"You’re right,” he said. “Let’s stop hiding. I want to let the whole world see we're in love."
YES!His monsters set up a chorus of noisy agreement.
[happy aqua]
Bing!
The elevator arrived. They stepped in and the doors slid shut, leaving them alone together in the box.
"Did you say in love?" Fen asked.
Carter swallowed, abruptly nervous. It had just slipped out. He hadn't even realized it himself, at least not consciously. But now that he thought about it, he knew that it was true.
But that's impossible,he thought.I'm a shifter. For me to be in love—really in love—Fen and I would have to be mates.
Shifters knew their mates at first sight. Their inner animals had the power to recognize their true loves. And Carter's inner animals had said nothing. But of course, they weren’t his real inner animals. They were monsters that had been forced upon him against his will. The death of his snow leopard must have left him unable to recognize his true mate even when she was right there next to him.
A pang of grief for his lost snow leopard squeezed his heart, but it was followed by a flash of pure joy. Fenwashis mate. She had to be. He loved her like he’d never loved any other woman.
All of that flashed through his mind in an instant. The elevator was still moving down. Fen was still looking at him, her beautiful face upturned, waiting for his response.
"Yes," Carter said. The elevator doors slid open, but he barely noticed. His heart was pounding like a hammer. "Yes, Fen, I'm in love with you. I hope—I hope—"
“Of course I’m in love with you,” she interrupted. “Can't you tell?"
She grabbed him by the collar, pulled him down, and kissed him. The passion of that kiss left him in absolutely no doubt that she was telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Lights flashed. Bulbs popped. Fen and Carter jumped. They were still inside the elevator, which was stopped at the lobby, and a mob of reporters were rushing them like a stampeding herd of buffalo.
"Hey!" Fen yelled in the general direction of the front desk. "I thought you said you didn't let the paparazzi in here!"
From the front desk, a beleaguered voice yelled, "I'm so sorry! They pretended they were guests. Security!"
The gathered paparazzi took one glance at the approaching security guards and began madly hurling questions at Carter and Fen as their cameras flashed and popped and flashed again.
“Fenella! How long have you been together?”
“Carter! Was the kidnapping a hoax?”
“Fenella! Were you secretly on a honeymoon?”
“Carter! Did you fall in love while you were kidnapped together?”
“Fenella! Is Little Bit going to cancel the hostile takeover?”
“Carter! Was your rivalry always fake?”
“Fenella! What’s your favorite perfume?”
“Carter! Do you manicure your eyebrows?”
They were still yelling questions and taking photos as the security guards dragged them out. A particularly determined reporter shrieked, “Fenella! Is it true that you secretly prefer Howe phones?” as the front door slammed in her face.
Fen whispered in Carter’s ear, “They know about the eyebrow manicuring. You can run but you can’t hide.”
Carter whispered back, “Search my bathroom. You’ll find nothing.”
Flash! Pop! A paparazzi lunged out from behind a large potted plant, and was promptly dragged away.
