Page 185 of Modern Romance March 2025 (5-8)

“You’re here, Atlas. Not in London. You have your priorities in order. You’re not like him.”

That moment of danger had put everything into perspective for him, though. When it counted, he had no problem walking away from the nonsense of life toward the meaning of it.

That’s what she was, he realized. All these weeks since meeting her again, he had suffered an indefinable sensation of Stella being beyond his reach. He realized now he’d been holding her off. He had known that she would become his world and that meant letting go of all those other things that had consumed him.

They were inconsequential now, though. None of it mattered so long as he had her.

As she rolled to a stop before him, she seemed to come to rest inside his heart.

She was his everything. He didn’t know how he would make up for the hurt he’d caused her, but he was damned well going to try.

CHAPTER TWELVE

STELLA DIDN’T KNOWwhat to make of the fierce light in Atlas’s expression so she held up her arm, speaking to both of them.

“They said the fracture was small enough a splint would be enough support while it heals.”

“That’s good,” Carmel said. “Your sister has gone with her friend and I’m off to Milan for some research and development. That’s what I call shopping.” Carmel wrinkled her nose. “Now I’ll go talk to the press so you two don’t have to. Don’t worry. I’ll make it all about me,” she added toward Atlas.

It must have worked because only a few photographers lingered when Stella had dressed and was finally discharged.

By then, she was utterly done in, even though it was only late afternoon.

“Where are we going?” she asked with confusion as his driver took them to a private airfield.

“You said you wanted to go to Zermatt.”

“Oh.” She had thought he would insist on Athens or London. She had hoped he would insist she come home with him.

“No?” he prodded.

“Yes,” she decided, even though it took all her effort to hold on to her composure. She needed to know that when her world fell apart and she was left to fend for herself, shecould. But she was going to struggle to say goodbye to him again.

He came aboard the helicopter with her.

“You’re coming with me?”

“Yes.” He frowned, but didn’t hesitate to take the seat next to hers.

She nearly wept with relief. She was so tired from her sleepless night on the train and distressful morning, she didn’t fight the drop of her head onto his shoulder as they lifted off.

She snapped awake when she felt something soft touch her brow.

He lifted his mouth away from the kiss against her forehead. “We’re here.”

“Oh.” She was completely disoriented.

This had been the longest day of her life, but the sun was only sinking against the mountain peaks, not yet fully down. It had only been two months since they’d left, but the snow was gone from the valley bottom and the meadows were bright green.

“This is my favorite time of year,” she told him as they left the helicopter and walked toward a waiting e-taxi. “Do you mind if we walk?”

Neither of them had luggage and he was still in the suit he’d put on for his board meeting. She wore the yoga pants and the loose top she’d been wearing when her father had arrived. When she crossed her arms against the breeze, Atlas took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

“This is where I walked when I arrived the first time,” she said as she led him to the bridge that crossed the river. “I didn’t know the city so I came all this way from the train station before I realized I should have gone the other way. I was so frightened and angry. I didn’t have any sort of plan. I only knew I was going toshowhim.” She laughed at her vague, juvenile goal.

Atlas didn’t, but he was watching her, listening intently.

“It was autumn and so pretty, all golden. I fell in love with the mountains and the freedom to make a mistake and go the wrong way. Everything was hard—finding a place to live…cleaning up after drunks… But lots of young people were here, making it all seem doable.” Seasonaires arrived every winter to work and finance their ski habit. She’d felt like one of them. “At first, I thought everyone knew what they were doing except me. I felt like an ugly duckling among swans.”

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