Chapter 13, Better Once Than Never (By the Book #2)

Chapter 13

Act II, Scene V: Padua Heights, Finsbury Park

Kalina

I spent the entire day cleaning.

All I thought about was Titan.

His hands.

His mouth.

The way he’d looked at me as I’d unravelled at his touch. And the way it wasn’t enough for me.

I wanted more.

But there was no way I was going to tell him.

‘Lina, are you okay?’ Scarlet asked as she walked out of her bedroom.

I shook my head and looked up at her. ‘Hmm?’

‘You’ve been scrubbing the same mug for ages’

I looked down at the sparkling piece in my hand. ‘Oh.’

‘Everything alright?’

‘Yeah. Perfect. Fine.’ My voice went up an octave.

‘Okay…I have an afternoon class. I’ll see you later?’

I nodded.

Once the front door shut, I exhaled.

It wasn’t like she could read my mind.

Not like her brother.

I set the crockery on the rack and was about to sink into the soft couch when my phone rang.

It was the hotel operation team’s number.

‘Hello?’

‘Lina, so sorry to disturb you. I know it’s your day off, but the bride only wants to deal with you. She’s been holed up in the suite upstairs,’ the operations manager said, hurriedly.

‘Slow down. I’ll be there in thirty-five minutes.’ I sighed internally.

‘Thank you. I owe you one.’ The desperation in his voice was clear.

I set the cup down, a little sad I couldn’t spend the rest of the day watching cheesy rom-coms, and walked to my room where I pulled my grey shift dress off the hanger.

Within ten minutes I was dressed and out the door.

‘If I’d known you were going to be here, I would’ve picked you up.’

I almost walked into the mirrored lift doors at the sound of Titan’s voice in the lobby of Hotel Verona.

He was wearing all black again, and this time, it sent a warm feeling down my throat all the way to my lower belly. The sleeves of his jumper were pushed up his arms, revealing the muscles in his forearms.

Arms that were wrapped around me not even twenty-four hours ago.

‘I wasn’t meant to be here,’ I said, trying to keep my face as neutral as possible.

Even after all these months, it was still weird to see him here.

He leaned forward to push the lift button.

‘Oh yeah, that’s how lifts work.’

His lips twitched as he held back a grin.

When the lift arrived, he held his arm out to keep the door ajar and tipped his head to the side. ‘After you.’

We were alone.

For twelve floors.

‘How are you?’

‘That’s the question you’re asking me?’ My gaze met his reflection in the mirrored interior.

‘I want to know.’ He quirked an eyebrow.

My real answer made my cheeks flush—which I was sure he’d noticed—and I had no other response because it would’ve been a lie.

‘So…good?’ he teased.

I inhaled deeply. I had no idea how to be around him right now.

‘You have my laptop,’ I said instead.

‘I also have your vibrator.’

‘Oh my God!’

He smirked.

I couldn’t look at him anymore.

‘I left your laptop in your office, but I think I’ll hold onto your little toy for now.’

He took a step closer and placed his hand on my hip.

‘What are you doing? I’m at work, Titan.’ I protested, but it sent tingles down my spine.

‘Kalina, I didn’t know you were into that.’ His laugh shook his chest. ‘Relax, your zip is only halfway up.’

‘Oh.’ I reached behind my back and his hand brushed mine.

‘All done,’ he whispered.

‘Thank you.’ My tone matched his.

He cleared his throat and took a step back. ‘I’m shocked you’d think I’d have my way with you in the lift outside your office.’

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean—.’

‘With only three floors left? Not nearly enough time.’

I opened then closed my mouth.

He smirked. ‘I enjoy watching you squirm.’

‘That’s all you’re getting right now.’

‘Really? What a pity.’ He tutted.

I groaned and he let out a laugh.

When the doors opened to the ballroom floor, we were hit with a flurry of staff, chattering guests, and the overpowering scent of fresh lilies.

My phone vibrated wildly in my hand causing me to drop it, but Titan caught it before it hit the floor.

‘Thank you.’

‘Who is so desperate to see you? Not that I can blame them.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘Probably the ops manager.’

Lina, are you here?

16:35

The Maid of Honour said she needs you.

16:35

Bridal Suite. Bring a sewing kit.

16:35

I looked up at him, and he was trying not to smile. ‘I have to go.’

‘Do what you do best,’ He winked at me.

Trying not to cause too much of a panic, I hurriedly made my way to the service lifts, I knew they’d be faster, then sprinted down the passage to the suite. I was breathless when I arrived outside the room but gathered myself enough to knock on the door.

It was yanked open and I was greeted by chaos.

The bride’s mother screamed profanities into her phone, two of the bridesmaids whispered frantically, and the Maid of Honour comforted the bride in hushed tones. The bride sniffed into what appeared to have once been a white handkerchief, now stained with black and pink streaks.

‘Oh, thank God.’ The Maid of Honour ushered me inside and used a somewhat calm but erratic tone to tell me what had happened.

The bride turned around to show me the extent of the rip in the back seam of her wedding dress.

‘Stella, I need you to breathe. Everything is going to be fine. Believe it or not, this is not the first time something like this has happened.’ I kept my voice soft and soothing.

Stella, the bride, mumbled something incoherent in response.

I crouched down, assessed the damage and was relieved to find it wasn’t bad.

‘It looks like the seam ripped and not the actual silk. Everything is going to work out, I promise. You’ll be walking downstairs and saying “I do” in less than thirty minutes.’

‘Really?’ Stella asked between hiccupped sobs.

‘Really. Now the makeup artist is going to touch up your face while I stitch your dress, and your Maid of Honour’—I looked up at the woman beside us—‘is going to get you one shot from the mini bar.’

‘I thought you said no drinking before the ceremony?’ Stella said, looking at my reflection in the full-length mirror in front of her.

‘Sometimes we have to bend the rules a little,’ I said with a small smile. Something I was learning to do myself.

Once everyone was given their respective duties, I got to work, ensuring the fabric would stay together until the end of the night and hopefully even further.

‘There. All done. Your husband is going to need a pair of shears to get this off.’

The bridal party giggled, and Stella, now touched up, breathed a sigh of relief.

‘Where did you learn to do that?’ she asked, then spun around in front of the mirror to inspect the dress. Not a stitch in sight and no one outside of this room would ever know what’d happened.

‘My grandmother is the best dressmaker I’ve ever known. I’ve grown up around these kinds of things.’

‘Thank you so much,’ she said, giving my hand a squeeze before I left the room.

I took rapid breaths in the hallway before I made my way downstairs. The panic was over.

I found the operations manager outside the ceremony venue. ‘I’m so sorry, Lina. She was threatening everyone, and I wouldn’t have called unless it was an emergency.’

‘It’s okay. Breathe. I wasn’t doing anything tonight.’ It sounded a lot sadder out loud than it had in my head.

‘Thank you.’ He pulled me into a hug, which I reciprocated because hugging him was comforting.

‘Thanks again. Go home now. I owe you another day off.’

‘I’m going to hold you to it.’

We parted ways, but I didn’t leave just yet.

I found my usual spot in the back of the ceremony venue, where I could see everything but not be seen. Blending in and becoming a little invisible—the way I liked it.

It always surprised me that this kind of work stressed the living hell out of people, but soothed me. The structure and organisation behind every last detail was absolutely satisfying.

Once the ceremony started, I gave myself ten minutes to listen to the vows and to see that look. The one the couple shared when they were announced officially married. That look alone was probably what made me choose this every day. I loved that I got to witness love in such an unadulterated form.

Save for the groom’s grandfather, who got lost on his way to the venue and ended up at a different wedding, the reception started off without a hitch.

I finally left and walked down to the foyer and out the doors, breathing in the cool night air.

My ponytail pulled at my scalp and I released it, easing the tension and letting my hair tumble down my back.

I stuffed the hair tie into the pocket of my coat and dug my hands inside for warmth.

‘There you are,’ Titan said. He walked towards me with the stride of someone who was entirely at ease with themselves.

‘Are you tracking me?’

‘What?’ he asked, letting out a chuckle.

‘You’re always popping up.’

He grinned. ‘Stealthy, you say?’

‘You make me tired,’ I replied.

‘You haven’t recovered from last night?’

My eyes widened at his bold question.

‘It’s only the two of us out here. You can be honest.’

I considered lying, but I had no reason to. ‘It was the best sleep I’ve had in ages.’

‘Good.’

I peeked at his black watch.

‘I should probably head back home or I’ll be up all night.’

‘I don’t see a problem there.’ He smiled cheekily. It was the same smile I’d seen him flash at countless women.

It was working on me now.

No. Focus.

‘I should go. Get home, drink some chamomile, and sleep. That sort of thing,’ I rambled.

His focused stare made me nervous. ‘Chamomile? Doesn’t sound like a good time.’

‘You should try it, it’s very soothing.’ My voice went up at least two octaves.

He laughed lightly. ‘Sure, Kalina. I’ll definitely do that next time I'm up, frustrated, and can’t sleep.’

My name dragged out on his lips and my stomach dipped.

‘Do you know how to be serious?’

‘You don’t take me seriously.’ His gaze lingered on my lips. ‘Are you cold?’

‘No. A little but it’s okay—’

He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around me, and enveloped me in his warmth. ‘I have about five minutes before I need to check on the team upstairs.’

I didn’t object; he smelled so good. Like an early morning hike through a forest.

‘You’re the perfect height for a chin rest.’

‘I tell Savi the same thing.’

His laughter sent vibrations through my body. ‘Your colleague is standing in the lobby. Is this weird?’

‘We keep our private lives pretty private but…’ I pulled away from his embrace. ‘I really should go.’

‘Okay. Sleep well, dimples.’ He flicked his finger over my cheek as he said it.

I didn’t suppress my smile this time. ‘Night Titan.’

We parted ways and I welcomed the comfort of home; slipping out of the dress and into an oversized T-shirt and leggings.

I considered a snack and some calming tea, which reminded me about my conversation with Titan. I second-guessed myself as I held the box of tea in hand. I wasn’t the witty and flirty one, that was all him.

‘Fuck it.’ I snapped a photo of the box and sent it to him with the caption, “ don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. ”

Snacks won in the end, and I dove under my comforter with my biscuits and book. I’d left the custom-made bookmark from Savi—headless shots of half-naked men that never failed to amuse me—where’d I’d left off. The quote along the bottom said, “The only thing that matters when you’re reading.”

In this particular historical romance, the duke and the main character were arguing in a storm and about to confess their feelings for one another. Things were about to get really steamy in the barn when my phone lit up beside me.

‘Better not be work,’ I said as I unlocked it. I nearly dropped my phone on my face when Titan’s message flashed across my screen. I’d thought he’d be too busy to respond while I was still awake.

I’ll add it to my shopping list…If you try my methods

21:35

And what is that?

21:36

Some of last night's activities, with or without me

21:36

Now I really dropped my phone, nearly giving myself a concussion. The duke would have to wait. But then, I second-guessed myself. I could go with my usual reaction to his antics, by ignoring him, or…I could play into it.

The latter ended up winning.

What makes you think I don't?