"Because I'm going to call in on Monday, and I never do stuff like that?"
"Yeah, that too, but mainly because you're meeting my family."
She gave him a shrug. "I want to."
Chapter 19
Savannah
"You want to?" he asked, staring at me with a look of challenge. There was a couple of feet of space between us.
My neck.
It was a miracle, honestly.
I had rubbed it myself. I used numerous applications of cream and one of those shiatsu neck machine things, and those attempts had only seemed to make it worse. It was unbelievable that I was suddenly pain-free after a week of trouble.
It felt like such a relief. And honestly, the idea of going to Chicago felt like a relief, too.
"Sure, I want to," I said with a shrug. "And it's not that big of a deal for me to miss Monday. I can work it out between clients tomorrow. That's if there's a flight available Sunday morning. I guess it all depends on that."
He stared at me, and I had no idea what he was going to say. "All I heard is that you're willing to come meet my family."
"I am."
His gaze grew different, a little more intense. This man was a sight to behold. I stared at hismouth, at the curves of it. I knew what it was like to feel his lips on mine, and I imagined it happening, which caused a warm liquid feeling in my core.
"I'm excited about meeting your family," I said as casually as I could.
The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. It was basically crackling between us like static. I found myself staring at his mouth and neck, and then lower, at his collarbone. His tan skin was calling my name. I wanted to be close to him so badly that I was aching with it. I blinked, standing where I was, my feet feeling like they were glued in place.
"They're going to assume you're my girlfriend," he said still holding my hand.
My eyes traveled up to meet his. Those perfect dark brown eyes—they were almost black in the light of my apartment. That word. Girlfriend. I had already made up my mind that I would never be that to anyone again… and yet as he stood there in front of me, saying it, it sounded like just about the most appealing title I could ever have. I didn't care that I was scared or that I had decided not to love again.
"Why would they assume that?" I asked, flirting with him.
"Because that's what I'm going to tell them," he said.
His words and his deep voice sent chills up my spine. I took a deep breath at the physical sensationit caused. My chest rose when I breathed. I could see it move.
"I mean, I know it feels… complicated. But also, it's not complicated at all. (I shrugged.) That word is just normal for people to say."
"Do you mean the world girlfriend?" he asked.
I nodded.
He gazed intently at me. "Are you saying it feels normal for me to say it about you?"
I shrugged again. "It feels surreal, and a bit like we're joking around right now, but yeah, it feels pretty normal if we weren't."
He stepped forward, and now we were close enough to touch. He put one hand on my lower back, and he came so close that I had to look up at him. My eyes were even with his jaw, and I felt like I might melt at the sight of it. I could feel his warm hand on my back, drawing me close. It was difficult to get a good breath of air into my lungs.
"I can promise you that I am not joking, Savannah." My name on his lips sounded magical—the sound of it did something to me.
"You're not?" I said, since I had nothing else.
He smiled. "No, I'm not."
