But of course she was. Desperately. Hopelessly. She'd been heartsick for months, watching from her cubicle as he left his office with one beautiful woman after another on his arm.
And that is exactly how it would be as his wife. He would bed her, pay her bills, give their children a name…but never give her his loyalty or his heart. Her soul would wilt and shrink and die.
She'd promised to stay with him until the babies were born.
Could she survive if he tried to seduce her?
But…could she survive if he didn't?
“Let me show you my city, Ellie,” he said softly, taking her hand in his larger one. “You won't regret it.”
The desire to hold on to that hand, to be with him as long as she could, overwhelmed every last bit of common sense. Picking up the rose, she climbed out of bed in her long, white cotton nightgown.
“All right,” she managed. She glanced down at the red rose still in her hand. It smelled of warmth and summer and happiness. “But we're just going as friends, all right? That's all!”
From the closet, he selected a new dress of stretchy white lace. “Wear this.”
“It's lovely.” Gathering the dress in her arms, she collected her things to go take a shower. “But just friends, Diogo,” she warned. “I won't be your mistress. I mean it!”
“No, you won't be my mistress.” The sunlight glinted on the sharp teeth of his smile. “I give you my word.”
CHAPTER TEN
FROM THE BASE OF THE towering Cristo Redentor statue high atop the jungle of Corcovado Mountain, Ellie could see all of Rio. The stylized Art Deco statue spread his arms wide, embracing all of the city. In the distance, she could see the sharp bookend of Sugar Loaf Mountain rising from the Atlantic.
But as the fragrant breeze whipped her hair around her face, Ellie glanced at Diogo with troubled eyes. Like the statue, he'd been welcoming and warm all day, his arms always reaching out for her. Browsing together though the arts and crafts for sale at the Hippie Market in Ipanema. Buying her a new wardrobe of bikinis, ignoring all her protests as he dragged her into the shop on Copacabana Beach. Taking her for a lunchtime barbeque at a local churrascaria rodízio. Traveling to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain on a cable car.
And every time she glanced at him, his dark eyes were on her. Assessing her. Waiting.
Hot.
Every time their eyes met, it felt like a full-body assault, leaving her breathless. He touched her constantly. Helped her out of the limo. Held her close as they walked through the busy streets.
As she stood beneath the enormous statue and watched the sun finally dropping in the west, painting the white stone the vermillion and orange of sunset, she felt Diogo come behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his body.
A shiver went over her. Just friends, she repeated to herself, her teeth chattering. Just friends.
“We should go,” she whispered.
“Sim,” he agreed. “After I kiss you.”
“Kiss…?” Her lips parted involuntarily. “But you promised!”
“I never promised not to kiss you.” He gently brushed her hair away to nuzzle her neck. “Call it a friendly kiss.”
She felt the interested eyes of the few lingering tourists watching them. She turned around in his arms, placing her hands on his chest. She breathed. “Please don't—”
But he lowered his head to hers. It was a hard, hungry kiss, tenderly cradled in his arms, a kiss so powerful and true it was everything she'd once dreamed a kiss could be. On top of the world, with the blue Atlantic and sharp mountains and beauty of Rio de Janeiro at their feet, she felt the colors and faces of the tourists swirl around her in a whirlwind beneath the intensity of his embrace. She almost forgot where she was. Lost in a sensual haze, she hardly noticed the approving smiles and nudges of the tourists around them.
He held her gently, so gently. She felt his hands in her hair, brushing softly against her jawline, holding her as if she were the most precious treasure in all the world.
When he pulled away, he looked down at her. There was an intensity in his dark eyes that made it impossible for her to look away.
“You are hungry, yes?” he whispered.
So hungry. She'd never been so hungry. Her lips trembled. “I…”
He grasped her hand. “Come with me.”
His chauffeur drove their shiny black SUV south through the city. In the backseat, Diogo continued to hold her hand. He wouldn't let go. He caressed her with his eyes. As the sky outside darkened into deep shades of scarlet, she felt his heat like a blast of burning sun.
The driver stopped at an elegant restaurant on Ipanema Beach. Diogo helped her from the car, then led her past a line of people waiting outside. The doorman leapt to open the door.