Page 45 of The Collector

He glanced at Mynx then, something unspoken flickering behind his eyes.

"She loved this place. Said the ocean made her feel small in a good way."

"I'm sorry," Mynx said softly. "Losing someone that close, that early… I can't imagine."

She hesitated, then finished the thought.

"My mother's everything. My best friend, my anchor. Helping her get better—it's not just about her. It's about holding onto the part of me that still feels whole. If I lose her… I don't know who I'd be."

"Something tells me you'd figure it out," Raven said. "But let's hope it doesn't come to that."

He placed a hand at the small of her back, guiding her toward the front entrance. The gesture was gentle, but deliberate—an anchor, a redirect. He wasn't trying to dismiss the moment, just steer it back toward the reason they'd come.

"Can I offer you something to drink, before we go freshen up for dinner?"

"Sure, how about something tropical to celebrate my first trip to Mexico, something to make me feel at home."

"I have the perfect drink for you. It's called Coco Loco. Do you like Coconut?"

"Love it. What should I wear for the rest of the evening. Is casual ok?"

Raven nodded. "Good. Give me a moment, and I'll have it sent to your room," Raven said, then gestured down the hallway. "It's just over this way. And yes casual is perfect I want you to relax. Enjoy you’re evening."

He placed his hand at the small of her back, guiding her toward the guest room just off the central corridor. The gesture was automatic—one he'd used a hundred times in boardrooms, nightclubs, with women who never asked questions. But with Mynx, it felt different. Not because she flinched or leaned in, but because she noticed.

The hallway was quiet; the kind of quiet only money could buy. Raven felt her body shift slightly under his touch, not resisting, not yielding—just aware. That awareness unsettled him more than he expected.

He opened the door and stepped aside. Moonlight spilled across the white linens, the sandstone walls, and the glass that framed the ocean like a painting. It was the kind of room meant to impress. But he wasn't trying to impress her.

He just wanted her to feel safe. Be open to him.

"This was her room," Raven said quietly. "Best view of the ocean. Balcony catches the breeze just right."

He stepped aside, letting Mynx take it in.

"I hope you like it. I want you to feel comfortable here—with me."

He hesitated, then added, "I know I'm not soft. Not romantic. Like other men you've probably dated. But I want to learn how to be. For you. If you can be patient with me."

She smiled then—slow, warm—and reached up to touch his cheek. Her fingers were light, but they steadied something in him. Then she leaned in and kissed him. Soft. Understanding. Like she saw the fault lines and chose not to step away.

It was a start, he thought. And it scared him how much he wanted it to last.

***

"You look absolutely stunning," Raven said, leaning against the doorway as Mynx stepped into the living room.

The light green sundress, scattered with tiny silver stars, made the green in her eyes stand out even more. Her curls had slipped loose from the sleek updo she'd worn earlier—soft now, a little wild.

She looked effortless. And it wrecked Raven.

So damn adorable. And she didn't even know it. That dress, that smile. Damn. I'm one lucky bastard.

"Seriously, if I'd known you were going to show up looking like that, I would've put on something with fewer wrinkles."

He grinned, half-teasing, half floored. And maybe a little undone

"It's just a sundress, Raven. You said dress casual—be myself," she said, voice low, a little self-conscious.