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So this is love.
A picnic in the park on a warm spring day in Paris. Flowers all around, perfuming the air. Children laughing in the distance. Dogs barking.
Alexander Hunt at my side.
No one pays us any undue attention, which might have something to do with the half a dozen men he has watching us everywhere we go. Not having paparazzi on our heels has been heavenly. We’re just an ordinary couple out to enjoy all Paris has to offer.
Bliss runs through me like warm honey. He’s stretched out on the picnic blanket next to me, propped up on one arm as we watch the world go on around us. I cuddle closer, a smile curving my lips, every cell in my body happy and sated.
“I’ve never felt like this before,” I whisper, almost more to myself.
He nuzzles my temple. “Like what?”
I swear, he’s not the same man that left New York a handful of days ago. He’s almost... relaxed.
“Like I’m glowing from the inside out. Like nothing bad can touch me.” I duck my face against his chest, feeling shy at the admission.
Alex curls a finger under my chin and lifts it until I meet his gaze. There are so many unspoken words in his dark eyes. Questions. Affirmations.
“I’d love to tell you nothing bad will ever touch you again, Beauty.” He tucks my hair behind my ear. I swear I nearly swoon. “But I can promise you I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe and happy.”
Well, that did it.
I melt into him, lifting my lips to his. If only my monthly frenemy hadn’t shown up yesterday, I’d haul him back to the hotel and ravish him. Heck, I might not make it that far.
“You say the best things,” I murmur.
He smiles softly. “Surely I can do better than that.”
A giggle bubbles up inside me. “Are you challenging yourself, Mr. Hunt?”
“Maybe.”
A bright light snags my attention, and I look away from him, trying to find the source. On the other side of the park, a mother is wrangling her kids for a photo. They’re all dressed in cute spring outfits, and though the mom looks harried, they’re all laughing.
Without prompting, I sense Alex turn his attention their way.
Mom gets a few photos before the kids dissolve into a pile of laughter. She just smiles and joins them.
I don’t want to wish my life away, but I crave that kind of freedom. To be yourself and enjoy the company of those around you without a thought of how it’d look to investors.
That family lives life out loud and it’s beautiful and messy and fun.
“Take a picture with me,” I say, patting the pockets of my dress for my phone.
“Let me. My arms are longer.” He takes the phone, flips the camera around, and lines us up on the screen.
I lean into him, letting all the joy show on my face. We might be surrounded by his bodyguards—not wearing all black for a change so they don’t attract attention—but today’s been perfect. A taste of what life could be like away from my mother and the company and the pressures of the board. Alex’s only expectation of me is that I enjoy myself, and I couldn’t ask for more.
I press a kiss against his cheek as he snaps a few more photos.
“Should we send it to the guys?” I ask, glancing through the shots. I love the one of me kissing him. He looks so smug in the best possible way.
It makes me want to kiss him all over again. Like every chance I get. Sneaking them in the elevator, in the backseat of the car, while we’re waiting to be seated at the restaurant. And he never shies away. He’s never grumbled about too much PDA or told me I should think about the optics.
I took so many pictures in the gardens yesterday my phone was overheating. At which point, Alex had handed me his and told me to knock myself out. I was already walking around like a life-size heart-eye emoji, but he just sealed the deal with his smooth moves and thoughtfulness.
“If you want. But something tells me they’d enjoy it more if you were solo.” His gaze sweeps the length of my body, which immediately flushes. “And less dressed.”