Chapter 17
I blinked rapidly, trying to steady my breathing, my thoughts an untamed whirlwind of emotions. My face was flushed, and the warmth of Gordon’s proximity still lingered like a ghost.
“Are you sure you don‘ t feel anything?” he asked again, his voice teasing yet layered with curiosity, as if he were peeling. back the walls I had carefully constructed.
His words jolted me back to reality. I blinked a few more times, willing myself to regain composure.
“Mr. Kingston,” I began, my tone calm but firm, “anyone would feel nervous if approached so suddenly like that. If they didn’t, I’d think they probably wouldn’t have a heartbeat anymore. So, please don’t do it so suddenly again.”
His lips quivered into a sly smile. “Ah, so to kiss you, I have to announce it first?
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Fine. Then let me kiss you deeper this time.”
Before I could process his words, his lips were on mine again. This time, the kiss was soft but unmistakably passionate.
It was not forceful, but it carried an intensity that left little room for doubt about what Gordon wanted.
A battle raged within me. Part of me. wanted to push him away, to maintain the distance I had fought so hard to create.
But another part–a dangerous, traitorous part–was tempted to lean in, to explore. what his touch might mean.
I clenched my fists, grounding myself in my resolve. I did not kiss him back, but I also did not stop him, allowing Gordon to explore the moment in his own way.
When he finally pulled away, his lips curved into a sweet, satisfied smile. With a gentle touch, he reached up and wiped the smudged lipstick from the corner of my
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lips.
“Are you enjoying that?” he asked, his tone playful but with a note of genuine curiosity.
I swallowed hard, burying the tumult of emotions swirling within me, and forced a steady breath. “You‘ re persistent,” I murmured, sidestepping the question.
“I’ll just give you that.”
Gordon chuckled softly, leaning back but keeping close enough to remain in my space. “I’ll take that as a sign I’m making progress,” he said, his grin widening into one of pure confidence.
. I rolled my eyes, trying to mask the blush
creeping up my cheeks. “Don’t get ahead. of yourself, Mr. Kingston. It‘ s going to take a lot more than that.”
His eyes glimmered with amusement, but his voice turned gentle. “I have all the time in the world, Valerie.”
As he leaned back fully, giving me the
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space I desperately needed, I could not help but feel conflicted.
As much as I wanted to deny it, as much as I hated to admit it, he was beginning to break down walls I did not even realize I
had built.
But I was not ready to give in–not yet.
Clearing my throat, I stood abruptly, needing a moment to escape the intensity of the private box. “Excuse me,” I said, not waiting for a response. “I need to freshen up.
As I walked away, I could feel his eyes on me, a magnetic pull that made me hyper aware of every step.
I pushed open the door to the restroom and leaned against the counter, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My lips were slightly swollen from his kisses, my cheeks still tinged pink.
“What the hell are you doing, Valerie?” I whispered to myself, splashing cool water
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onto my face.
I had built this new life, brick by brick, to escape my past and rediscover myself. I
was not about to let someone like Gordon-
no matter how charming or persistent- derail everything I had worked for.
When I returned to the table, Gordon was scrolling through his phone, the faintest smile playing on his lips.
He looked up as I approached, his expression softening.
“Everything alright?” he asked, his tone light.
“Perfectly fine,” I replied, sitting down and resuming my meal as though nothing had happened.
+
But as the evening wore on, I could not ignore the way his gaze lingered, or the way his presence seemed to fill every
corner of the room.
Gordon Kingston was a man who knew
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what he wanted–and he had clearly set his
sights on me. But I was not ready to be caught, not when I had just learned to stand on my own again.
Little did I know, this tug–of–war was only the beginning.
**
After the US Tour, I got a week’s rest before I continued to do Europe Tour, and London would be the first country I would visit.
The unease I felt about returning to London gnawed at me throughout the journey to the airport.
I had spent so much effort distancing myself from my past, even altering my British accent to blend into my new American life.
Yet, no matter how carefully I tried to erase
‘Daisy Paul,
London would always
remain the root of my identity.
In the van, I sat fidgeting with my hands,
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my thoughts racing with possibilities. What if Anthony found out? What if someone recognized me? My breath quickened as I stared out of the window.
Rita, ever observant, noticed my tension.
“Oh my God, Valerie, are you nervous because this is your first time in Europe?” she asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
Feigning excitement, I nodded. “Yeah, I’m so happy I finally get to visit another continent. Is it that obvious, Rita?”
She laughed lightly. “Slightly. You usually pass out the moment we get in the van, but today you‘ re wide awake and fidgeting. You’ve been gripping your purse like it‘ s your lifeline.”
I forced a smile. “It’s just a big moment. for me, I guess.
Rita gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “You’ll be fine. Just take a deep breath. And remember, reporters are going to be all over you at the airport, so flash
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them your signature smile, okay?”
I nodded, inhaling deeply, and practiced smiling in the mirror of my compact.
As soon as we stepped out of the van, the cameras started flashing, and I waved confidently, masking my unease behind a polished façade.
Once we passed through security and into the boarding gate, I let out a sigh of relief, finally away from prying eyes.
The flight itself was a long one, and I took the opportunity to rest.
As soon as I settled into my business–class seat, I leaned back and let sleep claim me, my exhaustion overtaking my nerves.
When I woke up, it was to the sound of the flight attendant offering me food.
I blinked, still groggy, and gave her a polite smile. “Sure, thank you for offering.”
“What would you like to drink?” she
asked.
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“Just water. I can’t drink wine right. now,” I replied, waving my hand lightly.
She nodded and turned to the passenger next to me, who I thought was Rita. But once she said, “And for you, sir?”
I gasped, “Sir?”
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