Page 113 of Titus

Warmth wrapped around me, and I smiled after reading his response to the text that I’d sent him last. I strangely enjoyed the feeling of being adored by a man like this, but I also knew it could be highly dangerous for a woman like me. The fact that it made this day so much better to believe he missed being around me like I’d been missing him lately? Well, shit. That could end horribly for a woman like me with a man like Titus Hawk.

A smile betrayed my better judgment anyway. Fuck. I don’t think I’d felt this way in a very long time. If ever.

“There it is,” Amelia pointed immediately. “That smile.”

“I do not have a smile.”

“You absolutely do.”

Cat: We’re having a great day. Thank you. Hope your day was good too.

I felt excitement course through me when the dots started jumping on the text screen. I was no better than a high school girl whose crush was texting her.

Then his message came through, and I slowed beneath the shade of a tree before nearly walking straight into it. I told myself I would simply respond so I wouldn’t be rude, end the conversation quickly, and continue spending the day with Amelia.

It felt strange to know it was dinnertime for him overseas, and instead of entertaining businessmen—or whatever beautiful women were probably surrounding him—he was texting me.

Titus: One of these men just spent twenty minutes discussing yacht storage as if it were a global crisis.

I shook my head, laughing softly. Why was this man becoming so enjoyable to me?

I glanced up at Amelia, crossing her arms and studying me.

“What?” I said as if I were guilty of doing something wrong.

“You’re fucking adorable right now, you know that?” she said. “I’m going into that boutique,” she said, pointing at the building next to us. “Take your time with that Spanish god of a boyfriend you have.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Right,” she hung onto the word, then disappeared into the store.

My phone vibrated one final time.

Titus: How is your sister feeling?

Cat: She’s doing much better. Well, good enough to give me hell for texting you, anyway. Mickie took her off bed rest, but she’s still taking it easy.

We’re actually about to go into a store to have a look around. Have a great dinner.

Titus: I’ll be thinking of you the entire time.

My heart flooded with warmth. Apparently, it really liked being missed and knowing someone was thinking of me while they were halfway across the world. Jesus, these simple texts were turning me into some hormonal teenager again, and I honestly didn’t know how to stop it.

Amelia came out of the store and looped her arm through mine again as we walked beneath swaying palm trees and warm coastal sunlight, with people moving between luxury storefronts, carrying shopping bags and iced coffees.

“No more interruptions,” I assured her.

“You know what I think?” she asked.

“I don’t know if I want to.”

“I think he misses you, and I definitely think he has a thing for you.”

I laughed softly. “Titus Hawk does not strike me as the type of man who sits around pining over one woman, whether he has a thing for her or not.”

“No,” Amelia agreed. “He strikes me as the type who, like you, never expected to develop any feelings.”

“We’re just friends who had a very fun day out together.”