He pulled the limousine to a stop outside Mila’s house. Just a little late, enough to make sure she was anxious and off-guard. Grabbing the bag of rose petals, he climbed out of the vehicle, and sprinkled a trail up to the front door. It was a nice romantic touch that the women seemed to enjoy, and it gave him time to get ready.
He rang the doorbell and then hurried back to the limousine. He climbed into the driver’s seat and watched and waited. A moment later the door swung open, and Mila stepped out.
She took his breath away.
She was a vision of beauty.
He had sent her a gorgeous pink dress, his favorite of all the dresses he’d given to his prospective princesses. He had worried that the pink might clash with her beautiful red locks but seeing her now, standing at her open front door, with her hair swept up on top of her head, and her milky white skin glowing in the last of the sunlight, he knew he needn’t have worried. She was gorgeous, and even from here her green eyes glowed like emeralds.
She was literally breathtaking.
Confusion marred her pretty face when she saw that no one was at the door waiting for her. Then she noticed the rose petals and a smile transformed her from beautiful to something he couldn’t ever put into words. She stooped and scooped a few off the ground, bringing them to her nose and breathing in the sweet fragrance.
Then she stood and looked down the front path. He could tell the exact second she spotted the limousine and realized it was waiting for her. It was like she looked right through the one-way glass and saw him. Their eyes met and he felt that connection. He’d been right. Mila was the one.
She hurried down the path toward the limousine and threw open the door. He heard her small exclamation of surprise when she found it empty. He had a camera in the back and watched on the small screen as she saw the box of chocolates and the glass of champagne waiting for her.
She slid onto the leather seat and closed the door, and he let out a breath. She was in. She was his. She ate a couple of the chocolates, drank half the glass of champagne, and picked up the envelope addressed to her. She was just sliding the card out when the glass dropped from her hand.
The sedatives he’d laced the chocolate and her drink with were strong and fast acting.
Realizing something was wrong with her, her features became concerned, her smile vanished, all sense of intrigue and curiosity gone. Mila turned to the door but found that there were no doorhandles on the inside.
She was trapped.
Well not trapped, that had such negative connotations. She was safe, protected, secure until he could get her to her new home.
Mila thumped a weak hand on the window, then slumped down against the seat, the card fluttered to the floor. A moment later, she was unconscious.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she lay on the seat of the limousine. She was so pretty, his sleeping beauty. He had to touch her.
He quickly climbed out of the car and moved into the back, reverently he reached out a hand and touched her cheek. Her skin was so soft, so delicate, so smooth beneath his fingertips.
She was perfect, and she was his.
July 27th
6:23 A.M.
Rylla lay in bed staring at the ceiling. She hadn’t slept well last night. Well, that wasn't one hundred percent true. The real problem was that she had slepttoowell. Her deep sleep had been filled with dreams. Erotic dreams. Erotic dreams of Nate Oakland.
Why did she have to see him yesterday? Usually, she avoided him as best she could. Sometimes she had to see him since they had mutual friends, but that was usually more of a group gathering where she could just make sure she kept herself occupied with other people, but yesterday it had just been Sam, Naomi, Nate, and herself. She’d had no choice but to talk to him, especially since Naomi had made sure they ended up alone in the room together.
She felt a teensy bit bad about just walking out on him.
No, more than a teensy big.
She’d been rude. She hadn't done it consciously, she just couldn’t be around him.
Nate had been the first man since her husband’s death that she had been seriously interested in. She’d known him for several years, and the attraction had been almost instantaneous. Back then, her loss had been too fresh, and her emotions too raw, and she hadn’t done anything about it.
That attraction had never diminished. In fact, it had only grown stronger. But she had been afraid, it was hard to think about stepping into a new relationship when you had lost the man of your dreams. Her love for Josh didn't die with him, and it felt like a betrayal of sorts to move on and be with someone else. She knew that Nate was interested in her and they sort of danced around each other, neither of them willing to make the first move. Rylla knew about Nate’s ex and his son, although she didn't know the details, and she had assumed that just as she wasn't ready to try dating, he wasn't either.
Then her best friend’s wedding had come along.
She fully admitted to getting caught up in the magic of Naomi and Sam’s wedding. The dress, flowers, lights, and the happiness on her friend’s face. As much as it had reminded her of Josh and their wedding and everything she had lost, it had also filled her with longing. She missed being married, she missed coming home to someone each night, and just sitting around talking about their days or chilling and watching TV. She knew she could never replace her husband, and he would always be her first love, but she had been ready to open her heart up to someone else.
So, she had asked Nate out.