Love Bug (The Prescotts Book 3) by Tara Wyatt (electric book reader .TXT) 📗

with a living room directly ahead, stairs to the left, and a sparkling kitchen and dining area behind the stairs. She took a few more steps forward, taking it all in, and naturally gravitated toward the enormous glass doors off the living room that led out onto a covered terrace. Slivers of deep blue were hidden among the thick trees at the back of the property and when she stepped outside, she could see the infinity pool Theo had mentioned off to the left, the water burbling softly.

“Max, this is stunning,” she said when she came back inside. He was standing in the kitchen, surrounded by richly veined marble and stainless steel. Stunning, and truthfully, a little overwhelming. It seemed as though she’d get used to something—like the penthouse or the luxury SUV— and then boom, she’d get smacked in the face with just how rich he was. How different their worlds were.

He grinned. “I’m glad you like it.” He moved past the island and slipped his hands around her waist, pulling her close. “I’ve never brought anyone here before,” he said, lowering his head and nuzzling his nose against her temple.

“Not even your family?”

He shook his head. “I’ve let them use it. Aerin and Javi used it last year during the All-Star break, Theo and Lauren have been here a few times. Lucian prefers the city, so this isn’t really his scene. Oh, and Sebastian once got a huge fine for a party he threw here.”

She laughed. “That sounds completely on brand for Sebastian. Or, at least, the old Sebastian.”

A thoughtful look passed across Max’s face. “He’s changed a lot over the past year. He’s worked so hard to be happy.”

“You’ve changed too, you know.”

He grinned at her. “I know. Believe me, I know.” He stepped away from her and took her hand. “Come on. Let me show you the upstairs.”

They took their bags and mounted the sleek wood staircase up to the second floor, emerging onto a sprawling landing. Max led her to the end of the hallway, where he pushed open a set of double doors to reveal a massive bedroom with a king-sized bed, a fireplace, and elegant French doors that opened out onto the raised deck. Through the doors, she could see nothing but ocean and the tops of green trees. No other houses, no other people. Just water and greenery and her and Max.

It was perfect.

“I think we should use this later,” said Max from the ensuite bathroom. She followed the sound of his voice and poked her head in, gasping at the sheer size of it. It was breathtaking, just like the rest of the house, but the focal point was the enormous soaker-style tub centered in front of three enormous windows, a modern chandelier dangling above.

“Wow,” she whispered as she stepped forward, dragging her fingertips over the marble countertops. “This is so beautiful, Max. Honestly, this is the most gorgeous house I’ve ever seen.” She swallowed around the tightness in her throat. “I’m not used to this kind of luxury.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I do take it for granted. But you’re part of my life now, Willa.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her softly. “So get used to it, because I love spoiling you. In fact, I have a present for you.”

Her eyebrows rose. “This weekend away isn’t present enough?”

He shook his head. “Nothing’s enough, angel. I want to give you the world.”

She slid her hand up his chest and traced the tips of her fingers along his jawline. “I don’t need the world. I just need you.”

“Willa,” he whispered, lowering his head and capturing her mouth in a slow, sweet kiss. Just as the kiss started to morph into something hotter and needier, he pulled away, pressing his forehead to hers. “You’ll always have me. Always.” Then he kissed her forehead and moved back into the bedroom, where he pulled a simple black and white box tied with a satiny black ribbon from his bag. Her eyebrows went up when she spotted the De Beers logo in the bottom left hand corner.

“I was originally going to give this to you the night of the gala, but I decided I didn’t want to wait. There’s no point saving things for a special occasion when every single day with you feels like a reason to celebrate.” He swallowed thickly as she moved closer, her heart erratic in her chest.

“Max, that’s so romantic,” she said softly, pressing her fingers to her lips. When he held out the box to her, she took it, glancing up at him as she tugged on the ribbon. His eyes were bright, happiness beaming out at her like sunshine. Once the ribbon was untied, she carefully tugged the lid of the box open, inhaling sharply at the stunning necklace nestled inside against the dark velvet. At the end of a delicate rose gold chain there was a matching round pendant about the size of a quarter, maybe a little bigger, encircled with white diamonds and greenish gold stones. The diamonds were cut and refined as they circled the outer edge, but the green stones were rougher, unfinished and glistening with natural beauty in the middle of the pendant.

“Oh my God,” she whispered, carefully tracing her fingertips over the pendant, feeling the texture of the jewels against her skin. “This is so incredibly beautiful. Oh my God.” She traced her fingers over it again. “What are these stones?” she asked, touching the greenish gold ones.

“They’re Montana sapphires. They reminded me of your eyes.”

“This is the single most beautiful thing anyone has ever given me,” she said, her voice shaking with emotion. Her legs felt weak at the tenderness of the gesture.

“Let me put it on you.” He took the box back from her shaky hands and deftly removed the necklace. She spun away from him, shivering as the cool metal made contact with her heated skin. Max pressed a kiss to her neck. “There. It looks beautiful on