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“I’m not taking you home,” he informed her.
“It’s getting late,” she murmured. “Where should we go?”
“My hotel room.”
Caitlyn started to protest, but he kissed her again and then looked into her eyes.
“I can’t do without you. I won’t,” Emrys insisted, his voice going deep and low and tremulous. “I lived without you once, and I don’t plan to be separated from you again so soon.”
“You could stay in New York. I’m not going back to Cincinnati for another week.”
“I can’t. I have to fly out in the morning. Since the PR junket for this film is over, I promised my family I would come home.” Emrys shook his head. “I must meet their expectations, if I want to continue to live freely.”
“I don’t know what to do, then.” Caitlyn wrapped her arms around him. “If you have to go, I won’t stop you. I understand that your time isn’t always your own. I mean, between your film career and life as Cabeauian royalty…That’s a lot of obligation.”
“Cait, I’m asking you to come with me.”
Caitlyn felt her head spinning. “Come with you. To Cabeau? Now?”
“No better time.” He stroked his fingers through her hair. “You haven’t been to Europe in some time, right?”
“I— Well, no—“
“And you said you love to travel. You’ve never been to Cabeau, and we can do day trips back to France, if you like, or any of the other surrounding countries.” Emrys’s eyes pleaded with her.
“I can’t just run off to Europe!”
“Why not? You won’t have to pay a cent for the trip, and your work can come with you, can’t it?”
“Well, it can, but…” Caitlyn shook her head. This was too sudden. It was crazy. She couldn’t just decide to leave the country on a whim. There were plans to be made, paperwork to get in order. She was sure Emrys could arrange travel, but were there regulations for entering Cabeau? Would she need a visa, her passport?
“Stop thinking,” Emrys ordered. He touched the tip of her nose. “I can see that little worry line on your forehead.”
“Emrys, this is such a generous offer. I can’t wrap my head around it.”
“You want to go,” Emrys said confidently.
“I…”
She felt the wind on her cheek and his hand on her back. She looked up at him and saw the intensity and raw want in his blue eyes. She had to tell him no, to keep herself and her heart safe.
“I want to go,” she found herself saying.
And she let him kiss her again.
***
Caitlyn didn’t get back to Melinda’s apartment until the dawn had come and gone. She was greeted by both Marbles and Snowball, who rushed her with a chorus of demands for breakfast. She chuckled and leaned over after closing the door to give each of them a head pat and a few scratches in turn. She scanned the living room and spotted her things perched neatly on the end of the sofa where she’d left them before heading out to the premiere. She let out a sigh.
First things first. She pulled out some clothes and set them aside. She would need to get cleaned up before they flew out. Then, she went to work packing up her laptop and the various associated notepads and paraphernalia she used to complete her work.
“Whoa. You’re up.” Melinda came into the room rubbing her eyes. “Are you coming with me on my morning run?”
“No, I’m gonna have to pass.” Caitlyn turned to face her and twisted her fingers.
“Did you just get in? You’re still wearing your dress.” Melinda screwed her brows together and looked over Caitlyn in confusion. “Did you stay out all night?”
Caitlyn pinched her lips to the side as she considered what to say, and Melinda exploded in laughter.
“You bagged a movie star!”
“I didn’t bag anyone! He’s…he’s an old friend.” Caitlyn sat on the arm of the sofa and begged Melinda with her eyes. She needed someone to understand. “Do you remember that story I told you about the boy I met in France?”
“Of course. Back in college, all you could do was babble on about that guy. Mr. Bohemian, Mr. Sweet Lips.” Melinda came over to sit with her.
“Emrys was that boy,” Caitlyn admitted.
When Melinda gave her a skeptical look, Caitlyn covered her face and leaned away from her. At first, of course, Melinda clearly didn’t believe her, but as Caitlyn began to break the story down, Melinda grew quiet, occasionally bobbing her head or asking for clarification. She wrapped up the story with Emrys’s invitation.
“You’re just leaving?” Melinda blinked at her in disbelief.
