Chapter Ten

Brooke

I don’t see Xavier for the following three weeks, but we speak a few times on the phone to discuss the wedding. I’m surprised by how easy he is to talk to when he’s not being a jerk. Or super bossy. I learn Zoey and Dan are coming for the wedding too and so are his friends, most of whom are in New York. We’ll be taking his jet with Zoey and Dan, but his friends will meet us there.

He asks about Steve, and I tell him about him being in gambling rehab. He also asks about the rest of my family, and I, too, inquire shyly about his.

He and Zoey are the only children of Richard and Sunita Bennett, who are soon due back from a three-month-long transatlantic cruise. The Bennetts come from generations of real estate wealth. His parents are retired and live in Seattle, and Xavier has taken over the company.

Stella is surprised to hear about the wedding being in Mexico but also green with envy, whining about how she hasn’t had a holiday in forever. Although she’s busy trying to clear her schedule for Cherise’s tour, which happens to be on the same weekend as the wedding, she has taken it as her personal mission to style me for the upcoming wedding, stating that as she was the one who bagged me a billionaire, it was her duty to ensure that I keep him. So, I spend a few evenings under Stella’s watchful eye, perfecting my makeup skills since she’s not going to be there with me.

On one of our calls, Xavier casually said that if I wanted to go shopping for outfits he could take me. I firmly turned him down and he immediately dropped the issue. I figured he’d asked just to be polite, not because he was concerned about how I would look. After the phone call, I’d run back to Stella in desperation because I really had no idea what to wear. We decided on renting an Elie Saab dress for the wedding and she loaned me one for the rehearsal dinner.

Xavier had his driver pick me up on Friday while he finished up with meetings and I’m now waiting for him in the Bentley outside the high-rise building where his office is. The moment he steps out of the revolving doors and strides toward the car, all the composure I’d gained in the past three weeks evaporates into thin air. He’s devastatingly handsome in a suit.

Deep in conversation, he gets into the car, gives me a smile, and continues talking on the phone. I take the opportunity to watch him. His size makes the space suddenly too small. He loosens his tie and undoes the first couple of buttons on his snow-white crisp shirt, and reclines against the back of the seat. I’m surrounded by his voice and masculine scent. His nearness is like a magnetic force field pulling my body into his.

Why do I have to be so affected by this man ?

“Look, I’m out of New York for the next few days, but I expect Mark to get the bug fixed tomorrow and the whole report should be on my desk by Monday at the latest.”

He reaches into the center console and offers me a bottle of water, then fetches one for himself. When I start ogling him as he drinks deeply, I mentally kick myself, tear my eyes away from him to look outside the window, and retreat into my protective shell.

“Gail will get you anything you need and she’s available this weekend, so I expect you to make full use of her resourcefulness.”

He hangs up the phone and turns to me.

“Brooke,” he says, “I’m sorry, I’ve been caught up in work, trying to clear my schedule for this trip.”

“Don’t apologize,” I say to him.

“I should have come to pick you up,” he insists.

“No, it’s fine. It’s not as though it’s a real date. You proposed the idea and I agreed.”

Xavier looks taken aback for a moment. “Are you alright, Brooke?”

No, this was a stupid idea. “Yeah, I’m good. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Nothing,” he says. “Well, it’s good to see you again. You look nice.” I’m dressed for comfort in regular black tights, a T-shirt, and a denim jacket. My hair is in a ponytail. I don’t know that it’s nice but I’ll take it.

“Thanks,” I say.

The silence stretches and I feel Xavier’s eyes on me. Still, I remain aloof. It’s either that or crawl over to drape myself over him, and I do have some self-respect after all .

We reach Teterboro Airport and after brief checks, we’re aboard a luxury private jet. Zoey, Dan, and Lisa are waiting already. Lisa squeals happily when she sees me, running to give me a hug.

“Mommy, look it’s Brooke!” She wraps her chubby arms around me. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” I say, ruffling her dark curls. “Hi Zoey, hey Dan,” I say when I reach them, still holding Lisa in my arms.

Dan smiles back but Zoey gets out of her seat and embraces me on the side that’s not holding her daughter. “Gosh, Brooke, what a lovely surprise! I can’t tell you how happy I am to have you with us on this trip.” Her smile gets even wider when she looks over my shoulder at Xavier and she’s doing something with her eyes—I’m not sure what it means but when I steal a quick look back at Xavier, I catch him sternly shaking his head at her.

O-okay. What’s a set of twins if they don’t talk in code?

Lisa asks to sit at our table and I am grateful to have her as a distraction. Xavier hasn’t stopped looking at me since the drive here. The last thing I want is for Zoey and Dan to witness my attraction to Xavier. He doesn’t seem to share my concerns because he’s openly staring. On second thoughts, I should have given him what he wanted from the get-go. Smiles, reasonable eye contact, and conversation. Normal behavior for people going on a date.

When I finally allow myself to look at him, his gaze holds a hint of concern but also heat, and there’s a smile playing around his lips. He mouths, “Relax, it’ll be fine.” I nod and look away.

“Mommy,” Lisa says suddenly, “Is Uncle Xavi allowed to kiss Brooke?” I freeze in shock at the unexpected question, then feel my face heat up furiously. Xavier bursts out laughing, and I give him a death stare.

Zoey coughs delicately, trying to get rid of the wine she might have swallowed down the wrong pipe. “Lisa!” Zoey sounds mortified, and Dan seems to be hiding a smile behind his hand while also trying to look shocked.

“He wants to, Mommy, don’t you, Uncle Xavi?” she asks. “Mommy, can he?”

“I think that very much depends on Brooke,” Xavier drawls. His eyes are scorching now. Why did I think having Lisa in our cubicle would shield me from him? He doesn’t care.

“Okay, Lisa, why don’t we go and have a chat and then a little nap so when we get to Cancun you can be all fresh and ready to play again.” Zoey drags-slash-carries Lisa from my lap, whispering, “I’m so sorry.” Lisa goes reluctantly with Zoey who takes her toward the back into what I assume is a bedroom.

As soon as they leave, Xavier takes the seat beside me. He leans in close. “Lisa is right. I should have led with that. No wonder you’re so tense.”

“Are you kidding me?” His arrogance knows no bounds. Dan is within earshot!

“No. I’ve wanted to kiss you since I saw you in the car. Come here.” He cups his hand over my nape and takes my mouth.

It starts out as a peck, but then he dips his head again, sucking on my lower lip, and I can’t resist parting my lips. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, rubbing along mine, then he slants his head over mine as he takes my mouth deeper and harder. I’m lost in his delicious taste, unsure of how I’d gone a whole three weeks without it. My hand creeps over his shoulder and into his hair, loving the feel of the silky strands against my fingers so much that I start to pull. Xavier moans in response. He loves it. He lifts me onto his lap, then turns the kiss decadent, sliding his hands in my hair and moving his open mouth against mine, licking and tasting leisurely, making a carnal feast of my lips and tongue. He kisses me until I’m trembling and my toes are curling in my sneakers. Until the tension leaves my shoulders and I’m sagging against him. Then he releases my mouth and kisses a path across my neck toward my ear.

“Hello,” he whispers huskily.

I slowly raise my eyelids and look at him. His smile is lazy, the dimple on his right cheek flashing. He looks satisfied, and I know that I’ll be tempted to do anything to keep putting that look on his face. I think of Kryptonite as I watch the gold flecks in his heavy-lidded green irises. Please, I beg the universe, don’t let me fall for this man.

“Liked that a lot, didn’t you?” Xavier teases.

Mortified, I glance around quickly to check if we’d been seen. The club seats opposite are empty. I wonder at what point Dan left.

“Cocky much?” I roll my eyes. “You weren’t exactly immune.” I grind pointedly against his erection.

“Oh, I was pretty much in heaven. Your kisses can drive a man insane,” he says matter-of-factly. “And she’s blushing again.” He laughs.

The man has no filter. I’m surprised he said that, but even more surprised at how giddy the compliment makes me feel, considering one of Phil’s issues was that I was boring in bed. I slide off his lap and sit before he melts me into a puddle. Fucking Kryptonite.

Xavier gives me a moment but doesn’t let me retreat into my shell for the rest of the evening. Dan, Zoey, and Lisa stay behind those doors for a couple of hours, then come back to the main cabin to join us, and the rest of the flight passes without a hitch.