Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
The warm Newport sun reflected off the storefront windows at Fashion Island as Amelia walked beside me. I carried our shopping bags while she strolled along, sipping the sparkling juice she’d ordered when I bought my latte.
After weeks of bed rest, Amelia had been going stir-crazy at the house, so after her last check-up, Mickie was pleased with her status and finally gave her permission to take walks—as long as she avoided any stress.
Naturally, Amelia took that to mean we should go shopping.
“You’ve checked your phone about four times in the last ten minutes,” Amelia informed me.
“I’m working.”
“That’s interesting, considering you smiled at the last text,” she said, nudging me.
I adjusted my sunglasses and ignored her rather than arguing, because, unfortunately for me, she wasn’t entirely wrong.
It had been two weeks since I’d seen the side of Titus that I’d unexpectedly developed a desire to be around. I hadn’t realized any of this had gone beyond simply pulling the man out of his billion-dollar world and into mine… until about three days after he left for work overseas.
I shouldn’t have felt so caught up in thoughts of him, but here I fucking was. He’d been gone for two weeks now, shuttling between Monaco, Barcelona, and London to handle business for his company.
I knew this lifestyle was typical for a man like him, so why the hell did I find myself daydreaming about having more days like the ones we spent at the beach before everything was abruptly cut short by his company’s demands?
This was unlike me. I never missed anyone. I was a woman fully consumed by my own life, my own world, and, honestly, that had always felt fucking great. Never in my life had I spent quiet evenings thinking about a man.
I fought it off well at first, but with business slowing down recently, distractions became harder to come by. And what Amelia and I were doing right now was definitely meant to be one of those distractions.
Unfortunately, even this wasn’t helping because Titus had somehow worked his way into my world through random texts. I either woke up to one or got one in the middle of the day—like just now.
The scary part? I found myself looking forward to it… to hearing from him and wondering what he’d say next.
My phone vibrated inside my purse again.
Amelia immediately looked over. “Is that him again?”
I ignored her as I pulled out my phone.
Titus: Enjoy the day with your sister. I only wish I could be with you instead of at dinner again with investors. -T.H.
Warmth wrapped around me, and I smiled after reading his response to the text that I’d sent him last. I strangely enjoyed the feeling of being adored by a man like this, but I also knew it could be highly dangerous for a woman like me.
The fact that it made this day so much better to believe he missed being around me like I’d been missing him lately?
Well, shit. That could end horribly for a woman like me with a man like Titus Hawk.
A smile betrayed my better judgment anyway. Fuck. I don’t think I’d felt this way in a very long time. If ever.
“There it is,” Amelia pointed immediately. “That smile.”
“I do not have a smile.”
“You absolutely do.”
Cat: We’re having a great day. Thank you. Hope your day was good too.
I felt excitement course through me when the dots started jumping on the text screen. I was no better than a high school girl whose crush was texting her.
Then his message came through, and I slowed beneath the shade of a tree before nearly walking straight into it. I told myself I would simply respond so I wouldn’t be rude, end the conversation quickly, and continue spending the day with Amelia.
It felt strange to know it was dinnertime for him overseas, and instead of entertaining businessmen—or whatever beautiful women were probably surrounding him—he was texting me.
Titus: One of these men just spent twenty minutes discussing yacht storage as if it were a global crisis.
I shook my head, laughing softly. Why was this man becoming so enjoyable to me?
I glanced up at Amelia, crossing her arms and studying me.
“What?” I said as if I were guilty of doing something wrong.
“You’re fucking adorable right now, you know that?” she said. “I’m going into that boutique,” she said, pointing at the building next to us. “Take your time with that Spanish god of a boyfriend you have.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Right,” she hung onto the word, then disappeared into the store.
My phone vibrated one final time.
Titus: How is your sister feeling?
Cat: She’s doing much better. Well, good enough to give me hell for texting you, anyway. Mickie took her off bed rest, but she’s still taking it easy.
We’re actually about to go into a store to have a look around. Have a great dinner.
Titus: I’ll be thinking of you the entire time.
My heart flooded with warmth. Apparently, it really liked being missed and knowing someone was thinking of me while they were halfway across the world. Jesus, these simple texts were turning me into some hormonal teenager again, and I honestly didn’t know how to stop it.
Amelia came out of the store and looped her arm through mine again as we walked beneath swaying palm trees and warm coastal sunlight, with people moving between luxury storefronts, carrying shopping bags and iced coffees.
“No more interruptions,” I assured her.
“You know what I think?” she asked.
“I don’t know if I want to.”
“I think he misses you, and I definitely think he has a thing for you.”
I laughed softly. “Titus Hawk does not strike me as the type of man who sits around pining over one woman, whether he has a thing for her or not.”
“No,” Amelia agreed. “He strikes me as the type who, like you, never expected to develop any feelings.”
“We’re just friends who had a very fun day out together.”
She laughed softly, “And two powerful business owners who are texting each other like teenagers?”
“I know,” I sighed. “I feel sort of silly.”
“Don’t,” she leaned into me. “If there’s anyone who deserves a fairy tale, it’s you.”
I hardened to that reality slap, “I don’t believe in fairy tales. If it’s too good to be true, it usually is.”
“You need to learn to let go a little, sis,” she said as we turned down a path that led to more shops. “Just because one dickhead took advantage of you doesn’t mean every man out there is out to get you.”
“I know that,” I answered, not entirely truthfully. “It’s just, how do you know whether you’re going to get burned? It’s impossible to tell, and I don’t have time to fall into another spider’s web.”
“You just have to look for the red flags.”
I stopped and turned to face her. “This man is a walking red flag,” I said with a laugh. I held up my phone. “These silly little text exchanges? It’s just a man pursuing a woman with charming words, trying to get the attention he hasn’t yet gotten from her.”
“And once he gets that attention?” Amelia said, as if this would actually go anywhere between Titus and me.
“That’s when he’s done charming her. It’s a textbook example of wanting something you can’t have, and once you get it, you don’t want it anymore.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know exactly that,” I argued.
“Stop being bitter,” Amelia said, her voice sterner than I’d ever heard it. “You’ll die a lonely old goat if you never open your heart to anyone again because you think you know everyone’s intentions.”
Fucking hell.
This was terrifying, and not having control over any of it wasn’t exactly my strong suit.
“You make a valid point,” I admitted quietly.
“I know,” she smiled. “You raised me, remember?”
I exhaled. “Let’s just enjoy the rest of our day together.”
“I’m enjoying it,” she grinned at me. “You’re the one who looks like she’s about to go to church to confess her sins.”
We both laughed, and I couldn’t help but wonder whether I should stop fighting this as much as I was. Perhaps I should just enjoy a little flirtation and attention from a very attractive man who, out of nowhere, managed to impress me.
No harm in that at all.
The soft clatter of keyboards and muted conversations filled the office as I stared at the nearly empty calendar displayed across my laptop screen.
Three overseas events. Gone.
Another client had officially chosen a London-based planner this morning after learning that I wouldn’t be traveling internationally for the next several months.
That made four this week. Fantastic.
I leaned back slowly in my chair, then rubbed at the tension building between my eyes. None of this was permanent, and being here with Amelia, making sure she and the baby were safe, mattered more than anything.
I knew that.
But watching years of international connections slowly shift toward other planners still felt like swallowing glass on some days.
My phone vibrated softly beside my laptop.
Titus: What I wouldn’t give to have you working this yacht party.
Cat: How’s it going? That was my event.
Titus: Unimpressive. If only you kept it.
I smiled, welcoming this distraction from the pain of knowing how much work I was missing out on these days. Jesus. I could’ve been there and seen him tonight.
Cat: Oh yeah?
Titus: Well, perhaps not. I’d have taken you away to my room on this yacht tonight. God. The things I would do to you.
He’s got to be drunk.
And yes, this man was becoming a serious issue in my life.
A small smile pulled at my mouth before I could stop it.
Cat: Have another bourbon. I have to get back to work.
Titus: I’ll be imagining you all night tonight, preciosa. Have a great rest of your day.
My chest tightened unexpectedly. How was I supposed to manage this rush of feelings? I swear to God, I even felt somewhat lightheaded.
I started typing back before movement near my office doorway drew my attention upward.
Fuck me. What the hell are you doing here? Talk about a buzz kill.
Christian Jameston leaned casually against the open doorway, wearing a charcoal suit that probably cost more than most people’s rent.
His eyes briefly dropped to the phone in my hand before returning to my face.
“You look happier these days,” he observed smoothly.
“You should really learn to stop showing up at women’s offices uninvited.”
There was no way in hell I was going to acknowledge this man’s observations about me or about anything in my life.
A faint smile tugged at his mouth before he stepped farther inside.
“Still defensive, I see.”
“No.” I leaned back calmly in my chair. “Just selective about who I enjoy seeing.”
Christian’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly before his gaze drifted briefly toward the nearly empty calendar on my laptop screen.
“You’ve stopped traveling recently,” he noted casually.
“It’s temporary.”
“Mm.”
What does this asshole want?
Christian moved farther into the office before slipping one hand into his pocket.
“That’s difficult in your industry.”
I held his gaze evenly. “You seem unusually interested in my career lately.”
“You built a strong reputation internationally.” His eyes dipped briefly toward my desk again. “It would be unfortunate to watch someone else take your place while you’re stuck here.”
I slowly crossed my arms. “Did you come here to insult me professionally again, or are we building toward something new today?”
A faint laugh escaped him.
“I’m trying to understand why a woman like you suddenly seems comfortable narrowing your world for other people.”
“That’s none of your business. What are you doing in my office without an appointment?”
The man eyed my phone as soon as it vibrated again, and the message read Titus.
Jesus Christ.
“Hawk?” he asked flatly. “What does that man need with a planner who’s not going overseas this summer?”
I looked back up at him calmly. “Was there something else you needed?”
His jaw tightened again.
“You should be careful with men like him, Catalina.”
I almost smiled.
“Do not act as though I’m someone you need to give advice to, Mr. Jameston,” I said. “Now, I have to get back to work, and you don’t have an appointment that requires me to listen to any of this.”
“You’re a spicy little thing, aren’t you?”
“If you don’t leave,” I answered, pissed off beyond belief that this man had the nerve to treat me this way, “I will have security remove you.”
“I own the building, Catalina.”
The calm arrogance in that statement made my skin crawl.
I slowly stood from my chair. “Then I’ll be terminating my lease.”
That wiped the amusement from his face.
“You’d really move your entire company over one conversation?”
“No,” I answered calmly, grabbing the phone from my desk. “I’d move it because I don’t tolerate men who mistake access for control.”
I stared straight-faced at him, resisting the overwhelming urge to knee him in the balls for forcing my hand into even considering this decision. Fucking piece of shit.
I needed to get out of this office and clear my head. I couldn’t make rash decisions when my team was already struggling to adjust to the new location, especially since we weren’t traveling overseas for work this summer.
But the rage stinging my eyes made one thing painfully clear—I would not be able to tolerate working in a space where that man felt comfortable freely coming and going from my office.