“Better?”
I nodded against his chest.“Good, let’s go get you some pasta, baby.”
He knew me so well.
Our relationship was more than money or status or job titles.In no time at all, he had become my rock, my safe space, my biggest supporter.
“I love you, Emmett.”
He closed his eyes, like he was savoring the words.“I love you, too, Cal.”
His kiss made my knees buckle, but he caught me.He always would.
We returned to the table and finished the remainder of our dinner without incident.Afterward, my parents—thankfully—returned to their hotel, leaving me alone with Emmett.
“Did you drive?”
“Nope, my parents picked me up.”
We were standing on the sidewalk outside Gianni’s.I shivered.Ever the gentleman, Emmett removed his jacket and slung it across my shoulders.
“For someone I’ve witnessed bundling up for a short walk, you seem to have forgotten your layers tonight, Miss Winters.”
I rolled my eyes.“My mother always said we should sacrifice comfort for fashion.”
“Ah, well, how about I get us a cab back to my place?”
I smiled and nodded.A quick ride later, I was naked and sprawled across the plush rug in front of Emmett’s fireplace.
* * *
Sated and sleepy,I lazily traced patterns over the solid chest of the man dozing next to me.
“So, boyfriend, huh?”
He hummed, pulling himself from a near slumber to respond.“Would you have preferred another term?”
I looked up from where my head rested on his shoulder and kissed his jaw.His eyes were closed, but a smirk played across his lips.
“I can live with ‘boyfriend,’” I said.
“You want to live with me?Callie, don’t you think it’s a little soon?”
“That—that’s not what I meant!It is absolutely too soon.Plus, you’re still my boss, and I can’t afford to live in a place like this.Seriously, I didnotmean that.I just meant that I’mokaywith the term ‘boyfriend’.”
That was when he roared with laughter.
“You’re an ass.”I swatted his chest.He caught my hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing my palm.Then he rolled over and pinned me beneath him.
“For what it’s worth, girlfriend, I would be happy to have you live with me.But I have a feeling that’s not in the Callie Winter’s six-month plan.”
I snorted.“It’s cute you think I only have a six-month plan.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s more like six years.I was just hoping I made it into the twelve-month plan.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah,” he said.And then he kissed me lazily, lovingly.When he pulled back, he brushed a few stray strands of tangled hair from my face.“Are you sure you’re okay?After dinner, I mean.”
