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Our hotel isn’t far from the beach and Ivan suggests we go and watch the sun set there. I’ve always loved the beach. I breathe in the ocean breeze, enjoying the chill in the air. Ivan hugs me from behind as we take in the beautiful sight.
We’re both lost in thought. I imagine he’s thinking about his brother, who is currently on lockdown in the villa. I don’t think Ivan knows what to do with him. He tried to talk to him, but it’ll take some time for the brothers to repair their relationship. Although I have no doubt that they will.
I’m grateful they still have something to repair. I look toward the horizon, trying to forget my problems in favor of this moment, here and now.
“I never want to leave,” I say.
He chuckles. “We don’t have to, baby. If you say we should stay, then we’ll stay. But allow me to provide you a little incentive to return home,” he states, dangling some keys in front of my face. “Your wedding gift. I was meant to give it to you on our wedding day, but considering all that happened, I decided to wait until later.”
“What is it for? A car?” I ask, taking the bunch of keys. “I’ve always wanted a BMW.”
“In that case, I’ll buy you one as soon as we get back,” Ivan replies seriously, despite that it being a joke. “That’s the key to a building,moya zhena.”
“Whose building?”
“Yours, baby. I bought you a building. So you can start your own fashion magazine.”
My jaw drops. I turn around in his arms to look at him. “How do you know about that?”
Starting my own company is an idea I’ve been toying about for a while, but I’ve never allowed myself to consider it for too long.
“I know you, Lucia,” he says softly. “After I realized what happened in New York, I figured this would be something you wanted. The building is in Chicago and it’s big enough for you to do anything you want. I have no doubt that you’ll succeed.”
I’m completely speechless. Every time I think I can’t fall in love with him more, he does something like this that sweeps me off my feet.
“I really don’t deserve you,” I say through tears.
He wipes them away with his thumb, shaking his head.
“You do, baby. Every moment I get to spend with you is precious.”
“Thank you so much,” I say, getting on my toes to kiss him.
The kiss becomes heated as soon as my lips meet his. Every kiss leaves us wanting even more. I pull back to say the words that I fully plan on saying every day for the rest of my life.
“I love you, Ivan.”
“I love you,krasavitsa.”
THE END.
