As if reading her mind, he searched her eyes now, very seriously. “What are you thinking?”

Did she dare say it? She closed her eyes almost trembling with the fear of what her incorrect assessment might result in. Opening her eyes, she looked up at him, her heart beating harder than ever. “I was just thinking that of all the times I’ve been to San Francisco this is probably the one I’ll remember most fondly.” She stared at him, the fear still clutching and suffocating her heart, but she couldn’t hold in what she really wanted him to know anymore. “Today was absolutely amazing.”

She literally held her breath as she waited for a reaction. She waited to see the disappointment wash over his face that she’d gone there—ruined the perfect arrangement. But there was none. The smile that chased away the all-too-serious look on his face just moments ago nearly brought a lump to her throat, and she exhaled slowly.

“I feel the same, sweetheart, and I’ve been here plenty of times.”

Before she could say another word or even respond with so much as a smile, his lips were on hers again. She spent the final glorious twenty minutes of their cruise right there in his arms with him kissing her so sweetly nonstop. She wasn’t sure if either of them had actually confessed anything on the top deck of that magical cruise, but by the time they docked, she felt as if she were walking on air.

Neither one of them dared say it, but that night they didn’t have sex like all the other times. They made love. Of this, Nellie was sure. No matter what either of them was too reluctant to admit just yet, it was what it sure as hell felt like it was that night, and Nellie was certain that it would feel like that from then on.

If Nellie had been afraid before, she knew fear wouldn’t even begin to describe what she’d be feeling from that moment on. Just as her body had never experienced the bliss that only Abel had ever made her feel, she was positive that, even after all her cheating ex had put her through, her heart was yet to endure the pain of eventually having to walk away from this make-believe relationship.

~*~

On top of all the other reasons that Abel knew it would be impossible to stop thinking about Nellie now, she blew him away once again. She took complete control of the mini press conference that took place after the 5k run the next day. Andy had already passed along all the information she needed to know to get it all organized along with the list of questions Abel would not be entertaining.

Nellie told Abel that Andy had also explained to her how hungry the media was getting for any comments from Abel about all the endless rumors bubbling up everywhere about his personal life and father. After the second time Abel was asked about the allegations that his father was involved in with the Mexican mob, Nellie took charge. She stood up without even a mic, but everyone heard her firm announcement loud and clear. “I’ve made sure you all received a list of topics Mr. Ayala will not be discussing today. If I missed any of you, I apologize and will be happy to give you one now if you just raise your hand.” She glanced around as no one raised his hand. “Great, I didn’t miss anyone. Now this is my final reminder. Mr. Ayala was gracious enough and happy to agree to this spontaneous press conference on his tight schedule. But if even one more of those topics he’s not here to discuss is brought up again, this conference is over.”

Seeing the assertive way she stood up to them without any hesitation was a side of her that Abel hadn’t had the pleasure of witnessing before then. She’d worn one of her sexy power skirt suits to boot, making the scene that much hotter. Eyebrows lifted and he saw a few of the reporters take her in from top to bottom as they jotted furiously in their notebooks. A few photographers even snapped a few photos of her. Abel was certain there’d be speculation as to what his relationship with this new, no-nonsense, and not to mention sexy-as-all-hell assistant was. It was something he was actually looking forward to. They might be forced to discuss how exactly they should clarify what their relationship was now. It made him anxious because the conversation they’d had on their flight into San Francisco still nagged at him. Serious relationships are not on my to-do list. He might actually be in for a rude awakening. But this trip had gone so well that he was hopeful that if she hadn’t already, she’d be changing her mind.

The conversation on the flight back had been much lighter. Their conduct even in front of the flight attendant and other passengers was that of an undeniable couple. Abel wasn’t holding anything back now. When they weren’t kissing and giggling openly, Nellie rested her head against his chest as he stroked his fingers through her hair, kissing the top of her head every so often. It felt perfect, and he didn’t care who saw them or what anyone thought. Then when they reached LAX because their flight had been an earlier one than the redeye they’d caught to San Francisco, the paparazzi were waiting and ready. Nellie turned into the same no-nonsense assistant he’d seen at the mini press conference, walking ahead of him, letting reporters know he wouldn’t be doing any unscheduled interviews.

Abel’s protective instincts kicked in when he saw the cameras flashing in Nellie’s face and the paparazzi not only yelling out his name but for Ms. Gamboa to turn to them. They already knew her name and would no doubt start hounding her if they caught wind of their intimate involvement. He had no choice but to continue to walk behind her and in between his other body guards, who had also been waiting for them at the airport.

For now, he’d go along with what everyone else was assuming: that she was just his assistant and event coordinator and nothing more, but deep inside he felt she was so much more now.