Free INDISPENSABLE: Part 2 by Maryann Barnett Page B

delicacies?”
    “I’m not really fussy. I don’t want anything I haven’t had before because the last thing I need tonight is an upset stomach.”
    “Yes, a green complexion doesn’t quite fit with the outfit I guess. How about quail?”
    “I love quail.”
    “And fish?”
    Sarah nodded.
    “Let’s leave dessert until later. When we get home.”
    “Home?”
    “I have a place here.”
    “Of course you do.”
    “You’ll like it. It’s…humble, cozy, and the dogs are there.” Brock’s smile lit up his face.
    “You like it there, too.”
    “I do. But it will be even better to share it with someone I like. And…you’ll be impressed…no staff. I do it all for myself.”
    “A man of many talents.”
    “I hope you can cook,” Brock said.
    “I’ll manage.”
    “You will? A home cooked meal? That would be the best.”
    “I’ll do my best. Tomorrow night, we’ll eat in.”
    “What else will we do?”
    “If you play your cards right, I’ll let you do the dishes.”
    “Let’s eat, all this dirty talk has me wanting to soil up that pretty gown of yours.”
    “You wouldn’t dare.”
    Brock had the dangerous glint in his eye. The one that sent shivers to her core. “If it wasn’t for the fact that I’d signed your agreement, it would’ve already happened.”
    “You’d better hurry up and order because I have plans for dessert that you won’t want to miss.”
    He reached over and placed his hand on top of hers. Sarah turned hers over and held his hand.
    “You are beautiful. Thank you for joining me in my grand gestures.”
    “Thanks for wanting to make it a dream come true. It really is.”
    “You, Sarah, are a dream come true.” He stood up and leaned in to kiss her lips so softly she shivered.
    Sarah wanted that kiss to deepen. She needed to be close to him right now. The waiter came over, and Brock sat back down and gave him their order in French. Now that was sexy. The music was slow and lovely. Sarah swayed in time and sipped her drink.
    Brock stood up again and held out his hand. “Mademoiselle. Would you do me the honor of this dance?”
    “I’m game if you are.” Sarah place her hand in his and stood up.
    “That dress is too fantastic to hide under the table all night.”
    “That’s true. Lucky the music is slow, so I shouldn’t kill myself in these stiletto heels.”
    “I’ll be sure to catch you.”
    Sarah drew in a long breath. This was what she’d wanted, all those years ago as a young girl. She’d imagined it to be like this…with the man she loved, the man she would marry. The ideals of that child had long since shattered. But inside some of the shards remained lodged deep in her heart. That hopeless belief that love was real and that love was out there for everyone who looked for it.
    Brock led her to the dance floor and took her in his arms. They swayed together. Holding each other close. Sarah wished it could be Brock. She wished in that moment that this was real life. It wasn’t. But it was real for this moment, and this moment, this whole night, was hers.
    She slid both her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his shoulder. Brock kissed her forehead and put both arms around her, drawing her in. Neither spoke of anything. Sarah didn’t need words to communicate how she was feeling to Brock.
    He got it, too. She could tell. He’d opened his feelings to her. Opened them for her. Pierre had said Brock always had secrets, but she hoped whatever they were Brock would share them with her one day. Perhaps she would share all of hers, too. The dark days under the cloud of addiction.
    Nothing could be further from where she was now. Even her wildest imagination back then wouldn’t have put her here, dripping with diamonds in the arms of a billionaire bachelor. The seedy streets were full of terrible things, desperate things, things she wasn’t going to think about right now.
    Here was Brock, and he held her so close. She refused to ruin that with