You can be the moon and still be jealous of the stars.

Gary Allan

Haven Pierce's POV

After our conversation in the living room, Santi and I shared dinner. I still couldn't believe the sudden turn of events that happened today. There was so much happiness in my heart right now that I feared it was only a dream and I would wake up only to realize that it wasn't true.

After our dinner, we decided to enjoy a bottle of wine in the garden since the weather was fine. I liked the summer in California though it can be warm and mostly dry during the day late-night and early-morning temperatures were usually low.

"When do you plan to go back to Sicily?" I asked conversationally, sipping my wine faintly. I still wasn't used to the taste of red wine. I don't know if I like it or not.

His upper lips curved with a smile. "Why? Excited to get rid of me?"

I could feel that my cheeks were warming up. Is that how I sound to him? "No!" I immediately denied it, combing my hair nervously. "Of course, not."

"I like your new hair color it suits you more than the previous one." He commented, glancing at my newly colored hair.

"Really?" My face brightened in his direction, looking down at my dusky pink hair hanging down to my side. "Do you like it? I just thought of retouching the roots of my hair since my natural hair started to be noticeable when I went to the salon but I ended up changing my hair to a different shade of pink."

"I am just curious," he remarked offhandedly. "Why did you decide to color your hair?"

"At first, I was just going to this phase of trying something new I decided to try dyeing my hair with unusual hair color for a change. I didn't expect that I would love my new edgy look and continue to dye my hair since then."

"Is pink the only color you try?"

I felt my lips twitching with a smile. "Nope. Before I went to pink I tried platinum blonde, then grey before finally setting to pink."

"I think you look beautiful whatever color your hair is," Santi said while staring straight into my eyes. There was something about his stare now that I found I bit unsettling. He wasn't starting in an inappropriate way but I still found myself a little bit uneasy.

Am I nervous? But why?

"Do you have schedule plans for the weekend?" He raised the question after a while when silence filled the atmosphere.

I tilted my side to the side a little while looking at him questioningly. "I have none. Why do you ask, anyway?"

He smirked gorgeously in my direction which made my heart flip in my chest. He shouldn't be allowed to have such an effect on me it simply wasn't fair. "I am thinking of asking you to join me on a trip overseas."

"Is this work-related?"

He shook his head, while the sexy smile was still fixed on his face. "No. I want to whisk you away for a weekend getaway. Are you up for that?" When I gave him a dubious look, he instantly added. "I will not take advantage of you if that's your thinking. I will not touch you without your consent I assure you. I just want to take you on a trip."

"Where?"

"In a small but rich country in the Middle East." He supplied with excitement on his face. "I will take you to Saqr."

Oh, I've never been to the Middle East before this might be a good opportunity to experience their culture. I was always fascinated by Middle Eastern culture maybe this was not a bad idea to accept his offer. "Sounds exciting. Have you been there before?"

His lips twitched with a knowing smile as if he was enjoying a private joke. "Yes. And I happened to know someone powerful in the country."

My eyes narrowed in his direction. "Don't tell me you are conducting your business in Saqr? And you're using your connection to this powerful man to operate your business."

"Honestly, I tried to but it didn't work." He chuckled at the thought before sipping his wine. "And as for that powerful man how I wish he could use his influence and let me expand my business in his country."

I shook my head in submission. "You are a helpless case."

"So are you okay if I take you away for the weekend?" He invited gamely. "It will be a fun weekend assure you. We'll take camel rides and go camping or picnic on dunes."

"Where are we going to stay? In a hotel? Or you'll rent a house? Knowing that your standard of living is different from normal people like the rest of us."

He gave me a lopsided smile. The look on his face right makes him more handsome than he already is. I am getting drowned in his charisma deeper and deeper. "Whichever you prefer. But we can also stay at the King's palace if you want."

"Shut the hell up!" I laughed at his outrageous suggestion. "I know you are a powerful man but in twisted circumstances, though, I don't think they will allow a man like you to set foot in the King's palace even if you use your friend's connection." I looked slightly apologetic in his direction. "No offense, Santi."

He still has this smile on his face while looking at me with his dark eyes. "Is that a challenge? Very well. I have decided that we'll be staying at the king's palace for the duration of our stay in Saqr."

I shook my head. He's something. I don't know if it was his belief or his ego that he thinks he can do whatever he wants. "Be ready to be turned down."

"Do you want to have a bet with me?" He suggested arrogantly. He still believed that we could stay at the king's palace, was he? I'd like to see his face when he realizes that his request cannot be granted."

"What will be the price of the winner?" I played along with him.

There was a wolfish glint in his eyes that made me swallow hard. I think I've been somehow ensnared by this man. "If you win who can decide what you want and if I win can I get a kiss from you?"

"Are you serious? Kiss?"

He smiled earnestly at me. "I promise you, didn't I? I will not touch you again without your consent. So it would be nice if you could give me what I crave."

"Very well," I answered. I knew there was no chance in hell he could win. "We have a deal, Mister."

The victorious smile on his face didn't go unnoticeable. He was sure about his influence in Saqr, was he? "This is going to be exciting."

"Are you going back to Sicily for the rest of the week and would pick me up this weekend for our trip?" I queried thinking about what would be his plan for the rest of the week. It's only Tuesday, after all.

He sipped the remainder of his wine in his glass before glancing at me with a secretive smile. "I am thinking of spending the rest of the week here in LA."

My eyes widened considerably at his announcement. I never expected that from a hands-on boss to his crooked business. "Are you serious?! What about your work back in Sicily?"

"Nico can take care of it. He was more than capable of managing my businesses singlehandedly. I am sure he can manage."

"Is he okay with that idea?" I asked, thinking about the reaction of his cousin after announcing his plans to stay in Los Angeles for a week. I am sure he has a thing or two to say to his man.

He smirked at the thought. "He cannot do anything about it since he has no choice but to follow my orders after what he did—"

"He did what exactly?"

He waved his hand dismissively while pouring himself another glass of red wine. He was about to refill my glass when I stopped him. I have already concluded that I don't like the taste of this wine. It leaves an awful aftertaste on my mouth and to think that this bottle of wine was very expensive. I don't understand the rich people's taste buds. "Never mind. It's not that important."

"Are you going to stay here with me?"

Santi went still while in the process of drinking his wine. "Is that an invitation, Haven?"

I could feel that my cheeks were heating once again. I laughed to hide my embarrassment but even to my ears, the laugh sounded off. "No! I am merely asking if you are going to stay here with me since this is your house, after all."

"Ah," he looked genuinely disappointed and then he beamed suggestively at me. "I thought you wanted me to stay here with you."

"So where are you staying?" I prompted, schooling my features to remain neutral while talking to him. I have to remember that this was still the same man who could seduce a woman without even trying. And if I am not careful I would be his next willing victim.

He let out a deep sigh. "As much as I want to stay with you under one roof. Unfortunately, I cannot risk it." He stared me straight in the eyes. "The temptation will be too much to bear for me because when it comes to you my self-control is not that strong. I fear that I will break my promise of not touching you if we live in one house just like before. You don't have any idea what kind of fantasies I have with you in my bed."

I shifted in my seat as heat spread through me due to his words. I knew he was not trying to shock me by merely being honest with his feelings but it still doesn't help the excitement in my body. It was like I was turned on about it.

"Are you going to stay in a hotel then?" I moistened my lips because they felt suddenly dry.

"Nope. I have a penthouse in Beverly Hills. I will just stay there just to be safe."

"Wow. I should have guessed," I commented dryly. This was not his only property in LA, a wealthy man like him likes to collect houses all over the world for the convenience of not staying in a hotel or even renting a place via a mobile app.

He stood from his chair and I reluctantly did the same. "It's getting late. I should get going."

I wanted to protest and tell him that I wanted to spend more time with him since I miss him so much for the weeks that we've been apart. But he was probably tired from his flight and wanted to take a rest. I don't want to be seen as clingy since I knew he didn't like when women appeared to be needy.

I walked with him until we reached the driveway. His car was already waiting for him. I didn't notice his car when I arrived from my trip on Rodeo Drive. He probably instructed his driver to hide his car so he would catch me off guard.

"Get inside the house it's getting cold," he instructed when he was about to climb onto the passenger seat at the back of his SUV.

"Have a safe drive." I was about to get inside the house when he called my name I turned around to face him again. "Yes?"

He took a deep breath and then lowered his eyes for a moment before meeting mine. "I know I don't have the right to ask you this but I am a very jealous man I don't like the idea that you are spending more and more time with your bodyguard. I-If you...if you want to go somewhere in the next few days before our trip can I accompany you instead?"

I couldn't help but smile at him. I don't know why but I find him adorable when he was unsure of himself. It was hard to believe that this was Santi Marchesi the man they most feared. If we didn't agree to take everything at a slow pace now I would probably fling at him and kiss him. "Very well, I will keep that in mind."

There was a boyish smile on his face. "Grazie. Ciao, mia amore. Spero di sognarti stanotte."

My heart did a cartwheel in my chest when I heard him speak in his native language. The words rolled off his tongue so sexily. I do understand some Italian words but I was wondering what the last statement meant.

He took advantage of the confusion on my face as he winked at me before closing the door of the SUV to my stunned face. I watched the car drive away only aware of how he managed to unsettle my heart so effortlessly.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I should need to be careful around him. He was a very lethal man.