HOLLAND
The moment I ask about meeting up, Kenya’s tears disappear, her eyes dart back and forth, and she makes a lame excuse about needing to go back to work.
As if I buy a single line of that.
I smile in satisfaction. She might be panicking, but I got her mind off the conversation with her sister.
Score.
“You finished talking to Kenya?” Ezekiel asks.
“Yeah.”
“She good?”
I’m one hundred percent sure that she’s more focused on what she’ll do to protect her lie than on Sasha’s shotgun wedding. That should keep her busy for a while.
“She could be better, but I gave her something else to think about.”
“Hm.”
“Ezekiel, can you set these plates?” Mrs. Hansley croons, handing him a stack of dishes.
“Sure thing.” He plods away.
Mrs. Hansley sends him heart-eyes that he completely ignores.
I chuckle. Since the Fine Industries licensing deal went through, I’ve decided to move my office home. Reasonably, my executive assistant has to make the move with me.
Mrs. Hansley seems to be very happy about that.
Frankly, so am I. I’m still involved in the company, but I’m determined to spend more time with Belle. No matter the cost.
“Daddy, look.” Belle storms out of the kitchen, holding a giant bowl of leaves. “I made salad.”
“Good job, Belle.”
The doorbell rings.
Belle’s eyes light up. “Uncle Darrel!” She takes off like a shot and I hustle behind her.
Belle jumps up and down when Darrel walks into the room. He softens his stiff expression to offer her a smile.
“Hi, Belle.” He scoops her into his arms and gives her a hug. Then his green eyes shift to me. “Thanks for the dinner invite.”
“Mrs. Hansley’s idea. She wanted a certain someone to stick around and a random dinner party was the best excuse.”
His eyes twinkle. “I see.”
Belle points to the table. “Let’s eat!”
Darrel sets her in a chair and I fold a napkin over her lap.
“Daddy,” Belle says.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“I wish Miss Kenya were here to eat with us.”
“Me too, darling.”
There’s not a day that goes by where Belle doesn’t mention Kenya. I had no idea my little daughter adored her so much. Not until she couldn’t see Miss Jones at all.
The day Belle threw her biggest tantrum was the day I told her that Kenya wasn’t coming back.
Big mistake.
My daughter burst into tears and refused to eat another bite until she could speak to Miss Kenya.
If Miss Kenya isn’t in heaven, then why can’t I see her?
I couldn’t argue against logic like that. And it pulled my heart out of my chest to see my baby in tears. Since I missed Kenya just as much as she did, I decided to swallow my pride and beg for just a bit of Kenya’s time.
Best decision I ever made.
We’ve talked almost every day. Sometimes it’s just about Belle. Other times it’s about her work, my progress with Fine Industries, or my complaints about the new management company.
“We’re gonna kidnap her someday.” Belle munches on her food.
My eyes widen.
Ezekiel snorts.
Mrs. Hansley shakes her head. “Belle, we don’t go around kidnapping people. That’s not a nice thing to say.”
A wrinkle forms between her brows. “But daddy said that about Miss Kenya. He said he missed her so much that he wanted to kidnap her.”
My cheeks flush with heat. “Uh… why don’t we talk about something else?”
“What’s wrong with kidnapping?” Belle asks innocently.
“Miss Kenya isn’t in the country, remember, Belle?” I clear my throat. “So even if you wanted to, it would be hard to kidnap her.”
“Oh man.” Belle pushes out her bottom lip and hunkers in her seat.
I notice Darrel glancing guiltily away. It makes me curious so, after dinner, I corner him on the balcony.
The city sprawls in front of us, skyscrapers with lights more dazzling than the stars. The dark sky stretches over the horizon, falling into a thin line at the edge of the world.
I press a hand on Darrel’s shoulder and squeeze. “You know something.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“How long were you aware that Kenya hadn’t left the city?”
His eyes narrow on me.
“I found out from the first call. Weeks ago.” Kenya tried her best to disguise her surroundings, but I caught a glimpse of the coffee shop before she pointed the camera at a wall.
I recognized the room and my suspicions blossomed. After that, I harassed Sutherburg until he finally admitted that Kenya had turned down the Baby Box offer.
The rejection came along with a threat about what would happen if they broke the contract with Belle’s Beauty. Turns out, Kenya isn’t just a lioness with me. She’s not afraid of anyone.
And I love her for that.
Even if it means I have to work twice as hard to get her back.
“You should have told me.” I scowl at him. “I looked like a fool.”
“I don’t disclose confidential information, and you don’t need my help to look like a fool.”
“Do people actually come to you for comfort? I can’t see why.”
His lips relax. It’s not a full smile, but it’s his version of it. “If you’ve known for this long, why didn’t you go to her?” He arches an eyebrow. “Still scared?”
“No.” I lean against the balcony.
He does the same, looking out over the night sky.
“After Claire died, it took me a long time to accept that I deserved to keep on breathing. I had so many thoughts of ending it, but I couldn’t leave Belle. I couldn’t let Claire down a second time.”
He nods.
I fix my eyes on the moon. “So I got stronger. Harder. I decided someone would pay. They’d regret keeping me alive. I didn’t care about anything but my own goals. I got used to taking what I wanted because Fate didn’t ask for permission to take Claire so why should I? Life was simple that way.”
He rubs his hands together, still listening.
“But with Kenya, I knew that wouldn’t fly. I knew that barging in and demanding she admit her lies and come back to me would result in me getting slapped in the face.”
“Or karate-chopped in the neck,” Darrel says.
I give him a weird glance.
“That woman is not above violence.”
I chuckle. “The best way to win her back wasn’t to use my usual tactics. I needed to earn her trust. Slowly. Over time. I need to prove that I can go at her pace without dragging her to the speed of mine.”
“Wow. You almost sound like an empathetic human being, Alistair.”
“Screw you.”
He chuckles. “How is it going?”
“We act like she’s really long distance. We talk on the phone for hours. We discuss everything from politics to popcorn toppings. I feel like I know her better now. And I’m more in love with her than I was before.”
That’s a two-edged sword. The more I learn about Kenya, the harder it is to keep my desire in check.
I go to sleep every night aching for her. It’s driving me up a damn wall and nothing I do helps to take away the yearning.
I miss her little moans, the ones she makes over coffee. And I miss the way her breath catches when I touch her. I miss the way she melts into my arms when I wrap them around her waist. And the way she groans my name like it’s the last word she’ll ever say.
My world turned upside down when she sassed her way into it. And now my fern isn’t the only thing she’s destroyed. My heart is there in pieces right beside it.
“What are you going to do?”
I wrap my fingers around the safety railing. I had them installed so Belle never accidentally climbed on the ledge and fell.
“I asked her to meet me in person.”
His eyes widen.
“She doesn’t know I know.”
“What if she flies all the way to a foreign country just to keep on lying to you?”
“She’s not going to do that.”
“How are you so sure?”
“Because I know her.” My jaw softens. “She doesn’t run when she’s cornered. She faces things head-on. She fights. That’s the way she’s wired.” A grin spreads on my face. “She’ll stay here and she’ll come at me.”
“And what will you do?”
“Me?” I massage my wrist with a smirk. “I’ll be ready for her.”
Kenya arranges for us to meet at a park, claiming that she’s ‘back for the holidays’. I buy that about as much as I believe that Santa Claus is real.
But I’m not complaining.
It feels good to see her again.
I slide Belle over to my other side and try not to drool over the woman standing in the park.
Kenya looks like a dream. Her hair’s in a shapely afro. Her dress is long and silky. A tropical print. Her brown skin is sun-kissed, almost like she really spent the last few months in paradise.
My arms immediately twitch, wanting to close around her and kill the distance between us. Instead, I set Belle gently on the ground and watch her stream into Kenya’s arms.
Kenya absorbs her, pulling Belle in and closing her eyes like she was waiting for this moment for ages. When they separate, it’s only by an inch. They’re both holding on tight.
“Miss Kenya, you look so pretty.”
“You too, sweetie.”
“Can I touch your hair?”
“Thank you for asking and you sure can.” Kenya inclines her head toward my little girl.
Belle feels her hair and makes an astonished sound. “It’s so soft.”
I’m surprised when I see Kenya fighting tears. My jaw tightens. I don’t ever want her to cry. I only want her to smile and laugh from now on. To be the happiest she’s ever been.
“I missed you.” Belle hugs her again. “Daddy did too.”
“Did he?” Kenya’s brown eyes jump to mine.
I pretend to frown. “Belle.”
“But you said to tell her that.” My daughter stares at me with wide, innocent eyes. “Remember?”
I blink in shock. That’s the last time I ask Belle to play a part for me. She has no problems throwing me under the bus.
Kenya rises to her feet, looking amused. “What else were you supposed to say to me, Belle?”
“Um,” she taps her chin, “that daddy loves you. And um… he’d do anything for you. And can you please come back?”
Kenya kisses Belle’s cheek. “Wow. How hard did you have to work to memorize that?”
I interrupt them. “Belle, why don’t you tell Miss Jones about your teacup?”
“Oh yeah!” Belle starts chatting about the new set Darrel bought her. While my daughter talks herself blue in the face, Kenya settles her on her lap and holds her close.
I watch them both and this feeling of… completion hits my chest. Like our family is finally healing. Like I’ve found what I’ve been missing for so long.
At that moment, Kenya looks up at me and smiles.
My heart dances and I can’t even catch my breath. She is the most beautiful woman in the world. It’s unfair the way she squeezes my soul at her leisure. Without even lifting a pretty finger.
“Belle,” I say when my daughter’s finished her spiel, “why don’t you and Mrs. Hansley go play for a bit while I talk to Kenya?” I motion to the nanny who was hanging back in the car while Kenya and Belle had their reunion.
“And what exactly do we have to talk about?” Kenya asks, arching an eyebrow as Belle trots into Mrs. Hansley’s arms.
Still spunky as ever, I see.
“Walk with me.”
She remains in place.
I sigh, close my eyes and fire out the word I know she’s waiting for. “Please.”
Kenya jerks her chin down as if to say that’s better. She follows me as we stroll through the park.
Sunshine flits between the trees. The branches on either side are so long that they intertwine in the middle, forming a sort of leafy canopy.
“Did you fly in for your sister’s wedding?” I ask, pulling my hands behind me.
She crosses her arms over her chest, studiously avoiding my eyes. “I didn’t go.”
“Did your parents scold you?”
“They didn’t say anything.” Something fascinating must be on the ground because her eyes are glued there. “They cut me off.”
My heart aches for her.
“I’m sorry.” I stop and trace a line under her chin with the tip of my finger. “Are you okay, Kenya? You look… tired.”
For a second, her eyes flicker with longing. I sense how much she wants to melt into me, to shift from stony to languid heat. She can’t hide how much she wants me, but she’s trying hard to fight it. Full of contradictions, as always.
“I’m working hard. Baby Box has me on a strict schedule.” Her words are slow as if she doesn’t buy her own story. “I’m surviving just fine without a tyrannical overlord boss telling me what to do.”
“But is that boss as handsome as me?”
I expect some kind of sharp response, but she just side-steps me—and the question—and turns to walk back to Belle.
My lips inch up. “I have something for you, but you’re going the wrong way.”
“What do you mean?”
I gesture to the path we were on.
She squints up at me. “Alistair.”
Damn. I missed hearing her say my name in person. Her voice is soft and fluttery. That perfume I love floats in the air, merging with the scent of sunshine and dried leaves.
I decide to shift the order of things a little. Pulling an envelope out of my jacket, I hand it over to her.
She frowns. “What’s this?”
“Take a look.”
“If this is some kind of lawsuit threatening me to come back to Belle’s Beauty…”
I smirk. Her mind works in mysterious ways and I love every inch of it. Even if it drives me crazy.
“As much as I would love for you to come back to Belle’s Beauty, I understand why you won’t. And I want whatever makes you happy.”
The suspicious look flees her eyes, leaving only curiosity in its place. “So you wouldn’t order me to come back and work under you.”
“Oh, I definitely want you under me.” Preferably wet with sweat and bawling my name like she’s going down with the ship.
Her eyes widen.
Mine narrow in teasing. “But I don’t have any thoughts of ordering you to do anything. Right now.” When I get her alone in bed however…
“You’re so sure that whatever’s in here is going to change my mind about you? About us?” Dark brown eyes hold mine hostage.
I nod to the envelope. “Open it.”
This time, she doesn’t scold me for not adding ‘please’. Her head tilted to the side, she tears the envelope apart and shakes out the contents.
It’s the contract I signed a few days ago. The paperwork outlines the takeover of her publishing house. By me.
“You bought the publishing house?” Her jaw drops.
“Not just me. Us.” I tap her name that’s written out in black and white.
She stumbles and I quickly wrap my arms around her to keep her up. Kenya remains in my embrace, too shocked to push me away or say anything.
I don’t mind the proximity. I love that I can hold her like this. It’s been so long.
Leaning down, I inhale her scent.
She smells amazing.
“Why is my name there?”
“Turns out, if you’re a medium-sized publishing company, you’re always hurting for cash. The publishing house had a good name and empty coffers. It wasn’t hard to get them to sign the deal.”
Her eyelashes flutter. “Alistair.”
I set my hand into the dip of her hip. “I’m the main backer, but I gave you controlling shares. That means you can do what you want with the company. I’ll follow your lead. When it comes to that business, I’ll do everything you say.”
She looks up from the paperwork. “You’re insane.”
“You don’t like it?” I arch an eyebrow.
She pushes out of my arms and takes a step away from me. Her eyes flash. “You’re overwhelming.”
“In a good way, right?” I tilt my head confidently.
“You can’t just…” She waves the paperwork around. “Buy me a company! Especially not the place where I—” Then she goes still. “Did you know all along where I was?”
“I did.”
Her eyes narrow.
I step toward her. “Kenya, I went along with your lie because I knew you weren’t comfortable meeting me. I want to make an effort to respect your space. To respect your independence. But I also want you to know that I will burn the world down if it’ll keep you warm. And whenever you’re tired of fighting alone, and proving whatever you need to prove, I’ll be there to run with you. Fight with you. Hold you if it ever falls apart. I won’t tie you to my side as long as you promise you’ll keep coming back to me. As long as we can always be a team.”
Her eyes lock onto mine.
I stop when I’m right in front of her. “Living without you was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I realized that I don’t have control. Not really. But what I have is family. You’re mine, Kenya. And I want to be yours.”
She folds the paper into two and shoves it in my chest. “I never asked for anything this big, Alistair.”
I frown. “What about a field of ferns that spell out ‘I love you’?”
She goes still.
“I had them arranged over there.” I point behind her shoulder.
Her head tilts back and she sighs at the sky like I’m the bane of her existence.
I wait for her to look at me again.
“Do they really spell out ‘I love you’?”
“You have to watch it from a certain angle…”
Her nose scrunches and then she bursts out laughing. Not exactly the response I was hoping for after spending thousands of dollars arranging the sign.
“Ferns… it’s the plant I kicked down the day we met. It’s…” She holds her stomach. “Alistair, I don’t know what to do with you.”
“If you love me a quarter as much as I love you, I’ll be happy,” I growl. Then I pull her to me. “My heart is in your hands, woman. This is no laughing matter.”
She wraps her arms around my neck, melting into me. All my dreams culminate in this one moment. Kenya looking into my eyes as I hold her close. Of course, my dreams are usually of her in my bed, but we’ll get to that when she’s ready.
Her fingers slip into my hair. “I’ll accept the ferns on a few conditions.”
“Name it.”
“You lend me your office to use after hours. I’m thinking of writing a book about all that’s gone on in the past few weeks, but my apartment is too noisy. I worked the best when I was in the Fine Building, and I want to see if my muse finds me again.”
Kenya Jones? Back in my office? In my sight again? After hours?
“Done.”
She laughs. “I don’t want to sneak around the office anymore. Whenever I come in, you keep the door open.”
“No way.”
“Alistair.”
“You want all my employees to see me ravishing you?”
Her fingers tighten on my neck. Her body shudders.
I trace my fingers down the curve of her spine. “What else?”
“You let your employees go home on Saturdays.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Alistair.”
“How about half-days on Saturday and Sunday?”
“Holland.”
Hell.
“Alright. No Saturdays.” This woman can run off with all my wealth and I’d still grin like a lunatic.
She smiles up at me.
I let out a breath. “I love you, Kenya. Living without you was a waking nightmare, far worse than anything I endured in my dreams. I won’t do anything to jeopardize this again.”
“I’ll give you one more chance.” She lifts a finger and leans her head closer. “Don’t screw this up, Alistair.”
Heat envelops me.
I lean down, ready to brush my lips against her perfect mouth.
“Daddy!” Belle gasps.
I jump back, still holding Kenya’s waist.
Belle skips up to us, stars in her eyes. “Is Miss Kenya going to be my new mommy?”
Kenya chuckles sheepishly.
Mrs. Hansley blushes and ushers Belle back. “Sweetie, I told you not to come this way yet.”
“What do you say?” I ask Kenya. “You want to make a sweet little girl’s dream come true?”
“Kiss me first and then I’ll think about it.”
I’m happy to oblige.
My lips graze hers and I’m no longer reeling in darkness. She’s pure, electric light and I’m holding on to her for all I’m worth.
Slowly, gently, I kiss her until she understands that she belongs to me. But I belong, just as equally, to her. With a sigh, she kisses me back like she understands. A frantic, desperate kiss that sends my head spinning.
“Easier ways to say you missed me too, but I like it,” I tell her.
“That obvious?”
“You don’t have to say anything. Your eyes tell me all I need to know.”
“I’ll say it anyway because words are important too.” She snuggles against me. “I love you.”
I struggle for breath.
This woman has all the power to end me. It’s freaking terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
Belle squirms on the sidelines. “Yay!” My daughter takes off and flings herself at my legs.
Kenya laughs and scoops Belle into her arms.
“My girls.” I glance at each of them. Wrapping my arms around Kenya, I kiss her temple and whisper, “Let’s go home.”
