Bound for Me (Be for Me #4)(49)

“You’ve been working here all day.”

“Only half the day. And anyway, so have you. It seems you never stop working.” She pointed out. “There’s nothing wrong with having a good work ethic.” She smiled up at him.

Was that approval? Something shifted in his chest. But then he frowned. Because there was work ethic and there was work crazy and Savannah’s work saw her on her feet for hours. It was full on. “You work too hard.”

“So do you.” She shrugged. “See you later. I’m looking forward to my ride.”

“Savannah.” He pulled her close and pressed his mouth to hers. A slow, sweet kiss. The kind they never usually had time for. “Thank you.”

He looked down at her startled expression. At the softness of her mouth. Felt the way she’d naturally leant into him. It felt good. Complete.

Slow.

And that was it—what they’d been missing. He was taking all the time he needed tonight.



“This isn’t the way to my apartment?” Savannah frowned as Connor drove away from the restaurant at the end of her shift. “Where are we going?”

Apprehension sliced through her heat. She didn’t want a break in their routine. She was wet and ready, her body on edge.

Just a couple more nights.

That was what she’d said to herself every night these past ten days. But spending that time with him this morning? Watching him in action all master and commander of his domain? He’d sorted stressed staff with just a few words. They all looked to him for reassurance. No wonder he had that ‘honor bound to help you’ thing going, it was how the town treated him.

Now he laced his fingers through hers and placed her hand under his on the steering wheel. “There’s something you need to see.”

“What?”

He just smiled.

“Why?”

“Because you deserve it. You helped it happen. You should get to enjoy it too.”

Her jaw dropped as he drove up the winding road towards the Lodge. Lit up at night like this, it was magnificent.

“That isn’t it, by the way. That’s just normal.” He lifted her hand and pressed a quick kiss to the back of it. “We’ll go round the back.”

Normal magnificence, huh?

“Is your florist feeling better?” she asked as he parked at the back entrance of the building. The porter was ready to get into the car and garage it for him.

He grimaced. “She’s still pretty low, but no one else has come down with anything, so Austin thinks it was something she ate before she got here, not a bug. Thank goodness. Now follow me. And tiptoe.”

“Why tiptoe?”

“For the ambience.”

She smiled in the darkness. He was in a playful mood. It was unusual. And attractive.

Leading out from the ballroom, was an outdoor skating rink. And it was gloriously lit up.

“When did you do this?” She leaned against the railing. It was the spectacular. So, so pretty.

“You like it?”

“Don’t sound so smug,” she mock-punched his arm. “It’s not like you’ve spent the last five hours stringing up ten thousand pink fairy lights. You had your minions do it.”

“How can you be so unromantic? What woman wouldn’t like these fairy lights?” he teased.

“Turn them off.”

“What?”

“Turn them off. Turn off all the lights.”

He flicked the switch, plunging the rink into darkness.

She tilted her head back as she rested on the balustrade. “Those are the real fairy lights.”

He followed her gaze, to the stars above.

“Millions and millions,” she whispered.

“You are a romantic.”

She didn’t answer. But she heard his light laugh. And she didn’t resist when he placed his hands on her shoulders. Turned her. Kissed her.

She closed her eyes, still seeing stars. Melted.

“This is your seduction scene?” she asked, trying to pull on her smartass persona when he lifted his head. “You woo many of your guests? Treat them to some personal pampering? Your special kind of massage?”

“Never, actually.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Yes you do.” He nudged her. “You know I work hard.”

“And don’t take time to smell the roses?”

“Not often.”

“So it’s all about making money? Can you walk away from it? You ever leave the mountain?”

“Sure, but not for long.”

She didn’t understand it. How could he be so nice, yet so damn materialistic?

“You skate?” he asked.

“No.”

“And you don’t ski. Not that much of a risk-taker are you?”

On the contrary, she’d taken a huge risk with him.

“What are you doing?” She yelped as he swung her into his arms.

“You don’t trust me yet, do you?”

“You’re Connor Hughes,” she answered with a teasing smile. “I’m never going to trust you. What are you doing?”

He laughed. “I’m taking you to my room.”

“Only if you turn off your phone.”