Chapter 43
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
The farther I drove into Pacific Palisades, the more I understood why people like Titus paid exorbitant amounts to live here.
The winding road hugged the cliffs above the Pacific, the ocean stretching endlessly to my left as the late-afternoon sun turned the water into a glistening gold.
Every home seemed more impressive than the last, hidden behind gates, mature landscaping, and seclusion that probably cost more than my first apartment.
Good thing I was using my navigation, because I would’ve driven right past the damn entrance.
The steel gates at the entrance to his driveway were nearly hidden behind a stone monument wall and a canopy of olive and sycamore trees.
The trees lined the entire driveway, with wrought-iron lanterns on each side, their gas flames flickering.
From what little I could see on the other side of the gates, it was quite enchanting, and it was just a fucking driveway.
The gates opened before I even reached them.
Titus had probably alerted security to the make and model of my car.
Knowing how people in his world handled security, there were likely hidden cameras for facial recognition, license plate readers, and enough technology monitoring the entrance to track every vehicle that came and went.
Hell, by the time I reached the main house, Titus probably knew my fourth-grade test scores and whether or not I’d ever made a late payment on my electric bill.
The driveway curved through what felt like its own private coastal park. Perfectly manicured landscaping lined both sides, interrupted by native grasses, sculptural agave, and ancient olive trees imported from Spain.
The farther I drove, the more secluded it grew, and that’s when I saw the house.
“Oh my God,” I said to myself, easing the car in.
I’d been here before, but this view of the home was something I didn’t expect.
The home emerged from the cliffside as if it had been carved directly into the landscape. The imposing structure was a modern design that drew on the best elements of Spanish architecture.
That was the only way I could describe it.
It was nothing short of grand elegance. Clean contemporary lines blended effortlessly with warm Mediterranean architecture.
Walls of pale limestone rose against the backdrop of the Pacific.
Massive glass panels reflected the ocean, while natural wood accents softened the sleek design.
I already knew the back of his estate was magnificent, appearing to hang suspended above the cliffs from the one and only time I’d been here for dinner with him. But the front of the property was an entirely different experience.
Numerous stone steps led to two massive wooden front doors, intentionally concealing the property’s greatest feature and slowly building anticipation before revealing what lay beyond.
The entrance felt designed to introduce guests to an experience they didn’t yet realize was coming the moment they stepped inside.
I slowly pulled into the circular motor court, where a luxury SUV and a black Rolls-Royce were parked near the entrance.
Before I could reach for my door handle, a valet appeared and opened my door with a polite smile.
“Good evening, Ms. Veléz,” the young man said.
“Thank you, and good evening to you, too.”
“Mr. Hawk informed us that you are to have access to the home whenever you choose.”
I smiled. “Well, I wanted to surprise him, but it looks like he already knew I was coming.”
“No,” he grinned. “Our security was prepared and is always watching the perimeter. They notified staff of your arrival.”
“Ah,” I laughed softly. “Why does this not surprise me?”
I stepped out and smoothed my dress while taking another look at the estate. I was surrounded by towering glass, warm stone, steel, wood, and the ocean. All of it married together to create a bold statement about the very powerful man who lived here.
The valet collected my keys. “If you’ll follow me, Ms. Veléz.”
My stomach immediately fluttered with excitement. A ridiculous reaction, considering I’d spent two nights aboard his yacht. But this somehow felt different, more intimate and warm.
And for the first time since meeting Titus Hawk, I was about to step back into the part of his world he had told me very few people ever saw.
The valet led me through a towering glass entryway into a home that somehow felt even more impressive from the inside.
Warm limestone floors stretched beneath my feet as sunlight poured through walls of glass overlooking the Pacific. The space felt enormous yet somehow welcoming. It was modern without being cold, and luxurious without trying too hard.
A sweeping staircase curved toward the second floor, while contemporary artwork lined the walls. As we passed through the house, I saw that beyond the great room was a dining area that could easily seat twenty people, and beyond that, a kitchen large enough to feed a small country.
I slowed as we passed a long hallway, taking in the framed architectural sketches that hung beneath soft lighting.
They depicted private islands, luxury resorts, and hotel concepts, each intricate enough to look like works of art.
I assumed they were Titus’s visions, either projects he’d already brought to life or ones that were about to become reality.
“This way, Ms. Veléz.”
I followed the valet through the rear of the house, where massive sliding glass walls had been fully opened to let the ocean breeze pass through the home.
The moment I stepped outside, the view stole my breath. Last time I’d seen this area, I had my guard up and was suspicious of why Titus had even brought me here.
This time, feeling differently about him, I was seeing everything in his personal life in a much different way as well.
The Pacific stretched endlessly in every direction. The infinity pool seemed to spill directly into the ocean beyond the cliffs. Surrounded by palms and waterfall structures, the pool snaked through a lush area.
Several terraces stepped down toward private lounge areas, fire features, and additional flowering gardens.
Then the star of the show came into view. Goddamn, I’d missed this man while he’d been overseas for the week. Titus was lounging on a chaise chair beside the pool, one arm draped casually across his lap as his phone rested against his ear.
His dark sunglasses hid his eyes, but his attention was focused entirely on the unfortunate person on the other end of the call.
“No.”
The single word carried across the terrace. His voice was low and lethal, and I couldn’t help but pity whoever was speaking to him.
“Telling me it can’t be done doesn’t make it impossible,” he continued. “Tell me, do you know how I interpret the chicken shit word can’t?”
I fought a smile.
“It means won’t. So, when you sit here and waste my time with bullshit excuses, telling me a project can’t be completed, what I hear is that you won’t complete it.” His expression hardened. “Do you realize you’re telling me, of all people, that you won’t get the job done?”
The ocean breeze shifted his dark hair while the late-afternoon sunlight highlighted the powerful lines of his body, stretched comfortably across the chair.
The man looked unlawfully attractive. Enjoying the view of him, I took in every detail. White linen pants sat low on his hips, while the sleeves of his light blue linen button-down were rolled casually to his forearms.
Bare feet. God help me, even his bare feet were somehow sexy.
“Then replace him.”
Silence.
He reached for the glass beside him and took a sip. “No, Carlos. Again, I’m not interested in excuses. I’m interested in results.”
Another pause, then his head turned slightly. Even behind his sunglasses, I knew the exact second he noticed me.
Everything about him changed. I watched the tension instantly disappear and the sharpness vanish. The ruthless billionaire who had probably been dismantling someone’s career thirty seconds ago suddenly smiled.
My stomach immediately flooded with butterflies.
“Excellent,” he said into the phone. “Handle it.”
He ended the call without another word, then stood.
Lord help me.
I really needed to stop reacting so hormonally every time I looked at this man.
“Preciosa.” The way he said his name for me felt like a kiss.
His eyes slowly moved over me, taking in every detail, and judging from the way his jaw tensed, he liked what he saw.
“Am I interrupting?”
“You’re never an interruption,” the corner of his mouth lifted. “You likely just saved a man’s job, if I’m honest.”
He crossed the terrace toward me, and as always when I saw him, the rest of the world seemed to disappear.
I was in his arms in that moment, with him kissing me with so much passion and power, and I struggled to return the delicious kiss properly.
“God, I’ve missed you,” he said. “The things that have run through my mind about what I would do to you when I returned are going to keep you in ecstasy until the sun rises tomorrow.”
I chuckled. “I’m here because I needed to inform you about the plans for the event this weekend,” I said, running my hands up and along his biceps. “Well, shit.” I looked back at him. “We’re never going to get anything done while we’re in the same room together.”
He grinned, pulling me close to him, “Oh, we’ll be getting the most important things done, I can promise you that much.”
I shook my head. “First, I really want to go over the details of what you blindly handed me to run your event.”
“It is you running the event, carino,” he said, kissing my forehead. “I know it will be executed better than I could even imagine.”
“What if you hate the floral arrangements?” I teased.
“I couldn’t hate anything you’ve imagined or arranged.”
“What if they’re daffodils?”
He chuckled. “Then? My guests will have to greatly appreciate daffodils,” he replied.
“Oh God,” I laughed.
“Come,” he said. “Allow me to place your request for our dinner, and then we’ll go over the details you feel I should be concerned about.”
The last of the dinner plates had been cleared away nearly twenty minutes ago. The sun had disappeared beyond the horizon, leaving only the glow of gas-lit lanterns and the soft illumination from the infinity pool below.
I sat curled into the corner of the outdoor sofa while Titus lounged with one arm draped behind me along the back cushion.
The sounds of the Pacific could be heard as they crashed against the cliffs below. For once, neither of us was speaking. It was comfortable and easy. Serenity with a man who was becoming my perfect obsession.
It was pretty fucking dangerous that I was finding this much comfort and fulfillment just being in his company.
I know I was thinking ahead, but until you get your ass burned by a man who seemed to be everything, you tend to think of things like this to protect yourself from the next romance that doesn’t work out, for one reason or another.
The scariest part was that I was beginning to enjoy the silence with him as much as our conversations.
“You’ve been quiet,” he finally said.
I smiled. “I was just thinking.”
“Should that worry me?”
I laughed softly. “I’m serious.”
“I know.”
His eyes remained on the ocean. “What were you thinking about?”
I followed his gaze toward the water. “How strange this all is.”
“A lot of people love to sit outdoors. It’s not strange at all.”
“It’s not that,” I leaned into him. “It’s the fact that a few months ago, you were the last person on this planet I imagined being with.” I waved my hand out toward the ocean, “Experiencing serenity like this with.”
He smiled.
“I genuinely thought you were arrogant.”
“I am arrogant.”
“I thought you were spoiled.”
“I am also spoiled.”
I rolled my eyes. “You make it impossible to win arguments.”
“One of my better qualities.”
I shook my head. Then my smile slowly faded. “Now, I’m sitting in your house, wondering how I ever had you so wrong.”
Something changed in his expression. “Catalina.”
“No. I’m serious.” I looked around the terrace. “The yacht, your resorts, your headquarters...” I rubbed his leg. “You’ve built an incredible life.”
“A life that was lonely before you,” he said. “Lately, I’ve struggled with the idea of how much of that life was wasted without you in it.”
“I hardly think it was wasted,” I laughed.
“No,” he said. “But feeling what I feel with you? I can’t explain the happiness it brings me. I managed life so easily without you in it.”
“I can’t imagine life for you being lonely, even without me in it.”
The ocean breeze shifted through the terrace.
He shrugged. “Well, I’ve spent most of my life building things.
” He looked out toward the darkness. “Hotels, developing on private islands, acquiring companies. Living half my life overseas.” His gaze returned to mine.
“And somewhere along the way, I forgot there was supposed to be something waiting for me after all of it.”
My chest tightened. “Titus…”
“I’m not looking for sympathy.”
“You won’t get it.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Good.”
I shifted closer. “Then what are you looking for now that I am sitting here with you?”
His eyes dropped briefly to my mouth before meeting my gaze again. “You.”
The answer came so quickly it stole my breath. “That’s what I’m looking for.”
For the first time all evening, I couldn’t think of a single clever thing to say.
“Perhaps we should retire indoors. I’ve waited long enough since being reunited with you to hold you in my arms again.”
I had no idea how the man managed it, but I was in his arms, his lips on mine, as we walked up the steps into his home.
I wove my fingers through his hair, thankful he had missed me as much as I had missed him. Eventually, I’d be able to give him a rundown of my plans already in motion for the event on his yacht, but not even I cared about that now.
And that was saying a lot.