32. Katherine
32
KATHERINE
So this is love.
A picnic in the park on a warm spring day in Paris. Flowers all around, perfuming the air. Children laughing in the distance. Dogs barking.
Alexander Hunt at my side.
No one pays us any undue attention, which might have something to do with the half a dozen men he has watching us everywhere we go. Not having paparazzi on our heels has been heavenly. We’re just an ordinary couple out to enjoy all Paris has to offer.
Bliss runs through me like warm honey. He’s stretched out on the picnic blanket next to me, propped up on one arm as we watch the world go on around us. I cuddle closer, a smile curving my lips, every cell in my body happy and sated.
“I’ve never felt like this before,” I whisper, almost more to myself.
He nuzzles my temple. “Like what?”
I swear, he’s not the same man that left New York a handful of days ago. He’s almost... relaxed.
“Like I’m glowing from the inside out. Like nothing bad can touch me.” I duck my face against his chest, feeling shy at the admission.
Alex curls a finger under my chin and lifts it until I meet his gaze. There are so many unspoken words in his dark eyes. Questions. Affirmations.
“I’d love to tell you nothing bad will ever touch you again, Beauty.” He tucks my hair behind my ear. I swear I nearly swoon. “But I can promise you I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe and happy.”
Well, that did it.
I melt into him, lifting my lips to his. If only my monthly frenemy hadn’t shown up yesterday, I’d haul him back to the hotel and ravish him. Heck, I might not make it that far.
“You say the best things,” I murmur.
He smiles softly. “Surely I can do better than that.”
A giggle bubbles up inside me. “Are you challenging yourself, Mr. Hunt?”
“Maybe.”
A bright light snags my attention, and I look away from him, trying to find the source. On the other side of the park, a mother is wrangling her kids for a photo. They’re all dressed in cute spring outfits, and though the mom looks harried, they’re all laughing.
Without prompting, I sense Alex turn his attention their way.
Mom gets a few photos before the kids dissolve into a pile of laughter. She just smiles and joins them.
I don’t want to wish my life away, but I crave that kind of freedom. To be yourself and enjoy the company of those around you without a thought of how it’d look to investors.
That family lives life out loud and it’s beautiful and messy and fun.
“Take a picture with me,” I say, patting the pockets of my dress for my phone.
“Let me. My arms are longer.” He takes the phone, flips the camera around, and lines us up on the screen.
I lean into him, letting all the joy show on my face. We might be surrounded by his bodyguards—not wearing all black for a change so they don’t attract attention—but today’s been perfect. A taste of what life could be like away from my mother and the company and the pressures of the board. Alex’s only expectation of me is that I enjoy myself, and I couldn’t ask for more.
I press a kiss against his cheek as he snaps a few more photos.
“Should we send it to the guys?” I ask, glancing through the shots. I love the one of me kissing him. He looks so smug in the best possible way.
It makes me want to kiss him all over again. Like every chance I get. Sneaking them in the elevator, in the backseat of the car, while we’re waiting to be seated at the restaurant. And he never shies away. He’s never grumbled about too much PDA or told me I should think about the optics.
I took so many pictures in the gardens yesterday my phone was overheating. At which point, Alex had handed me his and told me to knock myself out. I was already walking around like a life-size heart-eye emoji, but he just sealed the deal with his smooth moves and thoughtfulness.
“If you want. But something tells me they’d enjoy it more if you were solo.” His gaze sweeps the length of my body, which immediately flushes. “And less dressed.”
“Mmm... you might be surprised.”
After peppering another kiss against his chin, I sit up and shoot off a text to Kingston and Gabe. I miss them. It feels like no matter what I’m doing or where I am, there’s a hole where they should be. I don’t know how they became so essential so quickly, but I won’t deny it.
Katherine: still wish you were here. But it looks like you two are having fun.
I glance at Gabe’s pic of King, who’s stretched out in a truly massive bed, a come-hither smirk on his lips. That spot next to him looks so inviting. I want to stretch out next to him, soak in the sunshine of his personality, and then strip him naked and do all the things I’ve been dreaming about for longer than is decent.
Katherine: save me a spot on that bed heart eyes emoji
Giggling to myself, I send our selfie to LaShonda. As I’m pondering what to write, a call notification pops up from my boss. For a single heartbeat, I consider answering it. But then I remember that it’s a weekend. I’m on “vacation,” and I have no desire to help them out.
After sending his call to voicemail, I get back to more important people.
Katherine: not coming home. Send my things. zany face emoji
A strong breeze whips my hair around and I grab it, holding it down. Then I put my phone away, giving Alex my undivided attention.
“Sorry. Just wanted to check in.”
“I don’t mind.”
Indeed, there’s not a trace of annoyance on his handsome face. Instead, there’s endless patience, soft crinkles around his eyes and a soft smile that makes me need to touch him. Leaning back into him, I press a hand over his heart.
“I like that you keep up with your friends,” he adds.
“I’m glad. But this is our date. You deserve all my attention.”
He covers my hand with his, pressing it harder to his chest. “Just because we’re on a date doesn’t mean that the rest of your relationships stop.”
“It feels like they do. In a good way. When I’m with you, everything else fades into the background. It’s nice.”
“Same, Beauty. Which is why I need somebody watching our back at all times. You’re the best distraction.”
“You really do say the best things. Thank you for an amazing trip.”
“My pleasure.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “We should come back next year. A sort of first date anniversary.”
He talks like he’s in this for the long haul. Next month. Next year. All the years.
But I can’t hold him to that, right? And I shouldn’t let my hopes soar after a week of amazing sex and a romantic trip to Paris, ‘I love yous’ said or not. I’ve still got to figure out a way to permanently untangle myself from my mother’s web. There’s the inheritance situation, which reminds me that I need to check in with my attorney about that tomorrow.
Alex squeezes my fingers. “Why’d you tense up?”
I open my mouth to tell him I felt a raindrop. But Gabe’s words whisper through my mind. No lies between us.
That goes for Alex and Kingston, too.
As soon as I hear back about the inheritance and whether or not I do, in fact, have to get married, I’m telling them. Even if there’s a way around the stipulation and I don’t have to wed, it’ll put a target on our back. Even bigger than the one we’re already wearing.
So I sit up and turn toward him. My stomach sloshes uneasily, and I lick my lips as I prepare to tell him where my mind really went.