Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Paul is dressed as a vampire or some sort of ghoul, with a drip of fake blood at the edge of his lip and a black cape on his back.
Savannah giggles. “I tried to get him to wear the tail, too, but he refused,” she says, pouting dramatically.
I scowl. I conceded to the devil horns she made me wear, but the red pointed tail was where I drew the line. “I should’ve known you two would get on far too well.”
But Savannah has relaxed at my side, even leaning into my touch as she and Paul tease me mercilessly about my reluctance to “properly” dress up, and not a single part of me is mad about it. When she tilts her head to grin at me, I take my chance to steal a kiss, and she lets me.
“I bet you can’t get him to dance, though,” Paul says to her just as someone shouts his name, summoning him away from us.
Savannah jumps at the chance. “Oh, really? I bet I can.”
“Winner buys the next round,” Paul challenges and starts to walk away.
Savannah shouts at his retreating back, “You’re on!”
“I am absolutely not dancing,” I tell her with a smile, and she raises a brow at me.
“Wouldn’t want another drink spilled on you, would you? I need you to keep me steady on the dance floor.” She beams, and I groan because I know for a fact she’s going to win this stupid bet.
This girl owns my heart, and there’s no way I’m going to be able to watch her dance in her little angel outfit, sparkling and gorgeous, and manage to keep my hands off her.
“Sean! Who’s this? Oh! Savannah, I didn’t realize…” Judy, one of our managers, says as we approach, surprise in her wide eyes. I can practically feel Savannah’s renewed worry flood her.
“I…uh…” she stutters, clearly unsure of what to say.
Judy’s gaze softens. “Oh, I don’t mean anything by it.” She shakes her head, the cat ears in her hair bobbing about with the movement. “It’s about time Sean found a nice girl to settle down with. Getting old there, boss.”
I roll my eyes for what must be the thousandth time. I was right that Savannah had nothing to worry about, but clearly, I should’ve been more prepared for my entire company to take the piss out of me for this.
“She keeps me young,” I say back, making Judy laugh.
“I knew I liked you,” Judy tells Savannah, raising her glass in a cheer.
“You…you guys really don’t mind?” Savannah blurts out, immediately sipping her drink as she ducks her head in embarrassment.
“Mind?” Judy waves her hand through the air like the notion’s ridiculous. “Since you started working here, everything is about a hundred times more organized, and I don’t have to come running every time Sean forgets where he put a file. I promise you, Savannah, nobody is going to have anything but good things to say. As long as you’re both happy, and you don’t ever quit, I’m pleased for both of you.”
“Oh,” Savannah breathes, eyes wide. “Thank you.”
I lean down as I whisper, “I told you so, sweetness.”
The night passes in a whirl of congratulations and pink cocktails, Savannah dragging me onto the dancefloor with a cheer of victory against Paul. I don’t let her leave my side the whole night, my hand in hers or on her waist or her thigh under the table the entire time.
She collapses against me as we leave, still laughing and dizzy from spinning around to the music. I catch her happily, staring down at her. Her costume is fitting. She is an angel. My gorgeous, perfect, sweet angel. Mine.
“I love you, sweetness,” I whisper the words against her lips, tasting the sweetness of her drink in our kiss.
She moans, wrapping her arms around my neck to keep me close. “I love you, too.”
“Home. Now.”
I love the way she shrieks in laughter as I throw her over my shoulder and into the waiting car.
I don’t let go of her all night, and I plan to keep it that way for the rest of our lives.
14
SAVANNAH
“Sean? What’s going on?” I call out as I unlock the door and step into our home.
I officially moved in two weeks ago, but really we’ve been living together since we started dating. Even a second apart is too long, and that hasn’t changed. Which is why it was so odd when he said he was going home early today, and he’d see me when I finished work.
“Welcome home, sweetness,” he calls out from somewhere inside.
I hang up my bag and blazer and set out to find him. “If you’re going to jump out and scare me, I swear I’ll—”
The joke dies on my tongue as I set eyes on him. He’s silhouetted against the sunset streaming in from the huge windows, and as I gasp, I inhale the sweet scent of roses.