His lips felt hot and hard against hers. She clung to him as he kissed her, relishing the feel of his hard, muscled body towering over her petite frame. She loved him so much. And though he hadn’t spoken those three words back to her, she was convinced it was just a matter of time …
He pulled back with a shiver. “Oh, querida,” he said hoarsely. “I’m going to miss you.”
“Miss me?” She blinked. “Where are you going?”
As they held each other in the pool, the water bobbing against her breasts, he stroked her cheek with a scowl. “Marrakech. To complete a business deal.”
“Morocco? For how long?”
“Hard to say. The man is unpredictable. The negotiations might last a day—or a week.”
“A week? A full week at the villa without you? I can’t face it.”
“I’ll miss you, too.”
She took a deep breath. “But it might be the perfect time for me to visit my parents. I’ll just take the other jet while you’re gone …”
He frowned. “What?”
She met his eyes. “I’ve been writing my family every week for four months. It’s not working. I need to go see them.”
Eduardo stared at her. Was it just her imagination, or did some of the color disappear behind his tan? “Absolutely not.”
“Why?” She tilted her head, folding her arms. She’d expected a fight and was ready for it. “You won’t exactly miss us. You’ll be in Morocco.”
“Maybe I’d like you and Marisol to come with me. Marrakech is beautiful in April.”
“That wasn’t your plan a minute ago.”
“Plans change.”
As the cool water of the pool bobbed around them, they glared at each other. Above them, the wind blew through the palm trees, and she could hear the roar of the distant ocean as seabirds cried out mournfully across the cloudless blue sky.
And Callie broke. “I miss them, Eduardo.” She unfolded her arms, blinking back tears. “I don’t know what else to do. I miss them.”
He set his jaw. “I thought you were happy here—”
“I am. But I miss them. Every hour. Every day. It’s like a hole in my heart.” She put her hand over his chest. “Right here.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked up at him. “I can’t stand the silence. I feel lost without them.”
Eduardo stared at her for a long moment. Then, closing his eyes, he exhaled.
“All right,” he said in a low voice.
“All right?”
He looked down at her. “Not McLinn. But your parents and your sister—yes.”
“I can go see them in North Dakota?” she breathed, hardly able to believe it.
“But I don’t want you and Marisol so far away from me. And I need to be in Marrakech tomorrow …”
Her heart, which had been rising, suddenly pinched. She said dully, “So I should put off my visit.”
“No.” Taking her in his arms, he gently lifted her chin. “I will charter a jet to collect your family. If they agree, they will meet us in Marrakech tomorrow. How about that?”
She stared at him, shocked.
“You will see them. And they will get a chance to meet me.” His jaw clenched as he looked away. “Not just as the CEO who owns the oilfields outside your town, but as your husband. As Marisol’s father.” He looked back at her, his darkly handsome face suddenly uncertain. “Is … is that satisfactory?”