Hosed (Happy Cat #1)(64)
The quick kiss turns into a long kiss, and soon I’ve completely forgotten we’re in public.
George hasn’t, though.
He climbs Ryan like a tree, wedging his fluffy butt between us before any clothes are in danger of falling off.
We break apart, laughing. “Okay, okay,” Ryan says to George. “We’ll get a room.”
All of Happy Cat explodes in cheers behind us, and I realize I’ve found something I’ll never have in San Francisco.
I don’t just have a true love, I have the love of a whole community.
But Ryan is my favorite. My very, very favorite.
That’s true even before the photos of Steve being led into the sheriff’s office in handcuffs break on InstaChat a few hours later. But when I hear how my man and my trash panda saved the day, I have no doubt I’m the luckiest woman in Georgia.
“You guys,” I say, giggling as the comments and sheep emojis pile up on the InstaChat post. “You did so good.”
Ryan kisses my temple, drawing me closer on the bed. As close as two people with a giant raccoon in their laps can get, anyway. But George insists on holding the tablet, even though he hasn’t yet figured out how to work the screen. But with this brilliant little critter, I’m sure it’s just a matter of time.
“We would’ve done anything for you,” Ryan tells me. “We’ll always do anything for you.”
I lift a brow at him. “Anything?”
“Anything.”
“Even put matching handlebars on your bike?”
He tips his head back and laughs, and I soak in the music of my favorite sound in the entire world.
“For you? Absolutely.” He kisses me again, and I smile against his lips.
Because there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Ryan either.
And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life showing him.
Thirty-Two
Ryan
One Month Later…
* * *
Karaoke night at the Wild Hog has been pre-empted tonight by something better: the party for the formal launch of Cassie’s new gaming app for Sunshine Toys.
Jace announced the party on InstaChat last week, and the event got so many RSVPs that he had to issue tickets. Since Steve ended up behind bars for a laundry list of offenses, including multiple counts of arson, Cassie’s been pretty popular around here.
And the factory is gaining popularity too, at least to a degree.
Now, as I wade through the crowd with two lemonades in hand, looking for Cassie, it’s all good vibes. Friends and neighbors shout greetings and congratulations, as if I’m the one who’s done something special, when really, it’s all my girl.
She came up with the plan to save Savannah’s factory.
She charmed half the people who are still opposed to the factory into putting up with it just to keep her sweet self around.
And she’s made me feel like a new man.
Until she came home, I had no idea what I was missing. No idea this kind of love was even possible. I don’t know what I’ll do if she ever changes her mind and decides to head back to San Francisco.
Other than follow her.
We haven’t talked again about her work situation, but I know she can’t work remotely forever. And she’s been conducting interviews for a general manager for the factory in Savannah’s absence, since it appears her sister isn’t coming back from the UK anytime soon. And while Cassie’s much more comfortable now with the factory’s products, her first love is still game design.
I finally locate her playing Ms. Pac-Man, which is where I should’ve looked in the first place. “Hey, you.”
She tilts her cheek to take a kiss.
“Hold on…one more…and got it!” She pumps a fist in the air and spins to grab my face and pull me down for a long smacker on the lips. I lift the lemonades out of the way and smile into her kiss. She’s in a tee shirt she designed specifically to promote the new Love Your Inner Sunshine app.
Hers is blue with the Sunshine logo hugging a cute brunette in glasses and a bouncy ponytail.
Mine’s black.
Jace and Blake both went for gray, and Ruthie May’s running around in a purple version.
Cassie’s eyes are bright and happy when she lets me go. “I beat my own high score,” she informs me.
“You’re supposed to be getting ready to make a speech.”
She wrinkles her nose. “You know there’s a reason I hide behind a computer screen as often as possible.”
“Yeah, and I also know you can do this. Here.” I hand her one sweating mason jar. “Liquid courage.”
“Is it the courage part or the lemonade part that makes this so delicious?”
“Both.”
We clink jars and each take a healthy gulp. She wraps an arm around my waist and leans her head against my heart. “Did I tell you initial projections suggest we’ll triple sales within a week?”
“That’s amazing. You’re amazing.”
“Nah. I’m just a girl who wants the world to get more comfortable with orgasms through gaming.”
“Cassie! Cassie! They’re waiting on your speech, hon.” Ruthie May swats at my arm. “Let go, Ryan. You can take her home tonight. The rest of us get her for a couple hours.”