27. Lex
“Lex, how do you feel about bikes?”
I look up at Linc as he walks across the terrace toward me. “Does spin class count?”
He squints and cocks his head. “Not exactly?”
Pausing to kiss the top of my head, he drops into the chair next to mine with a wide grin. Early morning light fills Paris around us, a warm glow suffusing the lush space outside our suite. It’s stunning. How is this the first time I’ve seen more of France than my hotel or a conference room?
“I like bikes of all kinds.” I take his hand and squeeze it. “Thank you for this, by the way. I can’t believe you conspired with Miles to clear a full day.”
I can’t remember the last time I truly took a day off. Linc confiscated my phone earlier, promising to give it to me if something urgent comes through, but otherwise adamant about it being off limits.
“Thank Shane for that bit.” Linc shudders. “Your assistant is terrifying.”
I laugh, not denying it. “So, bikes?”
He gestures grandly toward the city. “There’s so much to see and not much time to see it.”
Shane appears in the doorway and makes his way toward us leisurely, two cups and saucers in hand. He offers one to me with a gentle smile.
“Where’s mine?” Linc blinks big puppy eyes up at his friend.
“Inside.”
Pouting, Linc stands and brushes by him. “Rude.”
Shane drags a chair closer to mine with an indulgent grin. “Sleep okay?”
He wraps an arm around my shoulders, and I melt into him. He opted for a fitted navy henley today, the top two buttons open and showing a flash of his ink, and dark jeans. I’m tempted to throw Linc’s plans out the window and drag them both to my bedroom.
“Yeah.” I nuzzle my face into his neck, breathing him in. “It’s lonely in there, though.”
He snorts. “Your choice, Lex. Linc and I are more than happy to keep you company.”
Sighing, I take a sip of coffee. While I recognize boundaries are a good thing, it’s getting harder to abide by my ‘no strings’ rule. And staying overnight with one of them feels like a massive fucking string, let alone both.
“Pretty sure Declan would’ve lost it if we’d all piled into a room together last night,” I murmur.
Surprisingly, the flight to Europe was lovely. After Declan scraped his jaw off the tarmac and boarded Athena’s jet, we all fell into easy conversation. We took a few hours to go over the presentation plans, refining each of the guys’ roles and giving Declan a chance to rehearse until he recited it flawlessly with an easy smile.
Once the business was done, Linc leaned over the table eagerly, a sparkle in his caramel eyes.
“We’re going on a date tomorrow,” Linc announced. “All day.”
My eyebrows rose. “What?”
“Dec did a fellowship in Paris during his MBA, so he hooked us up.”
“Did you really?” I turned to the man in question.
He shrugged. “Got to know the city pretty well. Still have some friends there.” His emerald eyes bored into mine. “You deserve to experience the city properly, at least once.”
My breath had stuttered at the sincerity in Declan’s gaze as he delivered that weighty line. We spent the rest of the flight talking about Paris. I shared more about the clients I’d traveled for and, when he wasn’t regaling us with memories of the city, Declan listened intently. He asked questions about the people I’d worked with and where they were now. It was the most we’d ever conversed without a biting remark, and something warm and fragile bloomed in my chest.
As we were beginning our descent, talk turned to logistics. Miles had shared the name of the hotel on our itinerary weeks before, but I’d kept the details to myself. I did it partly for the surprise, but mostly because I was a bit embarrassed by my extravagance.
“The hotel looks central.” Linc smiled. “Made it easy to plan. How are we rooming, by the way?”
“I had Miles book the penthouse. It has a terrace with the best view in the city. Supposedly.”
“Whoa, that’s dope. Will you let us crash?”
I chuckled. “The terrace alone is over three thousand square feet, Linc. I think we’ll all manage to fit in the same four-bedroom suite.”
Shane presses a kiss to my head, bringing me back to the present.
“He’ll come around. We were all tired last night, not at our best.” His deep voice is soothing as it rumbles through me.
I hum a noncommittal response, unwilling to dig too deeply into the source of Declan’s discomfort. The suite is indulgent, excessively so, and I’m typically a conservative spender. I figured our last week together, in Paris no less, deserved a touch of fanfare.
“Is sitting on the terrace the extent of Linc’s grand plan for the day?”
Declan’s voice cuts through the quiet morning, drawing both of our gazes.
“Chill. We’re going out for breakfast after coffee.” Linc brushes past him, raising one of the cups in his hands. “I made you one.”
Heaving a deep breath after a momentary hesitation, Declan follows his brother to the table. He settles next to Shane as Linc passes his coffee.
“We’re starting with croissants, of course.” Linc settles back in his chair, bringing his coffee close to his mouth to inhale deeply.
“Of course.” I smile, mirroring him.
His hair has grown out a bit in the last few months, the extra length making his curls more pronounced. The light blue button down he wears over his fitted jeans makes his amber eyes pop.
“Then bikes?”
Linc smirks at my attempt to pry. Before he can respond, Declan clears his throat.
“There’s a bakery not far from here with the best croissants in the city. It’s maybe ten minutes by bike,” he smirks at Linc’s warning hiss, “and we could go right by the Louvre.”
“Sounds lovely.” I flash him a small smile, my breath catching in my throat when he returns it. Well, damn. Look at that.
“That’s perfect!” Linc grins, tipping his cup to drain the last drop of coffee. He stands as soon as he’s done. “Ready?”
“Let me get this straight,” I tease, “you all give me endless shit for crackers and wine not being dinner, but baguettes and cheese and wine are an acceptable lunch?”
We’re in a small park in the shadow of Notre Dame, where Linc insisted we pause during our bike tour of the city. The sun is high in the cloudless sky, a cool breeze making the leaves on the trees dance around us. I lean back against Linc’s chest, snuggling against him as he huffs a laugh. The two of us are on the ground, Declan and Shane sitting on the bench behind us.
“There’s cheese involved,” Shane drawls, winking when I glance back at him.
Declan snorts, taking a swig from our shared bottle of wine. After walking through the cathedral, we wandered to find a rue of quaint little shops. Linc insisted on taking advantage of my basic French, watching in delight as I ordered our simple picnic from three separate vendors.
“What was the guy in the fromagerie asking you?” Linc’s arms tighten around me.
I laugh. “He wanted to know if Declan was single.”
Linc roars as Declan nearly chokes on his baguette. “He did not.”
“He did.” I grin at him, coy. “Can’t blame him.”
Our gazes clash as heat flares between us. Shane claps his shoulder, and Declan tears his eyes away as he shakes his head ruefully.
“You were right,” he grumbles to Shane.
“About what?” I look between them as Shane’s smirk turns into a grin.
“Told him the leather was a bit much.” Shane winks.
I vehemently disagree. When Declan pulled the black moto jacket on as we left the suite, I had to bite my lip to contain my reaction. He’d been hot as hell in his simple jeans and tee, both black, but adding the jacket made the ensemble scorching.
“It’s not.” Declan’s eyes flash back to mine at my comment. “Too much, I mean.”
Linc bends to kiss my head, squeezing me. It feels like encouragement, and my stomach swoops at the thought. Ruby’s comment about a full set flits through my mind.
“What’s next, Linc?” Shane smirks as he redirects the conversation, leaning forward to gently grip my shoulder.
“The bike tour continues! The route is a mashup of highlights and romantic nooks and crannies, so it’s a little…wandery.”
“Nooks and crannies?” I giggle.
He flushes. “Yeah. I researched the best routes, and those were the top two. Seemed like combining them would give us the most complete experience. Had to make the most of the day, you know?”
This man. This sweet, adorable man.Placing a hand on his cheek, I smile into his amber eyes. “Thank you, Linc.”
“Anything for you, beautiful.” He presses a soft kiss to my lips.
Before I can melt into him, he’s gone, standing and pulling me to my feet. I can feel Declan’s eyes on me as I gather the remains of our lunch.
“Where does it end?” I ask. “The tour.”
Linc grins. “You’ll see.”
Declan rolls his eyes at his brother’s giddy teasing, but I don’t miss how his lips tip up in the corner. Linc’s enthusiasm is infectious.
“Do we seriously have to use these bikes?” Declan grouses, staring at the two tandem bikes leaning against the bench.
Shane slaps his shoulder as he rights the one he and Linc are using. “You’ve got this, brother.”
“I know I do, I just don’t want to.”
“Come on, Dec,” I taunt, pulling our bike upright. “Has it been so unbearable to be trapped behind me all day?”
His eyes rake over me, heat flashing again as he grunts. “That’s not the problem, boss.”
“It’s not dignified enough for him!” Linc calls, swinging up behind Shane as they pedal seamlessly away.
Laughing, I look back over my shoulder. “Dignity’s overrated.”
“Right, says the woman who has more dignity in her little finger than half this fucking city.”
He pushes off as we both get settled, then starts to pedal, following the guys.
“You know,” I muse, fighting the urge to look at him, “that almost sounded like a compliment.”
“It was,” he calls over the sound of the cars and tourists around us.
“Are you feeling okay? You haven’t challenged me once today. I’m getting worried you’re off your game, Wilde.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my game.”
We pull alongside Linc and Shane, waiting for the light to change. I take the opportunity to look at him, twisting in my seat.
“Prove it.”
Shane’s low chuckle brings a teasing smile to my lips as Declan’s eyes narrow playfully. The light changes before he can reply, but as soon as we’re safely on our way, he rises to my challenge.
“You’re good for them.”
It’s torture not to glance back at him, but I’m not about to risk our safety as we speed through the city. His rich voice is quiet enough not to carry far, keeping our conversation between us.
“It took me a while to see it.” He admits. “Honestly, I didn’t want to. It’s been just the three of us for…a long time.”
I stay quiet, listening. My heart pounds as I adjust my grip on the handlebars, steering us steadily along.
“I’ve been in my head a lot lately. Too much. But you’ve been there for them, and…I’m grateful.”
My feet are still on the pedals, and our bike slows. I steer us over to the side of the path, planting my feet as Dec does the same. Shane glances back and Declan waves them ahead, letting the distance between us widen. Shane jerks his chin in acknowledgement, saying something to Linc as they continue around a corner. I turn back to Declan, my breath strangely loud in my ears.
“Thank you, Lex.”
My heart stutters. It’s not the first time I’ve heard the words, but it’s the first time Declan has looked at me with such…longing as he says them. “Wha…what?”
“For being there for Linc and Shane when I was too much of an ass to realize what they needed.” His gaze holds mine, heavy and earnest. “Thank you.”
Swallowing, I stare at him. Is he the same guy who fought me at every turn for three months? He looks the same, but the words coming from his mouth sound foreign.
“You don’t have to thank me,” I finally manage. “As much as I appreciate you acknowledging all that, I didn’t do it for you.”
A small smile crosses his lips before he ducks his head. “I know. I’m grateful for that, too.”
Heaving a breath, I tilt my head. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Declan, but what changed? At our meeting last week, I was pretty sure you hated the sight of me.”
His expression is heavy, earnest. “I’ve never hated you, Lex. You saw right through me, and that’s not an experience I relish.”
Declan looks off into the distance, his grip on his handlebars tightening. “I care about them more than anyone else in this world.” He glances my way briefly. “I like to think I know what’s best for them, especially Linc.”
I arch a brow. “He might argue.”
“Oh, he absolutely would. And in this instance, he’d be right.” He eyes me. “This instance.”
Scoffing, I swing my leg over the bike seat to face him fully. “It’s honestly astonishing you’re as close as you are. All three of you are stubborn and opinionated as fuck.”
He mock glares at me, arms crossed. “You think you know me, boss?”
I shake my head, eyes crinkling in amusement. “No, you haven’t let that happen. But I know them pretty damn well.”
His chuckle feels like a balm. “That’s fair enough.” He searches my face for a long moment. “You want to know the truth?”
Please. “Always.”
“You scare me.”
I still. “I scare you.”
He nods. “Yeah, you scare the shit out of me.”
“Why?”
His look suggests I know exactly why. But I don’t. Why did you kiss me?
“I don’t want to drive any wedges between you, Declan.” My voice is impossibly gentle.
The breath he draws is ragged, his expression softening. “I know, Lex. I’ve finally let myself believe it. Being here, seeing them…” He sighs, carding his fingers through his dark hair. “Seeing you, the way you are together. I could pretend not to realize it before, but it’s obvious now.”
“What is?” I’m barely breathing, vaguely aware of the city bustling around us.
“You care about them.”
“Of course I do.” I frown. “Why would that scare you?”
He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he shifts on his feet, eyes intent on mine. It takes him a moment to speak.
“It”s not you I’m worried about driving us apart.” He exhales sharply. “It’s me. I shouldn’t have kissed you like I did, not without a conversation with you and them, and not…not like that.”
“Declan…” my voice trails to nothing as my heartbeat pounds.
“No, Lex, I mean it,” he interrupts gently. “You deserve bike rides in Paris and picnics in the shadow of Notre Dame. Someone who shows up for you, even in the small moments. And so much more than an asshole losing control and attacking you in a fucking conference room.”
I laugh as he smirks, his brows raised.
“But what if I liked what went down in that conference room?” I tease.
Desire sizzles between us, his sparkling emerald eyes drinking me in. “To be clear, Lex, kissing you wasn’t the mistake. I never should have let you think it was.”
My breath catches as I grin, goosebumps rising on my arms in response to the intensity of his gaze. “Thank you, Declan.”
He inclines his head, shoulders relaxing as he sits back against the bike seat.
“To be honest, I’ve never found caring for people easy,” he admits. “Shane says I often mistake control for kindness, and he’s not wrong. But you make it look effortless.”
“Because it is, Declan. Caring for them is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”
Silence stretches between us as he searches my face. “You mean that.”
“With all of me.”
“Fuck, I’m an asshole,” he mumbles.
I gaze at him, still processing his confession. Declan glances at his watch, then tosses a small smile my way, looking at me through thick lashes. Butterflies dance in my belly.
“Linc’s going to kill me if we miss our reservation. We should go.” He swallows, looking down. “If you want to. Go with me, that is.”
Reaching out, I place a hand over his, still gripping the handlebar. “Of course I do, Declan.” Linc and Shane aren’t the only ones I care about.
The reservation Lincoln would’ve killed us for missing is at the Eiffel Tower. When we finally pull up, Linc grins and embraces us both, then leads us to the ticket counter. We cram ourselves into the elevator with other visitors, smiles passing between us. Declan’s eyes find mine a few times, as though he can’t tear his gaze away for long. I try to ignore how I respond, goosebumps rising on my arms and the small hairs on the back of my neck standing up.
The view from the top of the tower is spectacular. The city sprawls before us, the clear weather giving us visibility for miles. Pink light casts an ethereal glow as the sun begins to set, light glittering on the Seine.
Shane walks up behind me on the viewing platform, caging me against the railing with his warm, hard body. He buries his face against my neck, wrapping an arm around my upper chest and pulling me close. I latch both hands onto his forearm, eyes falling closed as I hold him against me.
“Can you believe this view?” he murmurs into my skin.
“Not for a minute,” Linc replies, just as quiet.
I glance over to find him staring at us, a content smile on his face. Reaching for him, I grip his hand in mine. Declan walks up next to us on the other side, leaning his arms on the railing as he looks out. He’s close enough to brush against me and Shane, the heat from all of them warming me through.
“Well, it’s confirmed. Paris is magical.”
Shane smiles his agreement against me, his arm tightening before he looks up to take in the city skyline. Declan glances over his shoulder, the fire in his eyes lighting me up from the inside out.
“Wait til you see where Dec’s taking us for dinner.” Linc squeezes my hand, tugging gently. “Come on, beautiful. Your day isn”t over.”