Page 38 of Soaring and Steadfast

The relief, the sheer satisfaction in his smile, nearly undid her. His gaze—filled with an aching possessiveness—burned into her, branding her in ways she never expected. He kissed her again, softer this time, savoring her like he had all the time in the world.

And then, with an easy tug, he pulled her forward into the water, their bodies swaying with the rhythm of the waves, their lips finding each other over and over.

Gentle. Playful. Reverent.

And as she looked at him, at the man who kissed her like she was the answer to every question he had ever asked. She realized she had found something real in Louis.

Somethingextraordinary.

Hours later, Lila watched in bemusement as Louis yanked the car into the apartment complex, muttering a quick, “Wait here,” before he jumped out and jogged toward the office. Her brows furrowed as she watched him, confusion prickling at her. A moment later, he was back, sliding into the driver’s seat with a look of pure determination, throwing the car into reverse so fast that the tires bumped over the curb behind them.

“Louis?” she asked, alarmed as the car jostled from the impact.

“Sorry,” he muttered, shifting back into drive and pulling forward with a tension she had never seen in him before.

Her stomach tightened. “Are you okay?”

He exhaled sharply. “I’m nervous.”

That threw her.

Louis—steady, teasing, always-in-control Louis—was nervous?

She studied him, noting the way his hands gripped the wheel a little too tightly, the way his jaw flexed as if he were bracing for impact. This wasn’t the same easygoing man from earlier.

“Did you forget something at Trophy and Stephanie’s?” she asked, trying to make sense of his unease.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled into a parking spot farther down, cursing under his breath as he turned off the car. Her confusion only deepened when his gaze locked onto hers, filled with something close to fear.

“What have you done?” she whispered.

“Nothing yet.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Come with me.”

“For what?” She stared at him, her pulse kicking up. “Where are we going?”

“I want you to look at this place… to see if you’re interested.”

Her mouth dropped open.

Wait. What?

Before she could process his words, he was already moving, stepping out of the car and striding toward a woman who had emerged from the office. Lila remained frozen, utterly flabbergasted, until Louis appeared at her car door, opening it with a determined expression.

“Five minutes,” he whispered, his voice nearly pleading. “Just give me five minutes and hear me out.”

She swallowed hard, her heart hammering as she slowly took his offered hand. He led her toward the woman, who unlocked the apartment door and stepped aside. As they entered, Louis pushed the door to, not closing it completely but enough to grant them privacy.

“It’s not the Ritz…” he murmured, pulling her forward. “But you’d be close to Stephanie.”

Her breath hitched. Her gaze shot to his, finding nothing but open hope in his eyes.

“I’m really putting it all out there,” he chuckled, the sound edged with emotion. His fingers traced small circles against the small of her back, grounding her in the moment. “Close your eyes and dream for a second,” he urged. “We could put a couch here and?—”

“Louis…” she breathed, her voice barely audible. Her hands trembled as she looked around the empty space, the enormity of what he was suggesting slamming into her. “Are you… are you talking about me moving here?”

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