“Yeah, that.”
I swear I see a little wicked smile on her face, but she’s right, I don’t want to be late picking up Xander, so I grab my phone and wallet, and lock the door of the cottage behind me.
The bonus of spending so much time with Xander is that I already have enough clothes at his apartment, I never need to pack when I stay with him. Besides, we tend to spend the time at his apartmentnotin clothes.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. You both have a wonderful time,” Victoria says as she walks to the farmhouse.
She and the girls are coming over for brunch tomorrow before we take them to see Santa in the fake North Pole the mayor installed in the market this year.
The driver gets out of the car to open the passenger door as I approach.
“Good evening, Mr. Cinder.”
“Good evening, Miles. How are you today? Did your daughter pass her driving test?”
Miles smiles. “Yes, Sir. With flying colors. Thank you for asking.”
He opens the door and I squeal because inside the car, dressed in a gorgeous three-piece suit, is my own prince charming.
I’m careful getting in the car so I don’t knock my flower crown off, but as soon as I’m inside, I take it off, place it together with the boutonniere on the empty seat in front of Xander, and jump onto his lap, straddling him and taking his mouth as if I haven’t seen him for months.
“Hmm,” he moans, kissing all the inches of exposed skin he can reach over the collar of my shirt and suit jacket. “Now this is the kind of reception I like.”
I sit back but don’t move, and he keeps his hands running up and down my thighs. “I hope you don’t get this reception everywhere you go.”
He laughs. “Sadly no, but there’s only one person I ever want it from, anyway. You look stunning.”
“Thank you, so do you. The girls made you a boutonniere to go with my crown,” I say, grabbing it from the seat and putting it in place on his jacket.
“What? I don’t get a crown? I’m going to have words with them.”
I kiss him again, and then sit beside him for the car journey.
Xander instructs Miles that we’re ready to go, and a little tingle of excitement goes up my spine.
Only a year ago, this was the best and worst night of my life. Despite everything, I wouldn’t change anything if I could. Well, maybe the five-mile walk in the snow and subsequent flu.
I can’t believe I’m attending the ball this year as Xander’s date, especially now that everyone in the company knows about us and our story.
There was the tiniest bit of fallout when Mark, in a feeble attempt to damage Xander’s reputation, gave an interview for a newspaper, in which he accused Xander of giving me preferential treatment, and picking me as the winner of the award.
Fortunately for us, the journalist conducting the interview decided to do further research for his piece and requested to speak to Xander.
The article that was printed in the end, painted our relationship as some kind of modern fairy tale of two lovers who, despite their vastly different backgrounds, fell in love, and didn’t know the other’s true identity until the very end.
Of course, some papers still printed Mark’s story, but it came out more like the desperate attempt of a jealous ex-lover and less the scandal he hoped for.
Besides, the success of my book validated Xander’s choice. I still can’t believe I’m a published author of a best-selling book.
I’m so lost in my thoughts, I don’t notice where we’re heading until the car stops in the parking lot of The Bookworm Corner.
“What are we doing here?” I ask, looking at my watch. There’s still plenty of time before the ball, but I thought we were going straight there.
“There’s a little something I have to do,” Xander says, and holds out his hand for me.
It’s way past closing time, so I wonder what business he has here. A thought comes to mind. Is The Bookworm Corner in financial trouble? Is Xander hoping to buy it? I know he’ll never let anything happen to this place. It holds too many memories for both of us, so he’ll do whatever it takes.
The door opens and an employee lets us in.
