Page 156 of Titus

“Thank you,” I answered the man. I smiled at him. “It appears my event planner has exceeded all of my expectations for this event.”

The investor followed my gaze as I searched for Catalina. My eyes instantly landed on her, laughing with a group of guests and completely unaware I’d arrived… late.

I stood there for a moment, watching her. The same way I’d watched her at our first event together. The same woman who’d saved my ass after I’d arrived late last time.

I couldn’t remember the last time someone had surprised me. Not truly. Most people spent their lives trying to impress me. Catalina somehow managed to understand me.

“Excuse me,” I said, dismissing myself from the man.

I honestly could have blown everyone but Catalina off and still had the investors buy in, given the way she pulled this entire event together.

I walked briskly across the deck, seeing Cat in conversation with Jim and Avery Mitchell, and Spencer and Natalia Monroe.

“Hawk,” Jim greeted. “This whole time, I thought you two were actually dating, but it looks like all you must’ve been doing was boring the poor woman with your vision for Crown Reserve.”

I smiled, but my attention was fixed on the woman whose back was to me, now turning as her eyes met mine.

The air was stolen from my lungs when she smiled. Her eyes were vibrant, and her dark hair was pulled back into a slick ponytail, complementing her sleek, tailored pant suit.

“I hope you love the direction I took,” she said.

I smiled, seeing this stunning woman nervous about my reaction to her work.

“Would it matter if I didn’t?” I said, taking her hand and bringing it to my lips.

“No,” she laughed.

“I didn’t think so,” I said. “If you all could give us a moment?”

“I swear to God,” Nat said, “if you disappear into one of your closest staterooms because Cat blew the top off this event, Spence and I are going to do the same.”

“You’d do it even if they weren’t planning to,” I heard Avery say as Cat and I left the group.

“I can’t go too far,” Cat said. “I have to continue working.”

I pulled her into the closest private space I had on this deck. It was a small lounge that no one had retreated to.

I was rendered speechless again.

“I hope you don’t mind that I had the staff carefully fly your portraits of the designs here.”

I looked around the room that was once used for people to linger at the bar and relax on the leather sofas. On the walls hung perfectly framed images of the paintings I had designed for each villa and island for Crown Reserve.

The lighting illuminated them in a relaxing yet museum-quality way. Hell, they didn’t look this damn good when professionals hung them in my house.

“How in the hell did you think to present all of this in this manner?” I asked, intrigued.

“Well, after being around so many investors while running events like this, I’ve learned they get bored easily. I just figured that, after seeing these hanging in your home, making the event look like a showroom for a place they’d all want to go someday might keep them interested.”

“I’m very confident I don’t have to sell a damn thing tonight,” I said, turning back to her.

I took her into my arms, but before I could kiss her, I just wanted this moment to show this intelligent and beyond-amazing woman how much it meant to me.

“Do you like it?” she questioned while adjusting my bowtie.

“I’m captivated by all of this,” I said sincerely. “You are a remarkable woman, and I am truly fortunate that you allow me to hold you in my arms.”

I felt her arms wrap tightly around my waist, drawing us closer. My body sizzled as the air crackled around us.