Taking Catie (The Temptation Saga 3)

Chad awoke, sweat dribbling down his forehead.

Ms. Flirty approached. “Do you need anything, sir?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I need to get to Paris.”

“We’ll be there in about three more hours, sir.”

“Not soon enough,” he grumbled and turned into his pillow.

No more sleep came. Only anguish. He loved Catie. More than anything. More than his own life. He loved her so much he thought it might hurt less to rip his heart right out of his chest than to live without her.

He’d been her first, and he’d give anything in the world, his entire fortune, to be her last.

* * *

“Oh, Dom, you are such a sight for sore eyes!” Catie ran into the Frenchman’s arms.

“Chérie, we need to get you home,” Dominic said. “You look like you have been run over by a train. Mon Dieu.”

“I feel like I’ve been run over by a train. And a truck. And a herd of stampeding buffalo,” Catie said. “I’m just glad to be here. It was a long flight.”

“Not one you thought you’d be making so soon.”

“Right.” She sighed. Good old Dom. He’d take care of her.

Back at Dominic’s Paris flat, Catie relaxed with a glass of Bordeaux and a crisp baguette.

“I’ve missed the wine,” she said, “though the first thing I drank when I got to Colorado was a good old margarita.”

“That lime monstrosity?”

“Yeah, and it was damn good.” She closed her eyes, remembering that night. When Chad had danced with her, had kissed her on the dance floor. Was it possible only a little over a month had passed since then?

“Chérie, we need to get you to bed.”

“I don’t want to put you out.”

“Do not be absurd. You need some rest. I can deal with the couch for one night. Tomorrow we will get you a futon.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I know I don’t have to. I want to. Now go take a shower.” He picked up her small bag. “I’ll put this in your room for you. It doesn’t look like you brought much.”

She sighed again. “I got out of town quickly.”

“No matter. Tomorrow you can shop for whatever you need.”

“Don’t you have to work tomorrow?”

“I’m taking the day off.”

“Not for me.”

“Yes, for you. You’re one of my dearest friends, Caitlyn. I’ll be here for you.”

Catie smiled. Dominic was such a savior. She could always count on him. If only she could count on her husband that same way.

She hadn’t heard word one from him. Of course, her cell phone was dead. Still, if he cared…