Page 121 of Promise Not to Fall for the Rich & Famous

Quiet fell over the stage as he fixed his eyes on Kat.

“I do,” Lisa blurted. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist. What do you say, Kat? You can say yes to Mr. Zander here about his invitation to stay with him, or you may opt to spend that time with Duke instead, and get to know the man our special formula matched you up with. What will it be?”

Kat bit at her lip for a blink before glancing at Duke.

Zander’s pulse spiked even higher. Sweat broke over his brow.

“I love you too, Zander,” she said. “I forgive you, and I’d love to spend more time by your side.”

Zander was on his feet in a blink. He dashed in, wrapped his arms around Kat, and pulled her in for a warm, healing embrace. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

“Well, there we have it, folks. Looks like the makings of a happily ever after to me. Tune in for episodes featuring this blissful couple’s time together over the next few weeks.

“Then, come back for yet another live episode where Mr. and Mrs. Benton will decide whether they’ll continue living as a married couple or part ways entirely. Until then, send some love to Mr. Duke, here. He’s looking a little lonely, wouldn’t you agree?”

Zander heard the crowd go wild as he locked lips with the woman of his dreams. Whether that cheer was for his and Kat’s reunion or a response to Lisa’s comment about Duke, he wasn’t sure.

But one thing, at least, was certain—he couldn’t wait to put his days of going by Duke’s name behind him. As she came in for another kiss, a second thing became clear—with Kat back in his life and warm in his arms, Zander felt whole once again.

Reuniting was a blissful thing, and Kat planned on enjoying all the benefits that came along with it.

Butterflies fluttered through her belly as she waited for Zander to join her in the limo. He’d insisted on hiring a movingcrew to get things from her place to his, and Kat didn’t argue. It meant she’d have more time to spend with him.

She spotted him through the tinted window as he stepped out of the studio. He’d already loosened his skinny tie and unfastened the top buttons of his neatly pressed shirt. Kat bit back a grin as she reminded herself that he was heading her way. That he’d spend, at least, the next six weeks with her.

The driver opened the door for him, and Zander gave the man a nod. “My place, please.” He climbed in, sank in the reclining seat beside Kat, and shot her a look. “Guess I could have said our place.” He lifted a brow. “How attached are you to your apartment?”

Kat considered that. “I’ll let you know once I see your place.”

Zander grinned. “Good answer. Because what I’m most attached to is you.”

He came in, kissed her, then pulled back to meet her gaze. “I love you, Kat.”

Kat reveled in the feels that rushed through her. Warmth. Joy. Hope. Thank heavens she hadn’t lost sight of what they had. She brought her hand to his face, traced her fingers along his chiseled jaw, and gave him another short kiss.

Then, with her lips a breath’s space from his, she returned the sentiment. “I love you too, Zander.”

His lips were on hers in the next breath. This time, his kiss was driven, heated, and strong enough to make her weak.

He wrapped a solid hand along her lower back, pulled her onto the reclined seat with him, attending to her every step of the way with fervent kisses. When his heated mouth moved to her ear, a rush of goosebumps rippled over her skin.

A whimper passed her lips as his kiss was hers once again. A thought occurred to her that he’d been holding back before. As wonderful as their honeymoon kisses were, Zander had likely been conflicted in those moments.

It was obvious now, as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss, that he was not holding back any longer. That knowledge was a thrill of its own.

Sure, their official honeymoon in the Maldives had been cut short, but the way Kat saw it, this was the beginning of round two. She and Zander’s chance to go deeper—this time, unhindered by the secret he kept.

A vision of a butterfly came to mind. Kat assumed she’d transformed long ago, when she gained confidence as a young adult. But now, as she curled up to the man she hoped to spend her life with, she could feel a new transformation taking place.

Finally, after years of mistrusting herself and men alike, Kat had reached new heights. She’d been able to forgive Zander for deceiving her. She’d been able to see that—inwardly—he was truly the man he’d claimed to be.

Finding that faith again, feeling that trust once more, gave Katrina Aponi wings she never knew were there. And though she was bound to the man in her arms—in more ways than one—she had never felt so free.

EPILOGUE

“So do you guys always make such a big deal out of St Patrick’s Day?” Kat asked Betzy as they prepared a pan of bright green Jell-O blocks.