Alex woke up three hours later, feeling much better than she had the day before. She ran a hand through her hair and got out of bed with a reckless idea—to look for Blackwood. She wasn't sure why she wanted to, but this morning had been surprisingly pleasant. She'd even cooked for him, though that had only been out of gratitude for tending to her wound.
She remembered the way his fingers had brushed her cheek and couldn't help smiling. He was an awful flirt—an irritatingly charming one. That didn't mean she didn't think he was a jerk; she'd just decided it was easier to get along. For him to have drafted an agreement just because of food, she grinned, he must have been starving.
And she had promised to make lunch. Whatever demon had possessed her to do that…
She sighed as she knocked on the door to his room.
"Blackwood?"
No response.
She went downstairs—checked the kitchen. Empty. The living room too. The house had so many rooms, and she had no idea which was which. The last thing she wanted was to get lost in their house and give him the satisfaction of laughing at her.
Their house? Alex nearly slapped herself. Gosh, she was getting soft.
She turned to go back to her room when she heard footsteps. Julian appeared, still dressed exactly as he had been that morning. She wondered if that was how rich men dressed casually—his outfit looked simple, but the quality screamed otherwise.
Julian's face lit up when he saw her. He'd stepped out earlier to get some groceries, unable to sleep while she did. The small smile curving her lips caught him off guard. Progress, he thought.
"Were you looking for me?" he teased.
Alex scoffed, though her smile stayed. "Yeah, I was."
The answer surprised them both. She quickly added, "I didn't want to get lost. You haven't given me a tour of your house."
"Our house," Julian corrected. "Well, there isn't much to see inside, but let's take a look around."
He offered his arm, but one warning glance from Alex made him drop it back to his side. They exchanged amused smiles.
"After you," Alex said. "There's nothing more to see here, right?"
"Not really. Just my office, gym… nothing special."
She raised an eyebrow. "What about those other rooms?"
"Nothing yet," he said a bit too quickly. Then, masking it with a smile, he added, "Let's go?"
Alex wanted to probe but decided to let it go—for now. She followed him downstairs.
He showed her the kitchen store, the dining room, the guest living room, and a few other rooms. Every space was large, tastefully designed, and radiated wealth. Alex couldn't hide her admiration, especially when Julian mentioned that he'd chosen all the furniture himself.
Then they stepped outside.
Alex froze, wide-eyed. She'd been asleep when they arrived last night, but now that she saw it… it was breathtaking. The lawn stretched for acres, lush and perfectly trimmed. A fountain stood proudly in the distance, its steady cascade catching the sunlight. The air was clean, fresh, and almost unreal.
Money looked good—very good.
Beside the mansion stood a sleek, futuristic-looking garage. Alex gasped as soon as she stepped in.
"What the—"
Julian smiled, clearly pleased.
The garage housed six cars. Alex instantly recognized the black Bugatti La Voiture Noire that had brought them home.
"Oh my God! Is this a Lamborghini Revuelto?" she exclaimed, tracing a finger along its sleek surface. The obsidian black body gleamed under the sunlight. She moved on quickly.
"986 horsepower—Ferrari SF90 Stradale!" she said, eyes lighting up. "Its aerodynamics and electronic differential—flawless. The handling must be insane."
She stopped in front of another car, her voice almost reverent. "McLaren W1. Twin-turbo V8 and electric motor—1,258 horsepower. This thing's a showstopper."
Julian just watched her. Fascinated. He'd never met a woman who talked about cars like this—not with such confidence, not with such joy.
"Aston Martin Valhalla," she continued, running her hand over the Stellar Blue paint. "Formula 1 inspired. 1,064 horsepower. Perfection."
Finally, she stopped at a rich burgundy Porsche 911. "Now this," she said, turning toward him, "this one's special."
Julian tilted his head, leaning casually against the McLaren, admiration flickering in his gaze. "How do you know so much about cars?"
Alex shrugged. "It's just my thing. I've always loved them."
He smiled. "You have great taste."
She laughed softly. "Says the man with a fleet of dream cars. But really, this collection is brilliant."
"Glad you think so," he said with mock seriousness. "So—which one's your favorite?"
"Uh, duh. All of them."
He chuckled. "You've got to pick one."
"Hmm…" She chewed her lower lip in thought, and he couldn't help watching her like she was the most captivating thing in the room.
"I'll go with the Porsche," she said finally. "I love everything about it. But the McLaren comes a close second. I guess I'm partial to the Porsche because it's red."
Julian smiled, eyes glinting. "Alright then. The Porsche it is. Let's go for a ride, wife."