Worth The Wait

Five

CHAPTER 5

Lara exhaled sharply, trying to calm herself down. But when she got a better look in the mirror, she couldn’t help but groaned.

Her hair was a tangled mess, sticking out in strange directions. Last night’s makeup was slightly smudged beneath her eyes. Her lipstick had faded, and her skin looked a little puffy from sleep.

Seriously? I looked like this the entire time?!

She leaned closer to inspect her face. Okay, at least no crust in the eyes or dried drool. But still, the damage had been done. Reagan had seen her like this. Barefaced. Barely functioning. A hot mess.

She buried her face in her hands and let out a soft, mortified groan before dragging her fingers down her cheeks. “Ugh. Kill me now.”

There was no saving her pride at this point, but at the very least, she could try to redeem herself.

Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her toothbrush and furiously brushed her teeth, determined to erase all evidence of last night’s alcohol. Then she reached for the cleanser and wiped the makeup off her face, rinsing thoroughly. But even that didn’t feel like enough.

She needed a reset. A clean slate. She’d already made a fool of herself more times than she could count last night and this morning. At the very least, she needed to smell like a decent human being.

Without hesitation, she stripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower.

She needed it. For the hangover. For the humiliation. For the ridiculous desire to kiss Reagan before she’d even rinsed her mouth.

The warm water did wonders. She stayed under the stream longer than usual, letting it wash away the smell and haze of alcohol from last night. She washed her hair and scrubbed her body until she was satisfied. She even used the scented body wash she bought from Greece—something floral and calming.

After nearly thirty minutes, she finally stepped out feeling much more human.

She dried herself off and wrapped the plush bathrobe around her body, then cautiously opened the bathroom door and peeked out.

The bedroom was empty.

Reagan wasn’t there anymore.

She blinked, glancing around. He must’ve stepped out. A small wave of relief washed over her. At least she didn’t have to face him just yet while she was still only wearing a bathrobe.

Lara padded to the closet, pulled it open, and rifled through the clothes she had unpacked yesterday. She grabbed a soft yellow mini summer dress with ruffled straps, a low neckline, and a crisscross tie at the back. The hem hit mid-thigh, brushing lightly against her legs as she slipped it on. The fabric was light and cool against her freshly showered skin.

She settled in front of the vanity, gently towel-drying her long hair before grabbing the blow dryer. Once it was soft and dry, she ran a brush through it slowly, letting the long dark strands fall freely in sleek waves down her back. It had grown past her waist now. She never had the heart to cut it in the past year, only trimming it occasionally.

She began her light skincare routine. A thin layer of moisturizer, some sunscreen, a dusting of loose powder, and a quick swipe of lip balm to bring some color and moisture to her lips. She leaned in and studied herself in the mirror.

Better.

Feeling somewhat more confident, she stepped out of the bedroom and walked into the suite’s spacious living area.

And that’s when she saw Reagan entering through the main door.

Her breath hitched.

He had changed clothes. Gone was the button-down and slacks from the night before. He was now wearing a plain black shirt that hugged his frame a little too well, paired with gray sweatpants that made her throat go a little dry.

Okay. Wow.

She blinked, swallowing hard as her eyes briefly traced his form.

Had he always been this built?

She knew it had been a while since she’d last seen him in person, but she didn’t remember him looking this ripped. She could see the faint outline of muscle through his shirt.

His chest looked broader, and his arms, which had always been strong, now looked downright lethal. The sleeves of his shirt strained against his biceps, and the veins on his forearms flexed subtly as he closed the door behind him.

And then his eyes found her.

She froze.

But she couldn’t look away—not when his gaze traveled slowly down her body, deliberate and unhurried. She felt every second of it. Like a slow caress that lit her skin on fire.

When their eyes finally met again, his green gaze was darker than usual. Smoldering. Unapologetic.

He stepped toward her.

And then, like it was the most natural thing in the world, he reached out and slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her gently but firmly toward him. His eyes never left hers.

“You look breathtaking,” he murmured, his voice low and rough around the edges.

A spark shot through her, her heart stuttering in response.

Lara bit her bottom lip, feeling the heat bloom across her cheeks. “You’re just flattering me,” she mumbled.

Reagan let out a soft chuckle that rumbled through his chest. “I’m not. I’m just stating the truth,” he leaned in slightly, his voice dipping to a teasing whisper. “Honestly, I could eat you up right now.”

Her face burned redder.

With a breathless laugh, she pushed lightly at his chest—only to get distracted by how firm it felt beneath her hands. She quickly pulled them back, trying to act unbothered.

“Stop joking around,” she said, trying to keep her voice stern.

He grinned, clearly enjoying her reaction. Then, his tone softened. “How are you feeling, by the way? Any headache? Hangover?”

She cleared her throat and averted her gaze. “I’m fine. The bath helped ease the headache.”

He nodded, still looking at her. “Good.”

Then she looked at him again and tilted her head. “Wait... how did you change your clothes?”

“I actually booked the suite right next to yours,” he replied casually. “I left my things there.”

Her brows lifted. “For someone who flew here last minute after a business trip, you seem pretty prepared.”

He gave her a knowing smile. “Do I?”

Before she could respond, her stomach let out a loud, unmistakable growl.

Her eyes widened.

Reagan paused.

They stared at each other.

Then his lips twitched. He let out a soft, amused laugh.

Lara groaned, covering her face with both hands. “Please. End me now.”

Reagan chuckled again. “Do you have anything in the kitchen? I’ll whip something up for you.”

She shook her head, still flustered. “I haven’t stocked up yet.”

“Alright then,” he said, walking toward the suite’s in-room phone. “Room service it is. What do you feel like eating?”

“Just… something light. Easy on the stomach.”

Reagan nodded and picked up the receiver, scanning the menu. “Got it.”

While Reagan was on the phone with the hotel staff, speaking fluent Japanese as he placed their breakfast order, Lara quietly slipped back to the bedroom to grab her phone.

When she returned to the living room, she sank into the plush couch and scrolled through i********: to pass the time. Across from her, Reagan was still finishing up the call.

A few more moments passed before he sat beside her. “They said it’ll take about five to ten minutes,” he said casually.

Lara nodded, her attention half on the screen. She stopped scrolling when she saw a new story from Ali. It was a mirror selfie. Her best friend stood in a soft-lit bathroom, her fiancé behind her, arms wrapped lovingly around her rounded belly. His hands rested protectively on her bump. Lara’s heart softened. A smile tugged at her lips as she tapped the heart icon to react.

“You like kids, right?” Reagan asked suddenly, his voice low beside her.

She blinked, glancing up at him. “Huh?”

“I mean… have you ever thought about how many kids you want?” he asked casually, but there was a quiet sincerity behind his eyes.

Lara tilted her head, caught off guard by the question. “That’s a bit out of nowhere. Why are you suddenly asking me that?”

Reagan gave a faint smile. “I just want to know,” he said, his tone playful but honest. Then he leaned in to press a gentle kiss to her bare shoulder. “So I know what to expect.”

Her breath caught in her throat. Heat crawled up her neck.

“Wow. You’re thinking way too far ahead there, mister,” she muttered, chuckling softly. “We’re not even—I mean, we’re barely starting, and you’re already talking about babies?”

He grinned. “Why not? What’s wrong with thinking ahead? That’s where we’re heading anyway.”

Lara felt her cheeks flush. She bit back a smile that tried to creep across her lips and let out a small, fake cough. “I don’t know. I’ve never really thought of a number.”

Reagan tilted his head thoughtfully. “So you’re okay with having lots of kids?”

She nodded. “As long as my body can handle it. Honestly… yeah. The thought of having a big family sounds really nice.”

Reagan’s eyes softened. “Hmm. I like the sound of that,” he smiled and added with a teasing edge, “Let’s build our own big family together then.”

That made her laugh, soft and light. “Before you start making family plans, mister, don’t think I’ve forgotten about that article and those photos circulating online.”

Reagan stilled.

His smile faded ever so slightly as he met her gaze.

Lara raised an expectant brow at him, her tone gentle but firm. “You didn’t explain anything properly last night. What was that all about, huh? You think I’ll just let it go?”

His lips parted slightly as if to speak, but before a single word came out, the doorbell rang.

They both turned toward the door.

“That must be the room service,” Reagan said, rising to his feet. “I’ll get it.”

Lara hummed in response and watched as he strode over to open the door.

The hotel staff greeted him politely and wheeled in a table filled with food—plates covered with silver domes, the aroma already filling the air. They efficiently set everything up by the dining table with practiced silence before bowing and leaving.

Lara rose to her feet and followed Reagan to the table, eyeing the generous amount of food laid out. Western and Japanese selections were spread across the surface—flaky croissants, pancakes, grilled fish, bacon, toast, tamagoyaki, fresh fruit, miso soup, and three different kinds of porridge.

“Why did you order three types of porridge?” she asked, blinking at the steaming bowls. “One would’ve been enough.”

“I wasn’t sure which one you’d like, so I just picked everything I thought you might like,” he said casually.

“You really didn’t have to go overboard,” she said with a smile, taking the seat he pulled out for her.

“I don’t mind,” he replied, gently placing a bowl of rice porridge in front of her. “Try this one first. It’s warm and light on the stomach. I think you’ll like it.”

Lara gave him a look, touched by the quiet thoughtfulness behind his actions.

“Thank you,” she said softly, dipping the spoon into the bowl.