Capture Me: Alpha Billionaire Romance (Hollywood Dreams) (36 page)

She’d been trying to figure out how to tell me that she was offered a job in LA and leaving me was the only thing keeping her here. She told me that she’d left a little surprise in my closet and wished me well with the promise of as many visits as possible.

As I moved up another spot in line, I squeezed the handle of my bag and looked forward to wearing the corset dress for Liam on our first night in Switzerland.

This wasn’t what I’d been expecting. By the time I got to the airport, I figured he had to get to the gate, but I was sure I’d be right behind him. I thought I’d buy the ticket and do one of those slow runs down the airport terminal toward him, then bound into his arms. We’d kiss and leave together.

With the way this line moved, I wasn’t sure I’d get out this week. Part of me wanted to run right through security, have a dozen cops chase me through the airport and only catch me after getting to Liam.

But then they’d drag me away and I’d probably be put on a no-fly list. Wouldn’t that be perfect? Liam couldn’t come here and I couldn’t leave.

Only one more person in front of me. My stomach turned, knowing how close I was cutting it.

I didn’t have time to buy my ticket online but I knew I had twenty-four hundred in the bank from modeling. The payment for the furniture wouldn’t go through until everything had been picked up.

I prayed what I had would be enough to take a last minute flight.

As I stepped to the counter, I noticed the woman was older than I expected. She wore her age well. Only her laugh lines gave away that she probably neared sixty-years-old.

I quickly explained my situation to her with the hope that she could find me the right seat at the right price.

“There is one seat in first class and it’s two rows in front of the gentleman in question.” She gave me a warm smile. “You can always see if the person next to him would switch with you. That sort of thing happens all the time.”

I now realized why everything took so long with this woman—she was a talker. I pulled out my wallet and passport. “And how much is that seat?”

“Seven-thousand two-hundred and three dollars.”

Of course he’d be in first class. I was lucky he wasn’t on a private jet. “We don’t have to sit together. I’ll take your cheapest seat.”

The woman’s brow furrowed, showing her age for the first time. “I’m sorry, but that is the one seat we have left.”

Everything I’d planned and hoped for crashed against me and I leaned on the counter for support. I could ask Liam and he’d probably buy the airline for me.

But that wasn’t the point.

Besides, I didn’t have a working phone on me to even tell him I was here.

I began to back away, then I held up my wrist with the cuff. “This has to be worth something.” Even though the thought of not having it ripped me apart, I saw no other option.

The lady shook her head. “It’s lovely and I can tell it’s real, but you can’t barter a ticket.”

“Please. I have to get on that plane. Right now he thinks I stood him up and didn’t tell him goodbye. I can’t leave things that way.”

The lady frowned and went back to her computer. With every minute that passed, I wondered if I’d make it even if I got a ticket. “What do you think of Paris?”

I wanted to drop my forehead to the counter. “I need to go to—”

“It’s the first stop on his flight. I can get you a one-way ticket in coach to Paris. It’s the best I can do.”

I stamped down the flutter of hope in my stomach until I knew I could afford it.

“Eighteen hundred and—”

“I’ll take it.”

“I’m not sure you’re going to make it to the gate on time, but I’ll be rooting for you.” She printed my ticket off and winked at me. “Go get him.”

I thanked her and dashed off. Security turned out to be about what I’d expected and I checked the nearest monitor for the time. The gate door would be closing any moment. Liam had to be on that flight. He had no choice.

The man at the gate made the final call for Paris over the speaker just as I got there. “Wait. I’m on that plane.”

“Tessa?”

I spun on my heel to see Liam standing in the waiting area. I’d been so intent to get here that I hadn’t even noticed him.

“You’re here. I thought I’d missed saying goodbye.” He pressed his lips against mine and his tears told me that I’d made the right call. “I just couldn’t make myself get on the plane yet. I can’t believe security let you see me off.”

I pulled the ticket from my pocket.

“You’re coming too?”

“You said you wanted me there as much as I was able. So, I’m coming with,” I squeaked as he picked me up in his arms and squeezed me until the announcement was made for the final-final boarding.

Liam set me down and I cleared my throat. “I couldn’t quite afford getting all the way to the Alps, but Paris in summer is supposed to be beautiful.”

He chuckled as we walked to the gate. “I’ve got to be out of this country. No one said I couldn’t make an unscheduled stop.”

“Just don’t leave me in Paris alone.”

He kissed my hand as we boarded the plane together. “In the city of love? Wouldn’t dream of it. We’re sticking together from now on.”

I wrapped my arm through his. “Think they’ll have cupcakes?”

“If they don’t, we’ll make some together.”

This is the end of Capture Me. Thanks for reading. Click here to start reading Sadie’s story in the next book in my Hollywood Dreams series today.

Also by CJ Thomas

Ruin Me Box Set

Promise Me Box Set

Save Me: A Novel

Beyond Tonight series

Heat : Romantic Suspense Novel

On My Knees (A shot of Romance)

Acknowledgment

I want to thank all of my readers for being supportive with each new story I write. It’s because of you and your willingness to WANT to read my stories that make this all possible. Mwah!

I also want to thank my editor, LNS, for bringing my stories to life and constantly providing constructive advice on how to improve my craft. The same goes to my street team and beta readers, for without you, I’m not sure I would have the confidence to continue living inside my characters’ heads day after day.

And last but not least, my family for giving me the love and inspiration to keep writing.

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