“Are you sure it’s okay just to stop by his house? On a Sunday?”
“I’m certain. I’ve called already to let him know we’re heading over.”
I exhale nervously as Kit drives us to Alastair’s place the next evening. I can’t help but pray this all goes well. I’ve been thinking a lot about work and decided maybe I could open my own design business. I wouldn’t necessarily mind it if I didn’t return to Cupid’s Arrow. But all of a sudden, no matter what happens with work, I desperately need Alastair to be okay with me and Kit.
Kit reaches across to seize my hand in his. “Hey. It’s all right. Yeah?”
I give him a brave smile and try to fight my nerves. “Yeah.”
Kit’s expression warms a little more. “We’ll get through this,” he assures me.
“I know. I’ve never been surer about anything in my life than I am about me and you.”
I laugh a little when I realize what I just said.
Kit looks surprised. His gaze is suddenly gleaming with something fierce and molten.
I speak hesitantly. “Is that a good thing, or bad?”
When Kit finally answers me, his tone is very intimate. “A good thing. A very good thing.” His smile is slow and seductive as he lifts his hand to stroke the pad of his thumb across my chin. “I’m so in love with you, Ms. Croft. I’ve never been surer, either.”
When we arrive at Alastair’s penthouse, I’m suddenly full of instructions for Kit. “Let me do the talking first. I owe your father an explanation for the mess I made of things. And don’t grab my hand or anything. I’d rather he not see me blushing. You have an amazing capacity for making me blush and I want to look professional here.”
“Relax, Alex.” Kit glances up at the elevator numbers as we arrive at Alastair’s floor.
I’m grateful for the fact that he listened to my request to not take my hand, but he surprises me by putting his hand on the small of my back as he leads me into Alastair’s beautiful apartment.
As Kit leads me down the marble halls, his light touch feels both protective and possessive. I like it. I could get used to this very quickly.
My heart stops for a second when we spot Alastair at the living room bar, standing next to a tall, dark-haired man. Alastair raises a wineglass he was lifting to his lips suddenly higher in the air as he greets us. “Kit. Ah! Alexandra.” He sets his glass aside as he strides over.
The stranger turns and I glance into a face that’s as stunningly handsome as Kit’s, just a little older and more rugged. Blue eyes instead of amber.
“William,” Kit greets him.
“Brother,” the man says with a slow smile.
They exchange slaps on the back, then Kit introduces me. “Will, this is Alexandra Croft.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” William says.
In contrast to Kit, whose accent is strongly British, his brother sounds American—like his mother, I suppose.
Dreading that what William has heard may not all be good, I simply smile. “I hope you don’t believe all of it,” I whisper teasingly.
When he smiles back, handsome in a polished sort of way, I wonder if the family’s good genes will also spread to Kit’s and my babies. The thought makes me blush because I don’t remember a day recently when I ever had time to even ponder whether or not I wanted babies in the future. Now I know that with the man standing next to me, I might. Who am I kidding? There’s no might about it. I do. Soon.
After Kit and I greet Alastair with respectful embraces, the four of us settle down in the posh living room, Kit and I taking one of the two identical tan suede couches, while Alastair takes the other and William sits on a coffee-colored wingback chair. I decide to get right to the point before my nervousness starts getting the best of me. “Alastair, I want to say how sorry I am for everything that happened. I’m so ashamed of myself. I betrayed your trust, and that will never be okay. You asked me to report on Kit,” I continue.
“Teach me the ropes,” Kit interrupts. “And you did that well.”
His brother smiles and leans back in his seat, clearly amused.
I shoot Kit a don’t help me look, while Kit shoots me back a you’re doing great look. I turn back to Alastair. “Yes, well... I just didn’t expect to end up meeting a man I admire so much and that I could possibly...um...” Suddenly out of words, I glance at Kit for help.
He looks the opposite of nervous. It’s almost as if he’s glad to finally be discussing this out in the open. He gives me a teasing glance I can read only too well: Didn’t you want to do all the talking? I start blushing when he turns his attention to his father.
“I’m in love with Alex.” Kit stares Alastair dead in the eye and then gives his brother the same treatment. “I’ve asked her to give me a shot, give us a shot. And she’s willing.” His eyes are two pools of gold warmth when they slide back to me.
I let out a ragged breath, feeling red-cheeked as I laugh. “Yes. Um. That.”
After a tense silence, Kit’s obviously “perfect” brother releases a rumbling laugh. He shakes his head in disbelief. “Wow, brother. You really mixed business with pleasure there, didn’t you.”
“Yeah. Well. Neither of us planned this. But once it was staring us right in the face, we weren’t willing to walk away. Not from this.” Reaching out, Kit gently grasps my hand in his. My whole body warms up and the nervousness inside me eases.
“She’s got it in her head to leave Cupid’s Arrow for good,” Kit explains to his father and brother, eyeing me for a moment with warmth in his eyes. “I’ll allow it if that’s what she really wants. But I know it isn’t. I know this company is hers as much as it’s ours. And I want her by my side. I know that with your blessing, she’ll reconsider.” He turns back to Alastair.
Alastair eyes us both in silence for the longest moment, then slowly shakes his head. “You two are young and have a lot to learn. Corporations are run by teams that work well together. Trust is integral to the process. I know you’re both young... I was young once. I understand. I’m glad things have turned out well between you two—but they could have gone very differently. And I hope you both are aware of that.”
“Yes,” I whisper.
“That Ben guy...he’s been taken care of. You did well handling that issue, Kit. And you did a good job making it so that the photo will never be seen by anyone else. But the fact of the matter is things could have really blown up in your face. It wouldn’t have been good for Cupid’s Arrow.”
“I know, Alastair. I’m so sorry for all the trouble we caused. We should have been more careful,” I say.
Alastair nods slowly. “You should have.”
He sets his glass aside and leans forward, eyeing his youngest son now.
“Kit, what I’m seeing on the business front is good. The ideas and changes that you have come up with are fresh and modern—and I’m pleased by that. I won’t get in your way, in the future. I give you full leave as CEO of Cupid’s Arrow.” He turns to me. “Alex, you’ve been a great help to me. My secret weapon, for all these years. Smart, dedicated. I have watched you learn from me and grow, and I couldn’t care more for you if you were my own daughter...” he trails off, and looks at both of us, his eyes jumping from one to the other as his voice becomes stern.
“But know, both of you, that if you really plan to do this, there should still be rules in place if you’re to be partners in life, as well as work together at Cupid’s Arrow. You have to keep your work and private lives separate. Work stays at the office when work hours finish, and your private lives stay at home. I’m sure you’ll both agree it’s for the good of the company, as well as your private life.” A slight curve touches his lips, and he finally begins to smile.
“Agreed,” Kit says quietly.
I’m speechless and so relieved, I want to cry from the gratitude I feel for being given another chance. Humbled for having screwed up so big, but being understood and accepted enough, that I can be forgiven.
Alastair comes to his feet with a big exhale, and both Kit and I stand up, too. Alastair hugs us to his sides.
My parents weren’t big on hugs, but something about this makes me feel forgiveness, understanding, caring...something about this hug makes me feel a part of this family already. As we ease back, I force myself to tell Alastair one more time how much I appreciate him. “I hope you know that I will be forever grateful to you.”
He shakes his head. “The feeling is mutual, Alex. You always went above and beyond for me and Cupid’s Arrow. Truthfully, I never allowed myself to dream that you and Kit could...” His eyes warm. “But know that I couldn’t be happier with his choice of woman.” He cups my shoulders with an encouraging squeeze, leaning in to whisper the rest. “By the looks of things, he’s quite into you, young lady.”
I laugh, speaking louder so that Kit can hear me. “I sure hope so. I’ve never felt this way before and it’s quite jarring.”
“Can’t say I look forward to joining the club anytime soon,” William remarks as he lifts his wineglass. If what Kit said about him being a control freak is true, he wouldn’t like experiencing the chaotic effects of falling in love.
“To you and Alex, brother.” Will looks fondly at Kit. “And your mutual success in life, love and Cupid’s Arrow.”
As William speaks, Kit pours us both a glass of wine and brings mine over. We join Alastair and William in a toast.
“Cheers!”
We clink glasses, and as Kit meets my gaze above the rims of our glasses, I can’t help but be excited for what’s in store. I want to share it all with Kit Walker. He reaches out with his free hand, squeezing my fingers in his as we drink to the future. A future that has never appealed to me more.