“I
want a goodnight kiss from my fiancée, Alexis.”
Sonny wanted to kiss her again? Alexis’ body thrummed to life
at the mere suggestion. She wanted to give in more than anything…to
taste him again…have him hold her. Why did this man turn her
on as no one else ever had? It was maddening.
“Should we…I mean, is it wise for us to…” Alexis’
voice faded as she stole a glance at his beautiful face.
“Come on, Lex, we have to practice for when we’re out
in public,” he said, his tone and the look in his eyes completely
rational. “This has to at least look real. You can’t be
this jumpy when I touch you.”
So that was it…the real reason. He wanted them to practice
so they’d look convincing to others? Her heart squeezed painfully
within her. For one foolish second, she thought he’d just wanted
to…
But that’s because I’m an idiot ruled by emotion like
some schoolgirl, she chastised herself. That would end now.
Her eyes grew cool and distant, a legacy from too many Cassadine
encounters.
“Believe me, Sonny, when we have to perform for the public,
I’ll be ready,” she told him succinctly. “There’s
no need to practice anything.”
On that note Alexis turned, flounced into the bedroom, and left
Sonny---she was sure—drowning in typical masculine confusion
unaware of what he had done wrong.
***
Since the evening had ended so badly, Alexis was totally floored
when she’d awoken the next morning in the deliciously comfortable
bed with a velvet jewelry box on the next pillow. Upon opening it,
she’d spied the most exquisite ring she had ever seen…and
being a Cassadine she had been privy to quite a few.
It was pure gold, with an impressive vibrant yellow stone in the
center, flawlessly cut. Around it lay sparkling miniature diamonds
nestled in a setting that looked ornate, elegant, and tasteful all
at once…as if rather than selecting a modern ring he’d
selected an heirloom, a piece with some history.
Her hands had trembled as she’d slipped the precious ring onto
her third finger, and watched reverently as it sparkled up at her.
It had fit perfectly, but what else had she expected from Sonny
Corinthos?
So taken was she with the ring, she had almost overlooked the note
next to it written in Sonny’s familiar scrawl.
“Lex,
I have some last minute stuff to take care of for the wedding. I
booked some time for you in the salon downstairs so you can relax
and be fussed over for once. The staff there will take you to the
boutique and show you a selection of dresses to choose from. Please
enjoy yourself and choose exactly what you want.
I scheduled our ceremony for sunset. A limo will pick you up and
take you to the site. I look forward to meeting you there tonight.
And I promise to make it beautiful.
I will never forget what you’re doing for me…Never.
S.”
Alexis had stroked a finger across the words he’d written.
He had no way of knowing that she was doing this for herself and
her child as much as she was doing it for him.
And that was how she’d ended up here in the fabulous salon,
for a spa facial, a glorious massage, both a manicure and pedicure.
Presently, a young woman was brushing her freshly highlighted chestnut
hair until it shone with life and lay against her shoulders in a
lustrous mane. Alexis sighed and felt the tension that usually settled
in her shoulders ebb out of her slowly.
The salon manager and head stylist, Diego, had supervised the whole
affair under Sonny’s orders.
“Not too much makeup,” he’d instructed his technicians
in his lilting Spanish accent. “Senor Corinthos desires that
his fiancée’s natural beauty shine through. And I concur.
She is lovely without adornment.”
She had spent the whole of the beautiful sun drenched morning being
served fresh fruit and hand-ground coffee as she underwent various
beauty treatments ordered by ‘Senor Corinthos’. Smiling,
she rolled her eyes at that. ‘Senor Corinthos’ seemed
to have planned this whole affair with his usual meticulous flair.
Alexis wished she could have that much control over her own emotions.
How would she ever show a pretense of calm when she looked into
his beautiful dark eyes at sunset and promised to love and honor
him?
