Our visit to the community kitchen lasted until they closed their doors at 8 pm. Desiree and I were full and relaxed. The ride and flight back to our hotel seemed to pass quicker than the trip over. Desiree was completely in awe at the volunteers at Forward Kitchen. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she’d plan to move to Dubai permanently just to help out. She spoke adamantly about the cooks, the guests, and of course, Antonio. The little boy played quietly next to her and whenever Desiree would make a move he moved with her.

Watching the pair made my heart swell again. I pictured Desiree with a round belly, waddling from our living room to the patio trying to get some fresh air. Every minute that went by, I saw Desiree in my life doing something different. Being the mother of my children, modeling in one of my oversized t-shirts after an extensive night of sex, and bearing my last name. A tingle ran down my spine, and my temperature rose.

“Julian…” Desiree rested a hand on my arm causing the spike in my temperature to rise higher.

I turned to her. “Yes, Bella.”

“Is everything alright?”

“Sure, why do you ask?”

“I’ve called your name a few times, but you didn’t respond. Are you sure everything is okay?”

I grinned and pulled her hand to my lips for a kiss. “Yes. What did you ask?”

“Would you like to come in?”

We were standing in the hallway outside of her hotel room. “You know I would, but I need to make a run. Raincheck?” I grabbed her chin and pulled her lips to mine but waited for her response before kissing her.

“Oh sure, no problem. Anything I can help with?”

I wiggled my brows. “Well if you’re in a giving mood we could always…” I grinned, and she giggled. I pressed my lips to hers, and she kissed me back with just as much passion as I gave. When Desiree’s arms coiled around my neck, it was instinctive for mine to wrap around her waist. My hands cupped her bottom, and I pulled her against my solid erection. Friction sizzled between us and even though she hadn’t verbally agreed, her actions told me, she didn’t mind a night cap. But that was just it. I wanted more from her, and I wanted to let her know it. The sooner, the better. It was excruciatingly hard for me, but I managed to step back, effectively disconnecting from Desiree. A slight frown covered her features; her breathing high as she tried to silently assess why I pulled away.

“Raincheck,” I said.

“Oh,” she said still confused. “Okay.” She turned and slid her key card in its slot, leaving me to go inside her room.

“Have a good night,” she said.

“Goodnight, Bella.”

She smiled softly and shut the door. There I stood, brooding, ordering my feet to move and not knock. I wondered for a moment if she too still stood on the other side, waiting, hoping, I was still here. I had it bad, and I couldn’t imagine spending another day without Desiree. With an iron clad will, I turned and left the hallway, riding the elevator down to the bottom floor. Inside my Jeep, I opened my GPS and took a forty-five-minute ride to Damas. I was standing in front of a case of diamonds with my heart knocking against my chest.

“Can I help you, sir?”

A tall, lean brunette approached me. I glanced at her name tag that read, Cynthia. There weren’t too many things that made me nervous, but at that moment, I could hardly formulate articulate words to offer Cynthia. She must have sensed my indecision because her face warmed and she smiled.

“Tell me the occasion, and I can point you in the right direction.” She said. “Present, birthday, anniversary, engagement…”

As Cynthia rattled off that list, I was swept away again in my mind’s eye with visions of Desiree on Christmas, on her birthday, on our anniversary, our wedding… I freaked out.

“Excuse me,” I said turning to leave the store. Outside I took in deep breaths and pulled out my cell phone and dialed a number. It rang once before being answered.

“Hello, son,” my father and head honcho of our family answered. His mouth sounded full, and it prompted me to ask.

“Hey dad, did I catch you at dinner time?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” he swallowed. “It’s breakfast time here, how’s everything going in Dubai?”

“Things are going well.” I wavered, and he could feel my hesitation.

“What’s wrong?”

I heard a utensil clang against his plate. I started a slow pace outside of Damas, holding the phone to my ear.

“How did you know, mom was the one?” I knew my father was stunned into a brief silence. I’d never asked that question before so I’m sure he was aware something was up.

“Well, whenever I was around her, my world would stop and tilt on its axis,” he said. “Her smile would make me dizzy, and I showed her public affection forgetting where we were most times. Whatever she needed I made sure she had it without hesitation because I felt an obligation toward her to meet those needs. I pictured her in every area of my life and never second guessed it.”

My heart was knocking harder now. I almost broke out into a sweat. Why was I nervous? Was I second guessing?

“What’s her name, son?”

I blinked snapping out of my haze. “Desiree.”

“Her name sounds familiar have I met her?”

“She just so happens to be Claudia’s sister.”

“Ah, I see, is she there with you now?”

“Not at this very moment, she’s back at the hotel.”

“And, where are you?”

I peered up at Damas. “At a jewelry store.”

When my father spoke again, I heard a smile in his voice. “I’m happy for you son. Go with your heart.”

“That’s just it,” I said, “I think I’m second guessing. My nerves are on edge. I have felt all those things with her, but I only want one wife, forever. How do I know for sure?”

“Picture your life without her. Can you move forward without being around her again? That’s a rhetorical question, you can keep the answer to yourself,” he paused. “Now picture her with someone else.”

Without disinclination, I saw red.

“No…” I said moving again. The bell chimed as I entered Damas a second time. Cynthia was still waiting for me by a glass case of diamonds as if she knew I would return. “Engagement rings,” I said.

“This way.”

I followed Cynthia with my father still on the line.

“You have to bring her over for a family dinner,” Christopher said. “I know we met at your brother’s engagement party, but this makes for a special occasion.”

Cynthia pulled out a few diamond rings that were on exhibition and set them on the glass case in front of me.

“Desiree’s moving back to Chicago, but first she’s wrapping up a story for the Houston Report. I’ll make sure you meet her as soon as she’s free.”

“That’s my boy,” my father said. My eyes landed on a simple band that held on to an extraordinary diamond.

“That one,” I said pointing to the beauty.

“That’s our eighteen-carat white gold trilogy ring designed with Forevermark. An excellent way to make a lasting impression.”

It was possible my eyes held a spark. “That’s the one,” I said. “She’s the one.”

 

My dad and I spoke as I made my purchase and drove back to Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The diamond in my pocket held promises of a lifetime together, and I wanted to go straight to Desiree and ask her to be my wife. It was around eleven pm when I returned, but instead of going to her I went to my suite to have a moment to myself. This had to be perfect. If I could, I’d propose to Desiree on the moon. At the same time, I wanted it to happen so fast that planning would have to wait.

Strolling to the bar, I poured a glass of scotch and leaned against the table top in deep thought. What if I scared her to death? What if she said no? I hadn’t stopped to think about how asking this monumental question would impact Desiree’s life. Maybe that was selfish on my part. Did I expect her to be as happy as me? I did not doubt that our connection went past the physical. But I’d yet to tell her how I truly felt. But here I was about to pop the ultimate question. As far as Desiree was concerned, she could think I only wanted her for sexual pleasures.

“Tomorrow,” I confirmed. I would tell her first thing in the morning.

 

There was a knock on my door. I blinked rising at the sound of the urgent tapping. I hadn’t gotten much sleep last night since my mind was in a continuous state of wonder. I opened the door without checking the peephole.

“Lila,” I leaned against the door jam. “What’s so urgent that you’re knocking this early?”

“Early?” she posed, “I thought you were used to getting up at five?”

“If you hadn’t noticed, we only have a few scenes left to shoot. If we wanted to, we could wrap this up today, but we still have a little time left here in Dubai.”

“Oh.”

Her eyes skittered off. “Did you want something specific?” Lila folded her arms around herself.

“Do you mind if I come in for a minute?”

I watched her closely for a second then stepped back allowing her entrance. Lila’s appearance was always effortlessly chic. With designer glasses across her eyes, a thin fitted jacket, skinny jeans and high heels, she sauntered into the room moving towards the sofa. I followed her, offering her a seat.

“What’s on your mind, Lila?”

“I wanted to apologize for the way I’ve been acting the last couple of days. You know I can be a bit of a diva.” She smiled up at me. “I don’t want my lateness or attitude on this trip to ruin our future endeavors.”

“I appreciate your apology, but I don’t accept your rudeness. You need to know, diva or not; I’m not in the habit of employing models with temper tantrums.” She opened her mouth to speak, but I continued. “Furthermore, although, I paid you to play a particular role, you were late. I could’ve easily dismissed you, but I didn’t because of our prior working relationship.” I stood, “At any case, I’d love to work with you again but consider this your final and only warning. Don’t ever bring that attitude to work again. Now, if there’s nothing else, I’d like to shower. There’s a long day ahead.”

Lila stood as well. “Thank you for understanding, Julian.”

I smiled and walked her to the door. Lila crossed the threshold and turned back to me.

“Thanks again,” she said.

I tilted my head in response and closed the door, my thoughts instantly going to Desiree.