Kace catches my arms. “What if he wants the formula, but not enough to put you in harm’s way and he sees me as harm’s way? Remember, we believe Sofia was behind the note that led you to the auction and me.”
“Now you’re just trying to make me feel better about Gio.”
“I’m trying to make you look at all options. Let’s go to Riptide and then we’ll come up with a plan. Or we can skip Riptide and just get right to it.”
“No. No, I am not altering anything for Gio. Not anymore. Let’s go to Riptide.”
“Aria—”
I push to my toes and kiss him. “Thank you for worrying and showing up. Thank you for convincing Adrian to tell his story. I needed to hear it.”
A few minutes later, I’ve texted Crystal a heads up that I’m on my way and shortly after, I’m bundled up in my coat, and Kace and I settle into the back of the SUV. It’s then that I decide that my life has been one big puzzle. Gio and I were always the two pieces that fit, and deep inside, I always believed that together, we’d find the missing pieces. Now, I’m not even sure we’re living inside the same puzzle.
CHAPTER NINE
The first snowflake of the season, or at least my first snowflake of the season, hits my nose as Kace and I exit the SUV in front of Riptide. It’s almost as if the universe is sending me a message: I’m entering a new season of life. Or perhaps the universe is just driving that point home, reminding me that yes, change can be a shock, but with a proverbial nice warm jacket, it can also be a blessed relief. And the truth is that life is changing for me, but I’m proud to say that I’ve been smart and brave, looking for answers, thanks to my own ingenuity.
And with Kace by my side, I’m excited about living life, about my future, for the first time in my life.
As if he’s read my mind, Kace’s arm slides around me and we press into the snowy wind, on a path that leads us to the doors of Riptide. We enter the lobby, both of us shivering, but with smiles on our faces, our worries temporarily banked. “I love this time of year,” I say, greeting the doorman and handing off my coat. “We’ve finally escaped the heat.”
“It’s a magical time of year everywhere,” Kace replies, handing off his coat as well. “I want to show you Germany while we’re in Europe if we can work it out. They do Christmas right.”
My first holiday with Kace. The future really is a dream I’d never imagined. Change isn’t that scary anymore, not when I have so much to look forward to experiencing.
Scooping me close and into the nook of his arm, he angles me in front of him, and adds, “Next year, we’ll stay home for the holidays. I don’t even know what a holiday at home looks like.”
Next year.
The words are forbidden to me simply because in this context, they assume an odd mix of stability and adventure. “I’d like to experience that as well.”
Tenderness fills his blue eyes and he kisses the tip of my nose. “And we will. This year will be an adventure.”
I’ve barely had time to fully appreciate the impact of his words and he’s shifted me forward again and set us in motion. “Crystal’s office?” he asks.
“Yes. And how do you have full walk-around credentials here?”
“When you make Mark money, he becomes a real teddy bear.”
“Like that man could ever be a teddy bear,” I say, glancing up at Kace. “Maybe with a whip in his hand.”
“That’s another story,” he comments dryly.
My brows dip. “What does that even mean? That’s the second odd comment you’ve made about him.”
“He’s a man of many dimensions, baby, but then, so am I. I’ll explain later.” We reach the open door to Crystal’s office. We poke our heads in together to find Crystal and Mark behind her desk, her on her phone, while Mark hitches his hip on the edge, listening to her call. Her eyes light on us and she lifts a finger. Mark stands, assumed power radiating from him, his gray suit fitted to the long lines of his body. He is refined masculinity, plain and simple, while Kace manages an intriguing mix of cultured man and rugged bad boy. I used to think I wanted refined masculinity. I was wrong, so very wrong.
“Ms. Alard,” he greets.
“We both know that’s not my name,” I say and add, “Aria.”
His lips quirk. “Good to see you grow a backbone,” he replies.
“As long as she doesn’t start walking around with a stick up her ass like you,” Kace says, “she should do just fine.”
Mark’s lips quirk. “Says a man who plays with sticks for a living. Why don’t I put a glass of whiskey in your hand instead?” He glances at his watch. “We can add some orange juice to suit the time of day.”
On that, Mark, rounds Crystal’s desk and, aware that their talk will be about Alexander, I turn to face Kace, resting a hand on his chest but I don’t speak. I don’t know what to say. I’m worried about him acting against Alexander, but in this moment, I realize that back in San Francisco, I felt differently. I wanted him to act. I wanted him to deal with Alexander. It’s as if returning here, to this city, set me so on edge that I stopped trusting my initial instincts. He and I are alike. We’ve lived with a secret, and that secret has controlled us.
And so I say, “Do what you have to do.”
His eyes narrow, his expression all hard lines and shadows, but he gives me a tiny nod, and for just a moment, I find the hint of approval in his eyes. “I will.”
And with that, I step aside and allow Mark to join him in the doorway. The two men disappear and Crystal disconnects her call. “Finally,” Crystal says. “Sorry about that.”
She looks lovely in an emerald green dress, her blonde hair around her shoulders. She holds up a box. “A bakery brought me cupcake samples. They want us to use them for events. Help me taste test?”
“I don’t need to be asked twice,” I assure her and we settle in at her small round conference table across from each other.
“What better way to stomach Alexander than with sweets,” she says, opening the lid and showing me a half dozen of the yummy looking treats with a variety of pastel colors.
“That’s a box of happiness,” I say. “Well, if they taste good.”
“Agreed. Nothing worse than a dry cupcake that pretended to be good by looking pretty.”
“A bit like Alexander.”
She laughs and hands me a fork. “It is, isn’t it?”
I laugh and we start sampling. The cupcakes aren’t dry. They’re delicious and after we both proclaim our approval, Crystal shifts back to the topic of bad people who hide in pretty packages. “What do you want to do about Alexander?” she asks.
“I’d normally be highly opinionated,” I say, “but there’s a lot more to the war between Kace and Alexander than you and Mark know. I told Kace Mark needs to know. He controls Kace’s power of attorney. He needs to know.”