Strawberry Kisses Phavy Prieto (bookstand for reading TXT) 📖

smile. I took my luggage and locked myself in the bathroom to freshen up.

Nerea had convinced me to pack two evening dresses in case there was an important event. Despite my reticence, I decided to pack them. At that moment I was infinitely grateful to her, even though I would never admit it. I picked up a long red dress with a heart-shaped neckline. I put on the same shoes that I was going to wear to the wedding, but I was sure that people would be distracted by my cleavage and wouldn't notice it. I quickly took a shower and, in order not to be too late, I accentuated the eye contour with mascara and accompanied it with red lipstick to match the dress. My hair remained perfect and more voluminous than usual perhaps because of the humidity due to the proximity to the sea. After less than ten minutes, I was able to leave the bathroom free. I heard Damian talking on the phone and I started looking for the small box where I had put the jewelry that I would wear to complete my look.

"I think I'll need to control myself tonight," I heard next to me. I looked up to see if Damian was actually addressing me or continuing his conversation on the phone.

"Are you talking to me?" I asked somewhat annoyed.

"Obviously," he confirmed by carefully analyzing my dress from top to bottom and vice versa.

His reaction made me blush a little. I would never have got used to that walking monument watching me with desire. Or at least in a way that I perceived as desire.

I opened the box with the few jewels I had brought with me to wear them: two rings, a bracelet, a pair of earrings and a pendant, but before I could take them out, I saw his hand stopping me.

"Tonight you will wear only one jewel," he said in his deep voice that gave me goosebumps.

I looked at him without understanding what exactly he meant and then watched him pull a small blue velvet box out of his pocket.

Oh, mamma mia! Is it what I think?

I waited for his next movement, and when he opened that little box, there was the most beautiful ring I have ever seen in my life.

"It must cost a fortune," was the only thing I was able to say.

Chapter X

His big smile dissipated the awkwardness between us.

"If you're worried about robbers cutting off your finger to steal the ring, I'll be by your side all the time, so don't worry," he reassured me while I was observing the way he took the ring out of the box, grabbed my left hand and slid it over my ring finger.

"I could get too attached to it and decide not to give it back to you," I ventured, observing the beauty of the diamond.

What a diamond! I wondered if one day there would be a man who could love me enough to give me such a ring.

"Play your part well and maybe you can keep it," Damian said.

His words made me turn my gaze to him immediately. Was he out of his mind? That ring could cost the equivalent of my full year's salary. Or he was probably so rich that that kind of money wouldn't have affected his bank account at all.

"Are you trying to bribe me, Mr. Devoir?" I asked smiling.

"It would be more appropriate to say that I am motivating you to give your best, Miss Acosta," he replied before entering the bathroom and closing the door.

After only ten minutes he came out of the bathroom in his best bib and tucker: he only had to wear a suit and tie and he was perfect. There was no doubt that the blue colour suited him well. I had not yet seen him so attractive before.

"It's just because he gave you a ring of who knows how many carats, my dear," said a voice inside me that I instantly repressed. If Damian seemed handsome before, now he was absolutely irresistible.

"Shall we go?" he said. I was completely in awe by watching him as he adjusted his tie and the cufflinks.

"Yes, let's go. I would really like a drink," I said enthusiastically. Some alcohol would help me to cool down. Or maybe not.

Think that I'm going to sleep in that bed with him tonight! And the next night too! My God! Better three drinks, because one won't be enough!

We went down in the elevator together with other people in complete silence. Despite the fact that I felt observed, I did not look at anyone, so as not to reveal my agitation. My anxiety stemmed from the unpredictability of what could happen during the evening: if he had treated me like his fiancée, that is, his future wife, would he kiss me in front of everyone? As much as I wanted to, I didn't really want our first kiss to be a farce.

As the doors opened, I took a step forward and his hand grabbed mine to slowly cross our fingers. I stopped and looked at him, but I only got a hint of a smile in return. I assumed that holding hands was just a way to best interpret his role. After all, that was what couples did, wasn't it? It would have been strange not to.

I did not know who Damian's friends were. Everyone gathered between the bar counter and some armchairs. Damian introduced them to me one by one: six in total of whom only two with their partners.

"I heard you’re getting married too!" one of them exclaimed in a cheerful tone.

"Well, yes," confirmed Damian. "The time has come for me too to submit to the yoke of marriage!" he added jokingly. Since everyone started laughing, I too joined the general amusement.

"We already