Page 38 of Steel Beauty

The door opens, and she steps out, dressed head-to-toe in black—sleek, understated, and stunning. The crop top clings in all the right ways, while the wide-leg trousers flow with graceful movement. Draped over her arm, a leather jacket adding a bit of edge. There’s a cool, unbothered confidence about her that I love, like she isn’t trying to be beautiful or noticed.

Even in heels, she’s still a good bit shorter than me, which makes the size difference between us stand out even more. She’s petite but has this perfect mix of strength and softness––not the kind of woman you’d break if you held her too tight. Everything about her pulls me in, like she was meant to fit me every way that counts.

Bloody hell, it’s like she was made for me.

By the time I step out and circle around to greet her, her gaze is already fixed on the car, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. “A blacked-out G-Wagon? Why am I not surprised?”

Holding the door open for her, I grin. “What else would I drive? I’m a big bloke. I can’t exactly squeeze into a Fiat.”

Her laughter spills out as she slides into the seat. “Fair enough.”

The late evening sun filters through the branches of a nearby tree, casting shifting patterns of light. One stray beam breaks through, landing perfectly on her face—and the mystery is solved.

Her eyes—hazel. Light brown interwoven with green, flecked with gold that shimmers near the center, like sunlight scattered across amber glass. Her hair also surprises me. It’s lighter than I’d realized, streaked with natural honey highlights that catch the sunlight, shimmering like glitter woven into silk.

I pause, my hand resting on the edge of the door, caught by her sheer beauty. For a moment, I forget to move, I forget everything but the woman sitting in front of me.

Her brow furrows slightly, a hint of curiosity softening her expression. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I was just looking at your eyes. This is the first time I’ve seen them in daylight. They’re beautiful.”

She blinks, and a soft smile graces her lips. “Thank you.”

I close the door and walk around to the driver’s side, sliding in and glancing her way. “I have something special planned tonight. We’re going to a restaurant owned by one of my closest friends. But don’t worry—it’s completely private. She’s reserved a dining room just for us, so there’s zero chance of anyone seeing us together. But the best part is she’s an excellent chef and she’ll be cooking the entire meal for us.” I throw in a wink, adding, “Only the freshest ingredients for you, of course.”

Her lips curve into a small, appreciative smile. “Oh wow. That sounds amazing.”

I’ve taken Laurelyn’s advice to heart, and it’s time to show Charleston that I appreciate her concerns. “I want you to know that I understand how important it is to keep this under wraps.”

Her nod is small but firm. “Thank you for acknowledging that.”

“I don’t want you to worry. I’ve got it handled.”

“I believe you.”

We pull away from the hotel, and I ease into some light conversation. “How was your day?”

“It started with brunch, then I spent the rest of the day holed up in my room. I’m still trying to shake off the time-zone adjustment.”

I nod, watching the road. “Yeah, it can feel like you’re living in two time zones for a while.”

She laughs softly. “Exactly. I feel like I could sleep for days. But I think the worst of it is finally behind me. What about you? How did you spend your day?”

“Spent the morning at church with my family. After that, we had lunch at my parents’. All my siblings were there, so it was the usual loud, chaotic mess.”

“Sounds like a beautiful, chaotic mess to me.”

I chuckle. “Chaos, definitely. Beautiful? Not so much.”

“To someone like me, it sounds wonderful.”

Her words stir something deep inside me, a quiet reminder of how lucky I am to have the kind of family she’s never had. Tonight, I appreciate them a little more than I did this morning.

I ease the G-Wagon into the narrow alley behind Chloe’s restaurant, killing the engine. The kitchen’s service entrance is ahead, tucked discreetly out of sight from the bustling main street. Stepping out, I make my way around to open Charleston’s door.

She raises a curious brow. “You must know the owner pretty well if we’re sneaking in through the back.”

I grin, holding out a hand to help her out of my vehicle. “You could say that. Chloe and I grew up together. She’s a close friend.”

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