Page 75 of Fifth Avenue Devil

And while the city's beauty is undeniable, I only halfway notice because Annalise is by my side. Laughing, firing off quips, shooting me glances that make my heart stutter in my chest. Right now, her golden curls shine like a halo around her angelic face. She has a look of intense concentration as she gazes up at the iconic museum.

"Isn't it breathtaking?" she murmurs.

"Absolutely," I agree. But I don’t really mean the museum.

Annalise is just fuckingbeautiful. She has this uncanny ability to make even the most stunning sights pale compared to her presence.

She turns to me, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, smiling a bit sadly. “I don’t want to leave the Louvre. I could explore the exhibits for days. But we only have today and tomorrow in Paris. So… I guess I’m ready to move on.”

Nodding, I pull out my phone and text the driver I’ve hired. “Where to? Notre-Dame?”

She nods, then wrinkles her nose. “I hate that we can’t just walk everywhere. Stupid ankle.”

Reaching out, I put my arm around her shoulders and pull her in for a kiss. “Next time.”

Annalise looks surprised by my words. When I think them over, I realize that I have introduced the concept oftimeto our otherwise magical day together. We’ve been floating in a bubble, unbound by the limits of time and space. I didn’t mean to compromise our happy ignorance like that.

I cough into my hand and pull her toward the SUV that’s coasting to a stop. No need for either of us to get bogged down by reality today.

We continue our exploration of Paris, venturing from the Louvre towards Notre-Dame Cathedral. Annalise catches my hand when we enter, her awe evident on her face as she stares up. The impossibly high arched ceilings and dramatic stained-glass windows are truly something to behold.

"Can you imagine all the history that's unfolded here?" Annalise asks. Her head is on a swivel, eyes tripping over one sight before catching on the next.

"No. I can’t. It is beautiful in a way that nothing in New York is, though," I reply.

Annalise looks up at me, her eyes shining. “There is something different about our time here in Paris. Don’t you think?”

I can only nod. I agree with her. That much feels obvious to me. But I don’t want to screw anything up by saying it aloud. Labeling the heady mix of chemistry and intimacy I’ve found with Annalise seems dangerous.

It’s better to stay silent.

As we stroll around the Pantheon, I find that I want to let her see the man behind the cocky exterior. Can she handle that?

There’s only one way to be sure.

“You know, I am the oldest son by twenty-seven minutes,” I remark. I try to pretend it like it’s not a big deal. “When we were talking yesterday about feeling that our parents’ expectations are high, I thought about talking about that. I feel enormous pressure from my parents to live my life by their strict standards. My brothers obviously don’t feel the same kind of pressure.”

Annalise nods slowly. “I doubt Cash feels that kind of pressure about anything. He seems to be entirely without conscience.” She hesitates. “What was your household like when you were growing up?”

"Quiet. My father was a billionaire, always preoccupied with making more money. And my mother... well, she was cold and distant. She rarely had anything to do with her sons. A very strict group of nannies raised us."

"Is that why you're so guarded?" Annalise questions gently.

"That’s a part of it. I've just – I’ve always felt driven. Make more money. Crush my competitors. But with that comes a certain…” I search for the right word. “Loneliness."

"Loneliness? Really? Even surrounded by your brothers?"

"My brothers and I are close, but there's always been this wall between us. We're all afraid to show vulnerability. Letting someone else in seems foreign."

"Is that what you want? To let someone in?" Annalise’s touch is warm and reassuring as she takes my hand in hers.

I screw up my face. "It's not easy for me. I've spent my entire life building walls."

"Maybe it's time to do things differently.” She clings to my arm, curling in. I put my arm around her and take a deep breath.

The next words I speak are past my lips before I can shove them back down my throat.

"Do you want kids, Annalise?" I blurt out.

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