My father wasn’t just right that I was jaded, but also that there was more to life than convincing some schmuck in Florida to sell his failing resort. All my life, and my brother’s lives, we’d been raised to sacrifice everything for the company. In doing so, this was what we missed out on. We missed out on sweetness and life. On love.
Christ, I was in love with her.
That had to be what this crazy cracking opening up of my heart meant. This swell of emotion, and powerful need not just to protect her, but to keep her by my side and cherish her.
I wanted to tell her and yet, I wasn’t as brave as she was. Despite my epiphany, I was scared shitless. I felt vulnerable and raw. I didn’t think Sara would betray me, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t get hurt. She entered into this marriage as part of a business deal and while there had been a noticeable shift in how we related to each other, that didn’t mean she was feeling the same way I was. It didn’t mean that at some point she wouldn’t get tired of being in this family and decide to leave, forcing us to co-parent a child apart. I couldn’t blame her. Many times, if I had the option, I’d have left the family.
The answer was to renegotiate this deal. Change it from a business arrangement to a relationship. I could ask her to marry me again, in a real wedding that all our family and friends could celebrate with us.
But first, I had to grow some balls and learn to trust what I was feeling. What if I had it wrong? Perhaps I was just swept up in the moment; the beautiful setting and lovely woman.
When I got home, I’d reassess. I’d make sure what I was feeling was real and not just a passing flight of fancy. Until then, I would focus on Sara and make sure she understood that I saw her; the real her.
“How many ladies have you brought here?” she asked as she looped her arms around my neck and wrapped her legs around my waist.
“One.” I nestled her closer to me.
“Was she posh?”
“She was young and sweet and brave.”
Sara quirked a brow.
“Just you, sweetheart. You’re the only one I’ve brought here.” My brothers had brought women here, I think, but for me this place had always been a respite from the ruthless world. I could come here to be away from demands and manipulations.
“You make me feel special,” she said.
“You are special. If you don’t get anything else out of this trip, I hope you realize that.”
“I really am Cinderella.” Her smile was so bright.
I guessed that made me Prince Charming, in her eyes. I knew I was no prince, but I could learn.
The next few days were as magical as the first. We had no plans. No obligations. All we had is whatever we wanted to do whenever we wanted to do it. We swam and snorkled. We saw dolphins and a turtle during a boat ride. When we weren’t doing that, I had her writhing under me, or over me I watched her beautiful mouth form a perfect O as I pushed her over into an orgasm.
The only thing that slowed us down was how tired Sara seemed. Then again, with the sun, surf, and my insatiable appetite for her, I couldn’t blame her for being tired. I’d taken a few naps myself. The truth was, I enjoyed the slow pace. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a nap or sat in a hammock and read something that didn’t have to do with business. I didn’t think about work, or what my father and brothers might be doing. I didn’t have any thoughts about the numb-nut in Florida fighting the deal we made or how that was progressing. I felt amazingly light and free. Sara and I would definitely need to come here more often.
“Mr. Raven?” Matilda said as she approached me while I lay on the lounge reading the latest best-selling thriller as Sara slept in again.
“Yes?”
“I don’t want to be putting my nose where it doesn’t belong, but Mrs. Raven hasn’t been feeling well the past few mornings,” she said, looking apprehensive about talking to me.
“What?” I sat up. “Did she tell you this?”
Matilda shook her head. “No, but she spends a long time in the bathroom. She sounds like she’s getting sick.”
What the hell? “Thank you, Matilda.” I stood and strode into our master bedroom, and toward the bathroom. I knocked on the door. “Sara.”
“Yes, I’ll be just a minute.”
“Are you ill?”
“I think it’s too much sun.” She opened the door. She looked pale, I thought as I ran a finger along her cheek.
“I’m calling a doctor.” I went to the dresser to get my phone. I calculated the time it would take to get a doctor out to the island. The closest would be out of Miami.