“Well,” she said, putting her hands on her hips, “I can see where this is going. It’s as clear as day. You two are in love.” She directed a pointed look at Rico. “So what are you waiting for? When are you going to pop the question?”
Asia’s mouth fell open. If the earth could have swallowed her whole right at that moment she would have gladly jumped in. How embarrassing. To have your friend demand a marriage proposal on your behalf? Was there anything more pathetic? And what if he thought she was the one who’d put Shelley up to it?
But that wasn’t the worst part. No, the absolute worst part was the look on Rico’s face. The only word Asia could think of was ‘stricken’. The man’s face flushed and he looked so guilty that Asia knew without a doubt that marriage to her was the last thing in the world he would ever want.
He wanted her. She had no doubt about that. But he did not want her for his wife.
CHAPTER TEN
That night Rico lay in bed, the king-sized bed that now seemed much too big for him alone, and he could not sleep. He kept reliving that question Shelley had asked and he still could not believe it.
Had he been so obvious? Was it that easy to read that he was in love? When Shelley had blurted out the question he’d been taken aback by her bluntness but he’d been even more surprised by her perceptiveness. He, who had always prided himself on being a master of his emotions, had been found out.
And then he thought of Asia, little Mademoiselle Miller, the first woman to try her hand at dominating him. And she’d done it in her own special way. There was no shouting match, no conflict, but she’d taken control of his mind, his heart, and his life. And, to his surprise, he welcomed it.
And that was how he knew. He had to talk to Asia. He looked at the clock on the wall. Eleven-fourteen. Too late to call. It would have to wait till morning.
******
Asia sat clenching and unclenching her fists as she waited for Rico's car to arrive. This was it. The moment she'd been dreading but had expected all along. Rico had called her early that morning to tell her he needed to see her. She'd suggested they meet next week but he'd said it couldn't wait. He had to see her this evening.
And this was all taking place the day after Shelley had dropped her bombshell. He'd probably decided it was best to end it before things got out of hand.
So here she was, waiting for the axe to fall. But she had a plan. She wasn't going to just sit and wait for him to ditch her. She'd known this love affair wasn't going to last and she would tell him so. That way, she wouldn't have to go through the torture of watching him try to wheedle himself out of the situation.
Resolved in her plan, when the car pulled up at her house she was ready.
Rico looked serious this evening. He'd given her a brief hello and as soon as she got in they set off. She was surprised when he pulled off the main road and drove to a deserted corner of the sea shore. Then he turned to her.
"Let's go for a walk," he said. "We need to talk."
They walked along the sand, not speaking, until they came to a sand bank on top of which a thick mat of grass had grown. That was where he invited her to sit and then he sat beside her.
"There's something I should have said to you some time ago," he began as he stared out at the ocean, "but I've been too stubborn to share my true feelings."
Asia didn't want to hear any more. "It's okay, Rico. I know. You don't have to say another word."
He looked at her and frowned. "You do?"
Asia felt a dark and heavy fog rising up to surround her heart. She was hurting, but she could not let him know. She drew in a shaking breath then she nodded. "Yes, and I feel the same way. We've had a great time but I think it's best if we end this now."
"What? Why?" Rico looked at her with eyes full of disbelief. "But I was just about to tell you about my plan."
Why did the man insist on rubbing it in? "You don't need to dump me, Rico," she said, exasperated by his persistence. "I'm going to walk away. You have nothing to worry about."
"But you can't. I was just about to tell you. I'm going to do laser surgery. On my eyes."
Now it was Asia's turn to look at him in disbelief. "You drag me all the way out here to tell me you're going to do laser surgery on your eyes?" She gave a hiss of frustration. "You could have told me that on the phone."
Rico reached out and took her hand in his. "No, Asia, I couldn't. I wanted to see your face when I told you that you were the one who taught me to take risks. You taught me that I don't have to be on the defensive, and I don't have to be a bully to be a man."
"And what does that have to do with eye surgery?" She tried pulling her hand away but he would not let go.
Rico gave her a solemn look. He drew in a deep breath then let it out in a sigh. "I've never been one to take chances, Asia. I've always been in control. But you taught me..." he frowned, seeming to be struggling to find the right words, "...to give up some of that control and to trust."
He lifted her hand to his lips. Then he kissed it. "I've never trusted anyone with my heart. Until now." He looked away then and stared out at the waves as they rolled in to the shore. "My decision to trust the surgeons is symbolic of an even greater decision I've made." He turned his gaze back to her and this time he was smiling, his look earnest and loving. "Asia, I want to trust my heart to one woman in this world. That woman..." he raised his hand to caress her cheek, "...is you. Asia, my little mademoiselle, will you be my wife?"
Asia's heart lurched in her chest. The air suddenly grew thin and she felt like she could not breathe. She gasped for air and then she burst into tears.
"Don't," she cried. "Please don't. You're torturing me."
"Ma cherie, what is the matter?" As her body shook with heavy sobs Rico gathered her into his arms. "Please don't cry."
"Don't play these games with me, Rico," she cried. "It hurts."
"This is not a game, mon amour. Not a game. This is for real. I love you."