“Yes, but it still has me thinking we need to go on a true ten-thousand-dollar date.”
“Really? You do realize ten thousand dollars could pay for an entire wedding, right?”
“Now, there’s an idea!” he exclaims, removing his reading glasses, folding them, and setting them on the coffee table. “A first date that’s also a wedding.”
“You’ve lost your mind, and that’s not possible anyway.”
“Why not?” he asks, arching a dark eyebrow, eyes radiating love.
“Because we’ve already been on our first date.”
“I told you that wasnota date. That was us sitting down to discuss how we wanted to proceed. Whether that be one night of ridiculous extravagance or a whole week of indulgences.”
“Now, we’re up to a whole week? After the auction, you only mentioned a weekend.”
“Yeah, I’m thinking a whole week of bliss is in order. Lord knows I’ve worked hard enough to deserve. And I have endless ideas for how we could maximize our timeandour pleasure.”
Dog-earing his book, he sets it on the coffee table next to his glasses. Turning towards me, he shifts Dumpling out of our shared laps. The apricot-hued tabby stretches and meows crankily, indignant about the adjustment.
But a moment later, she’s on the ground, purring and rubbing against Ambrose’s legs. I take advantage of the reprieve, reclining back and putting my legs in his lap. He massages my thighs and calves masterfully, drawing little moans and whimpers from me as I relax into his robust touch.
“Endless ways to maximize our pleasure? I like the sound of that,” I murmur, closing my eyes and melting under his kneading hands.
“Am I surprising you, or are we planning this together?” he asks.
I lift my head, reluctant to break my focus on his skilled hands. “Are we going on a first date or getting married?”
“Both,” he says naughtily.
“You are incorrigible,” I scold, unable to fight the grin that seizes my lips.
“I’m in love,” he counters.
“I am, too, but not nearly as reckless as you.”
“You’re more reckless,” he counters.
I raise an eyebrow, eyeing him curiously.
“Climbing a tree without a ladder or rope, all to get a fireman at your house.” He frowns. But flirtation sparks in his dark eyes.
A little puff of air escapes my lips. “Never. That was entirely coincidental.”
“You know, I didn’t want to go on that call when it came through.”
“Really?”
“Nope,” he says, shaking his head firmly. “I was trying so hard to prove my worth as a firefighter, and I knew I’d never hear the end of cat jokes. But now I can’t stop thanking my lucky stars that I did because you are hands-down the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“And what will your colleagues think about us?”
“You mean, falling in love with the girl I rescued from a tree?” The creases in his forehead deepen. “I’m never going to hear the end of it. But that’s okay because they’re just jealous anyway.”
“Weren’t they on the auction block, too?” I ask, moaning softly as his thumbs and fingers dig into my feet, forcing the tension away.
“That’s right. I haven’t told you about all of the auction drama that happened after we split for the diner,” Ambrose murmurs in seductive tones.
I nod slowly, trying to make my brain work despite the distraction of his deliciously insistent touch. “Drama? What happened?”
