Page 100 of Sawyer
Brooke flashed Axel a smile before turning her attention back to them. She caught his gaze and frowned. He gave a slight shake of his head.
Not right now, Brooke. So not right now.
She drank from her mimosa before saying, “So Madison, you’re still on to join us before the ball drops, right?”
“It does that here in Paris too?” she only quipped.
Brooke’s brow shot up. “Funny.”
Madison rolled her eyes. “I’ll try. While we have a fixed menu and only one seating, some tables might linger. We’ll do our best to clean up and close things down before midnight. I want my staff to have a shot at spending it with loved ones if possible.”
Loved ones…
That’s what he wanted to be to her. When he thought about a midnight kiss…
He fisted his hands on his knees. “I’ll text Sawyer. He can hit us up when they emerge from their cocoon.”
They finished the meal while discussing light topics, guided by Brooke, who must have noticed the way Madison was drawing increasingly inward. By the time they said goodbye, he was as tense as she was. They walked to the street in silence.
“I’ll get a separate car,” she told him when the exterior door closed behind them. “I need to get to the restaurant.”
He turned toward her, fighting to keep his patience. “Don’t you need to pick up Pierre?”
“I’ll do that later.” She was already pulling out her phone. “I have to meet a Coquilles Saint-Jacques delivery.”
Fabian would already be there, wouldn’t he?
“I can share a car and walk back home, you know. Unless you need some space. Which I hope isn’t the case.”
She ordered the car and put the phone away before facing him. “Space might be good for us right now. We’re both a little emotional, don’t you think?”
Sure, call it out there. “Is that so bad? It’s how I feel about you.”
Her entire posture seemed to lift an inch, like she was drawing herself up, not wanting to cower. That tough gleamappeared in her now neutral eyes. “I know, and I hear you. I just don’t wish to give in to it and lose control of myself. I’m not there yet, Kyle. I don’t know how to… Please. Take another car.”
Her voice held a rare plea. One he couldn’t ignore. She had a lot on her plate. But work couldn’t always be her out. “I’ll take another car. Today.”
He waited with her until it arrived and then threw her off her game when he cut her off and opened the car door for her. Vulnerability was back in her eyes again. Yeah, she wasn’t so composed. He wanted to cheer. “I’ll see you later tonight.”
She gave a brief nod before disappearing into the interior. He shut the door behind her, keeping his eyes on hers through the glass. Heart in his throat, he watched the car drive off.
Then he exhaled sharply in the cold as the truth stole over him.
He couldn’t go another year without her in his arms.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
Love was the most powerful force on the earth.
Sawyer believed that now in a way he could only describe as next level. As he gathered Phoebe to him, awash in her lush scent, he knew he’d never want for anything. He’d found his true passion for painting, and it could never be taken from him again. Now he had the woman he loved by his side. Every day, he’d see her smile. Hear her laugh. Listen to her talk passionately about what mattered to her. He’d awaken her with a kiss and end his day with her embrace.
God, he’d never imagined feeling so complete as a person, so happy.
“I just remembered it’s New Year’s Eve!” she exclaimed, lifting onto her elbow to stare down at him with her dazzling green eyes. “Oh my God. What time is it? I know we’d planned to hang out with your roommates at Dean and Jacqueline’s?—”
“They know it’s an open invite, especially now.” He laughed as she swung around, reaching for her phone.
