Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
I place my palm in his and nod. I’m equal parts excited and scared. I haven’t been to a restaurant for over a year, and I hope I don’t have a panic attack.
Santiago pulls me toward the door but then stops and says, “Let’s scan your handprint quickly.” He keys in a code, and when the scanner is ready, he presses my palm against the black surface and waits until there’s a beeping sound. “All done.”
He pulls the front door shut behind us and places his hand on my lower back. “If you feel like going for a walk alone, it’s fine. You’ll see guards and security cameras everywhere. Just carry your phone with you, so you can call me in case you get lost.”
I’m not sure about going for walks on my own. Not when there’s a chance that I can run into other men.
I glance up at Santiago and ask, “Will you go for walks with me?”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “I’ll do anything you want.”
His tone is suggestive, and there’s a spark of mischief in his hazel eyes that has my face warming with another blush.
After we cross the little wooden bridge over a stream, Santiago wraps his arm around my back and tugs me close to his side. Smelling his cologne and feeling his body heat through his shirt, my abdomen clenches again while my stomach does cartwheels.
My breathing quickens slightly from the attraction I feel for him. When we walk into the big building that seems to be situated between the houses, my attention is drawn away from Santiago, and I glance at all the steel and glass.
I’m led to the restaurant, but seeing it’s empty, a frown forms on my forehead.
We walk to the outdoor area, where Santiago pulls out a chair for me at our table. “Sit, mi vida.”
I’m caught by surprise because it’s the first time a man’s done something like this for me.
Instantly, a smile tugs at my mouth, and taking a seat, I whisper, “Thank you.”
Then he moves his chair closer to mine before he sits down, and it makes my heart melt.
I glance over all the polished black tables and chairs, then ask, “Why isn’t there anyone else?”
“I’ve made sure it will just be our group for dinner,” he explains while taking hold of my hand and placing it on his thigh. “I wanted to make you as comfortable as possible.”
My eyes dart to his face, my heart clenching because he once again did something special for me.
I’ve only done it once before, but this time, when I lean into him and press a kiss to his cheek, I linger and examine how it feels.
My skin warms and tingles rush over me while my heartbeat speeds up incredibly fast.
I pull back a little, then whisper, “Thank you for everything.”
Santiago turns his face, and his eyes lock with mine. Instantly, the atmosphere changes, and it has my heart racing even faster. His eyes flick to my mouth before meeting mine with such magnetism, it feels like something is drawing me closer to him.
“Kristian will be fine with Evinka, right?” I hear Grace’s voice, and quickly move back, my cheeks warming while my mind races to catch up to what just happened.
I think I was about to kiss Santiago on the mouth.
I suck in a sharp breath and press a hand to my stomach that’s suddenly spinning with nerves.
I feel Santiago’s hand wrap around the back of my neck. “Deep breaths. We just shared a normal, intimate moment. Don’t overthink it.”
I nod, but his words do nothing to ease my nervousness.
Grace and I weren’t allowed to date and had to keep ourselves pure for marriage, so I don’t have any experience.
Besides Nolan.
I shove the thought of him away as quickly as possible, and when Santiago brushes his thumb over the skin beneath my ear, it helps me focus on him again.
Grace and Dominik approach the table, and I quickly smile at her. She’s wearing another long dress that swishes around her legs.
Sitting down, her eyes are glued to me. “You look so pretty. Are you wearing new clothes?”
I nod, and wanting her to know how good Santiago has been to me, I say, “Santiago gave me clothes. I don’t know what happened to my belongings.”
The smile drops from Grace's face, her skin turning pale. “God.” Her features grow tense. “I’m…I didn’t…”
Dominik wraps his arm around her shoulders, then says, “We let your uncle deal with your father’s estate. I’ll reach out to him and ask what he did with your possessions, Ciara.” Dominik's eyes narrow on me, and I grip Santiago’s thigh tighter. “What happened to your bank account? Your uncle transferred your share of the inheritance to it.”
My voice is barely audible as I whisper, “I don’t know.”
“Just give me the uncle’s details. I’ll take care of everything for Ciara,” Santiago says, his thumb brushing over my skin again where his hand is still resting at the back of my neck.