A Forbidden Love (Eligible Billionaires Book 9) (13 page)

Her heart broke. He had to understand. “Please, Devon”—her voice cracked—“please try to understand.”

Devon looked from Ilana’s eyes toward the ocean. “I understand. I don’t like it, but I understand.” His gaze returned to her. “Are we past that now? The need to keep secrets from each other? Because I can’t do this if we’re not.” He shook his head. “I promised myself after the trial…after what happened, that the truth was a permanent part of my life. I need the people around me to be the same way. No secrets. No matter how hard or challenging or difficult. I’ll take a difficult truth over an easy secret every day.”

“I can do that. I feel safe with you. I know…” Her bottom lip trembled and he pulled her close. “I know that you’re with me. That you’ll protect me. That we’re together and that I can trust you.”

“You can trust me,” Devon said. “I’m here for you. For as long as you’ll have me, Ilana, I’m yours.”

Devon’s words were true, Ilana felt them to her core. She was meant to be his and he was meant to be hers. His lips pressed to hers. This was the place she would remain for the rest of her life. By his side, now and forever. He drew back, and his arms tightened around her.

“There’s one more thing. My father”—Ilana stuttered out—“I need to tell you about my father.”

Again Devon’s brow furrowed.

“He…he’s in jail now.”

Devon nodded and pressed his forehead to hers. “I’m sorry…I know…I know from what you’ve said things weren’t good for you and your mom when you were little.”

Ilana shook her head and closed her eyes. “And my uncle suggested I should see him. He says it’s my choice, but I think he wants me to do it. My cousin definitely does. He’s sick…my dad. They don’t think he’ll live long and…that’s one of the reasons my cousin was here.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. Part of me wants to forget that he even exists. He hurt my mom, he hurt me, but then another part of me is really scared that I’ll look back someday and wish I’d seen him. That I’d gotten some kind of closure.”

Devon squeezed her hands. “I’m here. I’ll go with you, if you need me to. You know that, right? Anything you need. I’m here. You understand that, yes?”

Ilana nodded, smiling. She didn’t know what she wanted to do yet, but hearing him offer to be at her side grounded her, gave her strength. “Come to dinner with me this Sunday. Come and meet my new family. My aunt asked me and I’d like you to go with me.”

“You’re sure?” A teasing lilt wove through Devon’s voice. “That’s kind of a big step.”

“You’re my future,” Ilana said. Her heart widened. This, Devon, what they were building together, was the future. This relationship. She lifted her face and pressed her lips to his.

Warmth cascaded through her body. A joy and effervescence and a lightness that she’d never before experienced.

“I love you,” Devon said.

“I love you too.” And in that moment—that instant—all of Ilana’s dreams had come true.

Devon gazed at the sparkling gems glittering on black velvet. Trays of diamond rings and loose stones laid out for his inspection. Millions of dollars’ worth of gems, all for him to select one. One perfect ring for his perfect woman.

“Mr. Travati, do you think she would prefer an emerald or a pillow cut?”

“I’m not certain.” Devon lifted a four-carat diamond in a platinum setting. He knew this was a Tiffany setting only because he’d been told. What would Ilana want? Should he simply wait and ask her? Was it wiser to have her help him pick out the engagement ring? Maybe he should wait and ask Amelia’s advice once she returned from New York later this week? No. Devon wanted to surprise Ilana. Of course she could have the stone reset if she wished, but he wanted to propose to her with a diamond ring. He selected another ring from the velvet.

“I like how little diamonds run along the sides of this one.”

“Oh, yes. Very beautiful. This is an antique setting.” Charles lifted the ring from Devon’s fingertips and turned the setting in the light so that the diamonds along the sides glinted and fired. “It’s platinum, of course. Mr. Travati, you’re not limited to what you see here. We have a designer in-house who can work with you to create an original setting.”

Devon liked the intricacy and sparkle of this ring. Much like Ilana, this ring was multifaceted and beautiful. He seemed to learn something new about Ilana each time he was with her. This ring appeared to be similar, glinting and changing as Charles turned it in the light. But the center diamond didn’t seem quite right.

“Would that setting work with a five-carat diamond?”

“The setting can accommodate a brilliant cut at five carats, or an emerald cut with modification.”

Devon gazed at the loose diamonds on the velvet before him. There had been one…The giant diamond that seemed on fire with its sparkle captured his gaze.

“This one?” Charles delicately lifted the giant gem from the velvet with long tweezers.

“Exactly.”

“An excellent stone, really. Fair trade, and one of the largest of this quality we currently have in-house. The clarity is incomparable.” He turned the diamond in the light. “As well as the fire.”

The brilliance, the clarity, the fire—all of the qualities in this stone reminded him of his Ilana. “This, one, yes, in that setting.”

“Discerning choices. We can have it ready for you as soon as you’d like.”

“I’m thinking end of month. I have a trip planned.” A smile crept over Devon’s face. He’d already made certain that the Amalfi coast house was free for two weeks at month’s end.

His phone rang and Devon pulled it from his pocket. Leo. “Excuse me.” Devon turned away from the counter and pressed the green button. “What’s up?” He couldn’t help but smile. While he loved all three of his brothers, Devon was especially close to Leo.

“Where the hell are you?”

Devon glanced around the posh private room, where exclusive clientele selected their jewelry while a security guard sporting a three-thousand dollar-suit and a discreet earpiece guarded the front door. How many people even knew this room existed? Not many.

“Just doing some shopping.” He wasn’t ready to tell his brothers about his plan to propose. He didn’t need an earful of opinions, and of course, all of them would have opinions. Just as they’d had opinions about his decision to stay in Los Angeles. No, after his proposal in Amalfi, he and Ilana would stop in New York on their way back to Los Angeles to meet his family and break the news.

“Shopping? Well, when the hell are you going to be home?”

“Why?

“Because I’m standing outside your front door waiting for your ass.”

“What the hell?” Devon laughed. “You’re here? In Los Angeles?

“Had some business and thought I’d stay with you, although I have to say, I get a much warmer reception at the Ritz.”

“If you’d let me know I would’ve been home. Asshole,” Devon said playfully. “I’m in Beverly Hills. It’ll take me about half an hour to get back to Venice.”

“Take your time. I’m going around the corner to the coffee shop and boutique I passed. Saw something in the window Gwen might like.”

“I’ll let you know when I’m close.” Devon grinned and slid his phone into his pocket. Excellent. He’d get to introduce Ilana to Leo, and he knew Leo would love her. Perfect. That would make introducing her to the rest of the Travati family easier after Devon’s proposal. Leo had a way of stabilizing Justin and Anthony. The second oldest, Leo was gregarious and charming. He’d been a horrible playboy until he met Gwen and settled down.

“Mr. Travati, is this to your liking?”

Devon turned back to the jeweler. He held the five-carat stone above the setting to approximate how the finished ring would look.

“Yes.” He nodded. Of course, no piece of jewelry could encapsulate his feelings for Ilana. But this fiery stone in this setting was a visual symbol of the deep and abiding love he felt for Ilana and his commitment to that love. The stone and the setting were breathtaking, like his bride-to-be. He hoped that she’d love the engagement ring he’d chosen for her and the life that he wanted to build for her as well.

*

“What’d I miss?” Amelia pulled the seat belt across her chest and smiled at Ilana.

“First tell me about New York.” Ilana pulled away from the curb outside of baggage claim and into the traffic surrounding LAX.

“New York was more than I’d hoped, and the Hamptons was spectacular. Amanda’s already gotten inquiries about my next collection, and she’s sold out the entire current collection.”

“Sold out? Are you kidding?”

Amelia’s smile broadened. “No. Completely sold out. Plus, her friend that owns the gallery in New York?”

Ilana nodded.

“Wants me to do a show there in November.”

“This November?”

Amelia nodded. “Yeah. I don’t know if I can make that deadline.”

“You have to try.”

“Right.” Amelia sighed. “That’s what Amanda thinks as well, but I don’t want to overcommit.”

“You have to do it. We’ll ask Sasha if she can stay on and work with the kids and I hired a college student from Santa Monica to help with the front desk. Doris.”

“Doris?”

“Doris. You’ll love her. She’s studying graphic design.”

“Then she’ll fit right in with all us wacky artists.” Amelia smiled. “It’s great if Sasha can help, but I still want to teach at least one of my classes. I can’t paint twenty-four hours a day, and I’ll need the break. The energy of the kids invigorates me.”

“You think?”

“I’d lose my mind if I painted without a break. You know how I work.”

Ilana nodded. She did know how Amelia worked. She’d witnessed her friend’s process now for three different collections. “Closer to autumn Sasha should take over whichever class you keep, though. You know, when you’re finishing a collection and—”

“—it becomes a crazy chaotic race to the finish?”

Ilana nodded. When Amelia got going and was in the zone with a new collection, especially the final few pieces, she became frenzied. She forgot to eat, she forgot to sleep, and sometimes she forgot to shower.

“I think Sasha filling in more as I get closer to the end is a good plan.”

“Is your mom coming back?”

“Two weeks. That gives me time to really get into what I’m doing. She’ll be here for the end, too. Make sure I don’t leave the house with a candle burning or forget to pay the light bill. Seriously, it’s like I’m a toddler when I get to the last two pieces.”

“What are you thinking about doing? Anything popping into your head?”

“I can’t”—Amelia glanced over at Ilana—“I can’t talk about it yet.”

“No problem.” Also part of Amelia’s process. Just as she was a crazed work machine near the completion of a collection, she was closed off and unable to communicate her artistic vision at the beginning.

“This is amazing news.” Ilana turned onto Washington. “I’m glad you went.”

“I was hoping for some movement in my career, but I didn’t expect all of this. Now tell me about you. What’d I miss?”

How to start? Ilana took a deep breath. Best to just dive in. “You know how my dad is in jail?”

“Mmhmm.” Amelia’s eyes widened. Ilana never spoke of her father, so this had to be the last topic of conversation she expected.

“I found out he has a brother.”

“What?

“With a wife.”

“Are you kidding me?”

Ilana shook her head. “Not kidding. And I have cousins. Four of them.”

“No.” Amelia’s mouth dropped open. “No. Way. You have…you have family?”

Ilana nodded. “And they’re here. Guess where they live?”

Amelia opened her hands wide and lifted her shoulders. “No idea. Where?”

“Malibu.”

Amelia’s hand flew to her mouth. Malibu to Venice in Los Angeles was like saying someone was your next-door neighbor.

“But how? How is this possible? Did your mom—”

“Not a word.” How could Ilana reconcile her memories of the mother who loved her with the mother who had known all along that Ilana’s uncle and aunt and cousins lived fifteen miles away and never told Ilana of their existence? Hadn’t even left a note when she knew she was dying?

Amelia pursed her lips and squinted. “Why do you think…why didn’t she tell you before—”

“I don’t know. I kind of understand why she didn’t say anything when I was little. I guess she and my uncle decided it was best to protect me from my dad, but once I got older? When I was in college? I would’ve thought she would’ve told me.”

Amelia nodded. “Unless there was a reason.”

“Maybe.” Ilana shrugged. She’d never know whether her mother had a legitimate reason or not. And now Ilana knew of her father’s family.

“That’s a lot. Anything else?” Amelia glanced at her phone and scrolled. “How are things with Devon?”

Heat crept into Ilana’s cheeks. She concentrated on the road as she tried to figure out how to say it. Could words really express what she felt for Devon? Ilana felt Amelia’s gaze on her as the pause grew.

“That good, eh? You’re turning red.”

“He’s amazing.”

“So things are getting serious?”

They were getting serious…they were serious. Ilana stopped the car at a red light and looked over at Amelia. “I’m completely in love with him.”

“Wow.” Amelia smiled. “I’ve never heard those words come out of your mouth quite like that before. Not even when you were serious with a guy.” Amelia put her hand on Ilana’s arm and squeezed. “I’m so so so happy for you. You deserve all this…you know that, right? You deserve to have a family, to be in love, to be happy. All of it.”

Amelia knew Ilana so well. Knew Ilana’s life and Ilana’s feelings better than anyone else. After all, they’d grown up like sisters, and Ilana didn’t let many people into her life. She understood Ilana’s secret fears.

“He knows about everything,” Ilana whispered. The light turned green and she turned toward the ocean.

“That’s saying a lot. You told him about everything? Including your dad?”

“Especially about my dad. Devon said he’d go with him to see him, if I wanted to go.”

“To
see
your dad?”