If you like this online read you'll enjoy Jane Porter's books!

Duty, Desire and the Desert King
 £2.71
 £2.71

A Dark Sicilian Secret
 £2.80
 £2.80

Not Fit for a King?
 £2.80
 £2.80

"Marry me," Carlo repeated urgently.

They were, Estrella thought, the sweetest words she'd ever heard. For him to know her goals, her dream, her passion and still want her ? it was remarkable. Her eyes burned and a massive lump filled her throat. "I can't."

He held her before him, his hands on her upper arms. "Why not?"

"I'd be a terrible wife ?"

"No!"

She stood up on tiptoe and gently kissed him, her lips brushing his. "Yes. Especially to a Gabellini. Gabellinis are wealthy and powerful and extremely prominent ? you're like the Galváns in Argentina ? but it's everything I don't want. Everything I can't be anymore."

"Cara, darling ?"

"No." Her eyes burned like fire and it was all she could do to hold the tears in check. "Please don't argue. It'll only make it worse. We have different goals, Carlo. We're heading in different directions."

* * *

Carlo drove them back to Cannes and the tension during the return drive was unbearable. Pulling up at the Carlton, Carlo parked and turned to her, his features grim. "I don't understand why you don't think we'll work."

"What we have won't last. It can't." Her eyes felt gritty as sand. "In less than a week Cannes will be transformed again. The posters will come down, the red carpet rolled up, the crowds dispersed. We're the same. We're part of the magic here, but this isn't the real world. At least, it's not my real world. My world is in Tamil Nadu."

She saw him blanch, saw the fear in his eyes. "You don't have to go to India to help the children," he said tersely. "You can raise funds here. You can increase public awareness without putting yourself in the line of fire."

She knew he was referring to Allie. "If I don't go I won't know the money is reaching the children. I have to be certain the girls are getting proper care. I can't just hope everything will turn out right. I must make sure it does."

His jaw hardened. His silver gaze grew flinty. "You won't even give us a chance."

The first tear fell and Estrella dashed it away. "I can't, Carlo, but I do love you. I'll always love you."

"You're saying goodbye then?"

Oh, she hated those words and she hated it said like that. He made it sound as if this was easy. It wasn't easy. It felt like hell but she couldn't give up on the girls. She'd made a promise. "Not goodbye." Her voice cracking with emotion. "What about au revoir? Until the next time?"

"No. I hate it. I won't say it."

"Then don't." She pressed her mouth to his, closed her eyes, and told herself to remember what it felt like being loved like this. She told herself to remember his strength, his warmth, and his tremendous generosity.

Fighting tears, she turned her head and whispered in his ear. "I will never forget you. I will never forget what you've done for me and the children of Tamil Nadu."

Before he could answer she slipped from the car and disappeared into her hotel, blinking back tears as she ran.

* * *

Late that night two envelopes appeared beneath Estrella's door. She carried the envelopes to her bed.

The first envelope was of a heavy cream paper and she drew out a stiff cream invitation. You are cordially invited to join Integro Investment Bank for the Premiere of One Heart, 7 o'clock, The Riviera.

The gala event Carlo had promised.

Hands shaking, she opened the second envelope and discovered a first-class ticket to New Delhi. It was, she noted with fresh tears welling in her eyes, just one way.

The next evening Estrella dressed for the screening with infinite care, doing her hair and applying her makeup as if she were girding for battle. And in a way, she was. She was preparing to face Carlo one last time before leaving him later tonight.

Looking at her pale reflection in the bathroom she knew it would be hell tonight. Being with him and yet not being with him was as cruel a punishment as she could imagine.

She reached up and adjusted the strap of her gown. The fabric was a nude satin with an overlay of small violet flowers, the violet flowers speckled with clear sequins. It was an extravagant gown, a high-voltage Hollywood type of gown but tonight Estrella had to play the part of the glamorous model one last time. Tonight she had to shine for the photographers and the press and make sure One Heart got all the attention it possibly could.

Carlo had sent his limousine for her and en route to the Riviera she saw bright white spotlights streak the sky. It wasn't until the limousine stopped at the beach that she discovered the spotlights were for the premiere and they were drawing a crowd.

She was awed. Carlo had thought of everything. A dozen flashbulbs popped in her eyes as she stepped onto the red carpet, the press converging just as they did for the big studio premieres.

How had he organized all this in three days? He'd put together the screening, the party, the press, even the red carpet ? for her.

She nearly lost her composure then. She was so grateful for all that he'd done, and so overwhelmed by his support. She'd never met a man like Carlo before and doubted she ever would again.

Carlo met her inside the white pavilion tent on the sand. The screening was black-tie and again he wore his tuxedo.

Estrella felt her heart turn over as she looked at him. He was so big, so imposing, so fiercely protective of her dream.

"You look gorgeous," she said, resting her hand on his sleeve and rising to kiss his cheek.

He turned his head and caught the kiss on his mouth. "I love you."

Her eyes burned and she felt the ache in her chest like the tide of the sea. It was pulling on her, sucking her in, and yet she couldn't give in. As soon as she thought of the girls, she knew she had to go, knew she had a job to do.

"I love you, too," she whispered before being surrounded by a circle of international buyers and pulled in an opposite direction from Carlo.

* * *

Later, the big white tent became a massive movie screen and the guests in glittering evening dress sat down in chairs and on blankets spread across the sand. Then the lights strung across the inside of the tent dimmed and a projector turned on, showing the first of two reels of film.

By the time the screening ended, the documentary had been picked up by a legion of networks, independent distributors, and of the largest cable companies in the United States. Everyone who was anyone had attended the premiere and there was talk of the film being nominated for an Oscar and possibly shown at next year's Sundance Film Festival.

The evening had been a huge success, but like everything, the party eventually ended. The guests departed. The tent came down and Estrella returned to her hotel where she changed into traveling clothes, packed her bags and paid her bill at the hotel.

At the Nice airport, Estrella checked in and cleared security. It was while waiting at the gate that she spotted a familiar dark head bent over a newspaper.

Estrella's jaw dropped. Carlo? At the airport?

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, confronting him just as the announcement was made that the airline would begin preboarding in just a moment.

He looked up from the paper, feigning shock. "My God, Estrella, what are you doing here?"

"Don't even start with me. What are you doing here, and where are you going?"

He rose. "Well, I'm getting on a plane, and I'm going to India."

"You can't! That's where I'm going."

He whistled. "Fate."

"No, it's not fate. It's wrong."

"It's not wrong." Carlo held out his airline ticket. He had a seat assignment. It was the seat next to hers. "I have a ticket, I have a seat, and I'm going."

"But?why?"

"Because you're going. And I want to be there. Someone's got to keep an eye on you."

It wasn't because he didn't trust her. It was because he cared. He loved her. Even though he'd said the words before, she felt it for the first time, felt it in her middle, in her bones, in her heart. He'd be with her, stand by her, and after a lifetime of standing alone it was heaven.

Yet still, the knowledge bowled her over. She knew what he was giving up. Knew the sacrifices he'd make. "But your company. And your family ?"

"Doesn't matter. I'm doing this for you, Estrella, but I'm also doing it for myself. If I can help the children, I want to."

Estrella's eyes filled with tears. "Where we're going there are no luxury hotels."

He reached out and drew her into his arms, his hands curving in the small of her back. "I understand, cara. I can handle a sleeping bag, a mosquito net, and bottled water."

"So you know there'll be bugs."

"Yes. There'll be lots of bugs." Then he smiled a small crooked smile. "But I think I could handle a swarm of locusts if it means I get to spend the next year of my life with you."

Her smile faltered. "Just a year?"

"That depends on whether or not you'll marry me ?"

"Yes!" She slid her arms around his neck and lifted her mouth to his. "Carlo Gabellini, I want to

arry you. I want to love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

He smiled before brushing his lips across hers. "Can I get that in writing?"

Estrella laughed, her heart lighter than it had been in years. "It's not necessary. We don't stand a chance. We're meant to be together. It's fate."

The End



chapter: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8