Kat couldn’t help but get a little stuck on the statement. They’d met knowing they’d get to have that time together; it’s what the show entailed.
“While five days might not seem like enough time to fall in love…” His gaze moved up to lock on hers, and a burst of fire hot heat—as blazing as the cobalt blue of his piercing eyes—seared through her chest.
“I have fallen in love with you, and I really want this marriage to last.”
His words chased the anxious doubts from her mind, replacing them with explosions of warmth. Hope. And love. So much love.
Bravery followed, the courage to say how she felt in return. “I’m in love with you too,” she admitted.
A smile spread across his handsome face. There was an obvious shift in his posture as well, the stiff set of his shoulders turning lax in the next breath. Relief.
Had he worried that she might not feel the same? Perhaps he had, but Kat could assure him in more ways than one.
Already he was lowering his head to hers, seeming to have a similar idea. Kissing Duke had always been a blessed event.
Even the small kiss exchanged at the altar. The moment they shared in the limo. Their kisses had evolved since then, become expressions of interest, desire, and a growing attraction she couldn’t resist.
This time his mouth met hers with a new sense of passion. A celebration of the love they shared. And that’s when she realized that she’d only been stuck in her own thoughts and fears about falling in love. Whatever question or concern sat in the back of her mind, just out of reach, it was a frightened muse from her past, looking to save her from the kind of hurt she’d suffered with Bradley. But that wasn’t going to happen again.
It was time to let go of that doubt and enjoy the love blooming before her eyes. As she vowed to do that very thing, Kat’s trust in Duke broadened and swelled. Hopefully this time she could trust herself as well.
Chapter 19
Zander secured the camcorder on the tripod, flipped the screen to face him so he could check the view, and hit record before taking a seat in the chair across from it.
A quick glance over his shoulder said that Kat was busy hanging the beach towels on the banister outside the beach house, her blonde hair getting tousled by the breeze.
Just the sight of her did things to his insides. It was unlike anything he’d experienced. The sudden shift when she was near. Like someone had snipped the wires of his body’s natural make, made everything go haywire in the most exciting and addictive way.
She was magic.
He hoisted his arm in the air, waved to get her attention, and grinned like a lovesick pup when she did. “I love you, Princess of the Pillows,” he declared.
“I love you, too, Robin of the Hood, champion archer of the west.”
It would take a while to wipe the grin off his face, he knew that much. But he turned back to the camera and tried just the same.
They’d promised to capture footage of their time there, which they’d done, and now it was time for the video diary.
He sighed a breath of contentment and set his eyes on the lens. “ Dang, she’s cute. So I’m supposed to talk about my…let’s see, thoughts and feelings, I think. My thoughts are this—Kat Morgan is an incredible woman. And in a matter of days, I’ve fallen in love with her. Undeniably.”
That smile came back as he recalled the declaration she’d given in return. “I’ve been asked in each interview if I think this whole social experiment thing can work. I’ve been pretty confident that it could, but not as confident as I am right now. We’ve had a great time at the Maldives, and if all goes as I hope it will, I’ll be bringing Kat here for our anniversaries for years to come.”
* * *
Kat stared at the camera while an inner dare ran through her mind. What would happen if she watched Duke’s video? It wouldn’t be hard. She’d simply need to hit the play button, tap the rewind tab a few times, and listen to what he had to say.
As much as she liked the idea, Kat decided against it. Her Robin of the Hood had been open and honest about his feelings, and she didn’t want to betray his trust by watching the taping behind his back.
So she reached over, pressed record, and sank back into the chair. He’d set the tripod on a place in the shade, but even still Kat couldn’t help but squint against the brightness as she looked at the lens.
“Duke Benton has surprised me in a million ways,” she said. “And here we are, just halfway into our honeymoon, and I can honestly say that I’ve fallen in love with him.” She laughed and shook her head. “It probably sounds crazy, but there’s a reason I felt so…good about the experiment. And that reason is…well, it was meant to lead me to him.”
She took time to talk about their picnic beneath the trees, and the moment they’d declared their love for each other as well. It wasn’t until she was wrapping up the recording that she heard the distant hum of a motorboat.
Kat glanced away from the lens, stood to her feet, and looked out over the water as Jamal approached. It was then she noticed he wasn’t alone. Both Marsha and Randall sat in back. Marsha wore a pair of sunglasses that reflected Randall and his bright orange life vest. Twice.
A dart of concern snuck in as she guessed at why they would come. She and Duke were supposed to have the night to themselves after all. Kat was quick to stop the recording and head for the dock.
