“What show?”
He looks at his watch then looks up to the sky. A slow smile spreads across his face. “That,” he gestures to the sky.
I gasp at thehundreds of bright streaks trailing across the sky.“You knew about this?” I ask with astonishment in my voice.
“Heard about it somewhere,” he tells me.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, afraid to break the spell.
“Not as beautiful as you,” he tells me, tracing a finger down my cheek.
I swallow hard. Words I’ve felt for so long but haven’t spoken out loud are on the tip of my tongue. The reason why his comments hurt so badly yesterday. The reason why I’ve tried toohard to guard my heart.It’s been pointless. A lesson in futility.Because no matter what I’ve done, the feeling hasn’t gone away. It’s only grown stronger.
And he’sdone exactly what he said he would. He has loved enough for both of us. He has shown me that he wants me. He has been what I needed.
Looking up into those beautiful blue-green eyes, I wrap my armsaround him. “I love you, Jake.”
His eyes, soft on mine, crinkle at the corners.An amused but sweet smirk plays on his lips. “I know you do. I knew the minute you fell in love with me.” He cups my faceas stars continue to streak across the sky and the heavens open, and the rain begins to fall.“I never needed to hear the words. I just needed you to realize it.”
His lips meet mine. Our tongues slide against each other as we stand in the middle of Paris, rain soaking us to theskin. Everything else falls away. Nothing elsematters. Not the past, not the people running to escape the weather.It’s just him and me.
Cliché? Maybe.
Perfect? Absolutely.
I considered taking Lyrato Parc des Buttes-Chaumont today or even Château de Versailles. Thendecided to take her to the one place I knew her little toddler heart would love more than anything.It was a fight withJake. The most crowded place in Paris was not somewhere he wanted us to go.
I realized last night, Jake has lost his anonymity. He’s no longer an unknown face from the band’s past. He is just as front and center as the rest of them are.
I also know that’s not why he’s worried.He’s worried becauseof me.Because of who may still be out there.
Fortunately, I won the argument, and now Lyra is here with her mouse ears and a grin bigger than her face. She has hugged Cinderella, danced with Snow White, explored Alice’s Curious Labyrinth, and rode the railroad.We’ve just finishedour lunch atCasey’s Corner. Matthew is helping me clean up our mess so we can get to the next adventure.
My phone rings, not for the first time today. Jake’s name flashes across the screen. I roll my eyes with a laugh.He’s called every half hour. I wonder how much rehearsing they’re actually getting done. “Hi,” Ianswer. “You made it thirty-five minutes this time.”
“I’m just making sure you’re okay,” he grumbles.
“My brother isn’t questioning why you’re so worried?” I bite my lip.I really don’t want Dane or anyone else to worry.
“He may be, but he’s not saying anything. I really wish you’d just stayed at the hotel,” he gripes.
“Jake, I’ve told you we can’t make Lyra suffer. It’s either I take her, or you hire a new nanny, so you don’t have to worry so much.”
“You’ve lost your goddamn mind if you think that would solve anything,” he huffs. “I’m not hiring another anything,so you can go back to New York where I don’t know if you’re okay.I’d lose my mind, Cara.”
“Then let me do this with her,” I say softly. “We have Matthew here. He’s doing whathe’spaid to do. We’re fine.”
“I have a bad feeling.”
“You’re justparanoid. Say hello to your daughter,” I turn the phone to face Lyra. She smiles widelyand rambles off what she’s seen so far.
“Stop worrying so much,” I tell him when I get the phone back.
“I’ll try,” he sighs. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. See you tonight.”
We end the call just as Matthew returns from removing the last of our trash.We check out a few more sights, weaving our way in and out of the crowd. Lyra has walked nearly every step. I wanted to get her a stroller,but the epic meltdown about being a big girl curtailed the idea quickly.
