Free Cherished (Adam & Ella) by Emily Jane Trent Page A

got such good seats. I’ll be able to see everything.”
    “Yes, and I have these, just in case,” he said, holding up the opera glasses.
    By the time Luciana walked out on stage, the crowd was out of control. Yelling, clapping, and even jumping around, they expressed their love for her and the exquisite music she created. Once the music started, Ella was swept into another world, one of beauty, of expression, and of poetry. She gripped Adam’s hand through the moving, emotional songs.
    Even after several encores, the crowd was not satisfied, but the concert did end and the lights came up. Adam and Ella just sat, letting the crowds filter out, content to let the mood of the music surround them just a little longer. Laying her head on Adam’s shoulder, Ella said, “That was amazing. I love Luciana. I am so glad we came.”
    They were one of the last to leave, and Adam guided her back to the car with his arm around her shoulders. As much as she had enjoyed the concert, Ella was unsettled. She should have been glad that no dark men followed them, and no threats surfaced. But the quiet and lack of visible presence was as unnerving as having something happen. Silence meant plans were being made, in secrecy, in the background. It had to be, as Ella knew without a doubt that Claudio had not gone away.
    Secure in the private jet, Ella settled onto the soft bed in the stateroom and fell instantly asleep. So much for her plans to seduce Adam in the plush confines of the suite. When she woke up, she was wrapped under the soft blanket and Adam was sitting at the small desk, typing. Disoriented, she had no idea how long she’d been asleep, but it was longer than a few minutes, for sure.
    “Where are we?”
    Adam turned to her. “Ah, you are awake. We are still in the air.”
    “I thought we’d be back already.”
    “We would be, if we were going to Rio.” His smug smile gave away his intent.
    “If?”
    “I thought you would enjoy a few days away, surfing. So I directed the pilot to Santa Catarina, an island off the southern coast, about an hour from Floripa. It juts out into the sea and catches some of the most consistent swell. You’ll love it. It’s a beach paradise with sand as white as talcum powder.”
    Ella hardly knew what to say. “But I didn’t bring any clothes. How long are we going to stay?”
    “Just a few days. I arranged to have some things delivered to the hotel for you.”
    Ella blinked. “What about surfboards?”
    “Well, we won’t have our custom boards, unfortunately. But there will boards provided for us.”
    Adam was apologizing for not having the perfect surfboards for the trip. Amazing, considering what he had planned. “You’re spoiling me.”
    “Yes,” he said. “That’s my intention. I plan to spoil you from now on, so get used to it.”
    Adam came over and slid onto the bed beside her. “I was able to get away for a few days, and I want to show you this beach. You’re going to love the surf.”
    Ella looked into his eyes, seeing desire reflected there. Adam touched her and kissed her. And her dream of making love high up in the air came true. His loving of her was sweet, slow, and so hot. Leisurely, they fondled each other, happy to be together and bound together in a way that touched Ella deeply.
    Surfing would be fun, but Adam’s thoughts weren’t a secret. She was too close to him, too intimate with him, and she knew the trip served a dual purpose. It was a romantic getaway. But also, when they were away surfing Claudio would leave them in peace. The time they’d gone to Floripa, Adam had made that clear. His father disliked anything to do with surfing, and hated the water, so he’d wait for a more opportune time to act against them. For a few days, at least, they could pretend danger didn’t exist.
     

Chapter 9
     
    Staying away was safe for Adam and Ella, but not for his family. Embarking on a new tactic, Claudio had sent notes to Adam’s mother through her church