She studied his face, that handsome face that so many women dreamed about, and smiled. “Is that what you would do? Take a break?”
He shrugged. “Probably not, but I don’t like to see you upset.”
“You don’t get upset?”
“Upset? No. I do get angry, which fuels me to work harder.”
Her smile spread wider and she tilted her head.
“I get it,” he said, laughing. “Those were angry tears?”
“Frustrated tears,” she corrected. “But at this point, same thing.”
He leaned forward, kissed her gently and stepped back. “Why don’t you throw on some clothes and meet me downstairs.”
Comfortable with her body, Victoria placed her hands on her hips. “Now I know the honeymoon’s over.” She laughed. “I’m standing here nearly naked and you’re telling me to throw on clothes.”
Heat instantly filled his eyes as he raked his gaze over her. “Oh, believe me, I’m having a very hard time being noble here, but sex isn’t what you need right now. Just get dressed and come downstairs. Or wear that, but my guard will see more of you than I’m willing to share.”
Stefan turned and left, leaving her staring after him.
Some married women didn’t have a tenth of the connection she had with Stefan. And even though they married under less than traditional circumstances, she knew she had a good thing going...if she could just keep her emotions in check.
She threw on a pair of white shorts and a flowy green top. After sliding into a pair of gold sandals, she made her way downstairs. She didn’t see the guard by the door, but she knew he wasn’t far. Thankfully he did try to stay out of sight and give them privacy.
Victoria saw Stefan through the patio doors. She crossed the living room and walked out the open set of French doors to the warmth of the evening SoCal sunshine.
Stefan sat on one of the plush outdoor sofas she’d recently added and Victoria took a seat next to him.
“What’s that?” She pointed to the small folder he held on his lap. “Did you draw some secret, magical designs you’re willing to share with me?”
He laid the folder on her legs. “Open it.”
Intrigued, she pulled back the cover flap and gasped. “Stefan...” Page after page, she shuffled through designs and even some of the crazy doodling she’d done as a teen. “Where did you get these?”
“I kept them.”
She eyed the papers, yellowing around the edges, and looked at him. “But...why?”
With a shrug, he turned to face her. “When you came to visit, you were always doodling and talking about being a designer. Sometimes I’d keep the papers you left laying around. I knew you’d make a name for yourself because you’ve always been so determined. You had such pathos, a passion, for designing.” He laughed. “Even then you would sketch random images to help you think clearer.”
Emotions clogged her throat and, dammit, for the second time today she was going to cry. Even all those years ago he’d had faith in her.
“These are, well...terrible.” She laughed through watery tears.
He put a hand over hers, taking his other hand to cup her chin and hold his gaze. “They may be terrible to you, but they were your dream, Victoria. Look at them. Look close. You may see something ugly, but I see a promise that a young girl made to herself.”
Oh, God. How did the man always know what to say?
“You’re right,” she whispered. “I just can’t believe you kept them.”
His hand dropped from her face. “Maybe I wanted to keep them so that when you became famous I could sell them.”
A laugh burst from her. “You’re so rich, you never would’ve thought to sell these.”
His eyes settled on hers, and the heat she saw staring back at her had the smile dying on her lips.
“Maybe I saw the talent,” he told her. “Maybe the crush I had on you prompted me to keep them.”
Victoria’s heart clenched. “Stefan, you didn’t have feelings for me then.”
“I did,” he confessed. “I may have been young and foolish, but I did care more for you then than any other girl I knew.”
Victoria couldn’t handle this. Couldn’t think what that revelation could’ve meant for the course of their relationship had he told her his feelings at the time.
“I’d hate to think if we dated seriously as teens or in our twenties we would’ve lost each other as friends. Besides that, you would’ve disappointed all those ladies,” she joked. “Good thing you grew out of it, huh?”