Page 37 of Steel Beauty

“Pfft. I seem to recall winning you over.”

Laurelyn rolls her eyes. “Not before you managed to piss me off first. You seem to have forgotten, but I recall telling you no after that little dinner where you pitched your proposal.”

“Fair enough. She did tell me no.”

“To hell with this shit. Call your driver to pick me up and take me home.” A sly smile tugs at the corners of Laurelyn’s mouth. “That’s exactly what I told him.”

I try to picture it. Jack––once one of Australia’s most eligible bachelors—getting thoroughly shut down in such a grand fashion.

Laurelyn shakes her head, still amused by the memory. “He told me, ‘When the three months are over, so are we. I’ll move on, and so will you. Because you won’t know my name or any information about me, you’ll have no way to contact me. Ever.’” She turns, leveling me with a knowing look. “That’s not how you win a girl like Charleston over.”

Jack shrugs, completely unbothered. “It worked plenty of times before.”

Laurelyn huffs. “But it didn’t work on theonewho mattered.”

There was a time when Jack wouldn’t have admitted to being wrong. He was stubborn, confident to a fault, and always certain his way was the best way. But Laurelyn has softened him in so many ways, made him someone who can admit when he’s not perfect. Watching them together, it’s clear how much she’s shaped him, how much better they make each other.

Laurelyn continues, “Listen, Alex. She needs to feel safe. She has to know you understand her position, especially when it comes to her job. And you need to make it clear that her feelings matter to you—so much so that you’ll do whatever it takes to keep your relationship a secret. Because you want her that badly.”

I nod slowly, turning her words over in my mind.

“I think she struggles with feeling safe. She had a tough upbringing. Her parents weren’t reliable.”

There’s a shift of understanding in Laurelyn’s eyes. “It sounds like this girl and I have more in common than just Southern charm. And if I’m right, you really need to listen to me, and not Jack Henry.” She shoots her husband a pointed look, her tone making it crystal clear who the authority is here. “If she doesn’t feel safe with you, she’s out. No hesitation. No second chances.”

“I’m starting to understand that about her.”

Laurelyn’s words carry deep empathy. “Poor girl. She probably had to learn to protect herself way too early. And even though she’s strong and independent, I bet she’d appreciate someone who sees that—someone who respects her strength but also offers her a safe place to land when she needs it.”

“How’d you become so wise, Laurelyn?”

She puffs her cheeks out and exhales slowly, her eyes widening with exaggerated drama. “Alex, I once was this girl you’re describing. I know all too well what it’s like to have an irresponsible parent and to be forced to figure out life on your own.”

I nod, grateful for her insight. “Thanks for the pointers.”

Laurelyn casts me a sly glance, lips twitching like she already knows the answer. “You really like her, don’t you?”

I pause, the realization settling in deeper than I expected. “Yeah, I do. We haven’t spent a lot of time together yet, but I think we could have something really special while she’s here.”

Jack’s words take on a serious edge. “I have to ask. What’s the plan if you fall in love with her? Because trust me, mate, it can happen.”

I exhale slowly, rolling my shoulders as if trying to shake off the possibility. “That’s something I’ll figure out when the three months are up.”

Jack’s gaze sharpens. “If you ignore every other piece of advice I give you, at least listen to this: don’t let her leave Australia without knowing her real name. Trust me, it’s a nightmare trying to track down the girl you love after you’ve been a fool and let her slip through your fingers.”

His words hit closer to home than I care to admit. “I don’t think it’ll come to that.”

There’s a knowing gleam in his eyes. “Don’t underestimate how quickly the right woman can turn your life upside down. Ten years from now, you might be married to her, chasing around little people who look like you.”

A seed is planted, the thought taking root. And it grows before I can stop it—me and Charleston, ten years down the road. Kids with golden brown skin, dark waves of hair, and eyes… maybe brown like mine. Or maybe hazel—if that’s what hers are. And that laugh of hers, a light, infectious sound—I can imagine it filling every corner of my life.

Suddenly, a future with her doesn’t feel so far-fetched.

Chapter10

Alex Sebring

Pullinginto the service entrance of the Harbourview Grand, I park in a discreet spot behind the building. Hidden from view, it’s the perfect place—no curious glances, no questions. Privacy, the way Charleston and I want it and need it to be.

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