“I’m so glamorous,” she murmured weakly when we finally walked into the lobby, her fingers tight around Alex’s arm.
“You’re glamorous,” he insisted, completely serious. He guided her to the private elevator like she was made of glass while Nate went to the reception desk to check in. “You’re glowing.”
“I’m glowing because I’m about to either pass out or vomit,” she replied. “It’s calledbreaking out in a sweat.”
“You’re still gorgeous.” Alex steadied her when she swayed slightly on her feet and I had to admit, seeing him with her like this redeemed him a little in my eyes.
Only a tiny bit, but he clearly wasn’t the heartless bastard I’d initially thought. I didn’t say anything while we waited for Nate to meet us at the elevator bank, just watching her lean into Alex like hewasn’tpartially responsible for making her feel this way.
My heart stuttered when Nate appeared around the corner, his blond hair perfectly styled and those blue eyes serious butalso soft when they met mine. He wore a navy suit with a white button-down underneath, his broad shoulders filling out the jacket in ways that made me remember holding on to them when he’d kissed me, my nails digging into the fabric.
I felt my cheeks flush at the memory. My body tingled as he glanced at me once we were in the elevator. Alex and Jane talked quietly behind us, but Nate ignored them completely. His gaze alternated between looking at me beside him and looking at me in the faint reflection of us in the elevator doors.
Electricity thrummed between us, making me supremely aware of every shift and every movement either of us made. When the doors slid open, depositing us on floor where Nate had booked a two-bedroom suite for us two, it was a relief as well as a disappointment.
We spilled out of the elevator. Jane grabbed the key from Nate and rushed ahead, Alex hot on her heels. Nate didn’t say a word to me, but I was still so aware of him that I had to bite my lip to keep from either moaning quietly or saying something stupid.
I mean, what are you supposed to say to your arranged fiancé the day after he gave you the best orgasm of your life?
We walked into the massive suite together, but he left me in the sprawling living area while he darted after his brother and his sister-in-law. I went over to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Manhattan.
Home.Shit. So much in my life had changed since I’d last been here, but instead of feeling comforted by the view of the familiar skyline, I was too attuned to the sounds of Nate, Alex, and Jane to really enjoy it.
“I’m so sorry,” I heard her groan after Alex had gotten her settled on the bed. “Kate! I swear, I’m normally a lot more fun than this.”
I chuckled, immediately abandoning my quiet moment and the view to head over to the bedroom. Since I didn’t really want to intrude, I hovered in the doorway, smiling when I saw her already curled up on her side. “Don’t you dare apologize. You’re growing a human. You get a lifetime hall pass.”
She gave me a weak smile while Alex hovered, pacing, checking the thermostat, adjusting pillows, and asking if she needed crackers, water, ginger ale, even a priest. Finally, Nate dragged him out by the shoulder.
“Come on, man. Let her rest. She’ll be fine.” He glanced at me for the first time since we’d walked in. “Kate will check on her while we’re gone.”
I nodded immediately, even though I hadn’t known they would be going anywhere, but clearly, Nate needed Alex for whatever they were going to do and I didn’t mind keeping an eye on Jane. “Absolutely. If she needs anything at all, I’ll make sure she gets it.”
“We’re just going to check in with Harrison at the satellite office,” Nate said, his voice gentler than usual as he glanced between Jane and me. “We’ll be back before the party.”
Jane waved them off without opening her eyes, but Alex still hesitated like he was physically rooted to the carpet.
“She’ll be fine,” I promised, prepared to shove him out the door if I had to. “How about this? We let her nap and I’ll text you as soon as she wakes up.”
He gave me a long look before he blew out a breath and nodded. “Yeah. Okay. That sounds good. Thanks, Kate.”
A hint of a smile appeared on Nate’s lips when he looked at me again. His gaze swept across my face, making my knees a little weak.God, I really need to get a grip. It was one orgasm, Katherine. He didn’t buy you a pony.
Thankfully, the Westwood brothers left and Jane was already asleep before the door had even closed behind them, so I didn’thave to explain why I just stood there for a moment, my cheeks heating and my heartbeat too fast. Alone again, I inhaled a deep breath and wandered back to the windows, the party tonight looming like a ticking clock in the back of my mind.
Hinds’ retirement was the official celebration of everything changing. Tonight, my engagement stopped being a rumor and became a spectacle. As I looked out at Manhattan, I realized I was glad it was happening here.
On my home turf.
But knowing that the eyes of the city—if not the nation—would be on me was still a damn intimidating prospect. As I moved toward the second bedroom to start getting ready, I tried not to wonder if Nate and I would be sharing this bed tonight.
A small ripple of nerves ran through me. If he and I were going to be sleeping in the same room behind a closed door, I honestly wasn’t sure I would be able to keep my hands to myself, but I shoved those worries aside.
There were bigger things to deal with right now. Like the fact that I hadn’t packed anything even remotely appropriate for a high-profile party thrown by a billionaire. Mostly because I hadn’t taken anything like that with me to Chicago to begin with.
I opened my suitcase anyway, rifling through my options with dwindling optimism. Business chic. Corporate cocktail. All of them polished and expensive outfits, but still utterly wrong for a party like this.
I can always run across town to my apartment.It wasn’t far. I had some dresses there, still nothing really fancy enough, but it was worth a try. Worst case, I’d stop somewhere for a fresh blowout and maybe find a boutique.
