A Venture of the Heart by Amelia Judd

Author:Amelia Judd [Judd, Amelia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mitchell Davis Press LLC
Published: 2017-01-24T06:00:00+00:00

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Less than an hour later, Pax dropped Sage at the resort with instructions to head up the trail to his house whenever she was ready for dinner. She took a quick shower, brushed on light makeup, and paired an airy sundress with strappy sandals. As she left her villa and climbed the nearly hidden path from the beach to Pax’s home, her heart pounded heavily in her chest. Maybe climbing the steep hill—rather than the excitement at spending the evening alone with Pax—had caused her rapid pulse?

“Yeah, right,” she muttered, rolling her eyes at her own delusions.

She reached the end of the trail, stepped out of the thick canopy of foliage, and gasped at the sight of his home perched on a bluff overlooking the ocean.

From where she stood, she saw a beautiful outdoor living area nestled beside a serene infinity pool built along the edge of the bluff. The candlelit outdoor area had a natural stone floor, dark wood furniture topped with oversized neutral-colored cushions, open walls, and a steep roof supported by large wooden columns. It was lovely and peaceful, the epitome of Balinese-style perfection.

Pax emerged from the interior and moved toward her. Jeans and a black T-shirt hugged his frame. A devilish smile lit his eyes.

“I wasn’t sure you would show. I’m grilling steaks and local vegetables, and I stole a loaf of Susanna’s bread from La Vida’s kitchen. If she finds out, she’ll be ticked. Ever since the last pastry chef left, she’s had to do all the baking, which isn’t her strong suit. She won’t even attempt to make the chocolate croissants we used to offer every morning. La Vida was known for them, although, I think I miss them more than the guests do.” Pax gave a wry smile. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Iced tea would be great.” Sage hopped onto one of the bamboo barstools and made a sweeping gesture with her hand. “Your home is amazing.”

“I designed and built as much of it myself as possible. Balinese style is starting to gain popularity in the area. I love how it invites nature inside by mixing indoor and outdoor spaces. But it incorporates a lot of hand-sculpted craftsmanship that’s beyond my scope of abilities.” Pax set a glass of tea in front of her and pulled steaks from the refrigerator. “So I hired local artisans to do the more intricate work.”

Sage smiled. “It’s good to know your limits.”

His hands stilled and his dark eyes found hers. “I’ve always known my limits. But I’ve never been good at living within them.”

“It seems you don’t have to. Your family here consists of an Australian surfer, a Southern horseman, and a Latina firecracker. You drink Californian Cabernets with your dinner and eat chocolate croissants at breakfast. Your home is a Polynesian masterpiece in a Latin American paradise.” She bit back a grin. “As far as I can tell, you have no limits.”

“That’s not true.” He paused. “I can’t have you.”

Shocked, Sage sucked in a breath.

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