Behind them, Presley’s voice floated over the courtyard.“Someone tell Kayne to breathe!”
Jalen added, “Or don’t.He looks like a man with a plan.”
Kayne didn’t let go of Chloe.
Not even a little.
#
Chloe had told herselfnot to be nervous.
That lie lasted all the way through the gates.
The COBRA Securities compound opened up like something out of a glossy magazine spread that had married a national park and raised it on discipline and money.Trees arched overhead.Buildings sat back from the paths with intentional grace, all stone and glass and quiet confidence.It was beautiful in a way that didn’t shout about it.
And it was full of people she’d only ever seen on screens or periodicals or newspapers.Kayne had told her all about his coworkers and their spouses.Frankly, she was intimidated.
Her pulse skittered as Kayne parked and came around to open her door.She did not want to trip over her own awe and face-plant in front of half the entertainment industry.
He touched her lower back.“You good,cher?”
“I think so,” she said honestly.“I’m just nervous about how many famous people I might accidentally make eye contact with.”
His mouth curved, fond and unbothered.“They put their pants on the same as everybody else.”
She snorted.“I’m not convinced that’s true.”
They hadn’t taken five steps before she spotted an Academy Award winner laughing with a woman she recognized immediately as a Grammy winner.A little farther down the path, a home renovation star was crouched beside a child, explaining something with animated hands, while a bestselling author sat on a bench nearby, wine glass in hand, smiling as if she’d wandered into her own found-family epilogue.A multiple Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer was talking with a performer from that reality dancing show.And over there was a hockey superstar juggling four pucks, much to the delight of the kids around him.
Chloe slowed, momentarily overwhelmed.
Kayne felt it instantly.His hand slid firmly into hers.Present, not possessive.
“Hey,” he murmured.“They’re just people.Good ones.”
As if on cue, one of them looked up, caught Chloe’s eye, and smiled.Then waved as if they were neighbors.
“Well,” Chloe whispered, “that was aggressively nice.”
It didn’t stop there.
Introductions came fast, friendly, and curious without being invasive.She engaged in hugs, handshakes, and jokes.Answered thoughtful questions about her clothing line, her plans, the kids she wanted to help, and the community she was building.
No one sized her up or treated her as if she were borrowing space she didn’t belong in.
And that was when the ache hit her.
It came out of nowhere, fierce and sudden.She thought about Leo’s laugh and his steady presence, the way he’d always been five steps behind her without her ever asking.He was her brother in every way that mattered.The one person she’d never had to explain herself to.The thought of not having him next to her every day twisted low in her belly.
She would miss him desperately.But grief and gratitude could exist in the same breath, she realized.Standing here, with Kayne’s hand in hers and warmth instead of fear filling her lungs, she knew something else too.She couldn’t keep choosing safety over joy just because it was familiar or easy.This wasn’t running away.This was rushing toward a life she’d finally decided she deserved.
For once, she was choosing herself.
“This place feels ...”She searched for the word as they wandered deeper into the compound, past open lawns and a path that curved toward water.“Safe.”
Kayne glanced at her, his expression softening.“That’s the point.”
The lake was beautiful and smooth as glass, edged by trees in shades of red, yellow, and orange.The noise of the compound faded, replaced by chattering birds and the low hush of water lapping against the shore.
