Page 56 of The Forbidden Billionaire
“I don’t have any, but old women always seem to be covered in cat hair.”
He chuckles and pulls me a little closer. “You arenotdestined to be alone, Aurelia, believe me.”
I just sigh and rest my cheek on his shoulder. “I feel blue.”
He tightens his arms around me. “It’s the champagne talking.”
“I’ve drunk too much.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ve been watching you.”
“Through binoculars?”
“What? No. Just… professionally.”
I close my eyes and inhale the scent of his cologne. “You smell nice.”
“God… please don’t sniff me.”
“Why?”
“It makes me…” He doesn’t finish.
I inhale again. “You smell like a pirate.”
“Of seaweed and tar?”
“No, like, rum, and sugar…”
“Aarrrrr…”
I giggle, and he gives a short laugh. His hand is warm in the middle of my back.
“I envy Marcus,” I mumble.
He sighs. “Me too.”
That makes me move back and look up at him. “Really?”
“Yeah, of course. He’s happy. Marrying the girl of his dreams.”
“Does it make you think of Penny?”
His gaze drops to my mouth. “No.”
I moisten my lips with the tip of my tongue, and watch him watch me do it.
“Do you miss her?” I ask.
He looks away then, across the lawn to the sea. The sun has nearly set, and the ocean is the color of blueberries.
“Sometimes,” he admits.
It makes my stomach flip to think of him being with someone, and envy and wistfulness twist inside me.
