Then she lifts her face and gives me a watery smile. “I love you, Lucas. I love you so much.”
My heartrate kicks up. “You do?”
She nods. “I wanted to tell you after the award ceremony. Gosh, I was so scared you didn’t feel the same way. The thought of having to walk away from you was heartbreaking. I couldn’t breathe just thinking about it.”
Cupping her face with both hands, I plant a firm kiss on her lips. I rest my forehead on hers and say, “Pixie, I’ve loved you since the moment you sat next to me in math class. When you came back into my life, I was too screwed up to recognize it. I’m sorry it took so long to tell you.”
“All that matters is that we are here now, loving each other. Everything else doesn’t matter.”
I hook my arm around her waist and pull her close. “I want to take you home so we canloveeach other more.” I wiggle my eyebrows so she understands my meaning.
She looks over her shoulder. “But we just got here? The press are still out there. If we leave now, what will they think? I can’t deal with any more questions. This night is magical. I don’t want them ruining it.”
Taking a moment to ponder the situation, I come up with a plan. I pull my phone from the inside pocket of my suit jacket and send a text to the limo driver. Then I reach my hand out and say, “Follow me. I’ll get us out of here.”
Without hesitation, she takes my hand. I guide her through the guests gathered around waiting to be seated, not stopping for anyone who tries to grab our attention for a chat. We zigzag through tables decorated with flowers and candles to a side door that the staff are using. Slipping inside, we run hand in hand, laughing, through the corridor. I’ve never had as much fun as I do when I’m with Penny.
We make it to the kitchen, and I snatch two bread rolls out of a basket and toss one to Penny.
“Hey, the kitchen isn’t for guests!” a man standing at the stove, who I’m assuming is the chef, yells at us.
“Sorry, it’s an emergency,” I call back. “Thanks for the bread.”
Finding another door, I crack it open and peek out. Thankfully, it leads outside into an alley with no one in sight. Running to the road, I look up and down the street and see the limo parked a few yards away. Through the cooling night air, we make our way to the car. Out of breath, we fall inside in a fit of giggles.
“I think we gave the poor chef a heart attack.” She lifts her hand holding the bread roll. “Thanks for the snack.” She laughs before taking a bite.
“I thought you might need some sustenance for the night I have planned for you,” I say in a warning tone, giving her no doubt as to what’s on my mind.
She swallows hard. “Oh, what do you have planned?”
The limo pulls out onto the street, and I press a button on the control panel. A dark block-out partition screen separates us from the driver. “Let me show you.”
Chapter Twenty-One
PENNY
Lying in bed with our arms and legs entwined, my body heavy and sated after our lovemaking, I can’t think of a better place to be. Or a better man to be with. Lucas Alessi loves me. Those words fill my heart with so much happiness it’s going to burst. It’s what I wanted. Dreamed about.
Now he is mine. For real. No more pretending.
When we’re in public we don’t have to act like we’re in love. Because this is the real deal. I can’t wait to share my life with him.
Lucas’ fingers ghost over my shoulder and down my arm. “What’s on your mind?”
I shift my position so I can lean my arm on his chest and prop my chin on my fist. “You. Us. How we don’t have to pretend anymore.”
“Pixie, I stopped pretending the first time I kissed you.”
I pull my head back. “What? You were the one who suggested the plan. Why didn’t you tell me how you were feeling?” I was so scared to tell him how I felt in case the feelings weren’t reciprocated.
“For a time, my head ruled my heart. I was too fucked up about my beliefs to trust what I knew deep down to be true.”
I lightly pluck at his chest hairs. “And what was that?” Yes, I’m fishing to hear it again.
He stares deeply into my eyes. “I love you, Penny. Always have. Always will.”
A quiver rakes through my body. Never will I tire of hearing those words. “I love you too.”
