Wow. I wonder if I’ll ever stop being shocked by Zander’s wealth. But right now, that’s not what’s on my mind; what’s on my mind are the feelings running through me that are impossible to ignore.
We’re staring at the ocean together, watching the waves break lazily on the bea
ch, when I feel his eyes on me. For some reason I don’t turn. There’s something on his mind. I can almost hear his thought process, so I wait. After a moment…
“I love you Amory.”
The words spark within me. I know now that no matter what I do, I have to convince him to stop. No more thieving. There can’t be even the slightest chance that he’s taken from me.
My eyes well up and I finally bring them to him.
“I love you too, Zander.”
7
Zander
I gaze lovingly down at Amory as she sleeps naked on the bed. Her body is a work of art. This whole scene is.
I’m falling fast—scratch that, I fell fast, and I’m still falling. It’s only a matter of time before I’m a whole new man. Shit, I don’t even know if I care about my business empire anymore. After all, what good is a boatload of money or success if you have no one to share it with? No woman. No family.
That’s no life at all.
I’m starting to re-think everything. Even now, stealing that Picasso seems like something another man would do. Not me. I have Amory now. Why would I risk doing something as crazy as that?
Now I’m angry at myself.
No, I’m angry at life. The universe, for denying me this woman for all those years—years I could have spent making her happy. Years we could have spent together.
I made love to her before bed, and we fell asleep in each other’s arms. This time it was slow, sensual, and nothing but missionary. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of hers, and when we climaxed together, I fully understood that I am now a changed man.
Wrapping myself in a robe, I head downstairs and get a glass of water. As I take a sip, I see it; a black sedan parked out front. I know before the knock comes.
Childers.
When I open the door, I’m ready to hit him.
“What are you doing here?” I growl. “This is not the time.”
“I figured you’d say that,” he chuckles. “You’re on your honeymoon, right? Or have you not made it official yet with that new girl of yours?”
New girl? How does he know about Amory? Has he been following me this whole time? Instantly my animal instincts kick into high gear, and I go on the defensive.
“Watch what you say next, Childers,” I say, my voice low. “She’s got nothing to do with this.”
“Oh contraire, Duke. She has everything to do with this.”
From his coat, the detective produces a manila folder and shows me a sheet of paper inside. “Amory Alder, real name Jessica Green. Accomplished art forger wanted in four countries for selling counterfeit work. Ripped off over seven million bucks before she fled to the US and got her little cover-up job sweeping floors at the Met.”
“Bullshit,” I reply, snatching the documents from him.
“Say what you want, Duke. But we’re charging her today, and we’ve got enough evidence to put her away for good. Hope you weren’t planning on starting a family with her.”
My hands begin to shake. Childers is a real son of a bitch. Even if this isn’t true, I wouldn’t put it past him to push a fraudulent case on Amory just to make my life hell. With his connections, he could make sure she stayed in jail for a long time. Even if it was only a few years, she’d be living in hell.
“You wouldn’t…” I say, crushing the file in my fist.
“How long have you known me, Duke?” he replies with a grin that makes me want to tear his face off. “I would, and you know that. Unless of course you come in.”