*Shelby*“Bruce, will you please just tell me where we’re going?” I asked as he turned down another seemingly unmarked street.“We’re going to meet with Leon Carmine. The Carmine family boss,” Bruce finally said.“Why?” I asked, concerned but hoping that they could somehow help Michael. I mentally kicked myself for not thinking of reaching out to Giani earlier. “Leon told me they have some evidence that could make or break Michael’s case. He wouldn’t tell me over the phone. He said he didn’t want it to fall into the wrong hands, so we have to come to get it in person,” Bruce explained.“We? Does that mean I get to come to the meeting with you?” I asked, hoping he wouldn’t tell me it was too dangerous.“I’m going to leave that up to you. I’d normally ask Michael before dragging you into this, but I can’t exactly call him right now. Since you are his fiancee, I’ll leave that decision with you,” Bruce explained.“If it’ll help prove Michael’s innocence,
*Michael*“Astor, to the front of the cell,” a guard called to me. I was surprised to see a guard there at all. We’d just finished breakfast, and we were scheduled to spend the next hour in our cells. I pulled myself off of my bed, the springs groaning in protest. “What’s going on?” I asked as I approached the cell doors.“I need you to come with me,” the guard said as he turned the key in the lock.I followed diligently as he led me down hall after hall into a portion of the jail that I’d never seen before. I had no idea what this was about, but I seemed to feel the nervous anticipation in the air around me. The guard led me into a small office, and I was shocked to see one of my suits folded on the desk in front of me. I looked to the guard.“Get dressed, and then I’ll escort you to the front gates,” the guard said before stepping out of the room.I didn’t call him back to ask questions. I quickly pulled off the terrible orange jumpsuit and
*Shelby***Six weeks later**The last day of classes never felt better. I was completely exhausted from the semester and the new added stress of my internship. However, I loved being able to spend weekends with Michael. Most weeknights I had to stay up late, getting in as much homework and studying in as I possibly could so I could fully enjoy the weekend nights with Michael.We’d made a big effort to enjoy each other's company as much as possible since Michael’s name was cleared of the murder charges. It made us realize just how important the time we spent together really was because we could never be sure how long we had left together. I walked home from class excited that I’d be seeing him the next day. We had plans to go on a spring break vacation, although he wouldn’t tell me where. I planned on going home and spending a few hours relaxing in front of the television before packing and going to bed.“Lin?” I called into the house, but she didn’t answer.
*Shelby*The beds at Le Bristol Paris are unbelievably soft. We arrived well into the evening, and the afternoon sun was streaming in the open doors that lead out onto a private terrace. The lulling sounds of the street below barely reached the room. I felt in the bed next to me and found it empty. I slipped out of bed, wrapping a hotel robe around my body. Luckily, I didn’t need pajamas the night before since I hadn’t packed anything for the trip.Michael was sitting alone on the balcony, sipping a cup of coffee as he silently watched the movements of the city below. “Good morning,” I said softly so I wouldn’t startle him. “How’d you sleep?” Michael asked, turning to look at me.“Like I was on a cloud. I think that bed probably costs more than my entire first apartment,” I joked.Michael laughed softly. I noticed the sheen of sweat on his forehead, and for the first time, I realized he was in his workout clothes; he must’ve spent the morning at th
*Shelby*The first night in the castle felt like a dream. Michael hired a private chef to stay at the guest house on the property and cook every meal for us. We dined in the formal dining room, which had a large set of french doors opening onto the large courtyard pool.We talked, laughed, and drank the local wine until the late hours of the night. The master bedroom was located directly above the dining room with a private balcony overlooking the pool and beyond to the acres and acres of a well-tended garden. We left the large windows open as we slept, letting in the cool breeze and the earthy smell of the vineyard. I spent a leisurely morning in the old clawfoot tub, which sat right below one of the open windows. I watched the wind blow through the trees as I soaked in the warm water.Breakfast was an extravagant affair. The personal chef made an amazing three-course meal, and when we were finished eating I felt as though I may not be able to get out of my chair
*Shelby*I woke up to light butterfly kisses along my cheeks. My eyes fluttered open to the very dim light of our master suite. The breeze was softly blowing through the open balcony doors, and I felt Michael’s fingers brush strands of hair away from my face.“What time is it?” I asked, not yet wanting to move.Michael continued playing with my hair as I struggled to keep my eyes open.“It’s still early. I wondered if you wanted to take a walk with me. There’s a beautiful spot just over the hill, and I thought we could watch the sunrise together,” he said softly.I slowly sat up in bed and smiled. “I think that sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime kind of memory. Let’s go.”Within a few minutes, I was dressed and walked down the stairs slipping my arms through a jacket. Michael stood in the foyer waiting for me, carrying a basket with a blanket nestled on the top.“Are you ready?” he asked.“Yes, I am. What’re you bringing with us?” I asked, pointing
*Shelby*“Of course, I’ll marry you, Michael! I love you so much,” I said.He stood and wrapped me in his arms. I stood on my tippy toes to kiss him, and he slipped his hand up to cup the back of my head. His kisses were as soft as a kitten's but steadily grew in intensity as his hands wandered down my back. My hands gripped the front of his shirt, pulling him closer to me.In a flash of movement, Michael grabbed my thighs and hoisted me into the air. I felt as though I was hanging off the side of a cliff, supported by nothing more than his strong hands, but I didn’t care and kissed him harder.Michael eased us both onto the tartan blanket, where just minutes ago, we had been eating our picnic breakfast. The scratchy wool teased the inch of exposed skin at my waist as my shirt wandered its way up my torso.Michael’s hand explored my body as though determined to memorize every inch of my figure. His hands slipped in the small gap under my shirt and slipped it ov
*Shelby*The last day of our vacation came far too early. I’d be happy never leaving the castle if I was honest with myself. Instead, it felt like a dream of spending the past ten days with Michael alone in such a seemingly magical place.The diamond on my ring finger felt increasingly heavy as our trip came closer to an end. However, I loved the way it caught the light sending down rays of sparkles in all directions. I smiled to myself as I folded the last shirt hanging in the closet and put it in my suitcase, placing my ring hand facing up so I could admire my engagement ring."Are you ready to go?" Michael asked me, poking his head into the room."I don't know if I'll ever be ready to go," I said with a laugh."I know what you mean; maybe we could plan a trip together. As soon as you're out for the summer, we could just look at a map, throw a dart, maybe, and go," he said, rubbing my arm."I like the sound of that," I said, reaching up on my tippy toes