For tonight's charity gala, Bobby had gone all out with her Christmas in Miami Beach theme. Fresh blooms in sunset colors adorned every inch of the ceiling while artificial palm trees were lined up against the wall. It was the floor of all things, however, that was Bobby's masterpiece: LCD panels had been installed over every square foot of the ballroom, and the whole thing altogether painted a moving, 3D picture of rippling turquoise-blue waters.
It was an instant hit with the guests, with everyone feeling they were walking on water. Fleur herself felt like she was floating, but it had more to do with the fact that word had finally reached Julian of her arrival.
Butterfly wings fluttered inside her stomach as she watched Julian slowly turn in his seat, and when their gazes finally met, she saw him take in the strapless, jade-green gown she was wearing—-
Three, two, one...
Julian started taking his jacket off, and Fleur burst into laughter even as she was already reaching to pick her skirts up to make a run for it.
Julian's long strides had him reaching her before Fleur could even meet him halfway, and because she missed him so much more than she expected, he wasn't even done placing his jacket over her shoulders when she was already reaching up to draw his head down for a kiss.
And oh, what...a...kiss.
When he finally lifted his head, Fleur's eyes were cloudy with desire, her cheeks flushed, and her lips made swollen by his kiss. She looked fucking hot in other words...and that wasn't good news at all, considering how she already had so many men drooling after her.
"This gown of yours is fucking hideous."
Fleur grinned.
"Especially its color."
"I thought it perfectly matched Philippe DeRose's eyes."
"Exactly."
Fleur laughed. "I'm glad you noticed, and don't say I didn't warn you. I told you I'd make you pay for leaving me."
"You should find something else to wear. Now."
"Uh huh."
"I mean it," Julian growled, but his little flower only laughed at him again, and he shot her a glare even as he grabbed her hand so they could finally start walking back to his table. The sooner they were out of the limelight, the fewer chances others had to eye-fuck what was his.
Fleur cheerfully greeted their friends when they finally reached Julian's table, and she had just plopped herself on Julian's lap when she caught Freddie shaking her head with a wince.
"You're already in trouble as it is, you know..."
Fleur was confused. "I am?" She saw the other woman glance over her shoulder, and when Fleur followed the direction of Freddie's gaze, it was then she finally noticed all three of her tall, dark, and handsome brothers staring at her from a nearby table, and with expressions ranging from stoicness (Willem), amusement (Nic), to exasperation (Jaak).
"Shit." Fleur didn't even realize she had uttered the word out loud until Freddie sinckered, and Fleur could only make a face even as she quickly jumped off Julian's lap.
By now, Julian had also noticed the presence of Fleur's entire family, which he presumed was the reason Fleur was now looking panicky. "Didn't you know they were coming?"
"I kinda forgot?"
"And?" Julian had a feeling there was an 'and'—-
"And...they're all here to meet you?"
—-and he was right.
Fleur tried not to squirm as she waited for Julian to react. If the sudden prospect of meeting her family gave Julian cold feet yet again, Fleur was prepared to be understanding about it. After all, winning a man's heart was a marathon and not a race. It was still the sixth of December, and—-
"Are you ashamed of me?"
—-where in the world did that question come from?
Fleur started to laugh, thinking it was a joke, but then she saw the way Julian's golden eyes had narrowed at her, and she quickly tried to turn the sound into something else.
The others at the table nearly coughed themselves into death as they attempted to hide their amusement. Fleur might have managed to keep herself from laughing, but the sound that had replaced it was similar to a pig snorting out a ton of snot.
"Why would I even be ashamed of you?" Fleur finally managed to ask.
"Then why do you seem reluctant to have them meet me?" Julian countered.
"It's not like that—-"
"Has one of your brothers told you that DeRose would make a better husband?"
"Uh...no?" Seriously, where were these questions coming from?
"Then what do you have to be worried about?" Julian asked silkily.
"I told you, I'm not—-" Julian was suddenly frowning, and she paused. "What?"
"Did you tell them about our contract? Is that what you're worried about?"
"Of course not," Fleur denied with a huff. "Do you think I'm an idiot? Willem would've dragged me all the way back to Amsterdam if he had the smallest hint—-"
"I wouldn't let him," Julian interposed.
"That's sweet and brave of you to say," she acknowledged, "but you should never underestimate my oldest brother. He can cause trouble between us without saying a word, and if you're not careful, you might suddenly find yourself married to me—-"