The warmth of the hotel lobby is a relief. The bellman, recognizing me, swipes his card at the elevator for the penthouse level and gives me a nod. My heart races as I ride to the top floor, nerves and anticipation churning in equal measure.
And when the doors finally slide open, I brace myself, having no idea what to expect.
Cain is standing there in his foyer, the same one where I threw a glass vase at him just a few weeks earlier. And the sight of him knocks the breath from my lungs. His simple, gray sweatpants hang loosely on his hips, paired with a casual black T-shirt that stretches over his tall frame. His chestnut hair is tousled, like he just rolled out of bed or came straight from the shower, and his green eyes meet mine. Unblinking and intense.
“Rhiannon. You came.”
I shake the snowflakes off my jacket before stepping into his home with a smile.
“Of course.”
His gaze softens as it drifts over me, and before I can stop myself, I’m running straight into his arms. He catches me easily, strong hands wrapping around my waist and lifting my butt as he pulls me in and buries his face in my hair.
He inhales me like he’s been starving for my scent, and I do the same, trying to memorize the warmth of him, the solid weight of his chest against mine and remembering how he’s always felt like home.
I don’t know what he’s about to say, maybe he booked this session to tell me it was all a mistake and he’s reconsidered, but something deep in my chest knows better. This feels different. This time being here feels like coming home and it’s only because he’s here.
When he finally pulls back, there’s a smile tugging at his mouth. He nods toward the living room.
“Should we get started with our session then?”
I laugh and follow him as I step down the small, carpeted step into the large, open room. I take a seat on the cloud cushion that I’ve cleaned a dozen times and wring my hands together, wondering where to even start.
He takes a seat on the coffee table that’s facing me instead of the couch, his knees bumping against mine playfully.
“Hi,” he murmurs his green eyes sparkling.
“Hi.” I smile. “So... tell me what you’d like to work through in our session today.”
“I met a girl,” he blurts out, his tone is steady, eyes focused on mine.
I clear my throat and sink back into the couch. “Okay...”
“And she changed my whole world view.”
I squirm in my seat, crossing and uncrossing my leg.
“It was an accident.” He continues. “I’d gotten in an argument with my father and was feeling defeated one night. You see, I had this insane winning streak. Fifty cases in a row, no losses.”
“That’s quite impressive.”
He smirks. “It was. But that night, my father had said something to me that made me feel like no amount of winning was ever going to satisfy him. So, I went for a walk and ended up in Bryant Park at a food truck, trying to get some dinner before heading back to the office despite being exhausted.”
“I see.”
He nods. “It was spring, and something about the air made the whole city feel alive. Back then, I never did anything for myself. I spent all my time working at my father’s firm to follow in his footsteps someday because I thought that was what would make me happy. Turns out, that isn’t the case.”
“Hm.” I hum softly, giving him a nod to continue.
“Dating hadn’t been a priority to me. Women have never understood my work schedule, and I never cared about prioritizing them over my career. But that night, something felt different.”
“Different how?”
“Different like I was about to meet my future.”
My heart races.
“She was standing there, bathed in the spring moonlight, waiting for her order at the food truck. The most stunning, carefree woman that I’d ever met. And you know what the first thing she said to me was? She was offended that her girl crush wasn’t my girl crush too.”
