novelxo Chapter 87
Chapter 87
"You don't think it's a bit, I don't know, much" Katrina asked Aaron and Maine for the umpteenth time.
"No, Kate. You look beautiful. Hell, I'd probably date you, if I weren't with Maine." Jean shrugged from his spot on her bed, and she rolled her eyes at him.
Maine sighed heavily and stood, walking over to her and fluffing bits of her hair a few times. "I think what my tactless boyfriend is trying to say, is that you look perfect, Kate. Kylan's not going to know what to do with she." She giggled when she shot Jean a look that undoubtedly told him to not say anything about her choice of words.
She but her inner check, eyeing herself in the mirror outside her bathroom. She did look nice. The floor-length, cream-colored dress sat elegantly along her body, and the off-shoulder sleeves added a bit of flare, as did the shit that ran rather high up on her leg It accentuated her curves and the length of her legs, and she felt beautiful. But she was nervous. It had been a long week. A long week filled with so many emotions. She wanted to have a great time with Kylan, and she only hoped her mind would allow her the freedom to do that. It helped that Maine and Aaron were also going to the party, the pair of them dressed smartly in a black and navy suit and dress. They looked like picture perfect lady and gentleman, and it made her smile when her eyes caught sight of them in the mirror.
She readjusted her gold, globed earrings and Kylan's bracelet along her wrist. She sprayed another layer of hairspray across her curls and then topped her body with a fair bit of perfume
"Can you hand me my shawl, please?" She asked Aaron and Maine while she slipped on her cream ballet flats.
"Here you are, Miss. Aaron wrapped the white shawl in question around her shoulders and grinned down at her. "Really though, you look great. Kate. Have fun tonight. Forget about the stress of finding a new job, forget about Oscar for an evening, and forget about finding Kylan a new assistant. You need this. I know you do. Have hun. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and leaned down to kiss the top of her head.
She wrinkled her nose in feigned disgust, but she hugged him to her. "Okay, okay. I'll have fun, I guess she groaned, but she was smiling now.
"That's our girl. We'll meet you there, okay?" Aaron let go of her and took Maine's hand near the door of her bedroom.
"Sounds good. Drive safe, boys." She waved them off and they left she with one last grin.
0-0-0-
The fireplace in the lobby of her building, was filled with roaring flames that danced beautifully against the stonework that housed them. She fiddled with her shawl as she waited for Kylan to pick her up, her heart racing with nerves she couldn't quell It felt different. All of it. Ever since Kylan started therapy. Ever since she helped him on Christmas Eve. Ever since he let her in.
It wasn't a bad different, by any means. But she wasn't certain how to act around him, half the time. She wanted tonight to be special. Meaningful. A step in the right direction. There was a pressure surrounding her relationship with Kylan that hadn't been there whilst the contract was in place,
"I'm staring at her back and 1 already know that she look wonderful, Kate" Kylan's low voice pulled her gaze away from the flickering flames inside the fireplace.
She turned around, her eyes widening a fraction when she realized how he looked. He was wearing a black suit she didn't recognize, an equally black tie standing out in stark contrast against the pristine white of his button down. His hair was styled just so, and it looked so soft; her fingertips. ached to brush through it. He looked like a dream, and she couldn't believe he was there to pick her up.
She inhaled and smiled at him. "Thank you. She look perfect, Kylan. She really do." She forced herself to walk toward him, burying the nerves that fostered within her heart
Kylan met her halfway, appraising her with a gentleness she wasn't certain what to do with.
"Shall we go?" be offered her his arm and she took it graciously, all too glad for the grounding feeling it provided for her
"Lead the way," she prompted, looking up at
at him with her own sense of warmth.
"Pendry Manhattan West?" she gawked up at the massive, all glass building she were pulling up to "He really didn't spare a dune on this one." She shook her head while Kylan drove his Bentley to the valer
"He did not," Kylan agreed, stepping our of the SUV, and offering his keys to the waiting worker
She
got out herself and joined him just as she saw him had a few bills to the worker as well. She smiled at the back of kylan's head with foodness. He turned around and looked at her strangely.
"What?" he deadpanned, offering her his hand.
She took hold of it without hesitation, squeezing a few times. "Nothing. You're just a good person, that's all." She shrugged nonchalantly, leading the
way to the lobby of the hotel
Kylan scoffed beside her, his glare directed at the ground. "Enough of that shit," he mumbled, not sounding the least bit hostile
She only held him closer to her, her nerves melting further away the closer they got to the hotel.
The lobby was nothing short of exciting and she knew the rest of the building had to look much the same. Gold, black and white seemed to be the running theme, and she took in the strings of lights and halloons of all sizes that littered the floor as she walked inside. Lively music floated from a ballroom to her left, laughter mingling amongst the different chords and bass. She pulled Rylan in the direction of the nose and nearly gasped when she took in the new sight in front of her.
I was magical. Like a vision from a book of gold that came to life. Whoever Ryan hired as a party planner, deserved a raise
The e lighting was low and also gold, each table that adorned the left and right of the room were accompanied with a silky tablecloth, candles upon each one, along with conferri of black and white
It was the right combination of fancy and casual, of relaxed and sophisticated. It was cozy and warm, the very atrnesphere drawing her further anto
the room.
She spotted Aaron and Maine sitting at a table already and motioned to them. Kylan noticed as well and she guarded him over to her friends. "This place is incredible." she gushed as soon as they were within earshot.
Try the champagne, it's equally impressive. Aaron told her, holding out a flute of the drink for her to take.
She took hold of the glass, knocking the liquid back and hummming in content. You're right," she agreed with a grin, handing the glass back to him.
Aaron's observing eyes flickered to Kylan, who stood next to she looking openly uncomfortable. "How are you, boss! Are you feeling stear fantesa hint of malice was hadden beneath his friendly tone steady" The
She gave Aaron a warning glaze, but he completely ignored her. Kylan's grip tightened over her own, and she subconsciously rubbed circles into the back of his palm.
Tm steady Gardner. You should worry about yourself, though. You already seem tipsy Kylan commented coolly
Aaron opened his mouth to rebuttal, and she stepped between the two. "I've personally had a hell of a work, and I'd prefer not to bear witness to a dick measuring contest tonight." She looked from Kylan to Aaron a few times, and both men sighed in understanding. "Will you dance with me, Kylan she opted to ask her date.
If she insist Kylan replied stiffly, pulling her toward the center of the dance floor all the same.
She ignored the people that eyed the two of them with curiosity, instead looping her arms around Kylan's neck the second she reached a clear area to dance in Kylan placed his hands on her hips, his jaw set and his eyes looking anywhere but at her.
She felt herself frown at him. "Give Aaron some time, okay? He only loves me and wants me to be happy. He knows how I. How I feel about you and he'll come around. He's proud of you for starting therapy," she spoke quietly, her words for Kylan alone to hear. "I don't deserve you. Kate Kylan still chose to look away from her, and annoyance tared at the base of her skull.
She turned has jaw so he had to face her. "Yes, you do. I'll tell you every day, if you need me to." She was firm. Steadfast. Not in the mood for his self-sabotaging
Kylan groaned and leaned his forehead against hers, his breath fanning her face. "The hell, Kate. What are you doing to me?" He made to pull her against him, and she allowed the shift.
Reminding you that your trauma doesn't define you." She shrugged her shoulders, her fingers moving to glide across the bottom of has undercut "Mmm. Suppose it doesn't. What then?" Kylan asked her quietly, one of his hands pressing along her lower back She swallowed against the lump forming in the center of her throat. "W-what do you mean?" She had no idea what he was asking, exactly. She wasn't about to assume a damn thing, either
Kylan ignored her question and pulled back slightly to look at his watch. "We have about an hour and a half before midnight. Will you still dance with me" He repasiboord has hand on her waist and she smiled up at him.
"You know I will, Kylan," she breathed, pressing herself to him, relishing in the feeling off his warm body lined up with her own
Kylan hummed in reply, swaying gently with her into the music that echoed around her. She held him close, breathing in the familias scenes that made up the man in front of her. She felt Kylan's fingers slowly graze up and down her back as they moved from side to side, and she basked in
comion be so cauly brought her
Safe
3:06 PM
Chapter 87
Perfect
Holding Kylan. Being with him. Feeling him.
It was a dream come true, as damn cheesy as that was