Bella's Choice Read Online Free PDF Page B

glided away from her,” he praised. He didn’t mention the fact that he’d looked at her before she dove into the water, admiring her beautiful body, the one he knew was under the dress she’d been wearing the previous night.
    “Thanks. We have swum against each other previously, and I knew she would be my only competition. It all worked in my favor in the end,” she said, smiling. She felt good about the championship and the medals; a fitting end to all her hard work.
    She managed to steer the conversation away from herself and asked him about his work, which he obviously loved. The evening was pleasant and though they hadn’t many things in common, it struck her how he made an effort to get to know her, avoiding the topic of her parents’ altogether.
    At one point, he bent over her hand and kissed her softly on the knuckles, brushing it with a thumb, and she could not help but blush at this tender display. He was different from the men in her family.
    Her father was the silent brooding type, she hardly ever saw him with a smile. The only time he was happy, was when their friends were at home. Only then was he the heart of the party, his dirty jokes a turn-on to many of them. Normally, that would be her queue to leave.
    Her brother, Roy, was very quiet, barely saying a thing, and when he was not entertaining the guests, he was mostly in his room reading. The few times she’d gone there, financial magazines were strewn over his desk. But he never talked, and she never asked.
    One thing their family could do well was not to speak to one another―they were absolute strangers to each other.
    Derek was more like their mother, outgoing, flirty, not a care in the world over what anyone thought of him, a smile always present. He loved their parents’ lifestyle and joined eagerly. Roy had to be called before he joined, but Derek was always the one first in line. People loved him.
    Their food and drinks arrived, and they enjoyed a pleasant meal together mingled with light bantering.
    With dinner finished, they sat back and relaxed, quiet, each busy with their own thoughts. When the waiter returned, he asked if Anabella would like dessert to which she agreed, thanking him. Aldrich then ordered strawberries and cream for both of them.
    The conversation continued, and they talked about minute things. Likes and dislikes, books they had read, movies they thought were a mistake to have been made, which ended with them laughing about each other’s comments.
    When dessert arrived, Aldrich watched as she ate with a toothy grin. She blushed at his continued stare, not knowing she had a dot of cream on her lips. He bent over, and with his finger removed it from her lips, placing it in his mouth. “Delicious,” he said, and she blushed crimson. He chuckled as he sat back and finished his own.
    That was the most provocative thing ever done to her, and she felt heat rising up her neck but also in the lower half of her body. His closeness was welcoming to her senses, his romantic manners intoxicating to her hungry soul, his voice filled with promises and his eyes, dark pools holding her mesmerized.
    It seemed like it took forever to finish their desserts, which for some reason were eaten at a slower pace.
    “You enjoy dessert I take it,” she said in a husky voice when he put the last spoonful of fruit in her mouth. He nodded, and continued to grin, his eyes never leaving her. She felt beautiful.
    There was not much said after that, and the rest of the time they held hands. They didn’t want to part and found themselves stretching time, just listening to the music playing.
    She couldn’t meet his eyes, afraid that he would see her open adoration in them. When he leaned over, he placed his finger under her chin and brought her face up, looking at her. What she saw in his eyes reflected her own desires. He moved closer to her and kissed her very softly on the mouth. Her lips were willing to receive him so she kissed him back; his kiss