Page 38 of Rhys

Her eyes flew back up to his. They stood like that, lost in each other’s gaze and then…

She kissed him.

It wasn’t hard or fast. In fact, it was a sweet, simple chaste peck on the lips. But it was enough to make Rhys believe her when she whispered back to him…

“I will.”

9

Holy rich people,Batman!

Vanessa stood next to Parker, each holding a glass of what was most assuredly a ridiculously expensive champagne.

“This is insane,” she spoke softly. “I’ve never seen so many celebrities together in one place that didn’t involve a golden statue and a bunch of boring acceptance speeches.”

Parker laughed. “I like you, Vanessa. You’re funny.”

“It’s Amelia tonight, asshole.” Rhys’s voice filled Vanessa’s ear. “And her sense of humor had better be all you like about her, Collins.”

She smiled, the man’s jealous tone giving her more pleasure than it probably should.

“Don’t worry, Maddox.” Parker pretended to be talking to her. “You staked your claim loud and clear at the hotel. I’ll keep my hands to myself tonight…” He spotted a well-known actress as she sashayed by. “Correction. I’ll keep my hands off your girl tonight.”

His girl.

Vanessa was still reeling from the sensual moment she and Rhys had shared. Ever since she’d spilled her guts for him at his place that first night, he’d acted nicer. Sweet, even. And then tonight…

He kissed me.

Both were small brushes of affection. Nothing like the hot and heavy ones they used to share. But somehow, these felt almost better. More meaningful.

Like the beginning of something that was just getting started.

A loud applause erupted in the mansion’s grand banquet hall. Vanessa and Parker both turned to see what the fuss was all about.

“There he is.” Parker pointed to the room’s north entrance. “The man of the hour.”

Her pulse spiked with a rush of adrenaline. This was the part of the job she used to love the most.

The danger. Suspense. Not knowing if she would be able to pull of the seemingly impossible tasks assigned her by the powers that be.

This time it was different. This time she felt…scared.

Because you finally have something to live for other than the job.

It was quite a leap given that she and Rhys had only just reconnected. And most of that time had been spent planning tonight’s mission. But none of that mattered because she’d seen the change in him before they’d said their goodbyes.

It had been right there. In his eyes. In the way he’d held her close.

In his kiss.

More importantly, Vanessa had felt it deep inside when he’d uttered those four, whispered words.

Come back to me.

He’d taken her breath away with that one, simple request. Because it felt more like a promise of things to come. So yeah, she was afraid.

But she cleared all that out of her head and focused on the task at hand. The sooner she took care of business, the sooner she’d be back at that hotel with Rhys.

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