Chapter 9 - THE AFTERMATH OF THE ENCOUNTER
The heavy silence between Alexander and me lasted for several moments after Preston retreated into the crowd.
I let out a long,
shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
“I’m sorry for the drama,
” I murmured,
looking down at my sparkling heels.
“You have nothing to apologize for,
Eve,
” Alexander said firmly,
his hand resting warm and reassuring on the small of my back.
“That man was a miserable chapter in a book you have already finished reading.
Let’s not waste another second on him.
”
He guided me away from the champagne tower toward the quiet terrace doors overlooking the snowy Boston Public Garden.
The cool night air hit our faces instantly,
clearing away the suffocating heat of the ballroom.
We stood side by side against the stone balustrade,
watching the soft snowflakes drift down from the dark sky.
“Are you alright?
” Alexander asked softly,
turning his head to study my profile.
“I am,
” I answered honestly,
feeling a genuine smile spread across my face.
“To be completely truthful,
standing there next to you while he squirmed gave me a profound sense of closure I didn't know I needed.
”
“Good,
” Alexander replied,
a faint smile touching his lips.
“Because closing old doors is the only way to open new ones.
”
He reached out,
his warm fingers brushing a stray lock of dark hair behind my ear.
The casual intimacy of the gesture sent a shiver straight through my winter coat.
His thumb lingered for a second against my cheekbone,
tracing the contour of my skin.
My breath hitched in my throat.
His gray eyes darkened,
shifting from casual amusement to something raw,
intense,
and hungry.
For a heartbeat,
I thought he was going to lean down and kiss me right there under the moonlight.
My eyes fluttered closed instinctively.
I waited.
Instead,
I felt the gentle brush of his coat sleeve as he stepped back.
“We should head inside,
” Alexander said,
his voice husky and strained.
“It’s freezing out here,
and your dress isn't designed for a Boston blizzard.
”
I opened my eyes,
feeling a strange mixture of relief and deep disappointment.
“Lead the way,
Mr.
Sterling,
” I whispered.
“Alexander,
” he corrected gently with a quiet smirk.
“Right.
Alexander,
May you like
” I repeated,
testing the syllables on my tongue.
