Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
I gasp against his palm, horrified, and Aubrey freezes on her way to the bathroom.
“I’m so sorry,” she says quickly, absently pulling the belt on her short satin robe tighter. “I needed to pee, but I’ll be so fast.”
We watch her disappear into the tiny bathroom between the rooms, and I yank Killian’s hand from my mouth so I can look back at him. “I hope you’re happy now. I will never be able to look her in the eye again.”
“Relax,” he says, easing off me. “She didn’t see anything, and I’m sure she was in the same position five minutes ago.”
I shake my head, pulling my dress back up over my breasts. “Absolutely not happening. Toast, come here, baby.”
“Oh, that’s low.”
I make kissy noises to further insist on attracting her attention.
Toast was curled up happily in her cat bed, but she perks up at the sound of my voice. She yawns, then makes her way over to the bed.
“There’s my pretty girl,” I say warmly, reaching my arms out for her. “You want to sleep with me tonight?”
She curls up beside me on the bed, and I stroke her back, looking happily over my shoulder at Killian.
He is not amused as he eyes up the furry little competitor for my attention. “Fine, but she’d better not get used to it,” he mutters.
“This is already the best date ever,” I inform him.
“This is a good way to convince me not to bring the third wheel next time,” he shoots back.
“How dare you,” I say, hugging her close and shooting him a look. “She’s not a third wheel, she’s part of the family. Besides, we already had two extra wheels, and they’re the main reason I won’t sleep with you.”
“Next time kick Dare off his own jet. Got it.”
___
We sleep through most of the rest of the flight.
I start waking up when I hear Dare and Aubrey coming and going from the bathroom, and it occurs to me they may want access to the main cabin again, so I wake Killian up, too.
We take turns in the bathroom, taking quick showers and brushing our teeth. Dare asks if we want breakfast before we land, but Killian says we can get food once we’re in Paris.
Once we’re in Paris.
That is insane. Even though we’re on the plane, it doesn’t feel real to me yet.
The flight attendant tells us it’s time to buckle up and prepare for landing, so we pack Toast back in her travel pack and gather all our things, then we sit in the regular airplane seats. Unlike commercial planes, though, these have leg room for days and are super comfy.
I watch out the window as we near the airport, and a burst of excitement hits when we land.
It doesn’t feel like we’re in Paris when the door opens and we disembark, or even when we go to the special private area to go through customs.
It starts to feel more like it when we emerge, though.
The air is nippy and it’s a dreary day, but I put on the tights Aubrey let me borrow, and Killian did pack one of my sweaters, so at least I have that.
A car arrives shortly to pick all of us up.
Dare and Aubrey climb in first, and Killian holds me back. “Dare wanted to stay at a different hotel, so we’ll drop them off first, then we’ll take our stuff to ours. We’ll grab breakfast on our own, then we’ll meet back up with them to do some shopping.”
“Can we check in this early?” I ask, since it’s morning and every hotel I’ve ever been to doesn’t let you check in until late afternoon.
“Yeah. I knew we were bringing the cat, so I booked us two days instead of one that way we can get her settled inside before we leave.”
“Thank you for bringing her,” I tell him sincerely. I don’t have anyone to watch her, but I know he could have arranged it if he wanted to, and I know he probably brought her instead because I haven’t seen her in a couple of days.
He leans in to steal a quick kiss. “You’re welcome.”
He loads into the car with Dare and Aubrey, and then we’re off.
It feels like a dream as we make our way into the city and pass sights I’ve only seen on a screen or recreated in paintings and photographs. The buildings are so beautiful, and I can’t believe I’m really here.
We drop Dare and Aubrey off at The Ritz, then start toward our hotel. I’m getting antsy and excited all over again, then the car turns onto an avenue, and…
I gasp, absently clutching Killian’s hand when the Palais Garnier comes into view.
The Paris opera house.
The Phantom’s Paris opera house.
“Oh… my… god.”
The fourteen-year-old Brynn locked away inside me is dying right now.