Free Beneath the Covers (Kimani Romance) by Dara Girard Page B

replied. “Yes,” she said without apprehension. She knew that he was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, even though they’d known each other only a few months. “When?”
    He gently cupped the side of her face. “I would marry you now, but I want to be my own man and not depend on my family’s money. I want to be the man you deserve.”
    She smiled. “You already are.”
    His expression remained serious. “No, not yet. I still have a lot to prove, but in three months I’ll have finished my degree. And I have a job lined up so I’ll be able to support you while you finish your studies. You won’t have to work such long hours.” He bit his lip. “But I could work at my dad’s place for a couple of months so that we could get a house and—”
    Claudia shook her head. “No, I want you to follow your heart. I can wait.”
    Peter took both her hands in his, his eyes brimming with tenderness and love. “Okay, then. Three months from now, let’s meet in Las Vegas at The Love Chapel at five o’clock and get married. I’ll buy our tickets right now so that everything will be set.”
    Claudia held his hands against her chest. “Just like in Love Affair? ”
    Peter scowled. “No, not like that. You’d better show up.”
    “Oh, I will.” Claudia threw her arms around him. “Nothing could keep me away.”
    He drew her close and kissed her. “Good. Otherwise I’ll hunt you down.”
    “You won’t have to. Three months from now everything will be perfect. You’ll be working, my sister won’t need me and I can finish my studies.”
    They’d laughed, basking in the glow of their love and a future filled with possibilities, not knowing that fate had other plans.
     
     
    Claudia thought about that moment, aware of the irony of her life. She’d gotten Tamara back but had lost the man she’d loved. He was happy. He liked his freedom as much as she did hers. She wasn’t the woman she used to be. Her life was perfect.
    Yet when she closed her eyes, she felt the loss of what might have been, something beautiful and magical. She thought of her favorite movie, Love Affair; her life had mirrored it but without the happy ending, and tears seeped from under her closed eyelids.

Chapter 9
     
    “L et’s try that again. This time with a kiss,” Frank said after he’d stopped the filming. They were in a perfect location for the day’s shoot, with the azure ocean in the background and a pebbly cove off in the distance inviting one to swim, scuba dive or go snorkeling.
    “What?” Peter and Claudia said in unison.
    “It will add a nice spice to the scene.”
    Claudia sent Peter a nervous glance. “But I don’t—”
    “It’s just for the camera,” Frank said. “Trust me. It will work. Start with your closing remark.” He gave the cue, and Peter looked at the camera and said, “A word of warning, fellas. This is a special place. Choose your lady with care.”
    Claudia opened her mouth to say her closing remark, but before she could Peter surprised her with a kiss that completely shattered her calm. When his tongue slipped into her mouth, a shiver of ecstasy swept through her, and soon his soft, wet lips were impossible to resist and she wound her arm around him, drawing him closer.
    “And…cut!” Frank said. “That was fabulous. You two are on fire!”
    Peter abruptly released Claudia, but not before sending her a smoldering look that caused her heart to race.
    Claudia slunk into her chair, both exhausted and aroused. She knew that Peter was still her weakness and she’d have to work hard to stay away from him. She had to remind herself that she was here to work—nothing more. It had been several grueling days of shooting, and they still had one more.
    She’d quickly learned how much work traveling with a film crew was. She’d been up since 5:00 a.m. and it was now nearly evening. Thankfully, they’d quickly become a tight group. Their five-person crew, shooting entirely using small