Sapphire Beautiful Read Online Free PDF Page B

not actually answering my question. But I take that as an affirmation to open the bottle.
    I search the utensil drawer for the corkscrew that I’m pretty sure is hidden near the back. When I finally find it I feel like I’ve discovered some long lost treasure.
    I give Dante an awkward smile as I hold up the corkscrew. “Found it.”
    He just nods in return.
    I can’t remember a time in my life when I’ve felt so uncomfortable with someone. The conversation between us is so uneasy it’s almost painful. I’m having an extremely difficult time imagining having sex with him.
    My stomach sinks when I realize that with things being so awkward there’s a possibility he may change his mind and decide he doesn’t want to have sex with me.
    Will he want his ten thousand dollars back?
    It’s already gone.
    I’ve got to get my head in the game and figure out a way to make him happy. At least happy enough not to ask for the money back.
    I grab two wine glasses from the rack and pour the Merlot.
    “Let’s toast,” I tell him. Touching my glass to his I say, “To our arrangement.”
    He gives me the slightest hint of a smile in return. At least that’s a start.
    Doug liked to drink Scotch. He’d sit on the back porch with a glass nearly every night before we went to bed. He said there were very few things in life better than watching the stars with a glass of Scotch in your hand.
    Before I have a chance to ask Dante if he wants to sit on the porch with the wine he downs the contents of the glass in one gulp.
    “I’d like to see the rest of your house.”
    “Sure.” I set my wine glass on the counter and urge him to do the same.
    He follows me back to the front entrance and I show him the living room, which is directly across from the library. Even though Doug and I picked the most expensive furniture we could afford Dante does not seem all that impressed with it. He simply nods as he glances around.
    One thing that does manage to catch his attention is the framed family portrait that I have on the mantle over the fireplace. It’s the last photo my sister and I managed to take with our parents before they died.
    He looks back and forth between me and the photo a few times.
    “That was taken a few years ago,” I tell him. “Before my parents died.”
    He nods, but doesn’t comment. Dante is definitely not a person of many words.
    As we walk back down the hallway I point out the laundry room, which is next to the kitchen. “You’ve already seen the kitchen. I have a back porch off the kitchen. It’s too dark to see now, but there’s a garden out back.”
    Another nod.
    “Let’s go upstairs then.”
    We climb the narrow staircase up to the second floor. “There are two guest bedrooms and a guest bath. Only one room is actually used for guests. The other is an office.”
    He takes a quick peek into each of the rooms.
    I hesitate as we approach the master bedroom. The reality that I’m actually being paid to have sex with a person I barely know begins to suffocate me.
    When I look over at Dante there’s a glint in his eyes that wasn’t there before. It’s subtle, like everything about Dante seems to be, but it’s definitely there.
    I have little doubt that he wants to do more than just see the master bedroom.
    My chest completely tightens. This is it. I’ve got to perform.
    My legs nearly go limp I’m so nervous, but somehow I manage to walk into the bedroom.
    Dante glances around, but doesn’t comment. He stares at me for a long moment instead.
    I have absolutely no idea what to do or say. My heart is thumping so wildly I feel like I might have a heart attack.
    Taking in a deep breath I try my best to calm down. It’s been over a decade since I’ve been with anyone but Doug. I was an undergraduate when we met. I was Dante’s age when we got married.
    That’s a long time to have sex with the same person.
    I’ve never considered myself the most seductive woman on the planet. I have absolutely no idea