“Happy birthday, Lizzy.”
Slowly, he lifted his hand from behind the desk to set a pair of absolutely stunning shoes of creamy white lace accented by delicate crystals. They were open-toed and on the front of each balanced a sparkling butterfly.
Caught without words, she crossed over to the desk. Picking up a p?o de queijo and popping it into her mouth, she chewed slowly and savored the cheesy Brazilian bread treat.
Unruffled by her lack of response, Kyle took his feet down off the desk and stood smoothly, pouring her a glass of wine and holding it out to her.
She took it and had a small sip. “Thank you, for all of this.”
Especially for the amazing shoes.
He came around the desk and reached out, his hand brushing her jaw in a light caress as he slid it behind her head and grasped the nape of her neck. He pulled her close for a scalding kiss, his lips hot on hers as she opened for him. He tasted of wine and spice, his breath mingling with hers until she set the wineglass down and spread her hands over his chest.
When she tilted her head back in a gasp, he pressed a trail of searing kisses along her neck and whispered, “We could celebrate right here.”
She growled and set her teeth against his shoulder, not hard enough to break skin, then licked the same spot. “Negative. Cameras everywhere and this is already way more than any of them need to see.”
He chuckled and straightened without protest, the hunger still in his gaze, promising the night was going to be a long one once they got back to his place.
She gave him another quick kiss and then turned her attention to the slices of skirt steak with garlic butter. There was just enough here for a light meal.
“I figured you might enjoy a snack.” He leaned against the edge of the desk. “There’s another dinner waiting in a basket back at my place.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Does Diaz know you’re the reason Maylin’s catering company is expanding this winter?”
He shrugged. “The food is unparalleled.”
No argument there. “Why a basket?”
“Well, if things go as I hope they will, we’ll be heading out as soon as we stop by to pick up the luggage I’ve packed.” A twinge of uncertainty had crept into his tone.
“Packed?” Her heart did a little flip. “Where are we going?”
“I thought you might trust me. The first flight is to Hawaii.” He gave her a heart-stopping grin. “You can find out the next stop after a couple of days and I give you the boarding passes to our next destination. All cleared with Diaz already, no worries about any contracts. Just a well-deserved vacation.”
Together.
“What about Frederick?” She glanced at the goldfish in question, still swimming around happily in his fishbowl.
“Diaz even agreed to come in and feed Frederick every day.”
Lizzy huffed out a laugh as she touched the water’s surface. The goldfish swam up to the surface to kiss her fingertip.
Kyle opened his arms in invitation and she stepped into him without hesitation.
“You keep surprising me,” she whispered. “Not just with what you do, but the way you get me to react. I’m all sorts of things I forgot I liked being when I’m with you.”
“I love you.” He made the statement simple, his voice almost cracking with the emotion behind it, then pressed a kiss against her hair. “I love everything about you. I’m looking forward to discovering more.”
She swallowed hard. “You’re a complicated man, Kyle Yeun.”
“Yes.” And she saw through all of his posturing to the person he’d evolved into over the past few months and who he could be.
Even better, he looked at her and saw her too.
“I love you too.” Her mouth had gone dry but she’d gotten better at saying what she felt, out loud, to him. “I might not say it often or even admit it again anytime soon. But I do. So I’ll say it now because I have no idea what’s going to happen tomorrow or even later tonight and you have a tendency to have explosives go off near you.”
“Let’s survive to tomorrow together, then.” He bent his head and kissed her.