18. Raven
Being back in the city feels like a fever dream, but having Coronado as our first destination helps a lot to soothe whatever nerves I’ve taken with me from Sweet Haven. It’s a picturesque city filled with resorts and surrounded by blue waters, so peaceful and calming. But I still glance around from time to time, my body not quite ready to let go of the notion that nowhere is truly safe.
“Raven, we’re here.”
I break away from my reverie and smile at Christian, but the look on his face tells me he knows I’m nervous. He reaches out to squeeze my hand, but I’m grateful when he doesn’t mention anything and allows me to process my emotions in silence. I take a deep breath and step out of the car, then stare at the building in front of us.
“This is yours?”
“Yeah. Come on, let’s go in.”
It has a sleek exterior, with glass windows facing the ocean and white walls embossed with shapes of palm trees. The interior is just as sleek, with a large lobby and reception area, plus the most comfortable couches I’ve seen in a while. There are also plants—so many plants arranged in stylish ways—adding such a cozy feel that I’m immediately charmed.
But it’s the size of the whole building that’s truly impressive, extending far back where I see halls leading to a massive number of private rooms and offices.
“This is all yours?”
It’s a stupid question, especially when a female employee recognizes him and welcomes him with so much enthusiasm. When I’m introduced, her smile widens as she turns her attention to me.
“My gosh, you’re such a pretty thing! I’m Ingrid Lemmons, his Executive Assistant…well, one of his assistants. My husband is another one.”
Christian grins, obviously fond of her. “Don’t let the sweet fa?ade fool you. These two are geniuses and a brilliant tandem. Terrifying, too.”
She laughs, then winks at me. “Only to the competitors. If you need anything, you just tell me, okay?”
I shake her hand and smile back, already liking her sincerity. Ingrid and Christian talk a bit about the business, so I tune them out to read the brochures and admire the logo in the reception area. The woman there smiles at me, too, then engages with someone who walks in asking about their services.
I wander around some more, my attention caught when I notice the building next to this one. It also has a modern exterior design, but instead of the logo saying Benson Protection Agency, it says Benson Resort Hotel. My eyes widen and I keep on ogling it until a hand rests on my back.
“Do you want to see the offices?”
I turn to face Christian.
“You also own a hotel?”
He glances at where I was looking and nods. “Yeah. I just had that built last year.”
The casual way he talks about it clicks something in my brain. “You’re rich-rich, aren’t you? Not just regular rich?”
Christian’s eyes flare with amusement at my term, but he doesn’t deny it. He shrugs, though.
“I just invest a lot. I invested in other businesses with Nick while I was in the military and had the fortune that they were good investments. They all paid off and allowed me to open my agency, and the expansion allowed me to earn more money to open this hotel. It’s not as big as the other ones in the city, but it’s cozy and safe.”
Cozy and safe. That seems to be his motto as if his client’s comfort and protection come first. I can already tell that while the money’s good and he’s just getting richer, his goal isn’t that but to protect those who are in need.
It’s that fierce compassion he has coming from deep inside him, Christian’s core character, that can never be taken away.
“That’s awesome. Crazy, but awesome. I can’t believe I’m in the presence of someone with money like that.” I pause. “Unless this isn’t your only business…”
My guess is right, as a pink shade tinges his cheeks, but I find it sexy that he doesn’t brag about it. In a way, he has Nick’s spirit, as I wouldn’t have known Nick was wealthy, too, if I didn’t know he was a rock star and businessman. The man fit right in that small town and looked happy.
When I pry further, I’m shocked to learn that Christian’s investments involve popular establishments and that my suspicion was right: he’s a billionaire, not just a millionaire.
“Wow. Like I said…crazy.”
He shrugs again. “It can get crazy. Especially during the holidays.”
I roll my eyes, then brighten. “Does that mean we’re staying in your small but fancy hotel?”
This time, his eyes twinkle and he draws me closer. “Of course. One of the suites is already reserved. One side is a glass wall that faces the ocean. It’s very private, too, so we can see out but no one can see in.”
There’s no mistaking that husky, naughty drawl in his voice. My body responds, already tingling.
“Nice bed?”
The gleam in his gaze is practically unholy. “Very nice. Big. Can stand a lot of bouncing. There’s a very nice hot tub situation in the suite, too, with fancy jets. Provides a lot of bubbles.”
Desire ignites in my soul, and it takes everything in me not to insist that we head there now. Christian bites back a laugh, reading right through me, and he steps closer again until his lips can brush over mine. My breath hitches.
“Christian…”
“Tonight.” It’s a silky, deadly promise. “When the world’s asleep and all the lights are out, I’ll have you right in that room moaning my name. Repeatedly.”
Oh, my God.
I want that. I want this sexy, teasing Christian as much as I want the protective, serious one, and I’m aware that it’s becoming difficult not to get attached to all the facets of his personality. Thankfully, Ingrid calls his attention, telling him that some clients decided to visit the office when they learned of his arrival in Coronado.
“Shit. I’m sorry, Raven. I have to deal with this. These high-profile clients are my longstanding clients, and I haven’t seen them in person in a while…”
“It’s okay. Go ahead. Do your thing.”
I tiptoe to kiss his cheek. With a growl, he turns his head so that his mouth can capture my lips instead, and we get lost in that heated moment, the hunger simmering between us. Then I pull away and playfully push him back.
“Go. Before I change my mind and drag you to the hotel room.”
Christian winks and leaves. Ingrid steps right in, inviting me to a tour around the building. I happily accept, even more impressed when I see everything inside. Then I meet her husband, Leon, who’s around her age and as handsome as she is beautiful.
They’re friendly and organized, and I get where Christian’s comment came from when they seamlessly take turns with the tour. They are around Christian’s age and make the perfect pair, efficiently running the place while he’s mostly away.
“You should take her out shopping, Ingrid. Maybe when they get to lounge around the beach, and Christian sees how happy she is here, he’ll finally take a day or two off.”
His statement furrows my brows. “He doesn’t take days off?”
“Maybe in Sweet Haven, but I know he’s on assignment there. Or doing something to fulfill that Nashville expansion. But here, in this vacation city? Nope. It’s work all the time.”
“And if he works, we work.” Ingrid winks. “Not that we’re complaining. It’s a great job with great benefits, but more than that…”
“It’s got heart.”
Leon approves of my answer. “That’s right. My brother is in the military and his contract is ending soon. It makes me happy that we have good companies like this one where his skills can still be used.”
I never looked at it that way, only thinking about the client’s side, but this makes me like Christian’s outlook even more. I listen as they explain how the agency works without revealing sensitive information, then hang back when the high-profile clients arrive and they have to leave me, too.
An hour later, Christian apologizes that it’s taking longer than usual, but I wave him away and decide to check out the hotel. It’s a step out of my comfort zone to stroll out alone, and I’m nervous again when I’m near the pool and there are a lot of tourists. But I lock my knees in place and stay where I am, only leaving when I know I’m tired and not because I’m scared.
It’s a step in the right direction, and I feel proud of that small dose of triumph. When I return to the agency, Christian’s worried face greets me, but he studies my expression and relaxes. Then he takes my hand again.
“Thank you for waiting. The meetings are done now and it’s time for fun.”
“Do you mean some hotel room fun?”
He chuckles at my teasing, but to my surprise, he shakes his head. “Tempting, but let’s do that later. I have something to show you first.”
Intrigued, I don’t argue when we get into the car and he drives with the top down. I greedily inhale the sea breeze and admire the view, then notice that he skips the restaurants and other resorts to head to a less touristy area. When we stop in front of a smaller building, I read the sign and my brows shoot up.
“It’s one of Coronado’s publishing houses. It’s family-owned and has been here for years. They mostly publish magazines, but they also publish books.”
“Christian?”
Noting the question in my tone, he turns to me.
“You mentioned that you hadn’t been able to contact your old publisher since you left San Francisco and that you’re due to publish your book soon. I was checking with a colleague and found that your old publisher is good friends with this one, and they want to review your work. The husband-and-wife team who opened this has four kids and eight grandkids, so they do a lot of children’s books, too. It’s their preference.”
At my silence, he clears his throat.
“You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to, but I wanted to give you an option in case you want to. I know your old publisher was traditional and only did face-to-face interactions, but this one has online services. The family’s here at the moment in case you want to discuss it with them now, but they also have a small branch in San Diego in case you’re not ready to discuss it or decide yet…”
He sounds nervous by the time he’s done talking, as if dreading my reaction. I can only look him in the eye as I’m overcome with emotion.
“You know what?”
He swallows. “What?”
I kiss his cheek, then his lips. Then I hug him tightly.
“This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you.”
He relaxes and kisses me back.
“It’s not romantic. It’s just me trying to help someone out.”
My mind gets on board with that. But my heart?
It’s already trying not to burst out of my chest while I’m trying hard not to read too much into it.