Page 96 of Reveal Me
‘I wasn’t aware you wore any down there.’ I smirk.
‘Whatever happened to delayed gratification?’ she fires back.
‘It’s overrated, spoilsport.’ I take her hand in mine as Bendrives us to Dublin. The plan is to arrive fashionably late, after the initial press frenzy has died down. My family are expecting me—I told my parents I was bringing someone special—but they have no idea who.
‘What do you think they’ll say?’ Layla leans her head against my shoulder as the countryside rolls past.
‘Rian will probably come in his pants. Avery will scream. Killian will pretend he knew all along.’
‘And your parents?’
‘They’re going to love you. How could they not?’ I squeeze her hand reassuringly.
‘Where will we tell them we met?’
‘We’ll tell them you auditioned to be my submissive, then blackmailed your way into my life.’ I snort.
‘They’ll never believe it.’
‘Exactly.’
When Ben pulls up outside the hotel, it’s easy to see this is Caelon’s most impressive yet. The sun glints off the gleaming glass wall where Becketts Bliss is scrawled in italic font. Photographers line the entrance, but they’re focused on the other guests arriving. They don’t recognise Layla yet, not in this context.
Our security detail—Anderson’s team—forms a subtle but protective circle around us as we slip through the crowd. They’re good at what they do, blending into the background while keeping us safe. After the media circus following Layla stepping down, we can’t be too careful.
My hand stays on the small of her back as we approach the entrance. Through the glass doors, I can see the glittering crowd inside, and somewhere up on the mezzanine level overlooking the entrance, I spot familiar figures—Killian, Avery, and Rian positioned at the balcony railing, drinks in hand, clearly watching for my arrival.
‘Ready?’ I ask.
‘Ready,’ she says, but I hear the slight tremor in her voice.
‘I’ve got you.’ I press a kiss to her temple.
We step inside—the effect is immediate and electric. Conversations around us stop mid-sentence. Heads turn. The murmur of recognition starts low and builds like a wave.
From the mezzanine above, I hear Avery’s voice carry over the crowd: ‘Oh my GOD!’
All eyes turn to us, and I watch as recognition dawns on face after face.
Avery is the first to reach us. She’s fanning herself like she’s about to combust. ‘Oh my God,’ she whispers, then louder, ‘Oh my GOD!’
Killian is hot on her heels as usual.
Rian strides over, grinning like a lunatic. ‘So you’re not gay.’
I snigger. Before I can answer him, Layla jumps in. ‘I can confirm he’s definitely not.’ She shoots me a look that translates to,‘even if you do like anal.’
I pull her closer against me, and she snuggles in.
James stalks over, with Scarlett hanging off his arm. ‘Sean, what the fuck?—’
‘Language,’ I interrupt, grinning. ‘May I introduce you to my fiancée, Layla Sinclair?’
The silence that follows is deafening. Then chaos erupts.
‘Fiancée!’ Scarlett’s bawling—must be those pregnancy hormones they were harping on about. Ivy’s fanning her face like she’s about to start too. Zara’s jaw is on the floor as her eyes quick fire between Layla and me. Killian is as cool as a cucumber—like he expected this all along. My mother’s mouth is opening and closing like a fucking goldfish. For the first time in her entire life–she’s short of words.
Suddenly everyone is talking at once, asking questions, demanding details, welcoming her to the family with the warmth that’s always defined the Becketts.
