Page 153 of Smoke and Glitter

"Buildings. Food. Several bridges."

"Excellent research."

"I was busy."

His hand moves once along my waist. "I want whatever time you want to give me. I don't want you cutting pieces out of your life because I'm here. But I don't want to get on that plane today just because that's what I booked before I knew you wanted this too."

My heart squeezes. "So change it."

Sam reaches for his phone. There is no speech or dramatic pause. He opens the reservation, looks at me once while the options load and chooses a flight two days later. A few taps later, the confirmation screen appears.

"Done."

I take the phone from his hand long enough to check the new return. "You actually did it."

"You told me to."

"I did not. You asked."

Sam looks at me, and I watch the distinction register.

"You're right."

I hand the phone back. "I can move the call. I want to. The venue meeting stays."

"Good."

"I'll probably be gone a few hours."

"I'll find something to do."

"Please don't buy another bar."

"No promises."

I laugh and settle back against him. His phone lands facedown on the nightstand. The flight is changed. My venue meeting is still happening. One call will move because I want it to, not because I think loving him requires me to prove anything.

Sam's hand finds mine where it rests over the new tattoo and covers it. He asked. I answered. And neither of us had to disappear to make room.

Chapter twenty-eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Autumn

Rain has been needling the office windows since lunch, thin enough that nobody bothered with umbrellas until the sky decided to mean it. By six, the glass beside my desk is streaked silver and the pavement below shines under headlights.

Most of the team has gone. Priti left with two laptops and a warning not to touch the routing she finished. Gemma caught me staring at the same email for ten minutes.

"Whatever crisis you're manufacturing can wait until morning."

"It isn't manufactured."

"Autumn."

"It's a real email."

"Then it'll be a real email tomorrow."