Chapter 106

Chapter 106

Three months later

The conferences, the excess in meetings, they didn't stop happening. Which was part of being a CEO, and she knew that better than anyone else at Ross Corporation did, apart from the man himself. But this military contract was draining

It felt like she was in a long-distance marriage, more often than not the last few months. She kept busy where she could, and she was grateful for the responsibilities that came with being muid of honor to Aaron and Maine. But she wasn't happy. She didn't feel. Seuled.

She knew Kylan didn't want to leave her so often, but during her three and a half years as his assistant, she had never known him to go on this many trips so close together. And she would know, since she booked each one of his trips during that time.

He had been gone for another week, and she was tired. Tired of video chatting, tired of texting tired of hearing his voice through a phone instead of in the same room as her

Aaron and Maine were getting married in three days, and their joint bachelor party was set to be that night. Kylan would be meeting her there after his flight landed, and she pretended that didn't sour her already dwindled mood.

She dressed herself in her favorite pair of jeans and a comfortable sweater and a light jacket. It was mid-October, and it was rainy. Which was fitting for how she was feeling

But the night wasn't about her, and she was determined to shower her friends with the love and attention they deserved. It wasn't their fault she was grumpy about her husband never bring home anymore.

She drove to the bar they picked out, her windshield wipers working double time to combat the rain that continued to fall. She hoped Kylan's flight hadn't been delayed or canceled again. The private jet she normally thought was a gross display of money, didn't sound so outrageous anymore.

It took her a while to find parking, but once she finally did, she ran to the entrance of the bar, slipping inside and shaking off the water that drenched her hair and clothes.

She could hear her friends before she could see them. Aaron's booming laugh, Maine's softer chuckle, Harry's loud

d voice and Max's careful one. All of them were seated around a table that was already filled with drinks, both empty and full, and she found herself smiling at them while she walked over to join them

"Katrina The maid of honor has arrived, gentlemen" Aaron was clearly drunk, and she laughed when he pulled her into a hug. of cheap beer and peanuts, and she loved it. She really loved it, really loved him.

His breath smelled

anyone

coming!" She shook out of his arms and took off her jacket, draping it over her arm whale they all shifted to make room for her at

the table.

"Just your husband." Jean slurred and she smiled, checking the time on her phone.

"He should be here soon." She accepted the fresh bottle of beer Harry pushed her way and took a sip, wincing as the bitter liquid traveled down her throat.

The next hour passed quickly, and she had another beer, along with a shot or two. She allowed herself to let loose, to have fun while she waited for Kylan to arrive

When he finally did, when she saw him enter the bar, she was ecstatic.

He was wearing a white button down, his black suit jacket open, his belt looped and done atop his slacks that hugged his hips sinfully. He looked like a dream. Her dream. Her favorite one.

Her head was pleasantly fuzzy, and she hugged him tightly as soon as Maine moved so he could sit next to her. She pressed a wet kiss to his check and smiled at him. "Kylan, my Kylan. You're finally here," she sighed, pressing her face into his neck, smelling his Kylan smell. Maybe if she could learn how to bottle the unique stent, she wouldn't miss him so much when he was gone.

Kylan allowed her to hang all over him, and she was grateful. "Let me get you some water, Katrina," he said quietly, kissing the top of her head.

f you take a shot, maybe," she bargained with him.

"One shot. I have a feeling I'll be driving us home tonight, Kylan replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulder to pull her into his side.

Kylan indeed only had one shot, and she had way too many. She didn't care, though. Tonight, was special. Tonight, was about her friends and their love.

So she I

laughed with them, she reminisced with them, and she celebrated them.

Well into the night, Harry and Max were both chanting for her to give a speech, and though she was more than buzzed, she couldn't refuse. So, she held up her next boule of beer, and she cleared her throat

"Aaron and Maine, you're my best friends. You have been for years. I'm so happy you're getting married. Even if you rook so long being engaged. I'm so happy you found solace in each other. I know you'll be great together, that you'll live a life filled with the right kind of love." She grinned at them, licking the dryness from her lips. "And the best part? The best part is that neither of you are a CEO, which means you won't be going on stupidly long trips, and you won't have a long-distance marriage ever. Because that sucks, and it's lonely, and it's tiring. And your bed is too big, and you make too much food and have too many leftovers." Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes and she brushed them away, spilling some of her beer in the process.

Aaron and Maine were frowning at her, or at least she thought they were. She couldn't really tell, given that that they weren't exactly staying still in

her line of vision.

"That's my cue to step in. C'mon, Karina Let's go talk." Rylan's voice registered on her right, and she turned her head to protest

He didn't give her a choice, though. He practically carried her from the booth, his warm hand gripping hers so tightly that she could do nothing

bus follow.

fast, and she was struggling to keep up. Then, he opened a door and pulled her inside a room. She heard a lock click and she took in her surroundings, realizing she was

husband, who rested against the locked door, his arms folded, his eyebrow cocked, and

thin line

He was

had she

to explain herself, but he held up hand

sorry, Katrina" Well, she wasn't

would apologize to her, when she was undoubtedly the one who embarrassed him

Should you have saved it for another, more appropriate time and venue! Without a doubt. You've had far too much to drink, but I can't quite fault you there, either. I've been gone an ungodly amount, and I

to cry.

much. I can function fine without you. I can get my work done, I can have fun, I can make memories without you being with me all the time. But you've just been gone so much, and

pushed off from the door, crossing the small room in only one or two strides, and then he cradled her face in his warm hands, lifting her

cheek. "Tm sorry." He kissed her right cheek. "I'm sorry." He kissed her forehead. "I love you." He kissed her lips, long and slow,

his middle, gripping

and again. She opened her mouth to him, twirling, exploring, brushing her

stop; she didn't want him to

-0-0-0-

in the quiet Adirondack Mountains, where only

was nothing short of p them, it was everything and

picturesque ceremony that she helped organized; much the same way the couple had for her. They spoke their vows, promises, and she cried right along

their quiet and sacred

as one,

other, and she knew that, and he knew that, and

around a white, draping canopy, and music echoed

her dress sashaying around her while she laughed. She managed to convince Kylan to join her for a song or two, and when he wasn't dancing, he was watching, the kind of smile on

would be forced to spend away from him. None of it martered. Because

October skyline, the smell of a fast approaching winter adding to her happiness, her

her best friends off on their honeymoon after several teary-eyed hugs and kisses, and then she took Kylan's hand in hers, and she returned

-0-0-0-

"Can I

I take

Maine?" Kylan's voice broke through the

ulence

lingered in their

twined together while her fingertips toyed with his, her head pressed to his chest, she shifted

her leg to wrap around

in reply. "We can visit your father in Portland, yes.

is beautiful. When would you like to go?" she asked him, yawning and rubbing the last remnants

at him, her hands falling to her

have work tomorrow. Kylan. I've already taken a few days off for the wedding, I can't possibly He

arranged.

shrugging his shoulders like what he was suggesting was no

help but laugh at him. "Kylan Ross, you're a confusing man," she lamented, shifting to straddle

hands rested on her sides, his thumbs stroking the skin there. "Say yes," he repeated, entirely

her eyes, leaning down to kiss him. "Yeah, okay. Let's go to Camden," she agreed,

His arm

he flipped her around so he was hovering over her, peppering kisses all over

already reserved the private jet," he mused, effectively silencing her with his lips when

-0-0-0-

class seats. She glared at him when he allowed her to have the window seat, but he handed her a bag of sour cherries, and it was impossible for her to be annoyed with him when he was being so thoughtful Her flight anxiety was something that would never be

her father, reminiscing with him about her childhood like he always enjoyed doing, and Belding questions about

his face, more grey in his hair, but it never seemed to bother him. If anything, it reminded her that he was living, when she

much he did. But her life was in New York, Ross Corporation was in New York, and by marrying Kylan, she would always be in

ever had. They talked about fishing, about France. and about Kylan's

mentioning Yasmin, only once or twice. But that was also new. He was still going to therapy, biweekly now, and he didn't often talk about his sessions with her anymore. That didn't bother her, though. She could see the progress he had made, could hear it when he would say Yasmin's name without flinching or

they loaded their luggage into their rental car and bid her dad

SUV, her hand intertwined with Kylan's while she

they would be saying, she knew Kylan, or maybe even Vincent, picked

remembering her days as Kylan's assistant with a somber but comforting reverence intended only

and off for the last half of the drive,

the SUV jerk into park and the hum of the engine quiet, she blinked

here!" she half imimbird,

ber other hand

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