Tease (Cloverleigh Farms #8)(86)

“I might think you were the wrong girl if you didn’t.”

“And I know that you might not always be in touch with your earthy bull feelings, but I promise to be patient and not snatch them back into my little crab shell.”

“Good.” He leaned forward and kissed me. “Because there’s only one crab for me.”

“So what happened that made you realize all this?”

He laughed. “My sister. Turns out, she knew the engagement was bullshit, but she didn’t say anything, because she thought it was just how we were working up the nerve to admit how we felt for real.”

I gasped. “Just like Millie!”

“She saw me wrestling with my feelings and pretty much told me I had to get over myself or let you go.” He shook his head. “Letting you go was not an option. So here we are.”

“Here we are.” I smiled and glanced around. “How are we here, anyway?”

“Turns out, one of the Prancin’ Grannies is the boss here.”

“Gladys?”

“Gladys.” He shrugged. “Also I made a very large donation to the Friends of the Public Library Foundation.”

I laughed. “Will there be a Hutton French wing sometime next year?”

“Possibly.” He took my hand again, playing with my fingers. “What are the chances I can get you to come home with me tonight?”

“Hmm. Are we talking theoretical probability here?”

He shrugged. “If you insist.”

“Then I would say the desired outcome is highly likely. In fact, I would say it is a mathematical certainty.”





The following morning, Hutton woke up early as usual for his run, but I grabbed his arm and snatched him back into bed. “Five more minutes,” I begged.

Laughing, he pulled me close once more, and we lay tangled up in each other as the sunlight streamed through the window. We hadn’t even bothered pulling the drapes closed last night, we’d been in such a hurry to tear each other’s clothes off. Our reunion had been hot and frantic at first—we’d gone at each other as if we’d been apart for months, not days. But the second round was slower and sweeter, like we were settling into it and knew we didn’t have to rush. There was no deadline, no end in sight. No one was going to take this feeling from us.

“So about tonight,” he said, brushing his hand up and down my naked back. “I have a surprise for you.”

“You do?” I smiled and snuggled closer.

“Yes—that is, if I have permission to surprise you.”

“You do.” I giggled. “I like your surprises.”

“I just have one request. Can I pick you up for the party at your sister Millie’s house?”

“Sure. But why?”

“If I tell you, that will spoil the surprise.” He kissed the top of my head. “You just have to trust me.”

“I do.” I closed my eyes, blissfully happy. “I do trust you.”

“I haven’t mentioned this yet, but I told Wade I’m not coming back to San Francisco.”

I picked up my head and stared at him. “What? You’re leaving HFX?”

“I haven’t decided that yet. But I want to live here—with you. I’ll start looking for a new place this week.”

My eyes filled. “Really? You’ll stay here? Because I’d go with you to California if that’s what you wanted. My business can go anywhere with me.”

“Nah. I’ve had enough of that life. I like it here. My family is here, your family is here, it’s peaceful and quiet . . . I don’t want to leave.”

I put my cheek back on his chest, and he held me tight.

“Everything is going to be okay,” he promised.

It felt like a dream, but we were finally real.





TWENTY-FOUR





FELICITY





My sisters helped me get ready.

Winnie came over to Millie’s house—Hallie and Luna in tow—with an entire suitcase full of shoes, accessories, and cosmetics. While Millie blew out my hair, Winnie painted my nails and the girls came over with one pair of heels after another, slipping them on my feet and standing back to judge them.

“This is like Cinderella’s stepsisters after the ball,” said Luna excitedly.

“Except she’s not mean or ugly and all the shoes fit,” Hallie pointed out.

I laughed. “Which one do you think will go best with the dress?”

“The sparkly ones!” Luna said, pointing at my left foot. It was a sandal with rhinestone-studded straps and dangerously high heels. “Those look the most like glass slippers.”

“Of course you’d pick those. Isn’t there a princess who wore sneakers?”

“No. What should we do with her hair?” Millie asked Winnie.

“Hmmm.” Winnie wrapped one arm around her middle and tapped her lips with a finger. “What about a high bun? Sort of an Audrey Hepburn look?”

Millie nodded. “That could work.”

I slipped the dress on, Millie put up my hair, and Winnie did my makeup. Hallie and Luna helped me strap on the shoes, and then all four of them stood back and looked at me.