The Tycoon's Defiant Southern Belle Page 0,52

the dawn broke over the horizon, he rolled over, tucking her luscious body underneath him and kissed her again, deeply, his hands moving up and cupping her bottom.

Jade smiled, her heart crying out for him but her body responding instantly. He might not say the words verbally, but his hands and his body were repeating those words back to her loud and clear.

She’d take it one step at a time, she thought as she kissed him back with all the love she felt in her heart.

Chapter 11

Dominic stared at his friend and knew instantly something was wrong. He’d arrived home five minutes ago and was told by Sydney that Angelo was out by the pool. Looking at his friend, Dominic wondered if it had anything to do with the woman he’d mentioned earlier.

“What’s up?” Dominic asked, walking forward and handing his friend a glass filled with amber liquid.

Angelo took the glass and looked down into the liquid’s depths. “Jade says she’s in love with me,” he said softly, then stared out to the horizon once again. “How’s your latest acquisition? If you talk to Burt Hilwinder, he’ll be able to move that pesky legal issue along. He has information that can eliminate the obstacle.”

Dominic noted the information, but kept his focus on Angelo’s initial statement. “And you love her too. What’s the problem?”

Angelo sighed and took a seat on the chair facing the pool. “She’s going to realize what she said and regret it later on.”

Dominic took the opposite seat and considered how to talk to his friend. “What’s your plan?”

Angelo threw back the liquid from his glass. “I’m going to stay away long enough for her to realize that she doesn’t want me. And stay out of her way so she won’t be embarrassed by saying the words.” He considered his next thought carefully. “She’ll realize quickly that she made a mistake. She’s new to the world of passion,” he explained without going into detail. “She just wanted to wrap things up prettily instead of accepting her sensuality.”

Dominic tried to suppress his smile but knew he wasn’t completely successful. “That’s probably it,” he said, not agreeing with his friend at all. “Or it could be that she’s completely head over heels in love with you.”

Angelo’s only response was a large, disdainful expulsion of air. He paused for a moment before he said, “She wasn’t supposed to get emotional about this.”

Dominic knew that it would take time before his friend realized what was going on. He just prayed that the woman who had stolen Angelo’s heart had the perseverance to hold out for him. Angelo could be one of the most stubborn people in the world. Well, besides his wife, he thought with a smile. If this Jade woman could just maintain her love in the face of complete rejection, which Dominic knew would be difficult for the best of people, she would have the most amazing husband she could ever imagine. Ever since he’d lost his parents, Angelo had a great well of love to give someone and he was aching to do so. He wouldn’t allow himself to do that with this woman for fear that her love wasn’t real.

“Are you hungry?” Dominic asked instead.

“Not really.”

“How about some food anyway?” he joked.

“Did Sydney cook?” Angelo asked, knowing he would eat it even if she did. Sydney was a good woman and he wouldn’t hurt her feelings for anything. Even if it meant eating whatever she’d burned this time. He could handle a night of indigestion if it meant not hurting her feelings. Hell, he’d even have seconds, he thought.

“Hell no!” Dominic said with feeling. “I convinced her to let me keep my housekeeper on from the penthouse. Thankfully, she accepted that she wasn’t a good cook. And if I had to eat one more peanut butter sandwich, or even watch her eat one, I think I might have bought out every restaurant in New York just to ensure we had a catered meal every night that didn’t include peanut butter.”

“Always did make you gag,” Angelo chuckled as the two men walked into the dining room.

Chapter 12

Jade stared at the door of the completed house, willing Angelo to come through the door. All of the furniture had arrived and she stood in the middle, the fire crackling despite the heat of the late summer night. She’d turned down the air conditioning, lit some candles and poured a glass of wine. Angelo’s birthday cake was sitting on the coffee table,