Chapter 20
With Suzette tied up at the hotel the day after Christmas, Justin used the time to set a few things in motion.
So far, no photos of them had surfaced, but he knew that grace period wouldn’t last. After talking to her, Suzette agreed with him that they needed to get ahead of the narrative.
He spent the morning on calls with his publicist, shaping and reshaping an announcement until it felt right — succinct, revealing only what they were comfortable sharing.
He’d still need Suzette’s approval, of course, even though she had said to do what was needed.
He added a single photo taken after their call with Essie yesterday, the one where Suzette had laughed at something he’d said, bright-eyed and beautiful.
When he read through the final version, it felt … true.
And incredibly exciting.
He had never announced a relationship. Never been in one important enough to announce.
But Suzette … he wanted the world to know exactly who he’d fallen in love with. And putting out an official release made one thing unmistakably clear — he was serious about her. Serious in a way he’d never been with anyone.
A soft knock on the slider’s frame pulled him from the notes he’d been jotting down.
Then he saw her — and air simply stopped moving in his lungs. That crocheted halter top showing off her midriff, those faded jeans, those bare feet … and that smile. Hell, he’d never seen her wear anything other than a dress, but those jeans did something to him.
Admit it, old boy. Suzette could wear a paper sack, and you’d still be done for.
“Wanna play hooky with me?” she asked.
“If it ends with us naked and sweaty, I’m in.”
She snorted a laugh. “Tempting … but no. At least not yet. Right now, it’s a picnic and a dip to cool down afterward.”
At the mention of food, his stomach grumbled, reminding him it was a long time since their early breakfast. He tossed the pen aside. “Lead the way, sweet Suze.”
Instead of heading to the beach as he’d assumed, she led him down the balcony stairs to the small poolside patio, where a picnic basket sat waiting on the wooden table.
They shared a pleasant lunch — chilled rosé, a scrumptious chicken Caesar salad, and warm French bread — trading easy, inconsequential small talk by unspoken agreement, both deliberately skirting the proverbial elephant in the room.
Then Miem’s unmistakable, strident voice cut through the quiet, followed by the rumble of Anders arguing back.
“I told Anders not to disturb us,” Suzette muttered, setting her wineglass down. “And what is Miem even doing here? She was supposed to be out with Piet on the catamaran.”
Justin pushed his chair back. “Wait here. Let me find out.”
On the other side of the gate, Miem was waving her cellphone as if it were on fire. “They have to see this. Now.”
“Miem,” Justin said as he approached. “What is it?”
But he already knew. Time was up.
“My friend sent this to me,” she snapped. “She recognized Suzette.”
Justin gave Anders a nod, and the man unlocked the gate. Miem charged through immediately.
“Where’s Suzette?”
“Here.” Suzette appeared at his side, slipping her arm through his and leaning into him.
“You two are all over social media,” Miem accused.
Suzette’s fingers dug into his skin.
“How bad is it?” he asked.
Miem shot him a murderous stare. “Bad enough for me to abandon Piet to come here.”
Justin waved Miem forward. “Why don’t we go sit and see what you have.”
The words were barely out of his mouth when his cellphone rang from inside where he’d left it.
He ignored it. One fire at a time.
“Let me see,” he said, extending his hand.
Miem unlocked her phone and thrust it toward him. “Fix it, mister movie man.”
The headlines leapt off the small screen.
IS JK KENZIE OFF THE MARKET?
Who is the mystery blonde?
Justin scanned the images — and swore under his breath.
They weren’t just from the supermarket.
Suzette let out a sigh. “That bad?”
He held up a finger. “One minute.”
He walked back to the front gate and beckoned Anders closer. “Please fetch my cellphone. It’s on the dining table. And the pen and pad.”
Justin returned to the women.
“Miem said there are pictures from yesterday,” Suzette said quietly.
“Yes.” He scrolled, found them, and handed her the phone.
Two images from the patio last night — Suzette curled on his lap, his hands under the hem of her dress, their mouths fused in a kiss.
They hadn’t done anything beyond that kiss, but the visuals were highly suggestive.
“Wow.” A light blush rose in her cheeks as she read the accompanying caption: “JK Kenzie caught enjoying his ‘Christmas gift’ in makeout session.”
Heart thumping, he watched her scroll.
“Is JK Kenzie playing house? Cozy supermarket moment sparks rumors,” she read aloud, her voice mild.
But he heard the strain underneath.
A sharp pang pierced Justin’s chest.
This is where she pulls away. Where she decides I’m not worth the scrutiny.
She handed the cellphone back to Miem — who was inexplicably quiet —and gave him a resigned look. “Now what?”
“We have several options.”
The distant ring of his cellphone grew louder, and Justin turned to see Anders approaching. The man handed over the items with a sympathetic look before retreating.
Justin glanced at the caller ID, then looked to Suzette. “It’s Emily. My publicist,” he clarified when Suzette frowned. “Let me take this call, then we’ll talk.”
She nodded, fingers rubbing at the crease between her brows.
He made a split-second decision and answered. “Emily,” he said, already switching to speaker, “I’m putting you on speaker. With me are Suzette and Miem, her longtime friend. You can speak freely. We’ve seen the images.”
“I’m sorry we’re meeting under these circumstances, Suzette. And JK—what were you thinking, kissing a woman like that in public? You know better.”
Miem snorted.
“It was a good kiss,” Suzette said wryly.
“Good enough to be plastered across tabloids worldwide?” Emily countered.
Suzette leaned back in her chair, folded her arms, and lifted a brow — pinning him with a look he couldn’t quite decipher. “How many other times has Justin been photographed kissing a woman? Besides in his movies.”
A beat of silence. “Like that? Never.” Then Emily gave a bark of a laugh. “All right. I get your point.”
*
Suzette marveled at how all of this would’ve sent her running mere days ago. But seeing the panic in Justin’s eyes had steadied her. He loved her — truly loved her — and there was no way she was letting him go.
“So long as the rest of his fans get the point, I’m good with it.” She shrugged lightly. “And Emily … heads up … it won’t be the last time we’re caught kissing.”
The smile that bloomed on Justin’s face, wide and unguarded, unlike anything he’d ever given on-screen, was worth every bit of discomfort from a few measly photos and sensational headlines.
Whatever the tabloids blasted across the world didn’t matter.
What mattered was the man in front of her, not the fame, not the wealth, just the man.
He moved, stalking around the table, hauling her out of the chair and into his arms before crushing his mouth to hers.
And that kiss proclaimed everything. His love, his promise.
His forever.
Miem’s cackle broke them apart. Breathless, weak-kneed, Suzette leaned back and stared into Justin’s face, trying to steady the world tilting beneath her.
“Now that is front-page material!” Miem crowed.
Suzette turned to see her friend leaning toward the phone on the table, her own held aloft like a weapon. “Emily, vrou, give me your number! You have to see these pictures I just took!”
A startled laugh burst through the speaker.
Justin groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Miem, please tell me you’re joking.”
“Joking?” Miem scoffed. “Mister movie man, these are gold.”
Suzette, torn between mortification and laughter, scolded, “Miem, you cannot send Emily those pictures.”
“Of course I won’t,” Miem replied, grinning. “But you must admit, it was a very good kiss.”
“My lips are sealed.”
Miem laughed like a maniac. “With Justin’s, ja.”
“Miem!” both Justin and Suzette exclaimed at once.
“Okay, lovebirds,” Miem said, rising with a grunt. “You’ve got some damage control ahead of you. I’ve got a sunset date with my Piet, and after watching you two, I’m craving some kisses of my own.” She blew Suzette a kiss and wagged a finger at Justin. “Look after my friend.”
Emily’s voice floated from the speaker, still tinged with amusement. “All right, lovebirds, as entertaining as that was … can we circle back? Justin, have you decided if the release is ready to go?”
Suzette frowned, stepping out of his arms. “Release?”
Justin nodded, catching her hand before she could move farther away. “Give us five minutes to discuss it, Em, and I’ll call you back.”
“No getting sidetracked with headline-worthy kisses,” Emily warned.
“No promises,” Justin teased, tugging Suzette back into his arms.
And then he did exactly what he’d been warned not to do.
“You’re a very, very naughty man,” Suzette whispered when he finally let her go.
“With my leading lady … always.”
*
Operation: Unexpected Romance — JK Kenzie and Suzette Bosch Confirm Relationship
International action star JK Kenzie confirms he is in a relationship with Suzette Bosch, a respected hotel manager based in South Africa.
The pair met earlier this year while serving as best man and matron of honor at a family wedding, where an unexpected friendship quickly grew into something more.
“Sometimes the best love stories start in the most unexpected ways,” Kenzie said in a statement.
The couple are grateful for the warm wishes and ask for privacy as they continue to navigate this new chapter together.
The release was accompanied by photos that took the internet by storm — the sneaky ones Miem had snapped.
*
Scrolling through the comments on the official JK Kenzie feed the next day, Suzette felt a calm she never would have believed possible. She’d never imagined, not even in her wildest dreams, that this could be her life.
OMG they look so happy together!
Rooting for SuZie! Love seeing JK find real happiness.
Best Christmas surprise ever — JK is in LOVE!
I’m officially obsessed — Kenzette forever!!
She snorted. “Kenzette? Oh, my word. That’s so … ‘Barbie and Ken.’”
“I prefer SuZie,” he said, brushing a hand over her bare shoulder and down her arm. “I like the idea of my name being part of yours.”
He slid the phone from her fingers and placed it on the bedside table. Then, with a slow, deliberate smile that curled heat through her, he murmured, “But right now, my sweet Suze … I want my body to be part of yours.”
She offered no protest when he tugged the sheet from her, the cool morning breeze drifting across her bare skin. His hands followed a moment later, warm, certain, reverent. As he lowered his mouth to hers, everything faded to this single moment of just the two of them.
Suzette let her eyes close, sinking into the warmth of him, into the safety she felt wrapped in his arms. A few days ago, the idea of headlines, photos, and public scrutiny would have terrified her.
But not now.
Not with him.
Justin didn’t just fit into her life. He had opened a space inside her she hadn’t known she’d been saving. A space for laughter, for hope, for the kind of love that didn’t ask her to be anything more or less than exactly who she was.
His fingers laced with hers, anchoring them as he slipped into her, uniting them in the most intimate way possible.
She smiled, a slow curve of certainty blooming in her chest.
This.
This moment.
This man.
This life she’d never dared to dream for herself.
It was hers.
Completely, irrevocably, wonderfully hers.
And as Justin whispered her name like a promise, Suzette knew — with a clarity that felt woven into her bones — that whatever tomorrow brought, they would face it together.
Her heart whispered back the truth she finally believed.
Forever starts now.