Chapter 60
“We’ve begun our initial descent. We’ll be landing at Dublin Airport in twenty or so minutes. The weather on the ground is a cool forty degrees Fahrenheit, or approximately four degrees Celsius. Thank you for flying with us today!”
She was groggy, only half listening to the captain speaking over the stacky intercom. At some point during the seven–hour flight, she had practically migrated over to Kylan’s lap. He had his arm securely around her waist, her own arm draped over his midsection and her face pressed to
the crook of his neck.
Her flight anxiety never fully went away, but somehow smelling Kylan and holding him, feeling the ridges of his body under hers, or the way he would inhale and exhale softly against her hold. It was enough to lull her into a haze in which she almost felt safe enough to fall asleep. Almost
Then, a bit of turbulence would snap her back to reality. During those moments, Kylan never said anything. Never did anything to make her think he was bothered by the way her arm would tighten around him. On the contrary, he would hold her closer, or press a very occasional kiss to the top of her head, and then she would feel better.
Sining with Kylan like this, having him warm and inviting under her fingertips for hours gave her time to think. To think and to come to terms with the fact that she, unfortunately, did have some kind of feelings for him, apart from the normal ones she was supposed to have toward her boss.
What the feelings really meant, and how deep they burrowed. Well, she wasn’t ready to go there yet. She wasn’t ready to face what all of that could undoubtedly mean
It would complicate things, far more than they already were
Kylan was a difficult man. She couldn’t read him, not any more than he allowed her to. The only times she fully felt like she knew him, ironically enough, were the moments he was kissing her. Or the instances where he pressed his forehead to hers and looked at her in a way that made her equal parts lost and terrified as all hell.
She was going to Ireland for a conference. A normal, annual conference, full of stuffy executives from around the world. She was attending as Kylan’s assistant, and her title as his wife wasn’t necessary. The honeymoon that was just a front. A public stunt.
Certainly, she intended on maintaining pretenses, but it wouldn’t be the focus. Which meant she needed to bury the hell out of these inappropriate thoughts that could happen during their honeymoon” stay in Ireland.
She felt a hand tenderly caress her side and withdrew from Kylan’s neck only enough that she could make eye contact.
Morning. Did you manage to sleep at all” Kylan’s voice sounded slightly hoarse from disuse his already low tone even lower than his usual
She chose to ignore the shivers the sound threatened to send down her spine. “Not really. I rested my eyes, though.” She sighed, smiling at him. softly,
Kylan brought his free fingers to her face, tracing just beneath her eyes gently. The conference doesn’t begin until tomorrow. We can get dinner and rest early.” he murmured
She practically melted into him all over again. His touch was like a lightning bolt tracing her skin but with all the force of a gentle breeze in the wind. She wanted more of it, she always did, if she were honest with herself.
His eyes were especially grey in the overhead lighting of the interior cabin of the airplane, his fingers warm against her skin as they trailed down her cheekbone and jaw.
“Okay, Kylan. That sounds fine, she whispered back to him, resting the side of her head against the seat behind her.
Kylan hummed, nodding his head before disappointing her by removing his arm from around her so he could fold his laptop on his tray table. She watched him deposit the electronic into his bag, her eyes trailing his back, his hair, and his profile as he shifted around his seat
She was all too aware that she was staring at him as if he were the only thing in the vicinity to fix her eyes on. Mere hours into her weeklong trip with Kylan, she was already done. Well and truly hopeless.
And with a man as guarded as Kylan Ross, she was scared. Scared, because she didn’t trust herself to remember why boundaries with him were important
-0-0-0-
“Tim Mat, I’ll be her driver for the week. Welcome to Dublin, Mr and Mrs. Ros!” a short and stout man holding a small, vinyl sign, greeted them just outside of customs and baggage claim
Mrs. Ross! That sounds good.
“We’re quite tired if you don’t mind us getting a move on, Matt Kylan surprised her by not correcting the man, and she looked at him curiously while Matt eagerly nodded his head and made a grab for both of theirs
“Precisely Come on, then! It’s a shame it’s already dark outside. You won’t get to see much of the Liffey Matt huffed a few times while pushing their suitcases along the linoleum Booring of the airport.
“We’re here for a week. I have no doubt we’ll get to see plenty,” she told him with a kind smile. “Would you like some help” She indicated to the suitcases that seemed almost as big as he was
“Absolutely not, Mrs. Their temporary diver shook his head vehemently, and she felt herself smiling at him all the more. He reminded her a bit of Oscar, to be honest. Though the size difference between the two was laughable.
The thought of Oscarg
gave her pause for a moment, and she made a mental note to check on him when she was able
Owar led them to a decently nice red SUV parked near a curb just outside the airport doors. She shivered involuntarily against the cold, wincing, and pulling her jacket to her body. She felt a hand on her lower back, rubbing circles into the thick material of her coat and sweater alike.
She turned to give Kylan an appreciative look but found he was watching Mart struggle to heave their luggage into the trunk of the SUV.
“Allow me.” Kylan stepped away from her, taking a few strides over to Matt and lifting the luggage himself.
She suppressed a grin and then maneuvered into the car as soon as Matt opened the door for her, a faint blush of embarrassment coating has
checks
*Thank you,
Matt.” She bowed her head to him and clicked her seatbelt in place.
Kylan climbed in on the other side, buckling himself in and then running his hands through his hair a few times.
“Shall we?” he asked aloud, looking from her to Matt.
Matt nodded eagerly, clearing his throat before shifting into the crowded flow of airport traffic
-0-0-0-
Dublin was beautiful, even against the blanket of night that surrounded the bustling city.
It was fascinating to see the different structures and buildings that ranged from modern to Georgian architecture alike.
Buildings of all colors and cobblestone streets flickered in the moonlight as they drove by. It was a wonder to behold, and she was happy to be here even if she was exhausted and already feeling the effects of jetlag,
She yawned against her hand, resting her head on the window, and staring out at the passing scenery.
Matt drove them through Dublin and then to the nearby suburb of Malahide Village. This suburb was smaller and undeniably quainter than the heart of Dublin itself, nestled near the water’s edge. It reminded her a bit of Portland, save for the vastly different style of buildings and backdrop
They finally came to a stop in front of the hotel she had booked long ago, staring up at the stark white exterior and the gold lettering that read Grand Hoirl.
She stretched a bit while Kylan opened his door and helped Matt with the luggage once again. She opened her own door, stepped out, and stood near Kylan, her arms folded over her chest against the biting December weather.
“We’ll take it from here. We’ll need picking up by seven–thirty tomorrow morning” Kylan told their driver, handing him a modest size wad of colorful money.
Right. Ch
Cheers, then Matt waved a polite goodbye before clambering back into the SUV,
She watched him leave and then shifted her gaze to Kylan. “Shall we, Sir?” she asked him, reaching for the handle of her suitcase
He pulled it away from her, his eyes narrowed, “Kylan, Katrina.” He rolled his eyes and rolled both of her suitcases toward the entrance of the hotel.
She laughed at him. “Fine, Kylan. Let’s check in and find food, please.” She trailed after him, staring up at the vast expanse of the building situated in front of her.
Ten minutes later, they were the elevator and on the way to their room located on the topmost floor
Her mind recalled their trip to Maine, and her stomach churned uncomfortably. She remembered traveling home in near silence after dinner with her father. She had experienced a tumultuous mixture of both shame and frustration, doing her best to avoid any and all contact or conversation with kylan
That was a two–and–a–half–day long trip i and not out of the country. This time. Seven days and indeed out of the country. She only hoped it
better. That Kylan would be better. Or at least not as distant.
would
The elevator doors drew open, and she stared down at the velvet red carpet before stepping out into the hallway. She observed the dimly lit electric candles that adorned the walls against cream–colored paint
It was cozy and a part of her was excited to see her room.
Her one room with Kylan.
Again..
Heavens help her
Kylan took the lead, walking down the hallway to their right, suitcases expertly in tow.
He stopped near the very last door, taking out one of the keys a front desk attendant had given her, and unlocked the door. He swung it open and motioned for her to go first. She listened, flashing him a nervous smile as she stepped inside
And oh, it was gorgeous and romantic. A blazing fire in a white marble fireplace at one end of the room, a chaise lounge, and two armchairs surrounding it. A bay window with the fluffiest pillows on either side of the padding.
A large, king–size bed in the center of the room with red silk sheets and an overly fluffed white duvet. A nightstand was decorated on either side, a walk–in closet, and a door to the bathroom was along the opposite side of the room.
It was perfect. Stunning Inviting. Smaller than the hotel in Portland, she noticed. There was no doorway, no wall to separate the front room from the bedroom.
Kylan would have nowhere to retreat to if he became uncomfortable again.
She swallowed down her nervousness, following Kylan’s lead when he began to unpack his suitcase in much the same way as he did in Portland.
Twenty minutes later, she was both done and organized. She sat on the edge of the bed a bit tentatively, seeing Kylan take off his watch and set down his phone on the end table nearest to her.
“Im going to take a shower and then we can go to dinner.” He shrugged off his jacket and then hung it on a hanger in the closet. He pulled his
wester over his head, ruffling his hair a bit in the process
She tried to look away, to avert her eyes. She really did. But it was impossible, indeed a task she was unable to do. The way his designer jeans hugged his narrow hips, the disappearing V of muscle, his tatton…
It was too much. Far too much.
Her mind drified back to the time not that long ago, when her hands had been allowed to trace the curves of those muscles, her fingertips going down, down, all the way into his pants. His boxers.
Gosh. No
Professional. She needed to be professional
What was more, she knew kylan rejected her last time. She knew how it made her feel. And she weren’t looking to replicate any of how that situation caused her to all but fall apart.
Humiliated, degraded, confused, and hurt,
No
She forced her eyes away just as Kylan disappeared into the bathroom and shut the door behind him. She heard the sound of running water a moment later and she let out a sigh she had been unaware was resting in her chest
She fell back on the bed, groaning into her hands and shaking her head.
SEND GIFT
