“I can’t believe we’ve been here nine days.” Tally folded up the last pair of shorts and put them in the suitcase. “It’s flown by.”

“We can come back in the close season.”

“I’d like that.” A wave of melancholy swept over her, and she let out a soft sigh. “I wish we didn’t have to go home.”

“Who said anything about going home?”

Her head snapped up. “But the holiday’s over.”

“No. This part is over.”

She frowned. “What about Montreal?”

“We don’t have to leave until the third. That’s over a week away.”

Excitement unfurled in her belly. “Where are we going?”

Cash tilted his head to one side. “Will you never learn?”

She stuck out her tongue. “You’re mean.”

He caught her around the waist. “Come on, admit it. You love being surprised.”

She pouted. “Sometimes.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

He called for the butler to collect their luggage then held out his hand. “Ready?”

“Yeah.” She took a final glance around, sad to be leaving but excited about what the next leg of their journey could hold. With Cash, anything was possible.

Twelve hours later, their plane landed. Tally had played along with Cash’s wishes and hadn’t even peeked out of the window as they’d come in to land. As they taxied to their stand, she caught sight of Cash out of the corner of her eye—dangling an airline sleeping mask in the air.

She laughed as she remembered their first date when he’d asked her to wear a mask to hide their destination. “Ah, how I’ve missed you,” she told the mask, snagging it from his outstretched hand.

She slipped it on and held tightly to Cash’s arm as he helped her down the steps. His hand rested on top of her head as she climbed into the waiting car.

“Welcome back, sir, Miss McKenzie.”

“Isaac,” she said, recognising his deep voice anywhere. “How great to see you. Or not.”

Isaac chuckled. “Good trip.”

“Yes, wasn’t it, Cash?”

“The best,” he said, gently rubbing the back of her hand. “How are things, Isaac?”

“Everything is fine, sir.”

“Mum?”

“She’s doing well. I’ve been keeping an eye on her, as you asked, but there hasn’t been anything for me to do.”

“No intrusion from the press?”

“None.”

“Good,” he replied, his tone hard and flat.

They hadn’t driven for long when the car eased to a stop. “Are we here?” she said.

“Yep.” Cash gently removed the mask, and she blinked a few times until the blurriness cleared. She gazed out of the window. Directly ahead was a row of arches with green canopies and lanterns hanging beneath each one. She recognised this place.

“Oh, Cash,” she whispered. Tiredness and emotion overpowered her as hot tears sprang from her eyes. “You brought me back to Paris.”

“I hope they’re happy tears,” he said, wiping the wetness from her cheeks.

“They are.” She flung her arms around his neck.

“Come on, baby. It’s been a long day. Let’s get inside.”

As they crossed the lobby towards the bank of lifts, memories of their first night hit Tally. She thought of how nervous she’d been, how scared that she wouldn’t be enough or that Cash would realise he’d made a huge mistake in bringing her. So much had happened between then and now, and yet those first-night nerves were making a comeback. Maybe that was because they were in the place where her life had changed forever. Or she could be overwrought and jetlagged. Regardless of the reason, a serious case of butterflies swamped her abdomen when Cash pressed the button for the top floor.

As the lift doors closed, he steered her to the back, his body flush against hers. He lowered his head and kissed her, and when his tongue played with hers, a groan eased from her throat.

“Make that sound again, and I’ll be pressing the emergency stop button,” Cash said. Tally grinned as the lift doors opened, and Cash grabbed her hand and almost marched down the hallway.

“Same suite?” she said when Cash stopped outside the third door on the left and inserted the key card.

He nodded. “Same suite.”

He opened the door and ushered her inside. He hooked the Do Not Disturb sign on the door before deadlocking it. His slow gaze swept over her before his eyes lifted to meet hers.

“I know you’re tired,” he said, reaching for her. “But I’ve always been a selfish bastard.”

She touched his face, gently running her hands over his beard. “Funnily enough,” she said, drawing his mouth down to hers, “I’m not tired anymore.”