by Lara Hunter
“I know,” he said. “You told me, that night, and the next day, my men confirmed it. They’d questioned Rose before they released her, and her story led them to believe she’d acted on her own. But, I have to be honest, Alice, I was still pretty upset. I felt like a fool, being exposed that way.”
He frowned.
“I wanted to hate you. Even more, I wanted to forget you. But, every day that passed, I just thought of you more. Alice, I’ve never met anyone like you before. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I know there’s nothing we can do to change our beginning, but I don’t want to throw our story away over that. I want to find out what happens next. I want to be with you, Alice.”
I looked at him in disbelief. I touched his cheek lightly with my fingertips.
“For real?” I asked him. He laughed.
“Yes, for real.”
He kissed me then, and it was both exactly and nothing like what I’d remembered. The feel of him, the smell of him, was powerfully familiar, but the raw need in his kiss was entirely new. This wasn’t for onlookers or cameras. It was only for us. I clung to him. When we finally broke away from each other, I was trembling.
“How will we do this?” I asked. “What will everyone think? The press…?”
“Honestly, Alice, I don’t give a damn anymore what they think. But I really would like to have some time, just with you, without reporters hounding us. Will you go away with me? Somewhere far away? I have a house in Spain. I think you’d like it there.”
“I can hardly believe this is happening,” I said, shaking my head. “You really want to be with me, Harvey? Just me, boring old Alice Brennan?”
“I really, really do,” he said. “I know I have a lot to apologize for. These past few weeks must have been awful for you. But I want to make it right with you, and even with Rose, if that’s possible.”
“It may be,” I said. “She owes me one.”
“And what about you, Alice?” he said. “Will you forgive me? And will you have me?”
“Harvey, I forgave you a long time, ago,” I said. “There is so much good in you. And, when I’m with you, I just… The whole world seems good. That’s how you make me feel. Like, the world was so much more beautiful than I’d ever known before. Before I knew you, I thought my purpose was to make beauty happen in the world, but when I’m with you, it’s just… everywhere. Yes, Harvey, I do want to be with you. I really, really do.”
He looked at me with such intensity, as if I was something both mysterious and precious.
“Alice… my Alice…”
He kissed me again, softly, and I finally believed it. A sob broke free from my throat. He wrapped his arms around me, and I pressed my face against his chest, my tears wetting his shirt.
“What is it?” he said, his face in my hair. “What’s wrong?”
It took me a few minutes to compose myself enough to answer him. When I was able to calm myself, I wiped my eyes, and looked up at him, a joyful smile on my face.
“I’m just happy,” I said. “Like I never thought I’d be.”
He smiled and stroked my cheek.
“Me too,” he said. “Who would have thought?” He glanced around us. There weren’t many people in the park today, but a few were obviously watching us. “Do you want to get out of here?”
“Yes,” I said. “Spain, you said?”
“Definitely,” he said. “But maybe lunch first?”
“Good idea.”
He held my hand as we walked back down the path. He made a phone call, and a moment later, his car pulled up. Ted gave me a smile and a wink as I climbed in after Harvey.
“There is one thing that I need to know,” Harvey said seriously as the car began to move.
“What, Harvey?”
“What on earth has happened to your hair?”
THE END
Lara Hunter
Lara Hunter
The sequel to this story is available now!
Bought And Paid For: Truth And Lies
Waking up next to her abundantly handsome billionaire boyfriend, a man beyond her wildest desires, everything seems to have worked out perfectly for Alice, and after scoring a role in a big Hollywood movie, things surely couldn't get any sweeter...
Storm clouds gather on the horizon however, as forces conspire to break up their fledgling relationship; Harvey is, after all, a man with many enemies. Can he and Alice weather the storm? Especially when Rose appears bearing bad news, and photographs...
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