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“My fault?”
“You’re the one who makes me act like this.”
He gets up slowly and moves closer to me.
“There is only you, Alma… What can I do to make you believe me?”
I gesture for him to keep his distance.
“We’re going to establish some rules. Right now.”
“I’m listening.”
“Don’t look at her the way you look at me.”
He nods.
“What else, Lancaster?”
His velvety voice flusters me, but I continue. “Don’t play with her the way you play with me. Or with anyone else.”
“And?”
“Don’t fall in love with her, Vadim.”
“Alma…”
“Don’t break my heart, please.”
He closes the distance between us and gently places his hands on my cheeks, before letting his lips find mine. My doubts fade away, banished by a kiss that feels like a promise.
***
Speaking of heartbreakers, fresh rumors are circulating around the office about Felix and his constant need to chase anything that moves on the set of French Kiss. I find myself caught in a dilemma that eats me up inside: tell Lily everything—and risk breaking her poor, little heart—or seethe in silence in the hope that her boyfriend will finally get his wandering eye under control. Lily deserves to know. But there’s nothing I hate more in this world than seeing Lily cry.
Overwhelmed by all this stress—made worse by painful period cramps—I sink into a hot bath. Soothed by the soundtrack to The Piano, I revel in the off-the-scales comfort of the luxury hotel suite that has become my second home.
Vadim joins me in the bathroom. In dark jeans and a black T-shirt that clings to his body, he no longer looks like a businessman, but more like a model or an actor. Slowly, taking his time, he settles on the white marble that surrounds the bath and slides a hand behind my neck.
I still find it hard to believe that someone as unique as him could love a girl as ordinary as me.
“Clémentine, Kate, your father, the journalists… It’s a lot, huh?”
“You’re forgetting Lily,” I murmur.
“I’m going to talk to Felix, Alma.”
Soothed by his words and caresses, I let my head fall back, realizing once again how lucky I am. I close my eyes and savor the moment, as if by doing so I could somehow stop time.
Suddenly, a noise catches my attention. Without saying a word, Vadim has just placed something on the polished edge of the bathtub.
A jewelry box.
I sit up abruptly and turn to look at it. Vadim gives me a heart-stopping smile. This time, there’s no teasing, no attitude, no games. Just a tender, loving look that I could drown in.
“Open it.”
I’m not prepared for this. I know I shouldn’t, but I catch myself dreaming. I imagine the unimaginable. The piece of jewelry that would join our lives together forever.
