Page 84 of One Little Kiss

Colton leans over the console and kisses my forehead. “That’s my girl. We’re almost at the hotel. Loch is waiting for us.”

“Your friend? The one who works at the hotel? I’m confused. I thought he worked at a hotel in Miami?”

His smirk tells me I’m missing something big. “I may have omitted one small detail about Lochlan.”

“Ah, what’s that?” Why am I suddenly nervous again?

“He doesn’t work at the hotels. He owns them. All over the world, actually.”

Oh my God. Of course he does. Billionaires would be friends with other billionaires. My gaze drops to my outfit, and I close my eyes to center myself. I have as much self confidence as the next girl, but I don’t fit in this world.

“CC? I know what you’re thinking, and you can forget it. You’re perfect. You look perfect. If you wore a burlap sack, you would still be the most beautiful woman in the room.”

I don’t have time to respond because he pulls up to a valet and my attention goes to the window. Having grown up in Vermont, Boston always felt like my city, but I’ve never spent much time in the Beacon Hill area. Glancing up at the towering building with ornate details and gargoyles on the roof, I’m in awe that someone I know could own something like this.

A bellhop rushes to the car and opens my door, but I don’t move.

Colton chuckles. “It’s okay, CC. Just be yourself. I promise you, you’ll still have better manners than a lot of the socialites they’re used to in places like this.”

“How do you always know what I’m thinking?” Once the words are out, a smile spreads from ear to ear. Colton Westbrook has a hold on me, whether I like it or not.

Leaning in close, he whispers words just for me. “Because I know you, CC. I’m so invested in you that I pay attention to every detail. And that will never change. You’re it for me, sweetheart.” If my eyes get any bigger, I’m pretty sure they’ll fall right out of my head. “Go ahead. Get Wes out of his car seat while I help with the bags.”

In a Colton-induced haze, I follow his orders. Wes is abnormally quiet as I hoist him up onto my hip, but as soon as Colton rounds the car, he babbles with happy sounds and arms outstretched. The man before me doesn’t hesitate as he reaches for Wes and easily cradles him in one arm.

When he lays his head on Colton’s chest, singing away happily, something unlocks in my chest. It’s a feeling I can’t name, but I know it’s big and scary as hell.

“Ready?” he asks, taking my hand in his and leading me into the fanciest hotel I’ve ever been in. Crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, twinkling and shining like the biggest diamonds.

“Why does it smell so good in here?” I whisper.

“Loch infuses all his hotels with a signature Blaine scent he spent an excessive amount of money curating. He also won’t tell anyone what’s in it. He says it’s proprietary, but I’m not sure even he knows. It’s pretty incredible though, right? Calming? He spent hours with control groups testing it.”

“That’s … wow.”

“There he is. Huh. And there goes Tilly. What the hell?” he says under his breath as he leads us through the lobby to a man crouched down, picking up a pile of papers scattered on the floor around him.

CHAPTER26

COLTON

Why did Tilly just have a faceoff with Lochlan Blaine? I wasn’t even aware that they knew each other. He’s my best friend, but she’s family, and it has me taking fast strides toward him with Winnie in tow.

“Loch. What was that about? I didn’t realize you knew Tilly.”

“Tilly?” he asks, genuinely surprised.

“Yeah, the girl that just stormed out of here looking like she wanted to smack you.” Winnie tugs on my hand, and I lower my voice. “She’s Preston’s sister-in-law and my assistant.”

“Huh.”

“That’s all you have to say? What was that about?”

A lecherous grin spreads across his face, and I’m worried I’ll have to fight my best friend. “We literally bumped into each other. I was looking down at my phone, and she was … well, I’m not sure what she was doing. We’ve been running into each other a lot lately.” He says it almost to himself, and it has me more curious than angry.

“You’ve been running into each other? Where?”

“Weddings. Three in a row, actually.” Loch’s eyes dance with mirth as he speaks, and it sets off alarm bells.