After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 98

“Go to bed. You have to get up early tomorrow.” Lawrence ruffled her hair, his eyes drifting downward, taking in the way Catherine’s champagne-colored slip clung to her body.

Catherine’s cheeks turned bright red. She quickly folded her arms across her chest, feeling suddenly exposed.

Lawrence’s deep eyes were stormy and intense. He swallowed hard, holding himself back.

The air between them was thick with a tension that was both awkward and electric.

Just as Catherine, still blushing, was about to slip away, Lawrence leaned in. His lips brushed her ear. “We’ll wait until you get back.”

It took her a second to catch his meaning. When she did, her face turned even redder, the flush spreading all the way to her ears.

“Why?” Catherine bit her lip, not understanding. Why not tonight?

That longing was still there in Lawrence’s gaze, but he just shook his head with a quiet restraint. “Be good. Go to bed.”

“Is your work more important than me?” Catherine grabbed his sleeve, refusing to let him off the hook.

Lawrence pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. His voice was low and rough. “I’m worried that if we do anything tonight, you won’t be able to get out of bed tomorrow.”

Catherine’s face was so red she looked like a shrimp. She could only mumble a shy “okay” before hurrying back to her room.

As soon as she closed the door, she flopped onto her bed and buried her burning face in her pillow. Lawrence’s last words kept echoing in her mind, making her heart thump wildly.

How could he say something like that with a straight face?

The next morning, Catherine came downstairs with faint shadows under her eyes. Lawrence was already at the table, breakfast ready. When he saw her, a small smile tugged at his lips. “Didn’t sleep well?”

“I slept fine,” Catherine muttered, not meeting his gaze.

Lawrence set a glass of milk in front of her. “Drink up. Eat something. I’ll drive you to the airport in a bit.”

In the airport parking garage, Lawrence had just parked when two luxury cars pulled in behind them.

Lawrence gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I’ll walk you to security.”

Behind them, Shirley collected her ticket with a smirk. She was already imagining Catherine stuck in economy class.

After going through security, Catherine turned around but didn’t see Lawrence. When she finally came out with her laptop bag, she spotted him somehow already inside.

“How did you get in here?” Catherine asked, surprised.

“I’m not leaving until I see you board,” Lawrence said, reaching for her hand.

Waldo stood nearby, watching them act like no one else was around, his fists clenching. Shirley slid her arm through his. “Waldo, let’s go to the VIP lounge.”

As she said it, Shirley shot Catherine a look that said everything. Catherine didn’t belong in first class anymore.

After all, with Lawrence’s income, there was no way he’d let Catherine spend money the way she used to.