time? You aren’t going to disappear.”
I shook my head. “You’re playing me, and I don’t like it. So don’t ask me to make any promises about the future.”
He exhaled hard, and a few uncomfortable moments passed. “Then make a promise for now. Stay with me on Eden.”
I didn’t know how long he meant or what he intended for us while we were here. I did know that despite the circumstances, I wanted to decorate that club as much as I wanted this time with him. Standing on my own two feet had felt great—but I felt even better here in Gabe’s arms.
I didn’t trust that he’d allow me the freedom I needed to be me in the real world. And that scared me as much as leaving him did.
Still, I managed a nod. I wasn’t going anywhere. For the moment.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“I worked up an appetite,” I said, somewhat cheekily. After all, my body still hummed with aftershocks of pleasure, and I was deliciously sore.
He groaned and pulled me into a long kiss. We didn’t eat or think about food for a long, long w
hile.
* * *
Isabelle: Elite
I woke up the next morning to find Gabe already gone from the bed. I washed up and pulled a robe over my naked body. The man didn’t like to sleep with clothes, and he’d been insatiable throughout the night. He blamed our long time apart, and I couldn’t deny everything he made me feel either. Hot, achy, and wanted and needed.
I headed into the kitchen area to find him on the phone. Wearing a pair of gym shorts, he barked orders at the unlucky person on the other end and paced back and forth as he spoke.
He turned, caught sight of me, and his gaze warmed. “Just take care of it,” he said, disconnecting the call.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
He nodded. “Just business.”
I walked over to the coffeepot, which had obviously been delivered earlier, and poured myself a cup of hot coffee, added milk and one artificial sweetener packet before turning toward him. “Speaking of business, I’d like to find Lucy and see the site where Elite will be.”
“I thought we could spend the day seeing the island. Work will be there when we’re finished.”
I raised an eyebrow, knowing I had to put my foot down now or this was never going to work between us. “Or I can see Elite this morning and free myself up for you the rest of the afternoon.” I drew a long sip of the coffee, needing the caffeine to begin flowing through my veins, especially if I was going to go up against Gabe’s determination.
I saw the argument going on within him before his shoulders relaxed and he obviously gave in. “I’ll call Lucy and have her take you down.”
I blinked. No way had I thought it would be that easy. “Really?”
