Heiress vs Rockstar (Love in Illyria Book 4) Page 12

  No. That was not an option. He was too stubborn to let something as insignificant as an explosion… No. He still had too many things to do to give up. He had his son, his music, Vy. Even her. He still had her to torture. He was going to get out.

  She looked back into the shelter and she saw Isabella watching her. Isabella knew her enough to guess, but Alice found it impossible to wipe the fear from her face. So, Isabella would know that she truly cared about Tim. Most likely she would use it against her. At that time, it didn't matter. As long as he came out alive, it didn't matter. Tim had trained her to withstand public ridicule. What would it matter that Isabella added one more humiliation?

  Another group of people got out. Lightning turned night into day for a moment and her heart shrunk. Tim wasn't among them.

  She ran her hands over her face, wiping away any traces of makeup along with the water. Why was she even there? She should leave. She was making a fool of herself loving a man who hated her.

  She loved him?

  She still loved him?

  She should run.

  And yet, she was rooted to the spot, her eyes still on the door. Two firemen got out, each carrying a body. She strained to make out if Tim was one of the unmoving bodies.

  The roof collapsed in with a deafening sound. Her heart stopped.

  She took a step out of the shadows where she was hiding, trying to get a better look, when three more people got out.

  Tim.

  His head snapped toward her, spotting her unerringly. When he looked at her, Alice forgot all about her plan to stay out of his sight. She ran to him and he met her halfway.

  She reached up and cupped his cheeks. She smeared the soot over his cheeks, trying to feel if there were any wounds under the grime. She ran trembling hands down his neck and over his shoulders.

  "You're alive. You're alive. God, I was so scared. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything, just, God I'm so glad you're alive. I couldn't think. Couldn't breathe. I just wanted you to be fine."

  She stopped babbling under his somber stare. She jerked her hands away from him when she realized what she was doing. He snatched her wrists and pulled her close. His eyes pierced her, unbearably intense.

  "I'm not fine," he said.

  Tears came to her eyes at the sound of his cavernous whisper. His voice. Tim Carter without his voice would be like Michelangelo without his hands. He should be in the medical tent, getting his throat checked. His intense gaze held her under a powerful spell.

  "There are still people inside. The building was cracking and I wanted to stay in, to save more. I didn't care if I lived or died."

  Alice felt herself drowning in his despair. She knew he was unhappy but to hear his admission broke her heart.

  He was breathing hard and his voice was cracking. She could see the excruciating pain each word cost him. She reached for his lips, trying to stop the words.

  "And I realized I wouldn't see you again. I couldn't stand the thought. I had to get out. Had to see you again. Had to tell you."

  He paused, forcing himself to get the words out despite the pain.

  "I love you, Alice."

  "No," she whispered. "You hate me."

  He shook his head and leaned in slowly.

  "I love you," he repeated before his lips touched hers.

  Could she dare to believe him? Could this be another elaborate method of torture?

  The kiss started slowly, a feathered touch, giving her time to make up her mind, to decide if she wanted to push him away or accept this new trick.

  He was alive, and she loved him.

  She closed her eyes, and took a leap of faith, allowing herself to believe that he could love her back.

  He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing the breath out of her with a desperation that mirrored her own.

  Even behind tightly shut eyelids, Alice saw the flashes. Rain kept pelting them with big cold drops. The storm was picking up.

  Tim rested his forehead against hers, catching his breath. He looked to the side, and she followed his gaze. The flashes she had seen were not from lightning strikes, but cameras.

  "You're going to be President," he said.

  For the first time, there was warmth and pride in his voice, despite the faint volume. She needed to break the tension as she pulled at his hand to move toward the emergency vehicles.

  "If you want to be First Lady," she said.

  "Did you just propose to me?"

  Instinctively, she tried to jerk her hand away from him. He pulled her back in his strong arms and kept her tethered to him.

  "Give me a chance to say yes."

  "I l-love you," she said. "Whether you marry me or not."

  "I could live on the Hill for five to ten years," he said. "As long as it's with you."

  The End

  Author's Notes

  Next books (September release)

  Thank you for reading Heiress vs Rockstar and being supportive of my work!

  If you enjoyed the book please post a review with some stars. Good reviews encourage me to write and also help other readers find what they like. Reviews can be just a few sentences, describing what you liked about the book.

  This story is especially important to me because it deals somewhat with personal experiences.

  The book was difficult to write and it went through several drafts. I'm still not sure I got it right. People who subscribe to my list will get several alternative scenes, as well as deleted scenes.

  If you have any suggestions, please email me at contact@adalindwhite.com In December I will re-release the Rockstar and Heiress duet in the form of a single book and I would love to incorporate your feedback.

  Another perk of being on my list is the Fever Dreams series, which explores the sexual fantasies the main characters have about each other while everything else is going on and they try to act like adults (at least some of them).

  https://www.subscribepage.com/FeverDreamers_books

  The next books in the series will be

  Bella Illyria

  and

  Forza Illyria

  All my past, present and future books, blogposts, chapters that haven't made it in the books, social media stuff, giveaways, everything about my world you can find on my website

  www.adalindwhite.com

  The Love in Illyria series so far

  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G7CT739

  Other books

  Perfectly Complicated box set

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7TF2CR

  A Perfect Night

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWWNYEL

  Complicated Nights

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0AJKIT

  A Perfect Secret

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZIW03L

  A Perfect Lie

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MA3LN2U