“Yes,” he says, his voice a little weak. “I love you, Lola. I don’t think I deserve you, but I know I can’t be happy without you, so I’ll be a selfish asshole if it means I can keep you, even when I know you can do better.”
“Why do you keep saying that, that I deserve better?” I force him to look me in the eye now. “Karl Sommer”—I take his face in my hands—“you are a good man. Kind and generous. I know you’re fucked up about it, and you won’t believe me, but trust me, there’s no one better than you.”
He smiles at me, letting his forehead drop to mine, cupping my hand in his and pressing it to his chest.
“And I love you,” I say finally. “More than you could ever know. I’m in love with you.”
With that tender promise of love, I lean in to press a gentle kiss to his lips.
“I’ve missed you, doll,” he says between kisses, taking my lips slowly, gently.
We’re both so gentle, like we’re both afraid we’re imagining this and the spell will be broken, leaving us alone again in different parts of the world.
So I grip the fabric of his shirt, feeling it under my fingers. Real.
His hard muscles underneath. Real.
His hot breath on my mouth. Real.
He’s here, and he’sreal.
We kiss, and we kiss for the longest time against the sunset backdrop of Acapulco Bay, the last rays still warming our skin.
When we finally break away, he brushes my hair from my forehead. “You look good as a brunette,” he says, smiling.
“Thank you.” I stop and think for a moment. “Um, Karl? How did you find me?”
“Sofia. Then I went to your restaurant, and your aunt told me where I might find you.”
“Oh.”
“Can I ask about Ethan?” he says.
“What about him?”
“I saw you together. Dancing.”
“What?” I ask with panic.Has he been following me?
“Someone recognized you and took a picture. It was so blurry they only managed to get it in this one obscure tabloid, but Roger has his ways.”
“Ah, well, yeah. He was here. And we did bury the hatchet. He left more amicably than last time, and you know, I’m glad he was here. I didn’t like all the resentment I was carrying. But no, he’s not back. Doubt I’ll ever see him again.”
“So nothing happened?” he asks.
I shake my head, smiling at his jealousy. “No, I promise.”
“Thank fuck.” He stands and shakes off the sand from his legs, then stretches his hand out to help me up. “I rented a house on the water. Would you like to join me?” he asks, his mischievous smile heating my very center.
My heart hammers in my chest. This is it. It’s finally happening. My first night on stage in more ways than one. I gulp nervously now, but I nod and take his hand to lead me wherever he wants to.
38
KARL
Lola’s eyes light up when she takes in the villa and our master suite.
“You were this sure of yourself?” she asks teasingly, one brow raised as she peruses the room.