“I offered the use of The Tornado. Purely out of necessity.”“The yacht?” Sandra gasped. “That’s a brilliant idea.”“I had her brought out of drydock this morning, and suggested they take her out for a maiden run, before we start using her this summer.”“For someone who says he’s not a romantic, you come up with some pretty incredible ideas.”“I have a wife who has taught me well,” he smiled with a wicked grin.“Tell me the truth,” she asked a moment later, a serious expression embracing her eyes. “You don’t want Sabrina marrying Andre, do you.”“No, I don’t. I know she’ll be unhappy, and he’ll do whatever he can to keep her away from the family, even more than he already does.”“If you had the opportunity to stop it, would you?” Creighton drew a deep breath as he tipped back in the chair. “Yes, I would.”“Then maybe I can help arrange that opportunity. I know you don’t want me to get involved, but I can’t help it,” she said quickly in an attempt to stop his objections. “I love Sabr
Giovanni wrapped her in his embrace as they began to move across the deck. They were like synchronized swimmers moving in unison, wrapped in each other’s arms. Sabrina closed her eyes and laid her head against his broad shoulder. It was such a comfortable feeling, a normal feeling. Like old times. She could hear his heartbeat beneath her ear, tapping out a steady rhythm that made her sigh contently. This was a wonderful evening and she was not going to forget it any time soon.“Do you want to go back?” he asked her in a hushed tone.“Do you?” she asked, moving away slightly so she could look into his handsome face.“No,” he answered flatly, staring at her full lips.“Neither do I,” she whispered, leaning in to him and kissing his lips tenderly. The seconds ticked slowly by before he found the courage to increase the pressure, pulling her against him in a tight, gentle hold. The feel of her body in the strapless gown made him forget all thought of taking things slowly. He wanted her,
As the rays of dawn began to filter through the window, Sabrina found herself embraced in a peace she hadn’t felt in many long years. At last she began to drift to sleep, held in Giovanni’s protective embrace. He listened as her breathing become slow and steady and knew she had fallen asleep. He sighed as he thought about the past four hours and all the love they had shared. Then he thought of Andre and he frowned. He was not going to allow her to go back to him, but he didn’t know what he could do to keep her away.Sabrina had always been a stubborn woman and when she made a commitment she stuck to it. She had agreed to marry the prat, and even though everyone knew she was miserable, she would be hard pressed to call off the wedding. Somehow, he had to find a way to make Andre be the one to break off the engagement. But how?As his eyes fluttered shut and sleep began to steal over him, he thought of those who loved her as much as he did. Maybe one of them would be able to help him de
“He’s a good man,” she sobbed.“He’s a tyrant with a Greater Than Thou attitude. He expects you to give up everything you want, just to be his wife. He’s a jerk and he doesn’t deserve you.”“I can’t do this,” she shouted as she pushed past him, running through the ship to the room they had shared the night before. She fell to the made bed and began sobbing uncontrollably into the pillow, feeling her heart tearing from her chest. She was being torn in two. She loved Giovanni more than any man she had ever known. She knew she could no longer deny her heart, but she had a commitment to Andre.How could life have taken such a horrible turn of events in such a short time? Why couldn’t Giovanni have stayed in her past and allowed her to move on without him? She didn’t love Andre, but she promised to marry him, and she couldn’t walk away from that. His mother was making plans for an elaborate wedding, and she couldn’t force them to face the shame of her defiance. They would be publicly and
The trip back to the flat that night, was dark and dismal with storm clouds promising a heavy rain. Sabrina pulled her car into the underground parking near the lift and shut it off, drawing a deep breath of relief. She hated driving in bad weather, especially this late at night. The streets were deserted, and the travel was long and boring, but the parking garage was worse of all. It was dimly lit, cold and very frightening. She could imagine people hiding behind every shadow in the place, ready to spring out at her at any given moment.She took her portfolio tote with her newest designs out of the backseat of her Lexus and locked the door, then walked the few steps to the lift and pressed the up button. Once again, she had turned Andre down for a supper date. That made four nights in a row, not counting the weekend. The problem with that, was it made the man suspicious, and left her very hungry. She rode the lift to the top floor and stepped out, spying the vase of colorful carnatio
“I didn’t think about it at the time,” he admitted. “I was rather hoping you were still on the pill.”“I stopped them after we broke up,” she told him. “I didn’t have any reason to take them.”“So, Andre uses the contraception?”“We haven’t…I mean he doesn’t…we are waiting,” she said, stumbling over her words as she turned a brilliant shade of red.“You haven’t slept with the man you’re going to marry?” he asked, feeling stunned that any man would be in a relationship with this woman and not be begging her to let him make love to her.“No, we haven’t,” she snapped. “The fact that I decided to wait, is none of your business.”“You decided to wait? He hasn’t been as patient?”“That’s not what I meant. I don’t know why I’m discussing this with you.”“How many men have you slept with?” he asked with a frown.“That’s none of your business,” she said again.“It is, if I have to worry about diseases,” he said, thinking of any excuse to get his answers.“I do not have diseases. You have to ha
Sabrina arrived at the office shortly after noon the next day. She had awoken after a fitful night of tossing and turning, and decided it was a good day for a change. She did her hair in a long braid down her back the way she liked it, not the way Andre or Giovanni thought was best. She did her makeup with an unusual flair for detail, accenting her beautiful sapphire blue eyes with a thin grey line. Her slender figure was accentuated in a simple pencil skirt of basic black with a white button up blouse, black mule pumps and her favorite diamond pendent necklace and matching earrings, Creighton gave her when she turned sixteen. She looked stunning and ready to face the world as the events met her. This was her day to shine and she was determined to make sure she had the controlling reigns, not a man she mistakenly surrendered her control to. “Well, good afternoon,” Marie said with a shocked expression. “Where have you been?”“Nowhere,” she smiled. “I just decided to take the morning
“Is different bad?” Sabrina laughed.“No, different for you is good, but I can’t help wondering what happened. Who changed you?”“I did,” she said proudly. “I have decided to take charge of my life, starting right now. I’m tired of being bullied and pushed around. I’m tired of people telling me what I’m going to do, instead of asking me what I want. I’ve decided to stand up for myself and move forward, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”“I’m very proud of you,” Marie said. “I think having your past come back to greet you was a great idea. Maybe you can find some happiness in it for yourself.”“It wasn’t Giovanni, if that’s what you mean. It may have taken me some time to find my backbone, but I have it and I’m going to keep it this time.”“Good for you,” Marie said with a smile as she left the office to answer the phone. Sabrina stepped to the mirror and smiled, looking at the proud expression shining on her face.“Yes, it is,” she said to the reflection. “It is very good for