I nodded. “Your contract was breached; therefore, you’re going to have many options, Kendall.” I took a drink of her wine and handed her the glass, so she could have some. “If the studio is found liable, then you have to decide what you want for restitution. Is it a public apology? A check? Both? Remember, you’re going to get the power back, and with that comes decisions.”
She ran her hand through my hair, and I could tell it gave her a chance to get her thoughts straight.
She nursed the wine before eventually returning it to the table. “Money has never been what motivates me. Was I excited to see the salary the show was offering? Definitely. I have student loans and a car loan and credit card debt, and my life would be easier if I didn’t owe so much. But it’s just money, Dominick. It’s not what makes me happy.”
“Tell me your dreams.” I kissed the end of her nose. “What you want, what you see happening in the future.”
This was when her stare moved to the ocean, her expression matching the contentment she saw in the water. “I’ve always been my happiest when I’m volunteering, teaching art to seniors.” She glanced at me again. “Those are the times I look forward to the most every week.”
“Is it the teaching or being around old people, or is it the art?”
Her eyes closed, a warmth coming across her face. “The combination of all three. I love coming up with the ideas each week and being surrounded by these seasoned, brilliant souls—people who don’t just inspire me, but also teach me about life. The art takes them on these powerful, moving journeys, and I love that. So much.”
This was the Kendall I wanted. The one whose face shone when she spoke about her job. Who found meaning in her work, who was able to make a difference.
There was a greater purpose for her, and it wasn’t to be the lead of a reality TV show.
“Regardless of what happens,” I said, “the show must pay you your contracted amount. You could earn a settlement as well. I would imagine that figure would make a considerable dent, if not cover all of your financial obligations.” I held her cheek, my lips moving to her ear. “And rent is off the table; you’ll no longer have to pay for that.”
“Because landlords are suddenly so forgiving when it comes to reality stars?”
I tugged her earlobe into my mouth. “Because you’ll be living with me.” Her eyes made me chuckle when I leaned back to look at them. “Don’t be so surprised, baby. You stay most nights at my house anyway. Moving in wouldn’t be much different; you’d just have more than yoga pants in my closet.”
She searched my face, and the only word leaving her lips was, “Dominick …”
“What I want is to wake up next to you every morning.” I nuzzled her neck, tightening my grip around her. “To hold you like this when we go to bed every night.”
“You’re … heavenly.”
“Then, there’s nothing to think about. We’ll make that happen the second we return to LA.”
I was just pulling my mouth back from kissing her jaw when the chef’s assistant returned. He had a bottle of champagne, two flutes, and a large plate of dessert in his hands.
“The chef says the champagne will pair well with the flavors he’s prepared.”
He poured the bubbly and removed our dinner plates and went back inside the house.
I continued holding Kendall on my lap, handing her a glass. “To moving in?”
She clinked her flute against mine. “Hell yes.” She kissed me. “Now, let’s dig into this dessert before it melts everywhere.”
The chef had added heavy scoops of ice cream to each corner of the dish, the balls in the center covered in chocolate, and there were small bowls filled with dipping sauces.
She grabbed a cake ball and lowered it into the chocolate sauce, adding some strawberry ice cream before taking a bite. “Ohhh.” Her head tilted back, and she groaned, “It’s velvety and perfect.”
Nothing made me happier than watching her enjoy herself.
I dipped mine into the white chocolate and coffee ice cream and bit off half. “Yours are better.” I continued to chew, the rich cake and toppings certainly sweet and delicious but not as decadent as Kendall’s.
“Come on. That can’t be true.”
I finished the bite and wiped my mouth. “He’s the best chef on the island. He’s worked for my family for years. But you put love into cooking, and I can taste that when I eat your food.”
“You’re sweet.”
I sipped on my champagne while she ate another one, licking her fingers.
“I’m beyond stuffed.”
“You did well.”
She laughed. “An appetite isn’t something I ever lack.”
“Another thing I like about you.”
I lifted her from my lap and set her on the deck. “Come with me.”
She followed me across the patio and down to the dock.
When we reached the beach, I instructed, “Leave your shoes here.”
I slipped out of mine and waited for her to be done. Then, I took her onto the sand where the waves met.
I faced her, holding one of her hands against my heart, wrapping my other arm around her waist. “Dance with me, Kendall.”
A smile moved across her gorgeous face. “But there’s no music.”
I dipped down to kiss her, tasting the chocolate on her lips, the island scent on her skin. “Just listen to the waves.”
She moved to the beat of the Atlantic, and every exhale drew her closer to me.