He's Captured My Trust (Captured Series Book 2) (36 page)

“Already? Is it someone you know?”

“Yes. I didn’t expect it to be on the market long, but I’m surprised at how quickly things seem to be moving along. I also have a few other things that need to be tied up back home.”

“Like?”

“When things are moving along, I’ll tell you. I don’t want to get your hopes up in case . . .”

“Now you have me intrigued. You can’t say that and just leave it hanging in the air, there with nothing else.” I take a bite from the roll.

He puts his cup down and puts my roll on the plate. He takes my hands in his. I shift uncomfortably, uncertain of what he’s going to say.

“I’ve already told you I want to spend as much time with you as I can. I know most of that time has to be here . . .”

I try to speak, but he silences me with a swift kiss.

“Please let me finish. I know you would never ask me to make a choice, but you don’t have to. My decision is easy. I want to be with you. Simple. But I do have to put plans in place for the businesses I intend to keep back home. Michael will have a lot more to do. He’ll oversee the running of things, and he’ll still travel between here when I need him and the United States. And if I need to go back to the States, we’ll try to make it as brief as possible so as not to interfere with the running of the hotel.”

I look at him and can’t hide the emotions that must be written all over my face. He has just shown me his hand. He’s in this for the long haul. I lean toward him and our lips meet with softness and understanding.

“You do realise that if I need to go back to the States for anything, you’ll be coming with me, right? It’s hard enough being apart from you when you’re at work, so please agree.”

“Of course I agree. Right now I would agree to anything. I love you so much.” I throw myself the short distance across the bed and into his arms.

“I know we said we’ll take it a day at a time, but I love you, and that’s never going to change. I just hope in the next few weeks I don’t do anything to piss you off.”

“Have you any idea how I feel right now?” I ask him.

“I feel the same, baby. Now less of the—how would you say it?—chitchat and more eating.”

I laugh at his words and his use of a funny accent. He hands me my roll and cup of tea. I am too excited to eat right now. A million thoughts are running through my mind, and not all of them are clean. This has lots of possibilities, waking with him every morning and falling into bed with him every night.

I eat one roll and drink my tea as we sit talking about the coming evening. It’s only now that I notice that all the bags that were lying in the room are gone. He has been busy. I’m sure he’s not had to move too many of my things to make way for his.

“If you’re finished eating, you need to think about getting organised. Your dad is picking us up at five thirty.”

“Is it wrong that I could just lie here for the rest of the day?”

“Yes. You know you can’t. So start with a shower.” He pulls the covers down from me. A shower . . . this could be interesting. I smile shyly at him. “No can do. You are going for a shower on your own, Libby.”

I pout at him as I move from the bed. I stand and loosen the belt on my robe, letting it slide off my shoulders. Dropping the towel had an effect on him last night, so here’s hoping.

“Fuck!” he says. “Libby, it’s not happening. Shower by yourself.”

I turn and huff at him, but I know he’s right. If he gets in this shower with me, we won’t be ready when my dad gets here, and tonight is a big night for us all.

I let the water cascade over my body as I massage conditioner through my hair, spending a bit of extra care on it. It seems to be all knots. I suppose that has a lot to do with all our early morning antics. It was worth it, though. My thoughts drift to my mum and Ethan and little Lucy. I can’t believe they won’t be there tonight, but, of course, I understand why. My mum’s being protective of them both, which is understandable. There is no other reason she would miss out on tonight.

My next thought is of Kirsty. I can’t wait until tomorrow night to see her again. I know I’ve seen her this week, but I was a bit of a blubbering mess then, and we both ended up drunk. I hope she gets along okay at the hotel tonight.

I leave the bathroom with one towel wrapped around me and another wrapped around my head and find Alex entering the bedroom wearing much the same, with damp hair.
Mm . . . oh, the possibilities.
He’s obviously showered in one of the other bathrooms.

“Wipe that look off your face, miss. No time for what’s running through that filthy mind of yours.” He reaches me and gives me a soft kiss. “You are incorrigible.”

“And you’re to blame.”

I sit at the dresser and dry my hair. I don’t concentrate on it too much, as it’s only getting piled up. I don’t think I’ll do as good a job as the hairdresser did last week, but I will give it a go. This is the first time we’ve both gotten ready in the same room. Last week, the look on his face was priceless when I walked down his grand staircase.

I end up spending far too much time doing my hair and makeup, only because it takes me several attempts to put my hair up. But now that it’s done, I’m happy with it. Alex has pottered about the room, drawing out getting dressed. He looks as good as he did last week in his tux, tie hanging loosely around his neck. He looks mesmerizing, along with dark and mysterious or would dangerous be a better choice of word? hot. Something about his shadowed jawline and tux together has me feeling giddy deep within. I give myself a shake as I watch him, because if I didn’t, we wouldn’t make it out the door tonight.

“Can you help me with my dress?” He hasn’t seen the dress I’m wearing tonight—the red one from Sophie’s. I take the carrier from the closet. He is rubbing off on me; I’d call it a wardrobe.

“Of course I’ll help.” He looks on with amusement, but helps by finally zipping the dress at the side. He stands back, and, judging by the look on his face, he’s more than happy with how I look. “Red is such a great colour on you. Sexy and seductive . . . I think that sums you up. And as for these”—his hand sweeps briefly across my chest, leaving me tingling with desire—“you stay close beside me tonight.”

“Where else would I be going?”

At five thirty, my dad buzzes up, but I still have a few things to throw together. I step into my shoes as I put on the earrings that Alex got me. He takes the chain and puts it around my neck before placing a soft kiss at the nape of my neck. My eyes close with the sensation that sweeps through my entire body. He should’ve woken me up sooner. This is going to be torture. I quickly put the bracelet on and grab my bag.

“Libby, stop.”

I stop and turn my head back toward him, and he snaps a picture on his Phone.

“Do me a favour and send that to Sophie.”

He looks slightly puzzled.

“She wanted one when I wore this dress.”

“So this is one of hers?”

“Yes. Now come on, before my father decides to come up and see what’s keeping us.”

“ALEX.” MY DAD’S VOICE IS
firm and steady. “I take it my daughter is the reason we’ll end up late?” He laughs.

“Phil.”

“No, Dad, we won’t be late. I’m ready.”

“Wow, honey. You look perfect.” He kisses my cheek. “Your mother will be so disappointed that she missed seeing you like this.”

“You make it sound as though I never make an effort with my appearance. God, do I walk around the hotel every day looking like something the cat dragged in?”

“No, honey, you don’t and you know it. But there’s just something about the way you look, and it’s not just the clothes. You look radiant, so happy.”

“I am,” I tell him, although my eyes are on Alex.

“Yes. I do believe you are.”

A silent look passes between Alex and me as he opens the car door for me—a look that, under the circumstances, leaves me breathless. I notice the red silk in his breast pocket, so we match. I laugh at the thought that he has gone to the trouble of coordinating. Mark is in the driver’s seat, and my dad sits with him in the front, leaving Alex and me together.

The journey to Edinburgh passes quickly. Between my dad and Alex, there are never any long pauses in conversation. I join in as well. Poor Mark; I’m sure he’ll be glad when we all get out, and he gets some peace. I forward the picture Alex took to my mum.

Mum texts me, “My beautiful baby girl.”

“You have your baby with you tonight,” I respond.

“You will always be my baby girl. X.”

God, she’s going to make me cry. My mum, my rock. She keeps me grounded and always lets me know how much she loves me.

“We’re here,” Alex tells me as he lifts my hand and kisses my knuckles.

I am looking forward to this. I’m not expecting to leave here with anything tonight other than the hotel’s good reputation. I’ve seen the calibre of hotels we are up against. Some of the biggest in the country, and it’s an honour to be even considered. I look out the window, and there’s a fair bit of excitement as our car stops.

“You guys ready for this?” my dad asks, turning around to face us. I know the question is for my benefit.

“Yeah. Let’s get this over with so we can enjoy the night.”

Mark comes around to my side as Alex and my dad exit. Mark holds the door open and Alex waits for me with his arm outstretched. I return his warm smile as I take his hand, but as soon as I get out of the car, he has me securely in his arm.

“Mr. Mathews, some photos, please. Miss Stewart,”
a photographer calls at us. Alex looks to me for approval, which I give. My dad stands off to the side, his eyes brimming with pride and admiration as he looks on. Alex teases me with a few select words before each shot is taken.

“Mr. Stewart, can you join us for some with you all together? And then if we can get some of just father and daughter.”

I stand between two of the most important men in my life. The only one missing is Ethan, but I’m sure there will be other nights when we are all together. After a few shots are taken, Alex steps aside and leaves me with my father as the photographer snaps away.

“Before you go in, would you mind answering a few questions?”

Alex is back at my side in an instant.

“How is the youngest member of the Stewart clan?”

I smile at the journalist’s choice of words. “She is doing much better. Thank you for asking,” I reply, to my father’s surprise.

“Mr. Stewart, you seem okay with your daughter’s choice of boyfriend.”

“Where is the question in that statement?” Trust my dad. “Of course I’m happy. It’s her life, and she has to live it how she chooses, but Alex knows what will happen if he hurts her.” My father laughs.

“Mr. Mathews, how long are you in town for this time?”

“Indefinitely.” His eyes are solely on me, not at the reporter who asked the question. “Now, if you’ll excuse us.”

We enter, and I stop and take several deep breaths.

Alex turns me to face him. “Are you alright?”

“I’m not sure.” I pause and look into his eyes, and he seems worried. God, I don’t want him worrying about me. “No, nothing’s wrong with me. It’s just that your one-word answer, basically to the world, has taken my breath away.”

“I told you I’m here, and this is where I plan on staying—with you. You’ll need to get used to it.”

“But won’t there be a lot of red tape to sort out with that?”

“Let me worry about that. Let’s get the casinos opened after Christmas, and then I can sort out the fine details. Now, come on. Let’s find Phil.” He takes my hand as we walk through to the reception room, where we are handed glasses of champagne.

I look around the room, but it’s full of people, and I can’t see my dad or anyone from the hotel. I do hear Kieran’s voice, so I travel in that direction, pulling Alex along with me.

“Oh, here she is—the woman of the moment,” Kieran screeches as I arrive at my destination. He pulls me toward him and hugs me tightly. “You look hot,” he whispers in my ear before letting me go.

I start by introducing Alex to everyone, even though he has met most of them before: Sally; Stephen; Karl and his girlfriend, Francesca; and Kieran and Rob, whom he’s been seeing for a few weeks now. Sally looks great. Her ice-blue dress brings out the sparkle in her eyes. We all stand talking for a while before it’s announced that we should take our seats as dinner is about to be served.

We go through to the function suite, which is stunning. It’s decorated in tartan and white, and each table’s centrepiece is coloured heather.

“We need to do something like this,” Kieran says, walking past me. He’s right. I love how this room looks.

We take our seats at the table in the centre of the room. There must be thirty tables in this room. Alex is on one side of me, and Karl is on the other, and Dad sits beside Alex. The music flows softly around the enormous room as the dinner is served. There will be four courses, and then the reason we’re here—the awards ceremony itself. I sit quietly, listening to the talk at the table. Kieran is his usual animated self. I grin watching him and poor Rob, who will have his hands full with him. Francesca is lovely. We’ve met a few times before, and she’s just the type I would see Karl with.