Chapter 7
Kian
Sophie Baldwin is on my beach.
I couldn’t have planned it better if I’d arranged it myself.
My stride stayed measured as I walked away, marveling at how that went. It wasn’t a small feat to ensure every hotel in the beach town of Vlore turned her away until she stayed at the one closest to me, the one which I now owned.
Of course, I couldn’t have predicted she’d find her way here.
I nearly turned around to check that she’d settled on her chair again, but discipline won out. Didn’t mean I couldn’t revel in the certainty that her eyes were still trained on me.
Because that was my problem: for the first time in a long while—maybe ever—I wanted to be distracted.
“Took you long enough,” Valentina pouted as I closed the distance. After months of abstinence, I tried to find a release before I became grumpy. Unfortunately, Valentina was more of a headache than anything else, and truth be told, I was already grumpy.
“We’re leaving,” I announced, never pausing my stride.
“Why is she staying and not us?” she whined, anger simmering beneath her voice.
“Because she’s a guest,” I deadpanned.
She took the spot at my side, jabbering on about a fashion show in Milan. I nodded at the right moments, though I barely heard a word.
Because all I could think about was Dr. Sophie Baldwin sitting under that umbrella in her emerald bikini, looking like a siren who had crawled out of the sea and onto my beach. That practically made her mine, right? I gave my head a subtle shake at the ridiculous idea.
I needed to pull my head out of my ass. I was too old for her, and she was a client’s cousin.
By the time we reached my courtyard, Valentina’s words had petered out.
“It’s best you go home, Valentina,” I told her. “I have work to do. My driver can take you wherever you’d like.”
“But I thought… we could—”
“No.”
There was no sense in pretending she could serve as a distraction.
Sophie had captivated me, and I was a fool if I thought I could escape it.
“Kian, come on.”
“Get in the car, Valentina.”
She muttered something under her breath in clipped Albanian, then ordered the driver to take her to her ex-boyfriend’s house before she slid into the back of the car.
I didn’t bother watching her go.
Instead, I stood there, staring down at the cliff face. The sunlight hit the waves hard, scattering diamonds across the surface while the scent of salt wafted up. It usually grounded me, but today, it made the noise in my head louder.
I breathed in the heavy heat when Amir cleared his throat behind me.
I turned to find him grinning.
“Going back to the beach or inside?” he asked.
My gaze darted to where the cove was just out of sight, swallowed by the cliffs and sea haze.
I’d be able to see her from my office window, but I didn’t need to have her within my sight to conjure her image in my mind.
I could still see her sitting there beneath that umbrella, a faint smile on her lips, looking around like she belonged in a place she wasn’t supposed to be.
And though I wouldn’t admit it, part of me hoped she’d be back tomorrow.
I shook my head and turned to climb the stone steps.
“I have work to do.” My voice came out steadier than I felt. “Keep an eye on our guest, will you, Amir?”
“But you—”
“I’ll be inside.”