“No.”
Rowan gasps in mock horror. “How is it that we both live and work in London, but neither of us has ever been to the Tower of London?”
I shrug. “I haven’t done much of the touristy stuff. I think, when it’s on your doorstep, it’s easy to put it off until another day.”
“And then another day never comes?”
“Exactly.”
“Huh. I guess you’re right.” He turns around, wraps his arms around my waist, and rests his cheek against my shoulder. “We should take a week off this summer and have a staycation, Daddy. Do all the touristy things in London we’ve put off doing.”
“Only a week?”
He hums. “Maybe two. There’s a lot to do in London.”
I chuckle. “That’s true.”
He lifts his head and stares into my eyes. “What do you think? Is it a good idea?”
“It’s a wonderful idea, boy.”
He grins. “Assuming Nigel will let us have time off together.”
“Oh, he will. I’ll make sure of it. He owes us.”
He moves his hands, clasping them across my nape. “See, this is why I love you.” He tilts his head, smiling. “I do, you know, love you.”
It’s the first time he’s said it since the racetrack, when he was overexcited from getting to drive supercars at high speeds. His statement makes my insides go warm and fuzzy, and my heart flutters.
“I love you, too.” I kiss him softly, allowing my lips to linger against his for as long as possible.
I can’t explain why I’ve held back on saying the words out loud, but now that I have, I know it’s true. It’s a feeling that’s developed gradually, over the months we’ve been together. Lust and infatuation slowly transformed into blissful contentment. I know, deep in my heart, that he is my future—the man I want to spend my life with. He makes me happier than I thought possible.
“I never want to be caught in a snowstorm again, but I’m glad it happened once,” I say.
He chuckles and kisses me. “I feel the same way. Thank you for stopping me from freezing to death.”
“I think that’s a bit dramatic, boy.”
“Is it? Really? The way I remember it, you saved me that night, becoming my Daddy in the process.”
“We kept each other warm.”
“Eh, maybe. I prefer my version.”
I chuckle. “All right, we’ll go with your version. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I will always take care of you.”
“That’s good, because I want you to take care of me. Speaking of which, when does this party end?”
I check my watch. “I think the cruise lasts for another hour, and then the boat docks. Not that the party ends then. I think we can stay on board until about midnight.”
“Do you want to?”
I purse my lips. “Are you making a different suggestion?”
He tickles my nape. “You could take me home and we could play.”
We still have separate apartments, but we tend to spend more time in mine, as it’s closer to the office. Although I love waking up in his apartment to the scent of freshly baked bread, we tend to stay there at the weekends. When we’re finally out of bed, we go downstairs to the bakery and buy something for breakfast.
