“Nice shoes,” she remarked, noticing the open box. “Alastair always had great taste.”
I lifted an eyebrow and scowled.
“I’m assuming he gave you those as a gift. He has a thing for high heels.”
“What do you want?” I snapped, closing the box and putting it under my desk.
She frowned. “I’m not here to make trouble for you, Lia. I’m not. You have enough to deal with thanks to Olivia Garrison. I’m one of the good guys, even though it might not look that way to you.” She paused, gauging my reaction. I sat stoically. “You’re a strong woman but you’ve been thrust into this world of intense scrutiny and suffocating attention. I understand it more than you realize. I’m not asking for us to be best friends. I’m only asking that you trust me enough to help guide you through the rough patches.”
“Why you?”
Emma shifted in the chair. “It’s what Alastair wants.”
“And he always gets what he wants, right?” I huffed.
“Lia,” she said softly, “this is my job. Alastair is one of my oldest friends. I—”
“Friend? You made it clear you were the closest thing to a girlfriend he’s ever had. Why should I trust you?”
“Because I know what Olivia did to him. I know he is nothing more than a prize to be won for some women. All they see is the money and the lifestyle. I don’t want to see him get hurt.” Her eyes hardened. “I also know how easy it is to fall in love with him and I know how impossible it is for him to love anyone back.”
My head pounded. “So you are in love with him.”
“No.” She flicked her wrist. “I’m quite fond of him but he could never give me what I needed. And he never saw me as anything more than what I was; a friend with benefits. I earned his trust by not pushing him and not wanting anything more than he was willing to give. After university, he helped me start my own public relations firm. He was my benefactor and my first client. Once people found out I represented him, I couldn’t stop the phone from ringing.” A self-satisfied grin crossed her lips.
“So you used him for your business?”
“Used is a bad word. He helped me financially so I repaid him by keeping his private life under lock and key. Win, win.”
This impromptu heart to heart was grating on my nerves. My hostility toward Emma dissipated some but I would be so much happier if she’d just go away.
“Does Alastair know you’re here?”
“No. I came on my own so if we could keep this between us, I’d appreciate it. But I think Paxton saw me so I’m sure I’ll get an earful when I leave.”
I nodded, folding my arms. “Be grateful he hasn’t come up here to escort you out.”
Emma smiled. There was genuine warmth behind it. “I’m not a threat. Alastair won’t give him the seek and destroy command.”
I couldn’t help myself and laughed. So did Emma. We laughed for a good minute, filling my office with a relaxed aura I wouldn’t have expected in a million years.
“You know,” she said. “Under different circumstances I think you and I would have gotten on quite well.”
“Maybe.” A smile still danced on my lips. “Thanks for looking out for his best interests. I don’t mean me. Just…in general.”
“It’s my job, darling.” She stood up, adjusting her Burberry coat. “I’ll get out of your hair now so you can enjoy the rest of your birthday.”
My eyebrows shot up. “How do you know it’s my birthday?”
“It’s my job, darling,” she said again with a wink. “And no, I haven’t a clue what he has planned for you.”
* * *
When the clock hit six I scampered down to the lobby and out to the waiting Mercedes. Paxton nodded his greeting as he opened the rear passenger door.
“Where are we going?” I had nothing to lose by asking, even though silence was the only answer I knew I’d get. Paxton glanced at me through the rearview mirror and grinned.
“Not far.”
We pulled into traffic as I settled into the soft leather seat. A bag holding my shoes and the keychain sat at my feet. The only other parcel that arrived was another single rose, only this one was red, not white. I held them both in my hand. For someone who didn’t ‘do’ relationships, Alastair was certainly excelling at the task.
I’d been so preoccupied by the mystery surrounding my birthday surprise I didn’t notice that I hadn’t heard from Stephanie at all until now. No texts, no phone call, nothing. After the emotional wreck she’d been the other night I would have thought I’d at least hear about the results of her pregnancy test. Not receiving a birthday greeting from her stung. I thought maybe we’d moved past the fight but I guess I was wrong.
The car slowed. I glanced out the window and saw we were at the airport. Oh, Alastair.
He stood by the hanger with his hands clasped behind his back. He’d changed out of his suit and looked absolutely edible in dark jeans, black t-shirt and a black coat. I clutched the roses and the bag as I walked toward him.
The plane’s engines whined with impatience. I shivered with anticipation.
“Amelia.” My name rolled of his tongue with such desire I almost dropped all my belongings. The corner of his mouth ticked up in a slight grin. “Fancy celebrating your birthday with me tonight?”
“Yes,” I answered in a raspy whisper.
He motioned to the plane. “After you.”
“Where are we going?”
“That’s up to you. You have all the pieces to the puzzle in hand.”
My mind raced. He’d given me a postcard with a picture of a cake, my own shoes and a keychain. Oh, and two roses.
“Not really following you, chief.”
He smiled, illuminating the night. “Red or white?”
“What?”
“The roses. Do you prefer red or white?”
“Red, I guess.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep.”
“Red it is then.” He motioned to the pilot and pointed to the red rose. Turning back to me, he offered his hand. “Let’s go.”
“So was that some kind of code? The rose thing?” I asked, after we’d boarded the plane. A bowl of chocolate truffles sat on the small table near our seats. I also noticed my seat had a red satin sleep mask on it. “What’s this for?”
“My curious kitten is full of questions.”
“No shit, Sherlock.”
He laughed, planting a kiss on my cheek. Once we were airborne, he reached across me and lowered the window shades.
“What are you doing?”
“Keeping you in the dark.” He fingered the satin sleep mask. “This might not be enough.”
“Are you planning to blindfold me again?”
“Yes.” He brushed his thumb over my mouth, unleashing an intense wave of pleasure through my body. A low growl vibrated in the back of his throat. “There’s my look.”
If I hadn’t appreciated the joy of flying on a private jet before, I did now. I couldn’t stop kissing him. Not even the turbulence bothered me, if that shaking sensation even was turbulence. It could very well have been every cell in my body vibrating as I savored him.
“You’re spoiling me, Holden,” I said, resting my head on his shoulder. “I’ll never be able to fly commercial again.”
“You don’t have to. This plane is as much yours as it is mine.”
Snuggling against him, I sighed. “Emma came to my office this afternoon.”
Thank you, mouth. Thank you, brain. Thank you for being so moronic and ruining this moment.
His chest lifted on a deep intake. “I know.”
“She seems okay.”
He unfastened my seatbelt and pulled me onto his lap. I did a quick sweep of the cabin as I straddled him. The one flight attendant on board was nowhere to be seen. Cradling my jaw, he smiled. “You’re beautiful.”
“Is that why you’re marrying me?” I teased.
“You know it, baby,” he responded in an Ameri
can accent.
“Ah, there you go again.” I squeezed his shoulders. “You have the most gorgeous English accent. Don’t try to sound like every other guy I’ve ever dated.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Other guys? Don’t make me jealous.”
“Jealous type, are we?” I slid my hands down his chest, pausing at the waistband of his jeans. His body stilled. The fact that my touch had such power over him amazed me.
“Mine,” he whispered, fisting his hand in my hair. The rest of the flight passed by in a heady, lust-fueled blur but we didn’t recreate our mile high adventure like we’d done on the way to New York City. We did, however, feed each other the truffles, which enhanced my enjoyment of making out with him. The chocolate tasted so good on his lips. Beneath that flavor was the one I craved even more; the distinct taste that was him. I couldn’t get enough of it.
“We’ve begun our descent. Please make sure your seatbelts are fastened.” The pilot’s announcement sliced through my brain in the most unwelcome way.
“You heard the man. Buckle up.” Alastair planted one last luscious kiss on me.
I returned to my seat in a daze, running a finger over my swollen, well-used lips. We hadn’t even officially arrived at our destination and I already wanted time to slow down to a crawl. After the plane touched down, Alastair picked up the satin mask.
“Put this on.”
“Can’t I just close my eyes?”
His hearty laugh made me smile. “No. You’ll peek and I can’t have that.”
“How am I going to get off the plane if I can’t see where I’m going?”
He leaned close, sliding the mask over my eyes. “Trust me.”
Never in my life had I instilled such trust in a person. I knew he’d never let anything happen to me but still. Walking down a flight of stairs blindfolded wasn’t my idea of fun. Alastair’s vice-like grip around my waist helped. A chilly wind swept over me, invigorating me with its crisp urgency. Alastair kept his fingers firmly laced through mine as he led me across the tarmac. He helped me into a car and settled in next to me.
“Red, please,” was all he said.
That rose held more answers than I’d realized.
I strained to listen for any clues that would tip me off as to where we were. I heard the distinct sounds of a city but almost every city sounded the same so that wasn’t any help.
“You have the most adorable look on your face when you concentrate really hard.” Alastair was close to me. Too close. His breath tickled my temple and made me clench my legs together. I heard him exhale in a soft laugh. The sounds he made drove me insane on a normal day when I could see him. But now? Unbelievable.
His scent surrounded me, filling my lungs with every breath I took. I closed my eyes behind the mask, darkening my world even further. The feel of his hand on my arm made me gasp. I was hyperaware and hypersensitive. The combination was an aphrodisiac.
“Where are we?” I whispered.
“Almost there.” He tucked me under his arm, enveloping me in his warmth. “Feeling alright?”
“Yes.”
I felt his breath on my mouth the second he tilted my chin up. The reckless pounding of my heart drowned out all other sounds. I wet my lips, losing my mind when he moaned. The car rolled to a gentle stop. I heard the click of a door opening and felt a rush of cold air. The heat from Alastair’s body left me.
“This way.”
He grasped my hand and helped me out. I paused briefly, sliding my foot to see if there was a gap between the road and a sidewalk. Once I was convinced it was all level, I climbed out. He led me a few steps and paused. I heard him thank the driver before we walked into a building. I had no idea if this was a restaurant or a hotel or a house. I just knew we were indoors. The distinct chime of an elevator eliminated the possibility of being in a house or a restaurant.
Alastair remained silent as we rode up. He kept my hand secured in his, pulling me gently when the elevator doors opened. We walked a fairly good distance before stopping.
“Ready?”
I nodded. The mask loosened, its soft satin sliding up over my head to reveal a dimly lit hallway. I blinked, waiting for my eyes to adjust. We stood in front of a cream colored door at the end of a long hallway. No other doors were visible which led me to believe this was either a penthouse suite or an expensive apartment complex.
Alastair stayed quiet, standing to my left. He held my belongings and the roses. “Open the door, Lia.”
“But I don’t have a…” I paused. “Do I need that key for this?”
He smiled. “No. It’s unlocked.”
“Okay.” I sucked in a breath and twisted the knob. “Oh my God.”
The apartment’s entry was all in white with polished marble floors. A dark wood table sat against one of the walls, displaying the largest, most elaborate bouquet of long stemmed red roses I’d ever seen. There must be at least three dozen of them in the crystal vase. The delicate perfumed aroma filled my lungs. I looked past the flowers and saw the entry way opened into a stunning living room. It was also all in white with luxurious, dark brown furniture. Enormous French doors opened to a balcony. A soft breeze rustled the floor length drapes, making them billow out like a ball gown. But more amazing than the room and the decorations were the countless lit candles that circled the entire space. They flickered from end tables and shelves, bathing everything in a soft, golden glow.
With every step I took, I noticed more long stemmed red roses. They weren’t in vases. They were laying on a dining table and on chairs and pillows. There was so much to take in I became overwhelmed.
And then I walked out onto the balcony. The candles weren’t the only source of golden light that bathed this apartment. Twinkling so close that I could almost reach out and touch it was the Eiffel Tower.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Paris,” I said as tears welled in my eyes. “He brought me to Paris.”
“Do you like it?”
I turned, bursting with love for the man standing in the doorway. “I love it.”
Tilting his head to the right, he motioned for me to look in that direction. Sitting on a table set for two was a bottle of champagne and a slice of birthday cake. I laughed.
“You brought me to Paris for a piece of cake?”
“Among other things.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’m…this is…” I blinked back the tears. “I don’t know what to say.”
Bowing his head, Alastair grinned. “Speechless, huh? That doesn’t happen very often with you.”
“Come here and kiss me before I go insane.”
More than happy to oblige, he approached in less than three strides and kissed me with more love and affection than I expected him to succumb to. A shudder streaked through his body, shaking me to the core.
“I love you,” I breathed, holding him tight. “Always.”
His smile was heartbreakingly gorgeous. For real.
“Don’t move.” He opened the champagne and poured it. Accepting the glass he offered, I stood next to him.
“A toast—” he raised his flute “—to the most amazing, enchanting, intelligent, beautiful woman I’ve ever known. Every day with you is a gift. I can’t wait to call you my wife and spend the rest of my days making that smile appear.”
“You’re one hell of a romantic for a guy who doesn’t do relationships,” I said as a tear made a slow trail down my cheek.
In a rare moment of pure unguarded candor he said, “It’s easy with you. Everything is easy with you. I don’t have to make any effort to love you and that’s why it can be so scary for me. It’s just there and for someone like me—” he caught himself, stopping. Clearing his throat, he regained his trademark cool-as-ice demeanor. “Happy birthday, Amelia Grace.”
I kissed the corner of his mouth before clinking my glass with him. “Charmer.”
“We’ll see how charming you think I am in a bit,” he said with a hint of danger. “Have a seat, kitten.”
“Why?”
His eyes widened. “Because I said so.”
“Hmm.” I smirked. “Bossy on my birthday? I don’t know about this.” I sat facing the Eiffel Tower. Unreal. We were so close to it. Seriously. It was across the street. Larger than life, the famous landmark was more beautiful than any photo I’d ever seen. And here I thought the most elaborate thing he’d do would be to rent out an entire restaurant and take me for a quiet dinner somewhere in Glasgow. Silly me.
“Don’t pretend you don’t like it when I’m bossy.” He was so close his lips brushed against my ear. “Your body betrays you.”
I exhaled, losing control of basic motor skills while he swiped his finger through the buttercream frosting. “Birthday girl gets the first bite.” He wagged his frosting coated finger in front of me. “Unless you’d like to defer.”
“Not a chance, Holden.” I grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer, taking my time as I sucked the sweet confection from his finger. “Not bad,” I said, rubbing my lips together. The dark stare he leveled at me made it difficult to concentrate. I reached forward, swiping my own finger through the frosting. Grinning, I looked up at him.
“I get the second bite, too.” Tracing his mouth with the frosting gave me a rush. His body stilled but his eyes sparked with lust. I licked the remaining frosting off my finger and leaned forward. “Mine,” I murmured, running my tongue over his lips, reveling in the sugary sweetness of the frosting and the delectable flavor that was one Alastair Holden.
A soft moan filled the space between us as he took control, his tongue darting past my lips. I felt him trying to curb his own restless desire as he kissed me. I wasn’t sure why he would do that. Breaking his mouth away, he stared at me beneath heavy lids and commanded softly, “Do that again.”
I took my time tracing his mouth with the frosting, spurred on by his raspy breaths. I could tell he was itching to take me and do as he pleased. I wanted that, too, but couldn’t deny how fun it was to have him at my mercy. To be honest, his ability to control his ravenous desire was impressive. I’d never known him to play the submissive. Even the times I thought I was running the show in the bedroom, he always had a way of letting me know he was still in charge.
Effortless: HarperImpulse Contemporary Romance Page 17